Mr. President:
We associate ourselves with the statement of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations.
We thank the People's Republic of China for convening this meeting.
In an increasingly interconnected world, international relations must be based on mutual respect, cooperation and strict adherence to international law and the United Nations Charter. Today, however, we are treading a dangerous path in which unilateralism and intimidating practices threaten development, peace and international security.
Cuba, committed to multilateralism as an inalienable principle for a democratic, just and equitable international order, firmly opposes unilateral coercive measures that violate international law; trade wars and punitive tariffs that violate the Charter of the United Nations, affect international trade and the world economy, and exacerbate the wide gap between developed and developing countries, in a context in which social exclusion, inequalities and poverty affect millions of people on the planet.
It is paradoxical that the United States, the host country of the United Nations, is today the main proponent of a policy that undermines the very essence of multilateralism by abandoning international organizations and treaties and promoting a foreign policy agenda based on blackmail and economic and political coercion. At the same time, they support and participate without compunction in the expansion of the genocide against the Palestinian people. These actions, in the shadow of petty and selfish interests, are instruments of domination that primarily harm the nations of the South.
The U.S. government, whose neoliberal policies have enriched its corporations for decades at the expense of the resources of developing countries, is now resorting to vindictive tariffs that widen the gap between rich and poor. These measures are not only unfair, but also hinder the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the right to development of our peoples. The trade war could lead to a global recession and exacerbate the growing challenges posed by the current international order, with negative impacts particularly on developing countries.
The Cuban people know the harmful effects of the economic war imposed by the United States. For more than six decades, they have deliberately sought to suffocate the national economy, sabotage it and create significant obstacles to impede our growth and development.
The criminal and illegal economic blockade against Cuba limits its productive, commercial and technological potential and hinders its commercial relations with any country in the world, including the United States, despite the geographical proximity and potential benefits for both peoples. The reinclusion of Cuba on the illegal list of state sponsors of terrorism increases the enormous economic and humanitarian damage caused by the blockade.
Now comes the shameful campaign against the medical cooperation that Cuba provides to more than fifty nations in different latitudes. The U.S. government is promoting politically motivated slander in an effort to attack Cuba and negatively affect its cooperative relations, without measuring the damage to the people who need these basic services and their right to health and life.
Mr. President:
We reiterate our urgent call for reform of the financial architecture and the international trading system. Special and differential treatment for developing countries must be strengthened, and sustainable supply chains that prioritize their economic growth and equitable access to markets must be promoted.
Unilateralism and protectionism, including unilateral trade restrictions, are inconsistent with the World Trade Organization agreements and must be eliminated.
We reaffirm the role of the United Nations as the principal bulwark against global threats. Humanity needs greater solidarity, cooperation and dialogue, and a firm and renewed commitment to multilateralism to ensure peaceful coexistence, maintain international peace and security, and find lasting solutions to systemic problems.
We reiterate Cuba's support for the global initiatives proposed by China, which are an expression of its will to defend world peace, multilateralism, equality among nations and peoples, the opening of opportunities for all and complementarity, as well as the rejection of hegemonism and unilateral policies.
Friendly and cooperative relations among nations must prevail over selfishness and coercion.
Muchas gracias.