New York, 18 July 2017.At the General Debate of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and after remembering the words of the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro Ruz, as President of the Non-Aligned Movement, during the 34th session of the UN General Assembly, Cuba regretted the global situation continues to be alarming, despite 38 years have elapsed since he uttered these ‘prophetic words’.
In such context, the Head of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Multilateral Affairs and International Law Division at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ileydis Valiente, considered imperative a true World Association for development and counting with new, additional andpredictable resources for the implementation of this ambitious Agenda and its sustainable development goals.
The Cuban representative condemned that, for more than sixty years, Cuba has been imposed an economic, commercial and financial blockade, which causes hardships on the Cuban people and constitutes the main obstacle for the country´s economic development, and thus, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
She considered the Cuban nations’ efforts in keeping active its international cooperation, despite the blockade, and highlighted the numerous cooperation programs that Cuba carries out in 157 countries.
Likewise, she underscored that Cuba prepares to contribute to the global fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda, throughout a national mechanism coordinating the work of the national institutions, the civil society and the private sector. She noted that the National Assembly of People’s Power recently adopted the basis of a national plan for economic and social development until 2030, a process in which 1 million 600 thousand people have participated, in order to reach a socialist, prosperous and sustainable development model.
At the end, Valiente confirmed the nation’s commitment to work tirelessly to meet the new challenges and reiterated its commitment for a more just, equitable and inclusive world which values people as the key element of sustainable development.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations