Mr. Chairman,
Cuba joins the statements delivered by the distinguished delegations of Ecuador, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China; El Salvador, on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC); and Maldives, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island Developing States.
We commend you and the other members of the Bureau on your election to conduct the work of the Second Committee at the current session. We trust that your guide will enable us to succeed in achieving our goals.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba will participate in the work of the Second Committee guided by the purpose of paving the way to eliminate obstacles, gaps and challenges facing the world community in terms of development, and that particularly affect the most vulnerable countries, predominantly African countries, the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States, countries and peoples under foreign occupation; as well as the specific challenges faced by middle-income countries.
It will only be possible to undertake this colossal effort if we demonstrate a genuine commitment, political will and cooperation among all Member States. If we are to succeed in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Development, the responsibility of the Second Committee in discussing and considering macroeconomic, financial, trade and sustainable development issues at the global level cannot be diminished or undervalued.
The Committee must work effectively and efficiently, which cannot adversely affect quality, quantity and depth in analyzing the issues to be considered. We will work on constructive debate, mutual respect and commitment to working on the basis of national equality of each of its members. We must respect the different realities, capacities and levels of development of each country. The policy space of each member and the observance of international law and the Charter of the United Nations should be safeguarded. We must banish practices of imposing non-consensual proposals that only represent the interests of a small group of countries: the developed ones.
Mr. Chairman,
Two years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, more than 767 million people continue to live in poverty; 793 million people suffer from malnutrition; 768 million people do not have access to improved drinking water sources, the world infant mortality rate is 43 per thousand live births; and one in four children in the world suffers from chronic malnutrition; among other realities that are unacceptable. Global inequality and social polarization, including within the developed nations themselves, persist and are even worsening. Opulence and the concentration of income and wealth in developed countries stand in sad contrast with the poverty experienced by a large number of people in developing countries.
The paradox of this situation is that there are resources, technology and capacity to revert this situation. The annual military spending of $1.7 trillion dollars belies those who affirm that no resources are available to eliminate poverty and underdevelopment. What has been lacking is the political will and true commitment of the most powerful States to fulfill their international commitments.
The eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest challenge facing the world and a prerequisite for sustainable development. To achieve this, we must end conflicts between peoples and eliminate the causes leading to underdevelopment.
The resources to implement the 2030 Agenda, without measurable commitments or timetables, are not commensurate with the scope and ambition of its 17 sustainable development goals.
If we want a habitable world where there is peace and harmony among nations, democracy, social justice, dignity and respect for the human rights of all, we should adopt tangible commitments on development aid at the earliest possible time and solve the problem of the external debt, which has been already paid several times.
We further need a different international financial architecture, and we must eliminate the technological and knowledge monopoly, and change the current international economic order.
Today's industrialized countries must accept their historical debt, as well as exercise the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities". The international community can no longer postpone the realization of the right to development.
Mr. Chairman,
The overwhelming majority of the international community has repeatedly rejected the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that impede the full realization of the economic and social development of peoples, particularly the developing countries. Cuba strongly rejects this practice and once again urges States to refrain from unilaterally promulgating and implementing economic, financial or trade measures that are inconsistent with International Law and the Charter of the United Nations. The G-77 will once again present this year the draft resolution entitled "Unilateral economic measures as a means of exerting political and economic pressure on developing countries", which advocates the need to continue working to eliminate the use and implementation of these measures. We encourage developed countries to consider this document and make an effort to enable the adoption of this resolution by consensus.
The Cuban people have experienced first-hand for more than 50 years the effect of the application of these measures, as a result of the illegal, immoral and unjust economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government. The blockade against Cuba continues to be rigorously applied. The current President of the United States, Donald Trump, just a few weeks ago challenged the international community, which almost unanimously has rejected this policy and demanded its cessation, and declared before those world leaders present in the general debate of this 72nd UNGA session that he would not lift sanctions against Cuba.
Even in the midst of such adverse circumstances, the Cuban people continue to be involved in updating its Economic and Social Model and in attaining its Development Plan until 2030, which has sovereignly decided in order to build an independent, sovereign, prosperous, democratic and sustainable socialist nation.
Mr. President,
The United Nations is engaged in an ambitious reform process, which has as one of its objectives the promotion of the development pillar. We advocate that this process be developed in an open, transparent and inclusive manner, through genuine negotiation with the participation of all Member States on equal terms.
The new development framework must be global in nature, universally applicable and relevant to all countries in addressing the challenges of achieving sustainable development, considering the different realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities.
Mr. Chairman,
Climate change and its impact at the global level is another major challenge nowadays, threatening the very survival of the human species. Global greenhouse gas emissions, the cause of global warming, have continued to grow in the last four decades. Although the Paris Agreement is not sufficient if we are to preserve our planet for future generations, it is a starting point that we must preserve and develop. No country should unilaterally renounce its common international responsibility, its historical responsibility, nor should it forget its ecological debt to humanity and future generations.
Developed countries are required to change their irrational patterns of production and consumption, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to honor their commitments on financing and technology transfer to developing countries, under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba reiterates the imperative of achieving a New International Economic Order based on equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, common interest and cooperation of all States, irrespective of their economic and social systems.
We support and promote South-South cooperation as a demonstration of solidarity among developing countries with the limited resources at our disposal and as a complement, not a substitute, for North-South Cooperation.
The developed countries must fulfill their international commitments on Official Development Assistance. These countries are still far from meeting the long-standing objective of mobilizing 0.7 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product for developing countries, including the target of 0.15 to 0.20 per cent for the Least Developed Countries (LDC). We call upon them to set clear and transparent timetables, within their national budget processes for delivering on these commitments.
Mr. Chairman,
The spirit of working for a better world, which we believe possible, will continue to guide the actions of the Cuban delegation at the current session. We reiterate in this regard our full support and cooperation in the work of the Second Committee.
Thank you very much.