Madame President,
Cuba recognizes and supports the important work of the International Atomic Energy Agency in the pursuit of peace and sustainable development, as well as the progress made during the last period.
Achieving the goal of nuclear disarmament has been and will continue to be the highest disarmament priority.
We recognize the contribution of the implementation of the IAEA safeguards verification system, which is essential for certifying the peaceful nature of nuclear energy programmes.
We also appreciate the indispensable and significant contribution of the IAEA in promoting and developing the application of nuclear technologies in key areas for the economy and society such as human health, with special attention to the cancer control programme, food security, agriculture and environmental protection.
Given the importance of continuing to support the development and promotion of nuclear applications and technical cooperation in developing countries and to assist in the transfer of technology to these countries, it is necessary to redouble the Agency's efforts to leverage resources of the Technical Cooperation Programme, the main focus of which is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Madame President,
Our country firmly supports the inalienable right of all States to undertake research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, without any discrimination or conditions.
Cuba reiterates its rejection and demands the immediate removal of any kind of limitations and restrictions on the exports of materials, equipment and technologies to developing countries for peaceful nuclear activities.
We reject the decision of the United States government to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan and to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Iran. This is unjustified, contrary to International Law and violates the rules of coexistence among States. Consequently, it can lead to serious consequences for stability and security, moving us away from the objective of establishing a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in the Middle East.
We reaffirm our support for the establishment of a Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East. In this regard, we deeply regret that the Conference planned for that purpose has not yet been held and we support the initiative of the League of Arab States to hold a Conference, no later than June 2019, to start negotiations on a legally binding treaty in this regard.
Madame President,
The effective management of nuclear security admits no exclusion or selectivity. The IAEA is the framework for the adoption of international standards on physical security, which should be the result of transparent and inclusive multilateral negotiations, with the participation of all States.
The entry into force of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material should allow increased protection of nuclear facilities and materials, facilitating cooperation among States parties to prevent and combat crimes involving the use of radioactive and nuclear materials and ratifying the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The possibility of a terrorist attack using nuclear materials cannot be eliminated by applying a selective approach limited to horizontal proliferation and disregarding vertical proliferation and disarmament.
Finally, we congratulate the IAEA for its work and outstanding contribution to such important issues as climate change, fight against desertification and drought, food security and the treatment of diseases, as well as to the achievement of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Thank you very much