New York, 15 May 2020. In its capacity as President pro-tempore of ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), Cuba presided today the virtual preparatory briefing of the ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment. Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of ECLAC and representatives of Member States of Latin America and the Caribbean participated in the briefing.
At the beginning of the briefing, Ambassador Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations and Chargé d'Affaires a.i. highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Latin America and the Caribbean at a time of economic fragility and social vulnerability. As a result, she stated, the extent and duration of its effects will have the potential to reverse the achievements attained in recent decades with regard to development and further exacerbate the already existing inequalities and vulnerabilities.
The Cuban diplomat called for a greater and renewed international cooperation, the strengthening of multilateralism and greater solidarity and integration among the Latin American peoples in order to confront and overcome the current socioeconomic scenario.
She expressed that no country will be able to save itself, while she exposed that an issue of particular relevance for Latin America is the need to seek sustainable and lasting solutions to the high level of indebtedness of many of its countries. Rodríguez Abascal further affirmed that nowadays the world is debating the numerous debt relief measures, substantive suspensions of their obligations and potential cancellations or restructurings, in such a way that the necessary fiscal space to be able to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and preserve a sustainable development pattern is ensured.
She took the opportunity to highlight the relevance of the launch by ECLAC of the COVID-19 Observatory in Latin America and the Caribbean and acknowledged the tireless and extensive work carried out by its Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena, who has led the actions aimed at the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda in the region.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations