Speech by the Cuban delegation to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency. March 4-6, 2024.
Item 5: "Strengthening the Agency's activities related to science, technology and nuclear applications".
Mr. Chairman,
The Cuban delegation subscribes to the interventions made by the representatives of G77+China and GRULAC.
We thank the Director General for his report GOV/2024/2, of which we take note and formulate, in our national capacity, the following comments:
Cuba highlights the work carried out by the IAEA in the field of nuclear-electric and non-electric applications and reaffirms the need to continue increasing the transfer of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and the exchange of knowledge with developing countries.
We reaffirm support for the NUTEC-Plastics initiative to address the challenges posed by plastic pollution. My country reiterates its willingness to continue participating in this project and to contribute its experiences and knowledge in this field, led by the Center for Environmental Studies of Cienfuegos (CEAC).
Cuba has increased its capacities in the activities of sampling, separation, identification and quantification of marine microplastics and has enhanced the operation of the monitoring laboratory, which aspires to become, by 2026, a regional node capable of supporting the activity of other laboratories.
We fully support the Rays of Hope initiative, aimed at promoting the expansion of Member States' capabilities to provide their populations with access to diagnostic and radiotherapy equipment and facilities, as well as cancer control. We stress the importance of the event held from January 29 to February 2 to promote this initiative.
My delegation congratulates the Agency for the success of the ZODIAC initiative, the continuity of the Marie Curie Fellowship Program and the launching of other new initiatives such as Atoms4Food and Atoms4NetZero, which cover two of the main problems of today's world and to which the IAEA can contribute greatly in their solution.
We reaffirm Cuba's support to the Regional Cooperation Agreement for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARCAL), as well as to the collaborative actions derived within the framework of the Agreement and the expansion of the Agreement's national and international alliances.
For my country, the peaceful use of nuclear energy in areas such as health, agriculture and the environment are fundamental for the implementation of the National Development Strategy until 2030.
We recognize the work carried out by the Ibero-American Forum of Radiological and Nuclear Regulatory Agencies (FORO) of which Cuba is a founding member, in promoting the safety of nuclear applications, during its more than 25 years of activity.
Mr. Chairman,
The achievements made in the implementation of our country's program have been possible in spite of the numerous and sustained limitations caused by the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba for more than six decades, which significantly affects the implementation of technical cooperation projects between our country and the IAEA.
In conclusion, allow me to emphasize that nuclear weapons cannot generate shared benefits; however, the use of atoms for peace and development can.
Thank you very much.