UN General Assembly
1995

set forth by international law in its conduct towards other nations. However, when an embargo is imposed on a country for long periods, it also affects its social and commercial sectors. In this case, the main victim is not the regime but the population, which is already suffering from that system and probably has neither the strength nor the means to change or overthrow it. This is unacceptable. When the imposition of an embargo results in the misery of a population and in the deterioration of a country’s basic structures, including its health-care system, then that embargo must be reconsidered and adjusted to meet human-rights requirements. Capital punishment is another issue that is extremely important to my country and that has been repeatedly debated in the General Assembly. It is not difficult to understand that certain countries — principally those with a large territory and population — require strong deterrents in order to maintain order and protect their citizens’ lives, property and tranquillity. It is also generally recognized that some crimes, atrocities and grave offences need to be