Ms. President,
First of all, I would like to warmly congratulate you on your election as President, and my colleagues from Indonesia, Sierra Leone and Syria, who will also continue to serve on the Bureau of the Committee. You can count on Cuba to continue working to complete the process of decolonization.
I thank the Secretariat and the Decolonization Unit for their commendable work.
Likewise, on behalf of Cuba, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the support and confidence you have shown in electing us Vice-President to assume such an important responsibility.
It is with deep conviction that I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the self-determination and independence of all colonial countries and peoples.
It is our duty to continue to review the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Almost 65 years after its historic adoption, territories remain under colonial domination.
In this regard, we will continue to defend the inalienable right to self-determination and independence of the fraternal people of Puerto Rico.
Ms. President,
Although colonialism was almost completely abolished in the second half of the 20th century, there is still work to be done. The vestiges of colonialism have reasserted themselves in new forms.
The peoples of colonial countries and territories look to the United Nations with hope. To remain inactive in the face of their situation would be an irreparable mistake.
Thank you