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Paris, 28 May 2025. Cuban Ambassador María de Carmen Herrera Caseiro, Permanent Representative of Cuba to UNESCO, took part in an informal exchange session between members of UNESCO’s Executive Board and Mr. Guy Ryder, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Policy, regarding the “UN 80” initiative led by Secretary-General António Guterres.

In her remarks, the Cuban Ambassador reiterated Cuba’s support for efforts aimed at strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the multilateral system. She also inquired about the transparency of the process, the composition of the task force, the criteria for its selection, and the expected timeline of work. She emphasized that any reform process must preserve the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations and be guided by the full involvement of the governing bodies of each entity within the system.

The Cuban delegation supported the need for close engagement of Member States in the reform process, as well as for equitable representation and participation of all countries, including those with lower levels of development. She also echoed concerns expressed regarding the mechanisms through which UNESCO can contribute from its unique mandate as a specialized agency, and how its input will be reflected in the final decisions.

Paris, 20 May 2025 — Cuba took an active part in the Eighth Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, held on 19 and 20 May at UNESCO Headquarters.

During her statement, the Cuban delegate Laura Álvarez Delgado emphasized the importance of the expansion of the Convention’s membership, with the recent accession of new States Parties, as a key element in strengthening international cooperation in the protection of cultural heritage and the fight against illicit trafficking in cultural property.