Madam Chair,
Cuba associates itself with the statements delivered by the delegations of Egypt on behalf of the G77 and China, El Salvador on behalf of CELAC and Maldives on behalf of AOSIS.
Three years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, inequality and polarization in the world persist and are even worsening. Opulence and the concentration of income and wealth in developed countries are in stark contrast to the underdevelopment and poverty to which two thirds of the world's population are subjected.
The resources to address these scourges exist, as evidenced by the multi-million dollar annual global military expenditures. What has been lacking is genuine political will and commitment of the most powerful States to fulfill their international commitments.
Hence a new world order based on justice, equity and peace must be achieved.
We reject attempts to undermine existing multilateral mechanisms as well as the search for unilateral solutions. It is only through joint and global efforts that the serious problems facing humanity can be solved.
The industrialized countries must accept their historical debt and exercise the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”. The international community can no longer postpone the realization of the right to development.
The environmental crisis plaguing the planet and its devastating impact, particularly developing countries including small island states, continues to pose a serious threat to the very existence of the human species. No country should unilaterally renounce its common international responsibility, its historical responsibility, nor should it forget its ecological debt to humanity and future generations.
It is essential to consolidate a genuine and effective global partnership for development in order to mobilize the resources needed to implement the 2030 Agenda.
Madam Chair,
Given its geographic location, Cuba is highly vulnerable to climate change. Turning fragility into resilience and achieving prosperous and sustainable development with a focus on the human being is a priority for the Cuban government, which is embedded in our policies at all levels.
Furthermore, the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government against Cuba for nearly sixty years is depriving the Cuban people and constitutes the major obstacle to our economic development and consequently, to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Despite these circumstances, we have a mechanism for implementation supported by the National Economic and Social Development Plan until 2030, whose priority action areas are aligned with and, in some cases, are more ambitious than those included in the 2030 Agenda. This Plan is being shaped based on massive discussions involving every sector of the population, as an example of democratization and people’s engagement in designing the national strategy.
At the same time, Cuba continues to share its limited resources with other nations of the world through international cooperation. We have implemented cooperation programs in 157 countries in the areas of health, education and sport, among other specialties. Today, more than 65,000 health workers are providing services in 65 nations. Internationalism, humanism and solidarity guide Cuban foreign policy.
Allow me to conclude by reiterating Cuba's full commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the search for a more just, equitable, inclusive and resilient world.
Thank you very much.