Mr. President,
Dear Colleagues,
My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by Iraq on behalf of the G77 and China. We meet at a crucial time when international development cooperation is facing unprecedented challenges, but also opportunities to transform our actions and move towards a more equitable and sustainable future.
The report presented by the United Nations Secretary-General highlights worrying trends: the fragmentation of international aid, insufficient resources, and the diversion of the official development assistance (ODA) to priorities that, while important, have reduced direct support to developing countries.
The figures are alarming. Currently, ODA represents only 0.37% of donor countries' gross national income, far from the target of 0.7%. It is unacceptable that ODA continues to decline in real terms and that available resources are being diverted from the countries most in need to other purposes. We call for the fulfillment of the financial commitments of developed countries and the creation of financing mechanisms adapted to the realities of developing countries.
At the same time, unfulfilled aid commitments should be recognized as a debt owed to the global South, estimated at nearly $7.2 trillion to date. These amounts could provide the fiscal space needed to finance poverty eradication and reduce inequalities.
The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held in Seville next July, will be an important opportunity to renew commitments and agree on structural reforms to strengthen international cooperation. In this context, we underline the importance of the proposal from the G77 and China to launch a transparent and inclusive multilateral process, under the auspices of the UN, to agree on a common understanding of the parameters and objectives of ODA flows. This is of paramount importance to ensure that development finance is not diverted from its objectives.
Throughout our history, Cuba has demonstrated that solidarity and selfless cooperation are fundamental pillars of development. Despite the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against our country, we have maintained cooperation programs in health, education and sustainable development with dozens of countries, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa.
From our experience, we emphasize that international cooperation cannot be characterized by the imposition of external agendas. Each country must have the right to define its own development priorities without interference or political conditioning.
Mr. President,
The international community must assume its historical and moral responsibility to the peoples of the South. Development cooperation must not be seen as an act of charity, but as a genuine commitment to justice and global equity.
Cuba reaffirms its commitment to solidarity, cooperation and the construction of a more just, inclusive and sustainable world.
Thank you