Mr. Chairman,
We commend you and the other members of the Bureau on your elections. We further wish you success in the work of this Committee.
We support the statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and El Salvador on behalf of CELAC.
Seventy-three years after the criminal bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, about 14,400 nuclear weapons still exist in the world, including 3,750 that are deployed and 2,000 in operational status. Cuba reiterates its deep concern at the mere existence of nuclear weapons.
The fact that the nuclear-weapon States have strengthened the role of these weapons in their military doctrines and lowered the threshold for considering the use of nuclear weapons, including in response to so-called "non-nuclear strategic threats" is very dangerous.
Cuba reiterates its rejection of these military positions and doctrines based on nuclear deterrence. These are unjustifiable and contrary to the obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
As the Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly last September, “it is a fact that the military and nuclear hegemonism is perpetuating itself and expanding to the detriment of the hopes of the majority of peoples for a general and complete disarmament. Cuba shares this ideal”.
It is alarming that, in an accelerated qualitative vertical proliferation, millions of dollars are invested each year in the war industry, the existing nuclear arsenals are modernized and new nuclear weapons systems are developed; instead of allocating those resources to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and to combat hunger and poverty.
We look forward to nuclear-weapon States correcting themselves and showing political will and responsibility on the goal of nuclear disarmament in the framework of the commemoration this year of the 50th anniversary of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and this NPT review cycle.
Cuba, the fifth State to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, will persist in the goal that this Treaty, which outlaws the use, existence and development of nuclear weapons and endorses their inhumane, immoral and ethically indefensible nature, be implemented and complemented by effective measures leading to the total elimination of these arsenals in an effective, transparent and irreversible manner.
We will continue to promote every year the UNGA High-Level Meeting to commemorate and promote the "International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons".
Cuba supports the actions of the Secretary-General's Disarmament Agenda to promote the goal of nuclear disarmament to be recognized as the highest priority in the field of disarmament.
We endorse the rejection by a majority of the decision of the United States government to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or Nuclear Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
We welcome the process of rapprochement and dialogue between the two Koreas, the path towards lasting peace, reconciliation and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba supports the prohibition and complete elimination of weapons of mass destruction as the only effective guarantee to prevent their acquisition and use, including by terrorists.
Our country firmly rejects the use of any weapon of mass destruction by any actor and under any circumstances.
Moreover, Cuba strictly complies with the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. We are convinced of the importance of their preservation.
We reject selective, non-transparent and politically motivated approaches to the implementation of these instruments, as well as any distorted interpretation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the creation of mechanisms and procedures beyond its scope.
With regard to the Biological Weapons Convention, Cuba reiterates that it is essential to adopt a legally binding protocol to strengthen it and rule out forever the possible use of such weapons.
All limitations and restrictions that prevent the broadest possible exchange, in particular for developing countries, of materials, equipment and technology for nuclear, chemical and biological activities for peaceful uses consistent with the relevant international treaties must cease.
We reiterate our strong condemnation of the imposition of unilateral and unjust sanctions.
Mr. Chairman,
In an international context marked by an increased warmongering and aggressive rhetoric, the use and threat of the use of force and the imposition of sanctions and unilateral coercive measures, the high global military expenditure of $1.74 trillion are reason for concern, mistrust and animosity.
The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, an international scourge that affects most regions and countries of the world is also alarming. In that regard, Cuba reiterates its commitment to continue implementing the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the Final Documents of its Review Conferences.
With regard to conventional weapons, Cuba supports the commencement of negotiations for a legally binding instrument prohibiting autonomous lethal weapons or "Killer Robots" and a regulation of military attack drones, for which the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons would be the ideal negotiating forum.
Cuba reiterates its rejection of the militarization of outer space and cyberspace, as well as the covert and illegal use of information and communications technologies to attack other States.
In keeping with its strong principled position, Cuba will continue to defend multilateralism in disarmament and non-proliferation negotiations and to demand respect for the Charter of the United Nations and the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.
Thank you very much