Kingston, 2 August 2022. The Cuban delegation attending the 27th Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) denounced the impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the government of the United States of America on Cuba in the fulfillment of its financial commitments with the organization. In his remarks, the Permanent Representative of Cuba to that international organization, Ambassador Fermín Quiñones Sánchez, explained how our country is prevented from carrying out international financial transactions with the banks with which the Authority maintains relations, under the supposed legal backing of the inclusion of the island in the spurious list of State sponsors of terrorism drawn up unilaterally by the US government. This has made it impossible for the island to honor the payments corresponding to the years 2020 to 2022.
The Cuban ambassador also referred to the limitations imposed by the blockade on Cuban scientists and specialists, who cannot participate in events designed for certain virtual videoconferencing platforms prohibited for Cuba, as is the case of ZOOM.
During the intervention, the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the maintenance and strengthening of peace, international law and sustainable development in the oceans and seas was reaffirmed.
The head of the delegation called for the strengthening of international cooperation in the management of marine resources and in the care of the oceans and their biodiversity, thus defending the principle of the common heritage of mankind.
Finally, he stressed the need for the adoption of a comprehensive Mining Code that would contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially for developing countries, landlocked and geographically disadvantaged countries and small island developing states.