Mr. President,
Cuba firmly supports draft resolution L.1.
Unilateral coercive measures are illegal and contrary to International Law and the Charter of the United Nations, and they must be abolished, as the draft states.
We express our gratitude to the Special Rapporteur, Ms Alena Douhan, for her initiative in developing a valuable and effective tool to evaluate, document, report and monitor the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights.
This tool, welcomed in draft resolution L.1, will contribute to raise awareness of the terrible consequences and suffering caused to millions of people worldwide by the imposition of unilateral coercive measures.
We call upon the Office of the High Commissioner, special procedures mandate holders, as well as the specialised agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations, to collaborate with the Rapporteur and grant this issue the relevance and urgency it requires.
Mr. President,
The economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba for more than 65 years is the most comprehensive, extensive and prolonged system of unilateral coercive measures ever applied against any country in history.
It is a flagrant, massive and systematic violation of the human rights of the Cuban people and qualifies as a crime of genocide. It is also a form of collective punishment, prohibited under International Law and International Humanitarian Law.
With this illegal policy of extraterritorial effects, the United States warns the world that any nation daring to firmly defend its sovereignty and build its own future will pay a high price for its defiance.
It is highly relevant and timely that draft resolution L.1 calls upon States to refrain from drawing up unilateral lists, such as the list issued by the United States Department of State, which arbitrarily designates countries as sponsors of terrorism.
Cuba has been included in such a list, which is characterised by its defamatory nature and the enormous economic and humanitarian damage it inflicts.
This unilateral list has no legitimacy whatsoever. Nor does it contribute in any way to legitimate international efforts against terrorism. On the contrary, it undermines them. It serves as a political coercion instrument through punitive and threatening economic measures.
As stated in the draft resolution, this spurious list violates fundamental principles of International Law, such as sovereign equality, the prohibition of interference in the internal affairs of States, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
We are grateful to several special procedures mandate holders who have recently issued a joint statement demanding Cuba’s removal from the aforementioned unilateral list and calling for the immediate lifting of the blockade against our country, in line with the 32 resolutions adopted on the matter by the United Nations General Assembly.
For these reasons, Cuba will vote in favour of draft resolution L.1 and urges other Council members to support this important text.
Thank you.