Mr. Chairman,
This Committee is honored to have Oscar López Rivera once again among us, who is a fighter against colonialism, for the self-determination and independence of his people, and represents the resistance, nobility, pride and courage of the Puerto Rican people. Imprisonment for more than 35 years in U.S. jails could not bend this man of great stature for his dignity and dedication to his homeland: Puerto Rico.
Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of the Cuban delegation, I would like to thank all the members of the Special Committee on Decolonization and the rest of the delegations that have spoken on this issue, for the strong and valuable support given to the resolution on the question of Puerto Rico presented by the Republic of Cuba, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the Republic of Ecuador, the Republic of Nicaragua, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Russian Federation.
Mr. Chairman,
We appreciate the Report submitted by the Secretary General on the topic under discussion. As this document shows, progress has been made in the fight against HIV / AIDS since 2001 to date. However, the opportunities to access health care services continue to be unequal.
In this regard, in order to move forward and successfully confront HIV / AIDS, a profound reform of the current international order and the promotion of a true spirit of solidarity and cooperation are required.
Mr. Chairman,
Fifty-five years ago, the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations declared Western Sahara as a Non-Self-Governing Territory. In the last 22 years, numerous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the African Union have ratified the right to independence and self-determination of the Saharawi people pursuant to United Nations resolution 1514 (XV) on the granting of Independence to colonial countries and peoples.
Mr. Chairman,
Fifty-five years ago, the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations declared Western Sahara as a Non-Self-Governing Territory. In the last 22 years, numerous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the African Union have ratified the right to independence and self-determination of the Saharawi people pursuant to United Nations resolution 1514 (XV) on the granting of Independence to colonial countries and peoples.
We thank the President of the General Assembly for convening and organizing this event, which is a useful framework for the exchange of experiences on the role of young people as promoters of peace and development.
I was born in a small island located in the Caribbean, I am proudly Cuban and I represent all the young people who build day after day the future of our socialist and revolutionary Nation.
Mr. President,
My delegation thanks you for convening this High-level Debate.
The United Nations Convention against Corruption, also known as the "Merida Convention", is the relevant legal instrument for analyzing issues relating to the prevention and fight against global corruption. It is the only binding instrument of almost universal scope for this issue.
Cuba signed the Convention on 9 December 2005 and ratified it on 9 February 2007.
Mr. Chairman,
Allow me to convey our delegation's appreciation for your work in presiding over the work of this Committee throughout this session, as well as to the remaining members of the Bureau. I reiterate the cooperation of the Cuban delegation in order to bring our work to a successful conclusion.