Mr. President,
This meeting is taking place at a time when an imminent threat of war looms over the Latin America and Caribbean region, with the risk of causing an unprecedented flow of refugees.
Cuba urgently calls on the international community to vigorously reject the unacceptable militarization of the Caribbean and the threats of United States military intervention against Venezuela.
An aggression against that nation would have incalculable consequences for the peace, security, and stability of our entire region and could generate a massive humanitarian catastrophe of great magnitude, with hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and refugees.
It is imperative and a priority to defend the status of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.
Mr. President,
Cuba is committed to the Global Compact on Refugees and its effective implementation.
Our country comes to this meeting with a new Law on Immigration and Aliens that grants refugees who reach our territory the possibility of temporary residence and the right to work. In addition, these persons are guaranteed free education, professional development, and healthcare in Cuba. Our country has granted governmental scholarships to more than 3,500 young refugees.
Cuba rejects any political manipulation of the refugee figure. It is unacceptable to use refugee status for purposes other than humanitarian protection, as regrettably occurred on the occasion of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Cuban athletes were arbitrarily included in the Refugee Olympic Team, in flagrant violation of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the provisions of the Global Compact.
Situations like this must not be repeated. The misuse of the refugee category undermines international efforts to guarantee protection and support for those who truly need it.
Mr. President,
The Global Compact on Refugees must be a framework for collective action, promoting local integration, safe resettlement, and voluntary return in conditions of dignity.
Solutions must be comprehensive, based on respect for human dignity, shared responsibility, and cooperation and solidarity among States. Effective solutions will not be possible unless the root causes that force these people to leave their country of origin are properly addressed.
Cuba emphasizes that the responsibility of caring for refugees must be shared fairly. Global South countries cannot shoulder this burden alone. The international community must guarantee stable financial and technical support, without conditionality. It is essential to ensure adequate and sustainable financing for protection programs.
In the international efforts to build a more humane and less unequal world, Cuba will always be a reliable partner.