Mr. Chairman,
Eighteen years after the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace, Cuba reaffirms its full validity and is grateful for the convening of this High-Level Forum, which allows to reflect on how much is yet to be done to achieve and enjoy a true culture of peace, fostering understanding among peoples and tolerance of differences. Unfortunately, this remains an outstanding issue for the international community and is, today more than ever, a moral imperative
There can be no peace without full respect for the sovereignty of States; there can be no peace without respect for the self-determination of peoples and the territorial integrity of States. Acting in accordance with international law is a crucial prerequisite to achieve a culture of peace.
How can we speak of a culture of peace when the mere existence of nuclear weapons seriously threatens not only international peace and security but also the survival of the human species?
How can we talk about peace, regardless of the millions of hungry, sick and illiterate people in the world?
How can we speak of a culture of peace when it has become frequent to hear powerful States are threatening to launch a military intervention in order to overthrow legitimately constituted governments; when hidden change of regime agendas are promoted in developing countries; or when the use of unilateral coercive measures in the conduct of their international relations is admitted without the slightest flush?
How to speak of a culture of peace if there is no respect for the Charter of the United Nations and international law; if racism and intolerance are fostered towards multiplicity of cultures, religions and traditions?
Promoting a culture of peace is also to strengthen international cooperation, particularly North-South cooperation; to ensure universal access to high quality education; to promote, guarantee and protect all human rights, including the right to development; to spare no effort to eradicate the deep gap that divides human society into rich and poor and the ever-increasing disparity between the developed and the developing world.
Mr. Chairman,
The promotion and formation of a culture of peace require condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, including State terrorism and concrete actions to fight this scourge.
The necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba would be an unequivocal message in favor of peace and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Manipulated exercises and double standards on issues such as human rights, with the aim to single out developing countries and discredit their legitimate governments, does not contribute to the ideal of peace; nor does colonialism and the transgression of the right to self-determination and independence.
Only through a culture of real peace can we advance towards the development and well-being of our peoples and towards achieving the goals we have set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Finally, we recall and ratify the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, and its total validity within the context of the full implementation of the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace.
Thank you very much.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.