The above was expressed today by Ambassador Pedro L. Pedroso Cuesta, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, when speaking at the debate on the furtherance of remedy and reparation for aggression against Ukraine.
He stated that the General Assembly has never established a mechanism for compensation for damages and reparations to Member States suffering the terrible consequences of unilateral coercive measures contrary to the Charter and international law, including genocidal economic, commercial and financial blockades.
At the same time, he wondered whether Cuba would be compensated for the damages accumulated during six decades of application of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States; whether the U.S. government would meet the just demand of the Cuban people for compensation for the lives of the 3,478 Cubans killed and the 2,099 disabled as a result of terrorist acts; or whether that government would compensate his country for the illegal occupation of part of the national territory in the province of Guantanamo.
The Cuban representative then referred to the many cases at the international level of legitimate claims for compensation for damages and reparations filed for many years by Member States, without any progress being made. On the contrary, he asserted, we are witnessing the opulent selfishness and impunity enjoyed by those responsible for these crimes against humanity associated with the historical development of capitalism.
Pedroso said that Cuba defends the legitimate right to just compensation and rejects double standards, partiality, selectivity and discriminatory and opportunistic approaches that are intended to be imposed and that the draft resolution being presented is an example of this.
Cuba continues to advocate a serious, constructive and realistic diplomatic solution to the current crisis in Ukraine, and supports efforts to alleviate the humanitarian situation and minimize the suffering of the population in the conflict zones. In this context, it recognizes the contribution of the humanitarian entities of the United Nations system.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations