Mr. President,
Among the measures to reinforce the blockade applied against our country by the government of the United States, one stands out for its slanderous nature and the enormous economic and humanitarian damage it causes: the inclusion of Cuba on the unilateral and illegal list that arbitrarily labels countries as sponsors of terrorism.
This list does not contribute in the slightest to combating terrorism. It is an instrument of political coercion through punitive and threatening economic actions.
The presence of any nation on the list triggers a set of coercive measures of extraterritorial scope, including the relentless persecution of financial transactions. Cuba's inclusion on the list denies the Cuban people food, medicines, fuel, goods, supplies, and merchandise that are essential to their survival.
The United States government is well aware that Cuba does not sponsor terrorism. It lies because it lacks political or ethical arguments to justify the economic war it imposes on us.
We demand respect for the memory of the true victims of terrorism, including state terrorism.
We thank the 123 countries that made a joint statement before this Council demanding Cuba's removal from the List. Several special procedures mandate holders of this body have denounced the negative impact of the blockade and the List on the realisation of the human rights of the Cuban people. We call on the Special Rapporteur on Terrorism to join these efforts.
We also thank the member countries of the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter for the similar strong statement delivered today.
Thank you.