Speech by the representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Inga Rhonda King, at the UN Session on the need to remove the U.S. blockade against Cuba. teleSUR
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 We go live to the United Nations.
00:06 The representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines speaks at the 24th plenary meeting
00:10 on the need to end the U.S. blockade against Cuba.
00:13 Welcome to the steps that were taken between 2015 and 2016 by Cuba and the United States
00:21 to commence the process of normalizing their diplomatic relations, which began a new chapter
00:29 in the history of peace and coexistence among nations of the Americas.
00:35 However, we regret that the embargo remains a reality for the Cuban people and unquestionably
00:42 continues to be the main obstacle of normal development in Cuba.
00:49 The report of the Secretary General, A/78/84, confirms the cost of the policy for Cuba as
00:58 it does substantial and unjustifiable harm to the well-being of the Cuban people and
01:05 is contrary to the desire for peace of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean,
01:12 as set out in the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace.
01:18 The economic, commercial, and financial embargo on Cuba is contrary to the letter, spirit,
01:26 purposes, and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
01:32 SILAC reiterates its firm rejection of the application of laws and measures that are
01:38 contrary to international law, such as the Helms-Burton Act, including the extraterritorial
01:45 effects and the increasing persecution of Cuba's international financial transactions,
01:52 which run counter to the political desires of the international community.
02:01 We are also opposed to the unjust inclusion of Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism,
02:08 which in addition to being unsubstantiated, has increased the chilling effect of the embargo-related
02:17 restrictions and worsened Cuba's chances of establishing commercial and financial relations
02:25 with international partners.
02:27 We urge the government of the United States to put an end to those measures.
02:33 SILAC underscores its special declaration on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial,
02:40 and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba, adopted at the seventh
02:47 summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean
02:53 States, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 24 January 2023.
02:59 In it, we requested that the government of the United States abide by the successive
03:04 resolutions of the General Assembly and, in response to repeated calls from the international
03:10 community, put an end to the economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba.
03:16 Furthermore, SILAC reiterates its deep concerns about the tightening of the policy and its
03:22 rejection of the extraterritorial dimension of the embargo, which has had a severe impact
03:29 on Cuba's international financial transactions and the welfare of the Cuban people.
03:36 The Charter of the United Nations sets out rights, obligations, and principles and have
03:42 become part of the legal heritage of humankind as well as international law.
03:49 They should not be violated or undermined by any member.
03:55 Member states should modify their national and international actions in line with the
03:59 rights, obligations, and principles set out in our charter.
04:04 The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States strongly supports the adoption of draft
04:11 resolution A/78/L.5 entitled "Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial, and Financial
04:22 Embargo Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba."
04:26 We underscore the inconsistency of applying unilateral, coercive measures that are not
04:33 supported by international law or by the letter, spirit, purposes, or principles of the Charter
04:42 of the United Nations.
04:44 We reiterate our call on the United States to respond to the appeal by the countries
04:51 of Latin America and the Caribbean, every region of the world, and its own people to
04:58 put an end once and for all to the unjust embargo on Cuba.
05:05 I thank you, Mr. President, and I now beg your indulgence as I will deliver a few additional
05:11 remarks in my national capacity.
05:15 Before beginning, allow me to align with the statements to be delivered on behalf of the
05:21 Caribbean Community, CARICOM, and that which I just delivered on behalf of the SILAC.
05:27 Every year, by virtue of the resolution entitled "Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial,
05:35 and Financial Embargo Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba," the General
05:41 Assembly pronounces overwhelmingly in favor of Cuba.
05:46 This text, since its adoption in 1992, reflects the membership's unwavering condemnation of
05:54 the ongoing blockade imposed on Cuba.
05:57 Mr. President, St. Vincent and the Grenadines' opposition to the ongoing measures is founded
06:03 on our steadfast advocacy of the bedrock principles of the multilateral order, which are enshrined
06:09 unambiguously in the Charter of the United Nations, namely the principles of sovereignty
06:15 and nonintervention and noninterference in the internal affairs of a state.
06:20 The equal application of and adherence to these principles, along with others that have
06:26 been entrenched in the Charter, play an indispensable role in safeguarding peaceful coexistence
06:33 amongst nations.
06:35 To this end, we underscore that the continued imposition of this embargo is not only a violation
06:41 of the Charter and a front to international law, but also inhumane, unjust, and anachronistic.
06:54 We therefore appeal to the member states to honor their obligations under the Charter
07:01 to avoid promulgating and applying laws and measures that fall within those set out in
07:09 the resolution.
07:11 We further appeal to the states that have imposed such measures to undertake the necessary
07:17 steps and actions required to repeal or invalidate them.
07:26 We unequivocally reject the unilateral imposition of illegal and counterproductive measures
07:32 by some states on others as responsible actors in the international community.
07:39 Member states have a legal and moral obligation to oppose extraterritorial application of
07:43 domestic policies, which violate international law, the overarching framework that was curated
07:50 and established to safeguard our peaceful and prosperous existence.
07:56 As we look toward implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we recall Member
08:03 States' commitment to leaving no one behind.
08:05 The ongoing embargo is an unnecessary barrier to Cuba's ability to achieve these goals on
08:12 the same footing as the rest of the international community.
08:16 While we recognize the significant advancements that Cuba has made in areas such as health
08:21 care and education, as well as the commendable commitment shown to meeting the Sustainable
08:26 Development Goals in spite of the existing embargo, we also express our grave concern
08:32 about the stymieing and palpable impact that the embargo has on Cuba, which is borne directly
08:39 by its people and further affects the region.
08:43 Noting that these illegal measures can run counter to the letter of spirit principles
08:48 and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, St. Vincent and the Grenadines expresses
08:53 its strong support for the adoption of Resolution entitled "The Necessity of Ending the Economic,
09:00 Commercial and Financial Embargo Imposed by the United States of America against Cuba,"
09:06 that out in Resolution A/78/L.5, we reiterate our position that the unconditional lifting
09:15 of the embargo is a prerequisite to any meaningful rapprochement between the United States and
09:23 Cuba.
09:24 They urge and urge the United States to take heed of the consistent appeals echoed by Member
09:31 States who oppose these harmful policies.
09:35 This is the only way to create an environment conducive for mutually respectful dialogue
09:42 that facilitates a sustainable path forward.
09:45 I thank you, Mr. President.
09:46 I should like to thank the distinguished representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, speaking
09:55 on behalf of CELAC, and I now invite the distinguished representative of El Salvador, speaking on
10:02 behalf of the Central American International.
10:09 We were listening to the statements of the representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
10:12 at the 24th plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
10:16 The representative denounced the cost and harm of the U.S. blockade has on Cuba.
10:20 CELAC renews its call for the immediate lifting of the blockade.
10:24 The representative also rejects the inclusion of Cuba by the U.S. in the list of nations
10:28 that sponsor terrorism and demand that the U.S. government remove Cuba from said list.
10:33 The representative also calls on the U.S. to abide by the draft resolution that has
10:37 been approved over the years.
10:39 We will have more updates in upcoming news briefs.
10:41 Stay tuned with Telesur.
10:42 [MUSIC]