New York, November 6, 2025 — In the Third Committee of the General Assembly, Ambassador Yuri Ariel Gala López, Chargé d'affaires, a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Cuban to the United Nations, emphasized the urgent need to protect the refugee status from politicization.
The ambassador expressed regret that the recent Olympic Games were marred by the unacceptable politicization of this significant concept in international law. He emphasized that including two Cuban-born athletes in the Olympic Refugee Team violated the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and distorted the initiative's noble purpose.
He rejected the Office of the High Commissioner's decision to arbitrarily validate the refugee status of these athletes and include them in a team publicly presented as young athletes "uprooted by war or persecution."
The diplomat reiterated that Cuba does not oppose athletes and coaches of Cuban origin pursuing their careers in other countries, but does not accept manipulation for political purposes. He recalled that the High Commissioner should not engage in selective and discriminatory practices that undermine its credibility.
Ambassador Gala López urged the Office of the High Commissioner to carry out its duties in strict accordance with its mandate. She also urged the Office to coordinate with the International Olympic Committee to review the procedures for awarding scholarships and selecting members of the Refugee Olympic Team.
He said it was imperative to ensure greater clarity regarding the functioning of the Olympic Refugee Foundation, of which the High Commissioner is Vice-Chair.
He noted that this regrettable incident does not reflect the mutual respect and cooperation that Cuba and the UNHCR have always shared, which has allowed thousands of refugees to benefit from our country's solidarity for over 30 years.
Finally, he expressed his gratitude for the agency's willingness to contribute to our country's recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations