"Neither monetary policy nor the financial system will be well served if our central bank is deprived from interest in and influence over - the structure and performance of the financial system."

VOA: standard.2010.03.17

Addressing the assembly, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez called the embargo an "act of arrogance" and said it has cost the Cuban economy tens-of-billions of dollars over the years and deprived children of needed medical care.

VOA: standard.2009.10.28