Dear colleagues:
We endorse the statements made by Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and by Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations.
We welcome the initiative to organize this event, which places the value of multilateralism, diplomacy and peace at the center of attention on the eve of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.
The establishment of April 24 as the “International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace,” promoted by the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the General Assembly, is highly symbolic. The date coincides with the conclusion of the Afro-Asian Conference of 1955, the origin of the Bandung Principles, on which the Non-Aligned Movement, grouping most of the members of the United Nations in defense of multilateralism, was founded.
The celebration of this International Day invites us to reflect on the achievements and challenges of our Organization, on the dangers hanging over multilateralism, on the profound reforms demanded by the current international order and on the next steps humanity will take to save itself from the selfishness, aggression and coercion of a few, to the detriment of those most in need, who struggle every day for their development.
In taking such a balance, we cannot ignore the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people and the injustice that, for more than 75 years, has marked the lives of generations of Palestinians. Israel's illegal occupation, forced displacement, colonization and apartheid practices have continuously and flagrantly violated the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
Dear Colleagues:
We are witnessing a crucial moment, as the United States attempts to force the design of an international system that threatens peace, stability and security.
Through the supposed defense of an extreme nationalism, an imperialist and racist exceptionalism, the U.S. government resorts to the use of brutally punitive economic and commercial tools, whose pernicious effect will have negative repercussions on our peoples.
In the face of escalating tensions and renewed forms of domination and hegemony, growing threats to international peace and security, and the new U.S. government's offensive against the UN and other multilateral institutions, let us respond by strengthening unity, globalizing solidarity, and fostering integration, cooperation and dialogue. Today, as never before, a renewed commitment to multilateralism is needed.
Diplomacy and mutual respect in international relations must take precedence over coercion. The promotion of a culture of peace and full respect for the United Nations Charter and international law are urgently needed if we are to ensure peaceful coexistence among nations and thus the very survival of humanity.
The application of unilateral coercive measures and the drawing up of spurious and arbitrary lists, such as that of States that allegedly sponsor terrorism, which are contrary to international law, must cease immediately.
The multilateral system must be renewed to respond to the urgent demands for a more just, democratic, equitable and respectful of the sovereign equality of States, for the benefit of present and future generations.
I reaffirm Cuba's commitment to the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, which is to reaffirm our profound vocation for peace and our unwavering commitment to respect for national sovereignty and the self-determination of peoples. Cuba will continue to be committed to the unavoidable value of multilateralism, the Charter of the United Nations and International Law.
I conclude by citing the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, who tirelessly advocated the values implied by this International Day, and I mention: “The battle for peace means fighting to save humanity from apocalyptic destruction, it means fighting to save hundreds of millions of lives of men, women, young people, the elderly and children”.
Thank you very much.