New York, 30 January 2018. Ambassador Anayansi Rodriguez Camejo, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, deposited today the Instrument of Ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on behalf of the Republic of Cuba, in a ceremony held at the UN headquarters in New York. This action shows Cuba´s commitment to the promotion of nuclear disarmament, to which it gives the highest priority in the field of disarmament. Cuba has been the fifth country to ratify the Treaty.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cuba on 20 September 2017, together with representatives of other 41 States. The Treaty, adopted by a vote of 122 UN member states on 17 July 2017, is a fundamental step towards nuclear disarmament and will significantly contribute to achieving a nuclear-weapon-free world.
Cuba has reiterated the threat posed by nuclear weapons to the existence of the human race and the catastrophic consequences of using a tiny fraction of the nearly 15,000 existing nuclear weapons. The island joins the call by the international community on those States that have not yet signed or ratified this Treaty, in particular the nuclear powers, to do so.
This international legal instrument obliges its States parties not to develop, test, produce, manufacture, or otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons and explosive devices. They also undertake not to transfer such weapons and devices or their control over them directly or indirectly to any recipient. In like manner, they renounce the possibility of receiving the transfer or control of these weapons or devices and of using or threatening to use them; as well as permitting the stationing, installation or deployment of these nuclear weapons or any other nuclear explosive device on their territory or in any place under their jurisdiction or control.
This international instrument will come into force after fifty nations have completed their national ratification processes, to which Cuba has paid tribute with its participation in today's ceremony.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.