New York, February 26, 2026 – At the initiative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cuba to the United Nations, an event was held at the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, at United Nations Headquarters, to commemorate the twelfth anniversary of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC) on January 29, 2014 in Havana..
The event titled “Latin America and the Caribbean: United in Diversity and Committed to Peace” brought together representatives from states member of CELAC, other diplomats from various regions, as well as high‑ranking officials of the United Nations system, who reaffirmed the continued validity of that regional commitment to peace, dialogue and international cooperation.
Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations, H. E. Mrs. Leonor Zalabata Torres, in her capacity as holder of the Pro Tempore Presidency of CELAC, referred to the relevance of the Proclamation as a guidance to strengthen regional unity in diversity and to promote peaceful solutions to differences between states.
The Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, America, Asia and the Pacific, from the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, His Excellency Khaled Khiari, highlighted the value of regional initiatives for multilateralism, conflict prevention, and the building of a culture of peace.
The Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, stated that this historic document embodies the aspirations for integration, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean. He added that its principles reaffirm the commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, non-intervention in the internal affairs of States, respect for the self-determination of peoples, and the promotion of nuclear disarmament as a global priority. The Cuban diplomat also stressed that, in the face of a complex and challenging international scenario, to preserve the condition of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace is a historic duty of the states of the region and a concrete contribution for the strengthening of multilateralism and international safety.
In this context, he condemned the challenges of the current regional and international situation arising from the imperialist ambitions of the United States Government, which are driving the planet toward anarchy and warmongering chaos, posing a constant threat to stability and international security, and showing utter contempt for multilateralism and international law.
Soberón Guzmán comdemned the brutal and unjustified United States military intervention in Venezuela and the kidnapping of the constitutional President Nicolás Maduro Moros and his partner Cilia Flores, as well as the stepping up of the aggressive escalation against Cuba by attempting to impose a complete blockade on the country’s fuel supplies. He asserted that “the irresponsible conduct of the United States requires the urgent mobilization of the international community.”
The event concluded with the official presentation to the United Nations of a facsimile version of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, intended to become part of the documentary heritage of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library. This symbolic gesture reaffirmed the region’s commitment to historical memory, respect for international law, and the promotion of peace, and will contribute to the Organization’s collection for future generations.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.