Mr. Chairman,
Cuba endorses the statement by the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the NAM and by El Salvador on behalf of CELAC. We thank the Secretary-General for the presentation of his report A / 72/111 on this important topic.
Our country reiterates its unwavering will to fight against terrorism and its deepest rejection and condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, against whomsoever, and wherever they may be committed; regardless of their motivations, including those cases in which States are directly or indirectly involved.
The confrontation with terrorism must be holistic, through direct confrontation and prevention, and with concrete actions to eradicate its root causes.
Cuba reiterates that terrorism cannot and should not be linked to any religion, nationality, civilization or any ethnic group.
We condemn any action that is intended to encourage, support, finance or cover up any terrorist act, method or practice.
Cuba accompanied the UN Secretary General's proposal to create a new United Nations Counter-Terrorism Structure this year to fight against terrorism.
The new structure should focus on the most effective implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which is a key instrument in the international confrontation of this scourge. It should be based on full respect for the principles of the UN Charter and international law and in no case be a mechanism for supervising States.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba considers that the harmful practice of certain states to finance, support or promote subversive acts of "regime change", as well as messages of intolerance and hatred against other peoples, cultures or political systems, through the use of modern information and communications technologies, violates the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
Cuba reiterates its strong condemnation of the unilateral acts of certain States that abrogate the right to certify conducts and to make politically motivated lists, contrary to international law, since these acts undermine the central authority of the General Assembly in the fight against terrorism.
The International Community cannot accept that, under the banner of a supposed fight against terrorism, certain States carry out acts of aggression, directly or indirectly against sovereign peoples, and that flagrant violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law are committed.
We also strongly reject the manipulation of such a sensitive issue such as international terrorism to make it an instrument of politics against any country.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba is a State Party to 18 international conventions on terrorism and reaffirms its commitment to continue working to strengthen the central role of the United Nations in adopting measures and developing a comprehensive legal framework in the fight against international terrorism.
We reiterate our support for the adoption of a general convention on international terrorism that overcomes the existing legal gaps in the definition of terrorism. In addition, we favor the convening of an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations, to provide an organized response to the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba, for defending its independence, sovereignty and dignity, has suffered for decades the consequences of terrorist acts, with a balance of 3,478 deaths and 2,099 disabled persons.
Forty-one years after the explosion in mid-flight off the coast of Barbados of a Cubana airline airplane, which killed 73 people, we Cubans see with indignation that justice has not yet been done to the victims of this horrendous crime. Its intellectual author, the self-confessed terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, walks freely through the streets of Miami with the complicity of the United States Government. In a few days, on October 6, the Cuban people will remember with deep pain another anniversary of this abominable crime.
Mr. Chairman,
We reiterate that Cuba has never participated in the organization, financing or execution of terrorist acts against any country, has never supported or will never support acts of international terrorism. The Cuban territory has never been used and will never be used to organize, finance or execute terrorist acts against any country.
Cuba reiterates its support for multilateral and bilateral cooperation to face international terrorism and, therefore, remains committed to cooperate with all countries to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism, always on the basis of mutual respect and in accordance with the principles and norms of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
Thank you very much