New York, 22 March 2018. At the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations, Ms. Lilianne Sánchez Rodríguez, expressed Cuba's full support for the International Instrument on Marking, Registration and Tracing of Small Arms and Light Weapons (ITI) as a useful tool to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
The island’s diplomat stressed the importance of international cooperation as a key pillar for the effective implementation of the ITI and called for increased technical and financial assistance, upon request by the State; capacity-building in the areas of marking, record-keeping and tracing; and the facilitation of technology transfer and resource mobilization.
She also reiterated the responsibility of States in the control of small arms and light weapons in their territory and in the study, promotion, adoption and enforcement of the relevant legal provisions to control this phenomenon in the territories under their jurisdiction.
Sánchez Rodríguez highlighted that Cuba has a legal framework for optimal control of this weaponry, which allows the authorities to detect any loss and to proceed to retrieving and matching without delay. She added that there are no brokers in the trade in small arms and light weapons and that all activities related to these weapons are controlled by the State.
In concluding her speech, the Cuban official called for the implementation of the International Tracing Instrument in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the inherent right to self-defense, in conformity with article 51 of the Charter.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.