New York, 6 October 2016.The Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal, pointed out today within the Fourth Committee Agenda item: “The implementation of the Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples”, that despite the 80 territories that left behind their colonial past and are now UN Members, colonialism has not been eliminated and is still a pending subject. Hence, she made reference to the situation of the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara; the bilateral dispute of Argentine with the United Kingdom on the question of the Faulkland Islands and the colonial question of Puerto Rico considered for more than 40 years in the Special Committee on Decolonization.
The Cuban diplomat highlighted that despite the brutal economic, commercial and financial Embargo imposed by the United States against our nation, Cuba has shared what it has and not what is left. In this way, she ratified that the Cuban Revolution has kept high a permanent commitment with the solidarity towards other peoples and, at the extent of its possibilities, has collaborated with inhabitants of non-autonomous territories.
At the end of her statement, the Ambassador reiterated the unwavering commitment of Cuba with the eradication of colonialism and reminded that “the work of the Organization will not be concluded, as long as a people under such condition exists”. (Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations)