Press Release: Cuba reaffirms importance of multilateralism as a basic principle of disarmament negotiations and calls for concrete achievements on this matter.

New York, 25 October 2017.During her statement at the Thematic Debate on “Disarmament Machinery” of the First Committee at the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, Cuban  Representative, First Secretary Yadira Ledesma, reiterated the importance accorded by the island to the promotion of multilateralism as a basic principle of disarmament negotiations and to the need for concrete progress, giving the highest priority to nuclear disarmament.

She described as encouraging the adoption and signing this year of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which codified in international law the illegitimacy and illegality of nuclear weapons, outlawing the existence, use and threat of use of such weapons and all kinds of nuclear tests. As a signatory to the Treaty, she also supported its early entry into force.

Moreover, the Cuban diplomat regretted the paralysis of the Conference on Disarmament for nearly two decades, organ that plays an unquestionable and key role as the only multilateral disarmament treaty negotiating forum. She emphasized that the situation of the Conference on Disarmament is a result of the lack of political will of some of its Member States that seek to maintain the status quo. She also pointed out that the Conference is prepared to negotiate several agenda items simultaneously, as long as the willingness of all prevails.

To conclude, she called on all those committed to nuclear disarmament and peace to support the United Nations High-Level International Conference on Nuclear Disarmament, to be held in 2018, in order to be successful.

Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.