New York, 25 January 2018. The Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ambassador Anayansi Rodriguez Camejo, spoke today at the Security Council's Open Debate on the Middle East and expressed her profound concern about the situation in the region, as there has been no tangible progress in the final settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In that scenario, she reiterated once again Cuba's rejection of the unilateral statement by the President of the United States to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which constitutes a serious and flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law and of the relevant United Nations resolutions.
The Cuban diplomat indicated that the intention to modify the historic status of Jerusalem undermines the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people and of the Arab and Islamic nations. She explained that this will bring about serious consequences for stability and security in the Middle East, will further exacerbate tensions in this region and will prevent any efforts to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Rodriguez Camejo also called for an immediate end to the blockade of nearly a decade in the Gaza Strip, plunging more than two million Palestinian civilians into a deep socio-economic and humanitarian crisis; and for an end to the Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan, where any Israeli measure to exercise jurisdiction and administration in that territory constitutes a violation of all international law instruments, including Security Council resolution 497 (1981) and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The representative of the island urged the Security Council to fulfill its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security and to take the necessary decisions. She also encouraged the said body to demand from Israel the immediate halt to its occupation of the Palestinian territories and its aggressive policies and colonizing practices, as well as to comply with the resolutions adopted by the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
She recalled that Cuba will continue to support a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, on the basis of a two-State solution to allow the Palestinians the right to self-determination, to have a free, independent and sovereign State, with its capital in East Jerusalem and the pre-1967 borders, as well as the right of return of refugees. In like manner, she added that Cuba will continue to support Palestine’s admission to full membership in the United Nations.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.