Mr. President,
First of all, we would like to congratulate you and all the members of the Board on your election. We wish you every success in performing your responsibilities.
My delegation associates itself with the statements made by Morocco 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.
Mr. President,
We reaffirm that, for Cuba, the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security rests with the United Nations.
The General Assembly has the primary role in the formulation of concepts, policies, doctrines, strategies and budgetary matters related to peacekeeping. In this regard, we reiterate that the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations is the only United Nations forum mandated to discuss in a comprehensive manner the issue of peacekeeping operations in all its aspects, including measures to improve its management by the Organization.
Peacekeeping operations must be conducted in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Likewise, the basic principles established for the development of these operations, such as the consent of the parties, impartiality and the non-use of force except in cases of legitimate self-defense, must be fully observed.
Respect for the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, territorial integrity of States and non-interference in their internal affairs must also be emphasized.
The establishment of new and more complex peacekeeping operations cannot be a substitute for addressing and resolving the root causes of conflicts. Our delegation reiterates that these operations cannot constitute an end in themselves, but rather a temporary measure to create a security framework that allows for the implementation of a long-term strategy for sustainable economic and social development. Otherwise, it will not be possible to break the vicious circle of new conflicts and operations, given their high human and material costs.
Mr. President,
We reiterate our concern about the use of new technologies in peacekeeping operations. We believe that these technologies should be used on a case-by-case basis and in strict compliance with the principles of the UN Charter, in particular the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States, and in full compliance with the principles of peacekeeping operations, especially the indispensable and full consent of the host country.
In this regard, the legal, operational, technical and financial aspects related to the use of modern technology need to be defined. At the same time, we believe that such use can complement, but not replace, the work of troops in the field.
We also reaffirm the importance of continuing to foster cooperation between troop-contributing countries, the Security Council and the Secretariat. Troop-contributing countries must be genuinely involved in all stages of the decision-making process for peacekeeping operations.
The security of peacekeepers remains of paramount importance. We agree on the need to further develop effective security and protection arrangements for participants in peacekeeping operations. Similarly, the medical care of deployed personnel must be ensured on a permanent and timely basis.
Mr. President,
Let me conclude by reaffirming my country’s willingness to contribute to the success of the Special Committee’s work. We hope that constructive dialogue and consensus will lead us to reflect on and adopt best practices in the field of peacekeeping operations during this session.
Thank you