New York, 10 October 2016. At the Sixth Committee, under Agenda item: “Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives”, the delegate of Cuba Rolando Vergara Zito, expressed the concerns of the Cuban delegation on the increasingly ongoing transgressions posed on the security of diplomatic Missions and diplomatic and consular representatives. He unequivocally condemned such acts and favored the adoption of all relevant measures to prevent such events from occurring, and judge those found to be responsible.
At this forum, he pointed out that the new information technologies shall be used by all States to improve communication and exchange, in good faith and in accordance with international law. In this sense, he communicated the concerns and condemned recent practices of using certain spaces of diplomatic and consular missions for surveillance, interception and/or gathering of data on people internationally protected, as well as for subverting and destabilizing the internal situation of countries whose governments have been legitimately elected by its peoples.
Within his statement, he proudly affirmed that in Cuba there is an atmosphere of peace and security for the fulfillment of diplomatic tasks by all States and international bodies, on account of the existence of a Security and Protection System for the Diplomatic Corps that guarantees its full protection. He described that it works 24 hours throughout the whole national territory with specialized services, efforts that are carried out amidst the material limitations imposed on Cuba by the economic, commercial and financial Embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba during more than 50 years.
At the end of his statement, the Cuban delegate, ratified the nation will continue to offer special attention to the protection and security of diplomatic missions and representatives accredited in national territory, as a proof of our country’s commitment with current international norms in the matter, particularly that of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. (Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations).