unite nations unite state wednesday abstain first time unite nations general assembly vote resolution call end u.s. economic embargo cuba oppose measure every year 24 years 25th time 193-member general assembly adopt resolution 191 vote favor israel oppose resolution last year also abstain wednesday resolutions non-binding carry political weight communist-run cuba unite state former cold war foes begin normalize relations 2014. u.s. president barack obama take step ease trade travel restrictions cuba u.s. congress lift full embargo republican-controlled congress resist obama call lift washington economic embargo 50 years republican critics say obama make many concessions cuba little return especially human right u.n. general assembly applaud u.s. ambassador unite nations samantha power announce prior vote unite state would abstain abstain resolution mean unite state agree policies practice cuban government power tell general assembly profoundly concern serious human right violations cuban government continue commit impunity people say cuba foreign minister bruno rodriguez describe abstention positive step future improve relations unite state cuba rodriguez say september damage u.s. sanction april 2015 march 2016 amount 4.6 billion 125.9 billion since embargo inception 50 years ago march obama make first visit havana u.s. president 88 years trip make possible breakthrough agreement cuban president raul castro december 2014 cast aside decades hostility begin soon cuba 1959 revolution since open obama repeatedly use executive power relax trade travel restrictions push cuba accelerate market-style reform boost political economic freedoms u.n. resolution adopt wednesday take note step take obama positive still limit scope urge unite state repeal invalidate embargo cuba soon possible u.s. abstain first time u.n. call end cuba embargo