STATEMENT BY THE GROUP OF FRIENDS IN DEFENSE OF THE UN CHARTER - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE ON THE PROMOTION OF A DEMOCRATIC AND EQUITABLE INTERNATIONAL ORDER.

Mr. President,

1. Cuba has the honor to deliver this Joint Statement on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter.
2. The Group reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding and implementation of the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in their entirety and interconnectedness, and recognizes that a just and equitable world order must, among other things, ensure the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention in internal and external affairs of States, realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, sovereignty of States over their natural wealth and resources, and peace.
3. The Group supports the deep concern of a large number of states from Latin America and the Caribbean regarding the recent deployment of US military forces to that region, and expresses its rejection at the threat of use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
4. The current escalation constitutes an unacceptable threat of aggression and disregards the decision of the 33 member States of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to proclaim the region as a Zone of Peace.
5. The attempt to associate the Government of Venezuela and its President, Nicolás Maduro Moros, with criminal drug trafficking organizations constitutes an absurd and unfounded pretext. 
6. We denounce that these actions seriously endanger the human rights of the Venezuelan people and the peoples of the region. They flagrantly contravene multiple resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, including the Declaration on the Right to Peace.
7. The Group calls on the Government of the United States refrain from its military escalation and hostile actions against Venezuela.
8. The Group expresses its strong solidarity and support for the Venezuelan people and Government.

Thank you.