Cuba today advocated for a sustained and lasting peace by eradicating the root causes of conflicts, particularly the problems of social and economic development affecting the countries of the South.
During the open debate convened by the Security Council on the promotion of sustained peace through common development, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gerardo Peñalver, said that this is a consequence of the current unjust international order.
Among other factors, the representative recalled the influence of decades of ruthless neoliberalism; the persistence of irrational patterns of production and consumption of capitalism that degrade the environment; as well as the proliferation of protectionist policies and speculative practices of big capital, which drive up the prices of basic goods and services.
At the same time, he added, other aspects such as foreign debt contract the availability of resources in developing countries and negatively affect the aspirations of these nations to achieve sustainable development.
The also permanent representative of the Caribbean country to the UN warned of the threats to international peace and security due to conflicts, acts of aggression, non-conventional wars, blockades, attempts at regime change and frequent violations of the United Nations Charter and International Law.
In this regard, he described as serious the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine, a consequence of decades of Israeli practices of illegal occupation and colonization, in flagrant violation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in their own territory.
Peñalver further denounced the systematic disrespect for the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, including numerous relevant UN resolutions.
"The Security Council must fulfill its mandate and put an end to Israel's impunity, in which the United States has historically been complicit, by repeatedly obstructing and vetoing the body's action, which undermines peace, security and regional stability," he said in this regard.
The deputy foreign minister demanded an immediate ceasefire and an end to the warmongering rhetoric, as well as the provision of prompt, sufficient and unimpeded humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
"The forced displacement of Palestinians from the land that rightfully belongs to them must be prevented," he stressed.
Likewise, he reaffirmed Cuba's support for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to that conflict, leading to the creation of two States.