The United Nations General Assembly has voted to condemn the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba for the 20th consecutive year.

Tuesday's vote was 186 in favor of the resolution with only the United States and Israel voting no. Three nations abstained.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez says the 50 year-old embargo has cost the Cuban people almost $1 trillion. He said it has not succeeded and never will.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, says the only thing the embargo has succeeded in doing is economically strangling Cuba.

U.S. diplomat Ron Godard called the embargo a bilateral issue between the United States and Cuba and said it is not a concern of the General Assembly.

He said the United States is open to a new relationship with Cuba as soon as its government respects human rights and lets its people determine their own destiny.

The United States introduced sanctions on Cuba after Fidel Castro seized power following a 1959 revolution. They were gradually strengthened to a full trade, travel, and financial embargo.