New York, 1 May 2018.Cuba participated today in the new round of intergovernmental negotiations on UN Security Council reform. During her statement, Yillianne Sánchez Rodríguez, Diplomatic Attaché of the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations, ratified the island's position regarding the outcome of this exercise, which should turn the Security Council into an effective, transparent, representative and democratic body. She further indicated that this process should be driven by the Member States and be inclusive and participatory.
The Cuban diplomat reiterated Cuba's support for the expansion of the categories of permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council, maintaining the same prerogatives as the current ones and focusing on representativeness and geopolitical realities. This expansion, she said, responds to the urgent need to correct the under-representation of developing countries.
Sánchez Rodríguez also demanded the necessity to achieve a balanced and efficient relationship between the Security Council and General Assembly of the United Nations, in strict compliance of the provisions of the Charter, consistent with the respective mandates of those bodies. To this end, the systematic exchange of information between the two bodies is considered essential.
She further called on the Council to hold more public meetings and substantive discussions open to all States Members of the United Nations, to formalize its Rules of Procedure in order to increase transparency and accountability, among other issues.
The Cuban representative also advocated the elimination of the anachronistic veto.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.