New York, 17 November 2022. Gerardo Peñalver Portal, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba spoke today at the United Nations General Assembly, on the debate on agenda item 125, entitled: Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council.
“…I would like to reiterate the importance of addressing Security Council reform in a comprehensive manner, discussing in detail the five key issues of this process”, he underscored, while indicating Cuba´s position in favor of a more efficient, democratic, transparent and representative Council.
The Cuban top official also called for the expansion of the Security Council, both in the category of permanent and non-permanent members, in order to redress the under-representation of developing countries, which make up a significant portion of the membership of this Organization.
To Cuba, such expansion should include an increase in new permanent members, especially regions such as Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, which are not represented in this category. The category of non-permanent members should be expanded as well.
In addition, Peñalver Portal referred to the existence of the veto, which Cuba has always opposed. However, he noted, as long as the veto is not eliminated, the new seats created in the category of permanent members should have exactly the same prerogatives and rights as the current ones, including the power of veto.
The First Deputy Minister took the opportunity to reiterate that the Council's interference in matters outside its competence must cease, particularly in those matters that fall within the mandate of the General Assembly.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations