Statement by H. E. Mr. Pedro Luis Pedroso Cuesta, Ambasssador, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva and other international organizations based in Switzwerland at the Plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament. August 29, 2017, Geneva
Mr. President:
First of all, I would like to wish you success as President of the Conference on Disarmament. In addition, I would like to support the statements made by the Group of 21 countries during the current year.
Mr. President:
72 years after the monstrous attack against Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the danger of the nuclear weapon is still latent and threatens to destroy the human species.
In the midst of today's complex international scenario, the vast majority of the international community supported the adoption of the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty resulting from an extensive process of multilateral discussions.
This landmark instrument is a milestone in the history of the United Nations in favor of general and complete disarmament. It is an effective contribution to international peace and security.
The Treaty establishes as a new norm of international law the prohibition of nuclear weapons in all circumstances. We are satisfied that, in addition to prohibiting the development, production, manufacture, transfer, possession and storage of nuclear weapons, the text explicitly prohibits the threat of its use, which also certifies the illegality of the security doctrines based on the so-called "nuclear deterrence".
Nuclear weapons are now illegal. This instrument provides a strong and legally binding framework for the destruction and total elimination of nuclear weapons in a transparent, irreversible and verifiable manner, within specified time frames.
We welcome the fact that the new instrument goes beyond the limited scope of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which only prohibits nuclear-weapon tests by means of explosions; tests of all kinds are now forbidden. We also emphasize that both, the transit of nuclear weapons, as well as their financing, are now prohibited activities under the provisions of this instrument.
At the same time, Article 4 provides the nuclear-weapon States a number of ways to become parties to the Treaty. We hope that the flexible, inclusive and non-discriminatory approach of the instrument will facilitate its universalization. In that regard, Cuba calls upon all nations to join the treaty to encourage its entry into force as soon as possible.
Mr. President:
The total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only effective way to ensure that mankind will never again suffer their terrible impact. Nuclear disarmament is and should continue to be the highest priority in the field of disarmament.
We advocate that the forthcoming Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) take into account the progress made towards a world free of nuclear weapons. We regret the breach of the agreement on the holding in 2012 of the International Conference for the Establishment of a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East. We hope that the next NPT Review Conference in 2019 will make progress on this issue.
On the other hand, it is a matter of pride for Cuba that Latin America and the Caribbean was the first densely populated area of the world declared as a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (ZLNA) under the Treaty of Tlatelolco as well as a Peace Zone as subscribed at the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held in Havana in January 2014.
Mr. President:
The paralysis of the Conference on Disarmament for 21 years threatens its very existence. The Conference is a negotiating and non-deliberative body.
While we are open to the optimization of the CD´s working methods, the modification of its working methods and rules of procedure is not fundamental to advancing negotiations in this forum.
The situation faced with the Conference on Disarmament is the result of the lack of political will on the part of some of its Member States who seek to maintain the status quo in terms of national interests.
The adoption, without further delay, of a balanced and comprehensive work program should take into account the considerations and interests of the States in the field of disarmament, specifically the priority for nuclear disarmament.
The Conference is prepared to negotiate simultaneously several items on its agenda.
Cuba would not oppose to the start of negotiations at the Conference on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and effectively verifiable treaty prohibiting the production of all fissile material suitable for military use and including the declaration of all fissile material stocks and their irreversible elimination within an agreed timetable as well as the future production of this material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. While the negotiation of a treaty on this subject would be a positive step, it would be insufficient if nuclear disarmament were not achieved.
The prevention of the arms race in the outer space is also a priority, as well as avoiding the weaponization of it. The draft Treaty proposed by Russia and China is a good basis for further discussions and negotiations in this regard.
On the other hand, it is a legitimate interest of the non-nuclear-weapon States that the nuclear-weapon States provide unequivocal guarantees not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons. We urge to work on the negotiation and adoption, as soon as possible, of a universal legally binding instrument on negative security guarantees, without conditioning.
Cuba condemns the covert and illegal use by individuals, organizations and States of the computer systems of other nations to attack third countries given their potential to provoke international conflicts. The use of new information and communication technologies must be fully compatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and International Law.
These issues have been addressed by the Informal Working Group on the way forward. We hope that the results will enable us to adopt a negotiating mandate work program at the start of the next session of the CD in 2018.
Mr. President,
The High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on nuclear disarmament in 2013 was a step forward in consolidating the initiative to convene, for the first time in the history of the UN, a High-Level International Conference of the United Nations on Nuclear Disarmament to review the progress made in this regard, which will take place no later than 2018.
We hope that this Conference will be successful and will be supported by all those committed to peace and nuclear disarmament. It should reflect progress in the desired goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and contribute to the achievement of peace and the sustainable development of our peoples.
Likewise, I wish to invite all States to commemorate the "International Day for the Elimination of All Nuclear Weapons" on September 26.
I conclude with a quote, of total validity, of the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro Ruz in October 2010, “The World’s peoples have an obligation to demand that their political leaders uphold their right to live. When the life of humankind, of your people and your most beloved human beings run such a risk, nobody can afford to be indifferent; not one minute can be lost in demanding respect for that right; tomorrow will be too late (…) In a nuclear war the collateral damage would be the life of all humanity.
Let us have the courage to proclaim that all nuclear or conventional weapons, everything that is used to make war, must disappear!
Thank you very much