The international community cannot remain passive or silent in the face of the serious danger posed by nuclear weapons
Statement by Cuba at the Thematic Debate on Nuclear Weapons. First Committee of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. New York, 11 October 2017
Mr. Chairman,
We fully endorse the statement by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Cuba expresses its deep concern for the existence of nuclear weapons.
The intentional or accidental detonation of a small fraction of the nearly 15,000 existing nuclear weapons would have disastrous consequences for our planet and the future of humanity.
The international community cannot remain passive or silent in the face of the serious danger posed by nuclear weapons, the threat of a nuclear war and the increase of military expenditures for the development, modernization and manufacture of new weapons.
In this context, Cuba welcomes the adoption and opening for signature of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which constitutes a historic event and a fundamental step forward in the urgent path towards nuclear disarmament.
The Treaty establishes a categorical and comprehensive prohibition of nuclear weapons, a framework for their destruction and total elimination, and ways for the nuclear-weapon States, that so wish, to become parties to the Treaty.
Under this instrument, the use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and all types of nuclear tests are proscribed under any circumstances.
Cuba, consistent with its principled stance on nuclear disarmament, signed such international instrument on September 20 and supports its early entry into force.
We call on the General Assembly to endorse the Treaty and the report of the United Nations Conference by which it was negotiated and approved.
All attempts and approaches aimed at preserving the status quo, justifying the existence of nuclear weapons and postponing their prohibition and elimination are unacceptable.
We urge the nuclear-weapon States to show political will and real commitment to the goal of nuclear disarmament, by signing this Treaty, by fulfilling its obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, by eliminating the role of nuclear weapons of their doctrines and security and defense policies, as well as ceasing the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and the development of new types of nuclear weapons.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba reiterates its commitment to nuclear disarmament, which is its highest priority in the field of disarmament.
Major and additional efforts must be made to achieve the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world. In this regard, we urge the General Assembly to endorse, as it did at the recent High-Level Meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on September 26, the holding in 2018 of the High-Level International Conference to review progress and further action on nuclear disarmament.
Thank you very much.
(Cubaminrex-Permanent Mission of Cuba to United Nations)
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