New York, 27 March 2017. “Nuclear weapons pose a threat to humankind and its survival. Their use or threat of use, under any circumstances, would constitute, under the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, a violation of International Law and a crime against humanity.”, noted today the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, as part of the High Level Segment of the United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, Leading Toward their Total Elimination, at the time she highlighted that these are the only weapons of mass destruction that have not yet been banned through a legally binding instrument..
The Cuban diplomat alerted that a legally binding prohibition instrument alone would not lead to nuclear disarmament, but would codify in international law the illegitimacy and illegality of nuclear weapons, it would help to establish rules and regulations to facilitate the elimination of nuclear weapons, and would strengthen the current disarmament and non-proliferation regime, including the NPT.
She enlisted several provisions that such an instrument shall include so as to be as clear and complete as possible, together with other specific provisions for nuclear-weapon States. She conveyed Cuba´s opinion that the instrument should have a set of rights and obligations for States Parties and of verification measures to ensure compliance with and implementation of its provisions. She highlighted the importance of a mechanism to implement the provisions of the instrument, including those relating to verification and enforcement; as well as to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among its Member States.
During her statement she pointed out that the future instrument shall respect the inalienable right to research, develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and establish provisions on international cooperation and assistance, including assistance to victims. Likewise, a call was made on all Member States to join in the negotiations on this instrument, entry into force and implementation as soon as possible. The Cuban representative concluded by supporting the call made by non-governmental organizations to make 2017, the year of the ban on nuclear weapons.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the UN