New York, October 15, 2018. In her statement at the Segment on Sustainable Development of the Second Committee of the United Nations, Biana Leyva Regueira, Third Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the UN, called for the end of the genocidal US blockade against the island, which prevents Cubans from developing at full capacity. It is the main obstacle to the development of the island; constituting a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of the Cuban people.
The diplomat, who urged the UN to give greater priority to the eradication of poverty, showed that the global progress of development indicators, 18 years after the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and three after the Sustainable Development Goals. (SDGs), is insufficient and unequal. She added that the gap between the North and the South and the polarization of wealth are increasing, along with the proliferation of unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and the waste of large sums of financial resources for weapons and speculative purposes.
The Cuban representative stressed that sustainable development continues to urgently demand concrete actions and greater common efforts based on a just and equitable world order, inclusive and coherent policies, a revitalized global alliance, an effective mobilization of financial resources, as well as the promotion of capacity development, including statistical capabilities and the transfer of technologies to developing countries. She pointed out that developed countries must comply with their historic commitments and responsibilities.
Leyva insisted that the principle of not leaving behind any person or country presupposes, also, recognition and respect for the diversity of approaches, visions and models decided by each country in the exercise of their right to self-determination and taking into account their diverse national circumstances and priorities.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations