Mr. President,
We appreciate the holding of this open debate of the Security Council and support the statement delivered by the delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
We express once again our deep concern about the situation in the Middle East region, in particular the lack of tangible progress towards a just, peaceful, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
We reiterate our deepest concern and rejection of the unilateral statement made by the United States President to recognize the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which is a serious and flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
The intention to change the historic status of Jerusalem violates the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people and of the Arab and Islamic nations, will have serious consequences for stability and security in the Middle East, will exacerbate tensions in this region and will impede any efforts to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Mr. President,
The Security Council must fulfill its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, take the necessary decisions and call on Israel to put an immediate end to its occupation of the Palestinian territories and its aggressive policies and colonizing practices, as well as its compliance with the resolutions adopted by the said body on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
In like manner, the blockade of the Gaza Strip for nearly a decade, which is plunging over two million Palestinian civilians into a profound socio-economic and humanitarian crisis, must also be halted immediately.
Cuba will continue to support a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of a two-State solution to allow the Palestinians the right to self-determination, to have a free, independent and sovereign State, with its capital in East Jerusalem and the pre-1967 borders, as well as the right of return for refugees. In like manner, we will continue to support Palestine´s admission to full membership in the United Nations.
Mr. President,
With regard to the Syrian Golan, Cuba calls for an end to the Israeli occupation and reiterates that all measures and actions taken or to be taken with a view to modifying the legal, physical and demographic status and institutional structure of the occupied Syrian Golan, as well as the Israeli measures to exercise jurisdiction and administration in that territory, constitute violations of international law, international agreements, the Charter and the United Nations resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 497 (1981) and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Cuba advocates constructive and respectful dialogue among the peoples of the region, and calls on respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of States.
Thank you very much.