Esteemed ambassadors, delegates and representatives of the Secretariat,
On behalf of the Cuban delegation, I would like to extend warm greetings to all of you.
This is my first statement within the Group of 77 and China at UNCTAD, following my recent arrival in Geneva to take up my new duties as Permanent Representative of Cuba.
Rest assured that you can always count on the constructive and supportive engagement of our delegation for this Group of sister nations and the work of UNCTAD.
All our appreciation and recognition go to Cambodia, the outgoing coordinator of the G-77 in UNCTAD, for the work accomplished. We welcome Peru as the new coordinator and wish it every success in the important task it undertakes today.
A top priority for this year's work will be the preparation and holding of the Sixteenth Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which holds significant importance for developing countries. The outcomes adopted in Vietnam -a friendly country that we consider to be an excellent venue for the Conference- will guide the work of this Organization over the last four years of implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
For Cuba, as for the other members of our Group, it is a priority that the Conference outcome document reflects the need to put an end to measures that affect the economic and social performance of our countries, in contravention of the Charter of the United Nations and International Law.
Esteemed colleagues,
Our Group bears the huge responsibility of representing the interests of the majority of the world's nations.
This is not a time for imploring developed countries, nor for defeatism or internal divisions. On the contrary, it is the moment to strengthen the unity and cohesion of the G-77and China around our legitimate demands.
We cannot passively accept an international architecture that is hostile to the progress of our nations, perpetuating disparities and forcing the Global South to freeze financial resources and go further into debt to protect against the instability generated by the system itself.
We know that it is extremely difficult to transform the unjust and outdated rules that govern current economic and trade relations, but we cannot give up on this goal. It is the only way to achieve the sustainable development to which we are all entitled.
Esteemed representatives,
Cuba has always received steadfast support from this Group in the face of the challenging circumstances our country is compelled to confront.
The United States Government is determined to suffocate our domestic economy and put obstacles in the way of our growth and development.
The economic, commercial and financial blockade that has been imposed against Cuba for over 65 years is the most extensive, comprehensive and prolonged system of unilateral coercive measures ever applied against any country in history.
The new administration of President Donald Trump has targeted Cuba from the very first moment. Ithas already announced that it will revoke the decision taken just a few days ago by itspredecessor, and will place our country back on the arbitrary list of States allegedly sponsoring terrorism, a designation that evidences an absolute disregard for the truth.
The inclusion of any nation on this spurious list automatically triggers a set of coercive measures which, in Cuba’s case, add to the already existing criminal economic blockade.
But these aggressive actions do not intimidate us. We will never give up our independence and sovereignty, nor the right we have to build a future free from foreign interference.
In closing, on behalf of the Cuban people and Government, I would like to extend our gratitude for the numerous expressions of support and solidarity we have received from many of the countries represented here.
Thank you.