Paris, 25 November 2025 — In the framework of the 25th Assembly of States Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Cuba intervened during discussions devoted to the financial sustainability and operational priorities of the Convention, underscoring persistent challenges to ensuring the effective functioning of this international instrument.
The Cuban delegation drew particular attention to the impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba on the implementation of the Convention, as well as to the application of unilateral coercive measures, which also have extraterritorial effects.
During the intervention, it was noted that these measures hinder the country’s access to financing, technologies, digital platforms, banking services, and supplies necessary for the conservation and management of its cultural and natural heritage.
Cuba stressed that this situation demonstrates that, beyond the global insufficiency of resources available to the Convention, some States face external barriers that limit their capacity to fully implement this international instrument.
In this context, the delegation requested that the final report of the Assembly reflect the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international cultural cooperation and on the implementation of the Convention, as well as the need to promote an international environment free from such restrictions.
During the debate, the Cuban delegation also recognized the urgent need to secure sufficient, predictable and unearmarked financial resources to adequately carry out the essential processes of the Convention, including the evaluation of nominations, monitoring of the state of conservation of sites, and the functioning of the World Heritage Centre and advisory bodies.
Cuba further noted that, despite more than a decade of discussions on strengthening the World Heritage Fund and modernizing working methods, limitations persisted that affected the operational effectiveness of the system. In this regard, Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to the Convention and to cultural multilateralism, consistently and punctually fulfilling its financial obligations as a State Party.