The United Nations General Assembly Tuesday voted almost unanimously for an end to the 50-year U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.
One hundred ninety-one members of the General Assembly called for Washington to end the measures put in place during the height of the Cold War. Only the U.S. and Israel voted against it.
This was the strongest support the world body has expressed for ending the embargo in the 24 consecutive years it has taken up the issue.
But Ron Goddard, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said the vote will "not help move things forward."
"Although normalization will be a long and complex road, we've made considerable progress. We regret therefore that the government of Cuba has chosen to proceed with its annual resolution. The text falls short of reflecting the significant steps that have been taken and the spirit of engagement President Obama has championed. As a result, the United States cannot support it."
Last December, President Barack Obama ordered full restoration of diplomatic relations with the island nation. He also eased some travel restrictions, but only the U.S. Congress can lift the 56-year-old embargo.
Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, urged the United States to unilaterally lift the embargo after the vote was held.
Bruno Rodriguez, Cuban Foreign Minister, said after the voting: "The blockade against Cuba is a unilateral act of the U.S. and should be lifted unilaterally without asking for anything in return. It's only up to the U.S. to adopt the necessary measures to comply with the international law, as President Obama has said, to serve the national interests of the U.S., which will be benefited by the lifting of the blockade."
Ambassador Goddard said U.S. and Cuban officials have met in Havana to set a broad agenda for cooperation spanning law enforcement, drug trafficking, human rights and climate change.
Godard told the assembly that fully normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba will require years of persistence and dedication on both sides."