During the Fourth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Yuri Ariel Gala López, delivered a speech in the thematic debate on Reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent, reaffirming Cuba's firm commitment to historical justice, equity and the principles contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
In his speech, the Cuban diplomat recalled that Africa is an essential part of Cuba's national identity and that the country's history is marked by the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly brought more than 1.3 million Africans to the island to replace the indigenous population decimated by colonialism.
The Cuban representative affirmed that reparations and full compensation to the peoples affected by slavery and the slave trade constitute a moral obligation and historical debt that developed countries can no longer evade. " The developed countries, which benefited from conquest, colonization, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, are responsible for the extermination associated with them", he stressed.
He reiterated Cuba's support for the legitimate claim of the CARICOM countries for reparations for the damages caused by colonialism and slavery. The Ambassador also defended the need for special and differential treatment for Africa and other developing countries in international economic relations.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations