New York, 3 June 2019. Cuba participated today in the Organizational Meeting of the UNGA Open-ended Group of Governmental Experts on Breakthroughs in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, held at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.
In her statement, Lilianne Sánchez Rodriguez, the island's representative to the international organization, emphasized that the use of new information and telecommunications technologies must be fully consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and International Law.
She also pointed out that due to its high significance for all Member States, the issue of information and telecommunications in the context of international security should be examined in an open, democratic, transparent and inclusive Working Group of the General Assembly. In this regard, she recognized that the commencement of the works of this intergovernmental group represents an event of great importance and a very positive twist in the discussion of the issue within the United Nations, which will make it possible, in an effective manner and on the basis of cooperation and understanding, to find multilateral solutions to the growing challenges and threats faced by all.
The diplomat expressed deep concern about the covert and illegal use by individuals, organizations and states of the computer systems of other nations to attack third countries, given their potential to spark international conflicts.
At the same time, she reaffirmed Cuba's rejection of the hostile use of telecommunications for the declared or convert purpose of subverting the legal and political systems of States, as it constitutes a violation of the internationally recognized norms in this area, the effects of which may generate unfavorable tensions and situations for international peace and security.
Sánchez Rodríguez took advantage of her statement to reiterate the Caribbean nation's opposition to the attempts to turn cyberspace into a theatre for military operations and to legitimize, within that context, unilateral punitive actions of force by States claiming to be victims of unverified illicit uses of ICTs.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations