Faced with this goal, Cuban First Depity Foreign Minister Gerardo Peñalver demanded strict respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and International Law. He spoke during the installation of Cuba as president of the Conference on Disarmament.
“As a small, insular, developing country that has resisted all kinds of sieges, threats, including military aggression, unconventional warfare, and a brutal economic, commercial, and financial blockade for more than six decades, we sign and we vigorously support the principles and norms of International Law and defend peace under all circumstances,” he stressed.
Peñalver also ratified Cuba’s unambiguous opposition to the use or threat of use of force against any State.
Regarding the current crisis in Europe, the senior official stated that Cuba will continue advocating for a serious, constructive and realistic diplomatic solution, by peaceful means, which guarantees the security and sovereignty of all, as well as regional and international peace, stability and security.
The determination of the United States to continue the progressive expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to the borders of Russia has led to a scenario with implications of unpredictable scope, which could have been avoided if the well-founded claims for security guarantees from that country had been seriously and respectfully addressed, he explained.
According to Peñalever, humanity is experiencing a challenging and complex situation, marked by the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has deepened structural inequalities and catalyzed a multidimensional global crisis.
In his voice, Cuba warned in Geneva that threats against international peace and security are growing, conflicts are increasing and unjust and illegal sanctions and unilateral coercive measures are being imposed against developing countries.
Likewise, he denounced that the survival of the human species is compromised by irrational patterns of production and consumption, and an arms race is increasing exponentially in which resources that should be allocated to sustainable development and to achieve the desired global immunization against Covid-19 are being squandered.
“Multilateralism faces enormous challenges. In this context, the role of the United Nations, international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes, are increasingly relevant,” Peñalver stressed.
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