New York, October 12, 2017. During the Thematic Debate on Nuclear Weapons of the First Committee of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Cuban Ambassador Anayansi Rodriguez Camejo, warned that the intentional or accidental detonation of a tiny part of the almost 15,000 existing nuclear weapons would have disastrous consequences for our planet and the future of humanity. Hence, she exhorted the international community not to remain passive or silent in the face of the serious danger posed by nuclear weapons, the threat of a nuclear war and the increase of military expenditures for the development, modernization and manufacture of new weapons.
The Permanent Representative to the United Nations pointed out that in this context, Cuba welcomes the adoption and opening for signature of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which constitutes a historic event and a fundamental step forward in the urgent path towards nuclear disarmament, by establishing a categorical and comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons, a framework for their destruction and total elimination, and ways for the nuclear-weapon States, that so wish, to become parties to the Treaty.
She urged the nuclear-weapon States to show political will and real commitment to the goal of nuclear disarmament, by signing this Treaty, in compliance with its obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, by eliminating the role of nuclear weapons of their doctrines and security and defense policies, as well as ceasing the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons.
Rodríguez Camejo described as unacceptable all attempts and approaches aimed at preserving the status quo, justifying the existence of nuclear weapons and postponing their prohibition and elimination.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations