00:00Now let's listen to statements from Eritrea on behalf of the group of friends within our nation charter.
00:34This is one of the most serious, prolonged and systematic violations of international law and the Charter of the United
00:43Nations.
00:45It goes not only against the purpose and principle of the organization, but also against international human rights law.
00:54More than 30 resolutions approved by this General Assembly have not been enough for the removal of the blockade.
01:02The message has been very clear.
01:05Throughout three decades, the Cuban people have the right to build their own future, free from any kind of interferences
01:16or pressures.
01:18In line with our historic and principle position, we express our unwavering solidarity with the people and government of the
01:28Republic of Cuba.
01:29We strongly condemn the adoption of additional measures aimed at further tightening the blockade through actions intended to obstruct the
01:41supply of oil to the country
01:43and curtail legitimate economic and commercial relations between Cuba and third states.
01:51Such actions, based on a narrative built upon falsehood intended to present the Republic of Cuba as a threat that
02:04it does not represent, seeks to deliberately asphyxiate the Cuban economy and to inflict additional suffering on the Cuban people.
02:14These measures are clearly intended to aggravate in a deliberate manner the living conditions of the population and to deprive
02:23the Republic of Cuba of essential resources, including energy supplies, vital for economic activity and social well-being.
02:33We call for dialogue, restrain and constructive engagement, as well as for refraining from measures that could further aggravate the
02:44humanitarian and economic situation of Cuban people and their livelihood, particularly as a result of additional measures with a negative
02:53impact on the energy security field.
02:58Cuba has reportedly received only one oil tanker during the last 10 months, contributing to a deep energy crisis that
03:07has affected the entire country, with 20 hours or more of power outages currently experienced by the population on certain
03:17days.
03:17The humanitarian impact on the health sector is particularly troubling.
03:23The Secretary General's report indicates that survival rates among children diagnosed with cancer have declined from approximately 85% to
03:3365%.
03:35Infant mortality has increased from approximately 4 tests per 1,000 live births to 9.9 per 1,000 live
03:46births.
03:47In addition, the health system faces the challenge of ensuring essential services for 32 pregnant women, 30,000 children that
04:00need their vaccines on time, and 2,888 patients dependent on hemodialysis treatments, all of which require a stable supply
04:11of electricity.
04:13It is also concerning that more than 7,000 containers carrying food, resources for the energy matrix transformation program, supplies
04:23for drinking water provision, and vital medicines remain held at various Caribbean ports due to the deterrent effect of the
04:32measures currently in place, preventing their arrival in the country.
04:37The group also denounces the campaign unleashed to discredit Cuban international medical cooperation and to exert pressure on recipient governments,
04:48particularly on those from developing countries, thereby diminishing the commendable work undertaken by Cuban medical personnel in saving lives around
04:58the world, as demonstrated among others during the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic.
05:04In this context, we express our deep appreciation, gratitude, and recognition to the Cuban health professionals who have provided high
05:15-quality health care to millions of people around the world.
05:19The group rejects any unilateral coercive measures or attempts to hinders this international medical cooperation and solidarity for political or
05:29any other reasons.
05:31We also reiterate in this context the need to put an end to the politicization of the fight against terrorism
05:38and the establishment of false lists accusing developing states, including Cuba, of sponsoring terrorism, which is a practice entirely incompatible
05:48with international law that requires to be terminated.
05:53As noted in the report of the Secretary General A-81-76, this designation has further aggravated the financial obstacles
06:03faced by Cuba, deterring foreign banks from processing payments and discouraging the shipment of goods to the country.
06:13Mr. President, the group of friends in defense of the charter of the United Nations reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to
06:22the defense, preservation, and full implementation of the purposes and principles enshrined in the charter of the United Nations in
06:31their entirety and interconnectedness,
06:33including the sovereign equality of states, including the sovereign equality of states, the prohibition of the threat or use of
06:39force, non-intervention in the internal affairs of states, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the right to appeal to
06:47self-determination.
06:48A small state such as Cuba cannot possibly constitute a threat to any other country and has consistently advocated peaceful
06:58coexistence, sovereign equality, and dialogue among states.
07:03Threats against Cuba's sovereignty, including statements suggesting the possibility of military action, raises serious cautions under the charter of the
07:13United Nations, including the principle of sovereign equality, non-intervention,
07:18and the prohibition of the threat or use of force, and the prohibition of the threat or use of force.
07:22In this regard, we caution against any adventurism aimed at fabricating pretexts for intervention in the domestic affairs of the
07:31Republic of Cuba,
07:32or for the threat or use of force against the country, and highlight in this context the responsibility of the
07:39international community as a whole and the United Nations to unequivocally condemn such actors.
07:46Proceeding in that direction would entail extremely grave humanitarian consequences for its population and for the Latin American and Caribbean
07:55region with a dangerous destabilizing effect,
07:59contrary to its status as a zone of peace.
08:03We further underscore that differences among states, regardless of their political, economic, or social systems, must be addressed through dialogue,
08:14diplomacy, and cooperation in accordance with international law and the charter of the United Nations.
08:21The normalization of all these practices would only contribute to further under meaning the integrity of the entire international legal
08:30order.
08:31A further element of concern has been the increasing use of judicial and political actions against senior Cuban leaders,
08:39which goes against the sovereign equality and self-determination under the UN Charter.
08:43Mr. President, year after year, the report of the Secretary General presented to this body under this agenda item illustrates
08:54the negative impact caused by the blockade on the Cuban population.
08:58There are children and young people who suffer these impacts, mothers and the elderly who live in depreation,
09:06and are victims of a harmful blockade driven by political motivations.
09:11The group of friends in defense of the Charter of the United Nations reiterate their unwavering solidarity with the people
09:20and government of the Republic of Cuba,
09:22and calls upon the international community to reiterate the call of the General Assembly of the United Nations
09:29to lift the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the government of the United States of America against the
09:36Republic of Cuba,
09:37to remove Cuba from the arbitrary and unilateral list of state sponsors of terrorism,
09:43to uphold international law, multilateralism, and the respect for the Charter of the United Nations in its entirety and interconnectedness,
09:53and finally to support once again the draft resolution to be submitted by the Cuban delegation under this agenda item.
10:02I thank you, Mr. President.
10:03I thank you, Mr. President.
