Mr. President,
We thank Thailand and the other sponsoring delegations for presenting draft resolution L.17.
Cuba recognizes the importance of international cooperation, technical assistance, and capacity building to support national efforts in promoting and protecting human rights.
These actions should be carried out at the request of and in consultation with the States concerned, respecting their priorities, national contexts, and specific needs.
Cuba will continue to firmly defend the imperative that the Council give precedence to cooperation rather than confrontation.
At least part of the million-dollar budgets associated with the resolutions adopted under items 2 and 4, which provide no benefit to the cause of human rights because they lack the support of the States concerned, should be dedicated to cooperation, technical assistance, and capacity building.
We recognize the positive work of the Office of the High Commissioner in providing training and technical assistance services to interested States with proven results and benefits. We encourage that these actions continue, always with the consent and in close coordination with the States concerned.
For the aforementioned reasons, Cuba supports draft resolution L.17 and hopes that it can be adopted by consensus.
Thank you very much.