Madam President,
The Cuban delegation congratulates you on your election to preside over this 63rd IAEA General Conference, emphasizing our satisfaction because you are the representative of a sister Latin American nation who occupies that distinguished position. We also extend our congratulations to the other members of the Bureau, confirming our willingness to contribute to the success of this Conference.
Madam President,
The Cuban delegation wishes once again to convey its deepest condolences to family, colleagues and friends on the passing of Dr. Amano, who as Director-General contributed so much to this organization in terms of nuclear disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear technologies. We had the honor of receiving him on three occasions in Cuba, the last time he was received by the President of the Councils of State and Ministers Mr. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermúdez, last May.
Madam President,
Over the past 40 years, technical cooperation with the Agency has contributed to and has had a fundamental impact on irradiation technologies, the introduction of cutting-edge technologies in the health sector for the management of patients with chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, and the struggle against climate change, all of which are of great importance to Cuba. This has been rewarded by the significant number of expert missions carried out by Cuban specialists, which today transcend the Latin American and Caribbean region. Likewise, each year the capacities created with the Agency's support are made available to projects to contribute to the training of scholars from other countries as a contribution to the development of nuclear and radiological applications.
As part of this technical cooperation, Cuba hosted the 20th Meeting of ARCAL´s Technical Body in May, holding the Presidency of this crucial Regional Agreement for a period of two years, thus assuming an important commitment to continue working to strengthen existing cooperation ties, create new alliances and work in favor of the development of nuclear applications for peaceful use in the region.
We thank the Agency for its contribution to the development of national capacities through technical cooperation and urge it to continue to seek new forms of management to meet the growing needs of its Member States.
Madam President,
Cuba condemns the tightening of the blockade imposed by the US government and its extraterritorial application, which threatens the development of our country and the well-being of its citizens, violates international law and undermines the sovereignty of all States. Similarly, we reject the unilateral coercive measures that this government implements against nations of various regions of the planet.
We denounce the unilateral and unjustified decision of the US government to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or “Nuclear Agreement” with Iran, and to reimpose sanctions against this country. We reject any attempt to deprive a sovereign nation of its inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Madam President,
We recognize the support provided by the IAEA through its projects and activities to strengthen radiological and nuclear, transport and waste safety in the region and to strengthen the structures responsible for the regulation and control of these aspects. Besides, we acknowledge the introduction of new technologies, the training of human resources and compliance with safety and security requirements during the use of nuclear applications.
We emphasize the priority given by our country, with IAEA support, to the training of First Line Officers and the protection of our borders, within the activities of the Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan (INSSP).
We underline the importance to our country of having received an IAEA Emergency Preparedness Review Mission, in November last year. The balance of its outcomes was positive and we made the results public as part of our commitments on these issues.
Cuba refers to the work of the Ibero-American Forum of Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Agencies (FORO) highlighting the results of projects in the medical area and in relation to safety culture, and the interaction with IAEA for the dissemination of its results. Similarly, once again it reaffirms its support for the position that the work of the FORO should be reflected in IAEA General Conference Resolution: “Measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety”.
Madam President,
My delegation ratifies the commitment to nuclear disarmament, demonstrated by the maintenance for 12 consecutive years of Cuba´s double certification and the satisfactory results achieved in IAEA inspections, as well as compliance with and adherence to all treaties and conventions adopted in connection with this International Atomic Energy Agency.
As a solidarity State, Cuba makes available to all countries, especially developing countries, its human resources and the capabilities acquired during these years of successful cooperation for the global development of the use of nuclear technologies in search of peace and sustainable development.
I thank you.