New York, October 11, 2018. We reject unilateral, discriminatory and protectionist trade practices hindering our countries development efforts and undermining the foundations of multilateralism; as well as the application of unilateral coercive economic measures as a means of exerting political and economic pressure on developing countries, contrary to international law and the Charter of the United Nations and of which the US blockade against the island is the best example; affirmed the Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba, Ambassador Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal in the Segment on Macroeconomic Policy Questions of the Second Committee of the United Nations.
The Cuban representative stated that the right to development of Cubans is limited by the negative effects of the blockade, whose cumulative economic damage amounts to 933 billion 678 thousand dollars. Such a policy, she added, prevents the island from accessing the best technologies on equal terms, from establishing normal trade, financing or investment relations with the world, or from maintaining normal relations with international financial institutions and companies from other countries, in particular those of the United States.
Rodríguez Abascal once again raised her voice to demand structural changes in economic, commercial and international financial fields that put an end to poverty, hunger, inequality and the marginalization of billions of people, mainly in developing countries.
She also noted that the aspiration of developing countries has been to achieve a fairer, non-discriminatory international order enabling growth and development for all and narrowing the gaps with developed countries.
She acknowledged that compliance with the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda will only be possible through real political will and expressed concern that very few developed nations have fulfilled their commitments to offer 0.7% of GDP as Official Development Assistance, which in 2017 only represented 0.31% of the GDP of the group of donor countries.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations