Mr. President:
Cuba rejects the imposition of punitive, selective, biased, and interventionist human rights mechanisms that disregard national institutions, as is the case with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
This body cannot be an instrument of coercion against countries of the South. The noble cause of human rights cannot be used as a pretext to intervene in the internal affairs of States.
The Council cannot endorse the disregard for the institutional framework and sovereignty of Venezuela, or any other country, as this would cause irreparable harm to the defense of human rights.
If one truly wishes to contribute to the cause of human rights in Venezuela, the hostile actions and threat of the use of force against that country by the government of the United States must be unequivocally condemned.
The defense of the right of the people of Venezuela to live in peace is not an issue solely for Venezuelans. It concerns all of us who defend the UN Charter and International Law, which are being flagrantly violated by the United States in the case of Venezuela, with complete impunity. Yet, the country victimized by these violations ends up being condemned in this Council. The hypocrisy and double standards could not be more evident.
This body must also demand the immediate cessation of the inhumane and illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Venezuelan people, who are being subjected to the cruelest methods in an attempt to force their submission.
It is our obligation to promote respectful dialogue and genuine cooperation with Venezuela, in accordance with the principles of impartiality, non-politicization, and non-interference.
Thank you very much.