New York, October 8, 2018.In her statement on Item 86: "The Rule of Law at the national and international level," from the agenda of the Sixth Committee of the United Nations, the Director of International Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anet Pino Rivero, condemned and demanded the immediate repeal of all the extraterritorial regulations sustaining the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government on Cuba for more than 50 years and urged the immediate compliance with the innumerable resolutions adopted by the General Assembly on the matter as well as with the provisions of paragraph 9 of the High-Level Declaration on the Rule of Law that: "urges States to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measure not in accordance with International Law and the Charter of the United Nations that impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries."
The Cuban diplomat also reiterated the Cuban government's unavoidable commitment to promote and strengthen a true State of Law, of which the current constitutional reform process of the island is an example. Cuba has made significant contributions to consolidate the rule of law in its geographic region, including its contributions to the peace process in Colombia or its commitment to the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, she said.
Pino stressed that a true Rule of Law begins with a reformed United Nations –which should be a banner of transparency, democracy and of participation of the entire international community in the solution of pressing global problems -; and with a consolidated General Assembly as the only organ with universal membership and an exclusive function for the progressive development and codification of international law.
The Cuban representative urged that sovereign equality, compliance with the obligations assumed by States, peaceful settlement of disputes, abstaining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, non-interference in the internal affairs of other States, as well as non-selectivity, be the basic principles that always govern the actions of States and the promotion of the Rule of Law.
She also condemned interpretations of the concept that attempt to supplant or replace national authorities, including activities to encourage internal conflicts in sovereign States, in order to impose external agendas; as well as attempts to create a follow-up mechanism beyond the Sixth Committee of the UNGA, which would imply a politicization of the issue.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations