General Assembly: 28th plenary meeting, 81st session

Good morning, colleagues. The 28th plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. In keeping the established practice, I invite the attention of the Assembly to document A/81/360/appendum 1, in which the Secretary General informs the President of the General Assembly that, since the issuance of his communication contained in document A/81/360, the Plurinational State of Bolivia has made the payments necessary to reduce the arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of the information contained in this document? It is so decided. The Assembly will continue its consideration of agenda item 37, entitled Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Mr.

President, distinguished colleagues, during the statement in the general debate of the 81st session of this General Assembly, Mexico reaffirmed its solidarity with the people of Cuba and its rejection of the embargo and all unilateral economic measures that are contrary to the United Nations Charter. Mexico defends its historic and consistent position in condemnation of the economic embargo against the people of Cuba, that has been maintained for more than six decades, considering it to be contrary to international law and incompatible with the principles of the United Nations Charter. The economic embargo is a structural obstacle to the economic and social development of Cuba with direct consequences for the well-being of its population: the shortages of food and medicines, limitations on access to basic services, liquidity and cash flow difficulties in the banking system, and the energy crisis. demonstrate that its effects go beyond the economic sphere and have an impact on the daily lives of millions of people. No people should be forced to deal with these conditions as a result of unilateral coercive measures. Therefore, putting an end to the embargo is an urgent necessity and a humanitarian imperative. Mexico considers that dialogue, cooperation and respect for international law should prevail over measures which only worsen the difficulties of a population. Moving in this direction would not only benefit Cuba, it would also contribute to building a more prosperous hemisphere with greater solidarity rooted in justice, peace, and understanding among nations. Mr. President, solidarity should be put into practice and not simply be limited to statements of principle. And in line with that conviction, my country has maintained its support for the Cuban people through tangible assistance, humanitarian assistance initiatives. We reaffirm that international cooperation and mutual support among nations are essential. in order to address shared challenges, and we firmly maintain that fraternity among our peoples does not depend on immediate circumstances or differences. Mexico maintains that the use of unilateral measures as a means of exerting external pressure to influence internal decisions within a sovereign state is incompatible with the principles enshrined in the Charter of this Organization and contravenes the spirit of peaceful coexistence among nations. In this vein, we reiterate our rejection of the imposition of unilateral sanctions outside of the measures adopted by the United Nations Security Council. In line with that position, we reiterate the importance of Cuba being removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism of the United States, because their inclusion on that list imposes additional barriers to their financial transactions and international commercial exchanges. The current circumstances require prioritizing dialogue channels, channels for mutual understanding and international cooperation. Eliminating the obstacles to the full participation of Cuba in the international community would make a contribution to strengthening a multilateral order that is rooted in respect for international law and in the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

Thank you, Mr. President. India aligns itself with the statements delivered yesterday on behalf of the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement, and we thank the Secretary General for his report on this issue. The General Assembly has repeatedly called for an end to the embargo and rejected laws and regulations with extraterritorial effects that adversely affect the sovereignty of other States and the progress and prosperity of their peoples. India reiterates the Assembly’s call to all States to refrain from promulgating and applying, and to repeal and invalidate such laws and measures in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Mr. President, according to the Secretary-General’s report, Cuba's health system faces shortages of over 60% of essential medicines, while food production has declined by more than 50% over the past five years. The restrictions on fuel exports to Cuba have also aggravated the country's ongoing energy crisis. The shortages have disrupted essential services, including healthcare, education, water supplies, food distribution, and transportation. Mr. President, India’s commitment to multilateralism is rooted in our belief that international challenges are best addressed through dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the UN Charter. It is in this spirit that India hopes that the embargo will be lifted at the earliest to help create an environment that would enable the people of Cuba to participate more fully in international cooperation and pursue their legitimate development aspirations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of India. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cabo Verde.

COPVIR aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African Group, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the G77 and China, and wishes to add the following remarks at its national capacity. We take the floor to reaffirm COPVIR's long-standing solidarity with the people and government of Cuba and our firm support for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed against Cuba. For more than three decades, this Assembly has called by an overwhelming majority for an end to the embargo. Cabo Verde has consistently supported this call in accordance with our commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the sovereign equality of states. Mr. President, restrictions on trade and financial transitions, high import costs, fuel shortage, and power outage continue to affect Cuba's ability to meet its food needs and sustain essential services. This challenge have disrupted transport, placed additional pressure on hospitals, and affect schools, including the provisions of meals and water. Their impact is felt by families and communities across the country, particularly those in vulnerable situations. As a SEEDS, CAB VER understands how restricted access to essential supplies, markets, and finance can compound existing vulnerabilities and undermine efforts to achieve sustainable development. Mr. President, Cabo Verde and Cuba share historic bonds of friendship and cooperation rooted in solidarity and mutual respect. Since our independence, Cuba has been a valued partner in our development, particularly in health, education, and the training of our human resources. We remain grateful for this enduring partnership. Cabo Verde believes that dialogue, cooperation, and respect for sovereignty are essential to addressing differences between States. We therefore reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the embargo and for the removal of Cuba from unilateral lists that further restrict its access to international finance and systems. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cabo Verde. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Vietnam.

Mr. President, I join previous speakers in welcoming His Excellency Mr. Bruno Rodrigues Barilla, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba, to the meeting of the General Assembly. Vietnam associates itself with the statements of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77, and China and ASEAN. We reaffirm our consistent support for the immediate, complete, and unconditional lifting of the economic, commercial, and financial embargoes imposed by the United States against Cuba, including measures with extraterritorial effects. Mr. President, for more than three decades, this General Assembly has called by overwhelming majority for an end to the embargo. Yet, the policy remains in place more than six decades after its imposition, with additional restrictions intensifying the hardships faced by the Cuban people. We are especially concerned by restrictions affecting Cuba's access to energy. Shortage of fuel and disruption to electricity supplies have serious consequences for hospitals, schools, water systems, food production, and transportation. They also impede lifesaving humanitarian assistance. We are also concerned about the extraterritorial effects of the embargo, which hinder legitimate economic, commercial, and financial relations between Cuba and third States. and raised concerns regarding sovereign equality, noninterference, and freedom of international trade and navigation. Mr. President, Vietnam continues to call for respect for Cuba's sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and the right of its people to self-determination and to choose their path free from external interference and coercion. We call for all differences to be resolved through peaceful dialogue and diplomacy, on the basis of mutual respect and international law. As reaffirmed by our President Thoh Lam at the General Assembly debate last month, Vietnam calls for an end to the embargo, sanctions, and measures restricting energy supplies to Cuba, and for Cuba’s removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Mr. President, The friendship between Vietnam and Cuba has been forged through generations of solidarity and mutual support. Cuba stood with Vietnam during the most difficult years of war, reconstruction, and embargo, and Vietnam remains firmly by Cuba's side today. This solidarity is reflected in practical cooperation to support Cuba's food security, increasing rice and maize production and aquaculture. The Vietnamese people have also extended tangible support to their Cuban friends. We will continue to work closely with Cuba in areas that meet its needs and priorities. We call on Member States, the multilateral system, and international partners to support Cuba's efforts to overcome current challenges. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Vietnam. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone.

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, Sierra Leone aligns itself with the statements delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and Namibia on behalf of the African Group. I acknowledge the esteemed presence of His Excellency Mr. Bruno Rodríguez Parella, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba. Mr. President, a few days ago, we celebrated United Nations Day, marking 81 years since the Charter of the United Nations entered into force. In his message on that occasion, the Secretary-General called on us To reaffirm the values I gave back to the United Nations, that is dialogue over division and cooperation over confrontation, and to stand firm in our resolve to uphold the United Nations Charter and international law. The United Nations is not a club of the like-minded. It brings together states of differing systems, interests, and views. And that is precisely why dialogue, consensus building, and the Charter principles of respect for international law and the peaceful settlement of dispute remain indispensable. It has been said that the United Nations exists not for the powerful, but for all the others. It is those others, small states, that rely most on the principles of the Charter. Those principles must therefore apply consistently and to all. In that spirit, Sierra Leone, as a friend and bilateral partner of both Cuba and the United States of America, encourages good faith dialogue between the two. Our friendship with both, however, does not change the fundamental principles at stake in the embargo. Mr. President, Sierra Leone therefore reiterates its principled and unequivocal call for an end to the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed against Cuba. The prolonged continuation of these measures raises serious concerns regarding sovereign equality, non-intervention in the internal affairs of States, the freedom of international trade and navigation, as reflected in 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation Among States. Its extraterritorial effects on third countries and their nationals remain particularly concerning. The humanitarian consequences also demand our attention. The Secretary-General’s 2026 report highlights acute fuel shortages, repeated nationwide power outages, and serious disruptions to health care, water, sanitation, and other essential services, which weigh most heavily on women, children, older persons, and those requiring continuous medical care. Further measures introduced in 2026, including the tariff mechanism targeting countries supplying oil to Cuba, an expanded sanctions risk for foreign personnel and financial institutions, risk deepening these hardships, with consequences extending beyond the immediate parties concerned. Sri Lanka calls for the lifting of the embargo and for renewed constructive engagement between the United States and Cuba in accordance with the Charter, including Article 33, with a view to normalizing relationship and building confidence. Sustained dialogue, respect for sovereignty, and international cooperation offer a better path than prolonged economic confrontation. Sierra Leone stands ready to support all efforts that advance peaceful coexistence and the well-being of the Cuban people. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Your Excellency Bruno Rodríguez Pareja, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba, welcome. Ghana remains deeply concerned about the continued imposition of economic, commercial, and financial sanctions on Cuba. We are against these sanctions that are well documented to be having grave consequences on the lives of the people of Cuba. These sanctions, which span over six decades, constitute an affront to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cuba. They are completely at odds with the Charter of the United Nations. Mr. President, these sanctions continue to deprive the Cuban people of the opportunity to exercise their rights fully, rights that are enshrined in the 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development, which reaffirmed the inalienable rights of all peoples to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from economic, social, cultural, and political development. These sanctions go against this declaration. The effects of these sanctions limit Cuba’s capacity to modernize the country’s economy, limit the country’s ability to participate fully in global trade, and allow its citizens to benefit from development. So Ghana maintains its opposition to these sanctions, and we are calling for their immediate removal. Our position is grounded in the principle of sovereign equality, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence between states, in line with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Ghana's support for this resolution reflects not only our longstanding solidarity with the government and people of Cuba, but highlights our concern over the crippling impact of the sanctions on Cuba’s critical industries, including healthcare, energy, education, agriculture, and the financial ecosystem. These restrictions tend to undermine the aspirations of the Cuban people to live in dignity. The embargo’s extraterritorial application also places undue burdens on third States, contrary to the principles of sovereign equality, fair and equitable international economic relations. Mr. President, these sanctions are unwarranted They are unjust, and they are unfortunate. They must be removed. Ghana subscribes to the amicable settlement of disputes between member states through diplomatic means. We believe the United Nations will be able to help both the United States and Cuba to come to an amicable settlement of this issue. We are urging the United States and Cuba to resolve their differences through constructive dialogue and peaceful means within the framework of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ghana. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt.

Said Rais.

Mr. President, I would like to welcome His Excellency Bruno Barilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. the statement of Namibia on behalf of the Arab Group, and the statement of Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. President, we stress our firm position in support of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, especially respect of state sovereignty, non-interference in their internal affairs, and sovereign equality, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes. We also underscore the need for not taking any economic or commercial unilateral measures that run counter to international law and the UN Charter. These measures negatively affect the economic, social development of all countries and states and peoples. Mr. President, the negative repercussions of the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed against Cuba and its repercussions that affect the ability of the Cuban people to access their basic needs and its effects on sustainable development through the establishment of trade relations is something that should be changed. Egypt took note of the Secretary General's report, and we reviewed a number of, we reviewed data that reflect the deteriorating situation in Cuba due to the embargo. In this vein, we reaffirm the need to respect the resolutions of international community and the General Assembly, which called for ending the embargo against Cuba in order to allow its people to achieve its legitimate aspirations to development and prosperity. We stress that the continuing unilateral measures do not serve international cooperation or the unity we need for our multilateralism today. We encourage continuing dialogue to address divergences and to reach understandings that can contribute to taking measures that could alleviate the suffering of the Cuban people. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belize.

Mr. President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Barbados and my own country, Belize. We support the statements delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China. This year's debate carries added urgency. Recent revisions to the embargo, including restrictions on Cuba's access to fuel and an expanding scope of restrictions for third parties, are compounding a precarious humanitarian situation. The United Nations itself has confirmed that fuel is the most critical constraint on its own humanitarian operations. The Secretary General has warned that the situation is so severe that it could collapse if Cuba's fuel needs go unmet. The consequences are stark. The Cuban people are suffering, and the most vulnerable amongst them are being disproportionately affected. And yet, Those who dare to assist must do so at their own risk. We urge that humanitarian exemptions long recognized under international sanctions frameworks are honored in practice and not merely in principle, so that fuel, food, medicine, and medical equipment reach the Cuban people without obstruction, undue delay, or fear of secondary sanctions. In this regard, we welcome efforts of the United Nations country team in Cuba and of member states and regional partners that have extended humanitarian assistance. These efforts merit our continued support. So too does the United Nations cooperation framework for Cuba, which currently faces a funding gap. But assistance alone cannot substitute for the end of an unjustified and unlawful embargo, and the listing of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. Mr. President, the principles of sovereign equality of states, non-intervention, and peaceful settlement of disputes must prevail, and the right of self-determination, which the International Court of Justice has confirmed as just cogent, must be upheld. As members of the United Nations, we must defend these principles and we must not rest until every human being enjoys a life of dignity, peace, and security. The Cuban people deserve no less. We stand on the side of the Charter, firm in the conviction that the multilateral system is strongest when its principles are applied evenly and consistently. We support the resolution before the Assembly, and in doing so, we call on all parties to respect international law, to demonstrate mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to urgently engage in peaceful dialogue, in good faith, and above all, with compassion. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belize. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mozambique.

Mr. President, Mozambique aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and China, and the African Group. We welcome the convening of this meeting of the General Assembly under agenda item 37, which provides an important opportunity to address the continuing humanitarian and developmental consequences of the embargo. Mr. President, for over six decades, the Cuban people have endured the adverse consequence of the embargo. This Assembly has called for an end to the embargo year after year by an overwhelming majority. calling for an end to the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed against Cuba, reflecting the long-standing position of the international community on this matter. Mozambique expresses its deep concern over the continuation and tightening of restrictive measures, including those affecting the energy sector, which further exacerbated the economic and humanitarian difficulties faced by the Cuban population. These measures continue to have far-reaching humanitarian, economic, and developmental consequences for the Cuban people and raise serious concerns regarding their compatibility with purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, as reflected in the successive resolutions of the General Assembly. Mozambique opposes unilateral coercive measures that are incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Their extraterritorial reach compounds adverse effects and undermines international cooperation and sovereign equality. We call for the full and unconditional lifting of the embargo. Mozambique also wishes to acknowledge Cuba's longstanding contribution to the international solidarity, particularly in the fields of health, education, and technical cooperation, including Mozambique and across the African continent. These contributions underscore the enduring importance of South-South cooperation, mutual assistance, and solidarity among developing countries. Mr. President, Mozambique also encourages sustained dialogue between Cuba and the United States, grounded in mutual respect, sovereign equality, noninterference, constructive cooperation, and full respect for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. We urge the international community to uphold the principles of the Charter and translate the overwhelming and long-standing position of this Assembly into concrete action and vote in favor of the resolution. The situation of Cuba should not stand as a testament to our collective inability to act, but rather as an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to multilateralism, international solidarity, and peaceful resolution of differences. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mozambique. I now give the floor to His Excellency Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Peria, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba, to introduce draft resolution A/81/L5. You have the floor, sir.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Permanent Representatives, Distinguished Delegates, I wish to convey condolences to the Kingdom of Spain following the loss of life in the rail accident which occurred in Toledo. I wish to laud the way in which the President of the General Assembly ensured that yesterday the rules of procedure of this Assembly prevailed. I am compelled to denounce the disrespectful, provocative attitude shown by the delegation of the United States yesterday in this hall, particularly the harassment and unconsented filming by some of its delegation against our delegation. That incident led to the involvement of UN Security Council personnel. These are acts that are incompatible with decorum, respect for personal dignity and privacy that must prevail in this Chamber. These acts are also a maneuver against a significant Cuban candidacy to a United Nations organ. I wish to here decry the presence in this chamber of a well-known terrorist responsible for acts of terrorism against Cuba. the representative of two terrorist organizations present on the territory of the United States, invited by the Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations. Here, I'm talking about number 52 on the list of people internationally searched for by the Republic of Cuba, according to legal resolution and our official gazette. They are sought for acts of terrorism. They are wanted for acts of terrorism. This person is also a criminal responsible for fraud that has received copious financing from the government of the United States and has diverted for personal gains such resources. I ask you, Mr. President, to request that the Secretariat of the United Nations verify the conditions in which this individual has been allowed to be present in the gallery. I ask that this individual be removed immediately. It is an affront, Mr. President, to all the victims of terrorism including the victims of September 11th and the Cuban victims of terrorist acts organized and financed from United States territory. It is an outrage and a absolute, patently clear demonstration of the fact that it is not Cuba who should appear on this ignominious list of state sponsors of terrorism. Ambassadors, delegates, the statement delivered yesterday by the representative of the United States of America makes it easier for our Assembly to carry out its work and makes it easier for me to discharge my responsibility of putting forward the position of the Republic of Cuba. He made the phrase famous, that is the phrase, this is America, this is America. It wasn't a slip of the tongue, it wasn't a illegal, some sort of illegal conceptual error. This is the United Nations. This is the United Nations organization. Here we stand in the capital of multilateralism. This is the capital of an international order that should be rooted in international law and the United Nations Charter. This is the most universal and democratic body of the United Nations. This phrase reflects a vision of the world which views the planet and treats it as if it were part of U.S. territory. They look at Cuba and they look at you as if you were one of the 50 states of the Union. That is at the very heart of the concept of peace through force, might is right, the imposition of peace through force. Cuba is not a threat. The blockade is a threat. It demonstrates the cynicism and the hypocrisy that emerges when Cuba is labeled as an extraordinary threat to the security of the greatest nuclear power in the globe. The representative of the US said yesterday something else that was very important indeed. which really did clear things up, he said, the blockade against Cuba does not exist. Every minute of procedural playing for time, procedural delay, every minute of our deliberations means extraordinary damage to our people. This damage cannot be measured by the clock in this room. It can be measured by, and I do ask the webcast to record this, it can be measured by this counter. This clock, this counter measures the damage that the blockade is wreaking on Cuba and the damage that has been wrought since the beginning of yesterday's session. This damage is counted in dollars in today's prices, US dollars in today's value. Since this session began, this meeting began yesterday, the damage done by the blockade stands at 22.9 million dollars. President, a great power is attacking through economic war a member state of this organization. It is attacking an independent, peace-loving, solidarity-based, and small nation. It is doing so in order to dominate and effect a regime change. This aggression, this attack, includes a fuel blockade, one which is equivalent to a naval blockade and is an act of war, an act of collective punishment and of genocide prescribed by international law. The dire consequences of this blockade are felt by people, they restrict their fundamental rights, affect third countries, and turn the basic needs of the people into instruments of political coercion. Its consequences are ultimately felt on the dining table of Cuban families, in the bed of a sick person, when a child is delivered or by a surgeon in an operating theater, felt in terms of nutrition, in a child's classroom, in the lack of electricity, potable water, and medicines. The effects are felt in the high prices of goods that are crucial for human survival. The General Assembly has been taking a stand on this issue since 1992. However, right now it is doing so amidst new and extraordinary circumstances. The US government has unleashed a wave of pressures, intimidation, and blackmail against many member states with a coercive, illegal, immoral, and unwarranted demand for them to change their traditional stance and adopt a position that runs counter to the consistent, evidence-based stance they have been adopting for decades as the act of a sovereign state. I can prove this to you with a document that I've brought with me today. There's no doubt that many of you will be able to also consult this document. What we're talking about here is an attempt to define the position of the General Assembly in the face of the use of intimidation and unilateral coercive measures in an attempt to dictate to the rest of member states what to say and how to vote, which nations they can freely trade with and which they cannot, where their shipping companies can forward cargo and to where they cannot, which countries they can have financial relations with and with which countries they cannot. Today, these pressures are targeting Cuba. Which other state might feel the force of these pressures tomorrow? What we're also seeing is an attempt to today define whether or not the United Nations condones whether they condone or whether they accept collective punishment and the attempt to crush the political will of a sovereign state, this through economic suffocation, starvation, hunger, hardships, and desperation visited upon an entire population. or the destruction of a nation. Everybody knows that the government of the United States has ratcheted up to extreme levels the aggression against Cuba, that it has done so since early this year. The aspiration here, expressed both publicly and officially, is to take hold of the country, control its economy, and exercise domination. The United States has openly resorted to the threat of use of military force and has imposed tens of new economic coercive measures, in addition to the ones that have existed for decades. These have been ratcheted up to extreme levels since 2019 and have now grown into a sort of quasi-medieval siege since January. Since July, this aggression has taken on a new, merciless dimension. This has included efforts taken by the US government to hinder, obstruct, and sabotage the ambitious program of economic and social transformation which our country has taken the sovereign decision to establish as part of its economic and entrepreneurial transformation. These are necessary to adapt to the nefarious economic changes and to face the economic order and to face the economic war imposed upon us. Against all odds, we will implement this program for the benefit and dignity of the Cubans. We will not let up. The Secretary of State, when referring to the efforts being made by Cuba, stated on the 7th of August publicly, and here I quote, What we're trying to teach them is that there are no escape valves. Every time they create a new mechanism in an attempt to wriggle out of the noose, we simply further tighten that noose. most widely invoked and manipulated pretext by the U.S. Government in an attempt to justify its actions, is to portray Cuba as an alleged threat to the nuclear superpower or even to the hemisphere. It is well known that no government here represented would admit concede or accept such a gross fallacy. They have no arguments to support that assertion. In addition to other considerations that are well known and patently clear, the U.S. Government can attest to the fact and could recognize, if it acted with honesty, that Cuba has contributed to the national security priorities of that country. The Cuban government has, on several occasions down the years, provided sensitive information pertaining to threats associated with drug trafficking, terrorism, and other transnational crimes with a potential damaging impact on the US and the region. This was information contributed even recently. It was provided to the US in spite of the manifest hostility of the US administration. The fuel blockade is an act of collective punishment that threatens the life of the Cuban people. Mendacious accusations leveled against Cuba are well known to all, and not one stands up to the slightest scrutiny. They level hackneyed slanders. They talk about there are fanciful allegations of inequalities, wealth hoarding, and privileged elite. These are being leveled by a corrupt plutocracy where money is given instead of electors, where a industrial military complex is invoked And all of this is done in the name of a dysfunctional democracy. They also state as a pretext for what they're doing that Cuba practices human trafficking or slavery. They libel, slander medical personnel and international programs of health cooperation that we conduct in more than 50 states here present. deploy merciless schemes of blackmail to shut these programs down. The blockade silently kills and punishes our people as it never has before. Since the beginning of the maximum pressure policy, our infant mortality rate has doubled. These are not statistics or numbers. These are children. lives cut short at birth, causing immense pain to families. Many of you are either mothers or fathers. You know that no statistic can express what it means for a parent not to have the medicine that their child needs, or what it means for a family to wait for a surgery that is postponed Today, 70% of the medicines on the essential medicines list are lacking, and this in spite of the fact that we can produce almost all of them. Around 100,000 people, including more than 12,000 children, are awaiting surgery. For these children and their relatives in Cuba, it is for them that we're here today, and our selfless people that are closely united, conscious, noble, educated, cultured, standing in fraternal solidarity, they do not give up, they wake every day to overcome every obstacle, seeking and participating in solutions to their problems with extraordinary effort. It is for them that we are here today. No people deserve the suffering and abuse that are today being visited upon us. This is a medication called pemetrexed. It is produced by the company Lilly, here in the United States. It is effective for lung cancer. In my country, there are patients who require it and who cannot access it, not because it doesn't exist, not because we cannot pay for it, we do not have it, because it is manufactured in the United States and because the blockade prevents us from buying it. The number of people dying from cancer in Cuba has increased significantly. Despite the fact that Cuba's survival rates continue to be higher than those of the majority of low or middle income countries, and comparable to the rates in the first world, and above the targets established by the World Health Organization, these survival rates have decreased in recent years. Where children and young people are concerned, survival rates fell from 85% to 65%. This is a trend that coincides with the most bitter moments of the energy siege. This, here, is the medication Neuralcin. It is a Cuban medication. Why does the blockade against Cuba prevent 7 million US citizens from enjoying the benefits of this medicine. It is the only medication able to tackle Alzheimer’s, senile dementia, and neurodegenerative diseases with proven, unparalleled effectiveness as compared to similar therapies. The fact is that the absurd policy of the US is putting a blockade on everything that sustains life. This drug against cancer and this drug that carries a molecule that helps thousands of people to slow down the painful process of forgetting. under blockade as the result of an ignominious policy. We are not talking here about numbers, we are talking about human lives, opportunities for healing, tragedies and traumas. We are talking about the daily anguish of medical and health personnel. Power generation by mobile facilities and fuel and diesel powered standby stations in the country has decreased vertiginously. 20.6% of water pumping stations in Cuba depend on electricity. 2.6 million people encountered difficulties in accessing drinking water. the government of the United States hindered the delivery of 7,000 containers which had been paid for even by Cuban private companies. Most of these were carrying foodstuffs, medicines, medical supplies, and supplies for hemodialysis that could not arrive in a timely fashion to our ports. The persecution of shipping companies, the interdiction of vessels, and the imposition of secondary sanctions against anyone interacting with Cuba, all of these violate the rules of international trade and the principle of the freedom of navigation. Six out of every ten U.S. citizens wish to normalize relations with Cuba. They oppose military action. They are opposed to seizing the island, and they say that they do not trust the decisions of their government in this regard. 50% of US people are against the fuel blockade compared to 25% that supports it. in terms of conversations within society held in recent weeks, 72% of US citizens, that is US taxpayers, 72% of the electors that elect governments, 72% of them oppose the Cuban blockade. The US government has no right or prerogative to attempt to govern the Cuban people. They have no right or prerogative to interfere in the internal affairs of the country, nor to decide the nation's fate. They cannot appropriate the nation's wealth or exercise control over our territory. The draconian, onerous and scant exceptions to the blockade by means of very limited government licenses do not prove that the blockade does not exist. They prove exactly the opposite. The misleading figure of humanitarian aid to the tune of a hundred million dollars a few hundred thousand dollars, if that, have actually arrived, this figure is equivalent, or would be equivalent to the damage done by the blockade in five days and would be enough to generate electric power for two weeks, no more than that. We welcome this humanitarian assistance. and we do hope that no attempt is made to subject it to political manipulation. However, humanitarian aid cannot substitute Cuba's right to trade free of US sanctions and free of political manipulation. We are convinced that A relationship based on respect and cooperation with the United States would be beneficial to the people of Cuba and also to the people of the United States. That relationship would be in its interests, its well-being, and its natural desire for peace. Moreover, such a relationship would be beneficial to the peoples of our America and the entire hemisphere. The measures adopted against my country have been designed explicitly, expressly to wreak the greatest possible damage in the shortest possible time. This against an entire people. These measures are not akin to the so-called and also unacceptable collateral damage. These measures are deliberately inflicted upon the people and families of Cuba. These decisions are the result of political decision and purposeful design. There is an attempt with these measures to bring about a humanitarian crisis in Cuba and to use it as a weapon. We have prevented that from coming to pass, and we will continue to prevent it thanks to the solidarity shown by our communities and thanks to the understanding and democratic participation of people in the adoption and implementation of economic and social measures. measures. We will continue to prevent it thanks to the work of people's organizations and civil society, as a result of the efficiency of the people's power bodies, and thanks to government management. We will prevent it thanks to our comparative advantages and swift and significant investment in solar energy. We will prevent it by increasing the production of national crude oil. and we will prevent it by developing Cuban technology required to refine oil. As we see fit, we will prevent it by guaranteeing power generation for hospitals, water pumping stations and social centers. We will also do this by reorganizing our health and educational services. We will implement effective social policies that will benefit low-income and vulnerable individuals. We will triumph via electric means of transportation and the social commitment and growth of the private sector, as well as by increasing the area of land sown and through the use of agroecology. This General Assembly in a few minutes will need to decide whether it can accept or will repudiate the continuation of this crime against Cuba and its people, they will decide whether or not we see the persistence of the attempts of a superpower to impose its will on the political positions and the sovereign rights of the rest of the international community and of each and every state that you here represent. For Cuba, There is no choice. Under the guidance of the leader of the Cuban Revolution Army, General Raul Castro Ruz, and President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, we will persist in the defense of our independence and national sovereignty, and in the rejection of the ambitions of conquest and domination of an imperialist power. We will do so because these are inalienable rights and obligations from which our nation, the Cuban nation, cannot waiver. We are supported by international law and the United Nations Charter. What Cuba here demands is to be allowed to live in peace. We demand that the Cuban people be allowed to live in peace, resolve their own differences, their own problems in peace, and to find solutions to the great difficulties facing today's world. We ask that we be allowed to do this free from any political, military, cognitive, or economic aggression. Cuba is not a threat. The blockade is a threat. The energy blockade is an act of collective punishment. Consequently, we now move to consider draft resolution A/81/L.5. I have the honour of presenting this resolution in the name of the heroic, solidarity-driven and noble Cuban people. Every country will demonstrate how they view justice and courage in the face of today's world, and they will do so in the name of their own people. As we mark the 100th anniversary of Fidel Castro Ruz, we today repeat with him, "Patria o muerte, venceremos." Homeland or death, we shall overcome.

Order in the balcony, please. I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba. We have heard the last speaker in the debate for this item. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/81/L5. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote, before the vote, It had been proposed that the time limits for statements and explanation of vote under this item be five minutes. The delegation of Cuba has informed the President of its objection to this proposal. Accordingly, the proposed speaking time limit will not be applied to the explanation of vote under this item. May I nonetheless remind delegations that they are strongly urged to limit explanation of vote to five minutes, which should in any case not exceed 10 minutes and be made from their seats. I now invite the distinguished delegate of United States to speak.

Thank you, Mr. President, colleagues. Hear me. Your vote today is the only thing standing between the corrupt, kleptocratic, communist regime and using this body and your vote for another propaganda victory at the expense of the Cuban people. Yesterday, I asked three simple questions. Why do Cuba's rulers come to this body? and talk about the suffering of the Cuban people, yet at the height of hypocrisy, enjoy luxury watches, Rolexes, yachts, mansions, and even their own private islands. Again, while the Cuban people starve and sit in the dark, why does the military conglomerate Gaisa hoard billions while hospitals run out of medicine? And why does Havana treat doctors and nurses like slave labor as they send them abroad? And in response, the regime's so-called diplomats responded by pounding their desks, screaming across this chamber, storming the podium. not respecting the sanctity of this institution, and even assaulting an American diplomat. And by the way, that conduct is in violation of the host country agreement, and that so-called diplomat today will be put on a plane back to Havana. It is unacceptable. If you lay a hand on an American diplomat in this body, there will be consequences. Today, you just heard the foreign minister spend, I don't know, 30, 40 minutes lecturing us, and he still answered none of those questions. He found plenty of time to blame America. But again, I ask this body as you consider your vote, this incredibly important vote, what are they afraid of? They're afraid of this assembly, the Cuban people, and the world. Finding out once and for all that there is no blockade and that the plight of the Cuban people is exclusively the fault of this corrupt communist regime. But yet they'll use this body to deflect. You just heard the foreign minister call American sanctions passed by law. As an act of war. The foreign minister instead should look at the facts. The reality is, today as we speak, there is no ring of U.S. Navy warships around Cuba. Their ports are open. In recent months, data shows that shipments have arrived from Belize, from Canada, from Chile, from China, from Colombia, from Mexico, from Russia, from Spain, from Uruguay, from the European Union, from CARICOM, from agencies within the UN, and yes, from the United States, in fact. And as I have stated, consider the facts. In the first eight months of this year of 2026, American companies have exported nearly a billion dollars of goods, 876 million to be exact, to Cuba, including a quarter billion in fuel. America is now the private sector's largest fuel provider. That's what angers Havana and this communist regime, the term private sector. But all of us, I would hope, I would hope, would want to see fuel actually reaching the Cuban people, Cuban farmers, not the Castro family yachts that I showed you in this body yesterday. They would want grain reaching Cuban bakers, not the Castro family's private kitchens in their exclusive mansions. And yes, President Trump has committed another 100 million in food that includes some of the medicines allegedly not allowed. And that aid is passing through the Catholic Church. And we thank the Vatican for their humanity and for their humanitarian efforts because they're trusted partners. We know the aid will actually reach the people in need. But yet the regime objects. Why? Because they can't get their hands on it. They want every shipment routed through military monopolies that, as I have demonstrated, as investigative reporting has demonstrated, that have made the Cuban elite and their rulers wealthy while almost nothing reaches their people. And then let's talk a minute about the mechanism that they do that, GAESA. Again, Miami Herald's investigation, and please consider this, colleagues, as you take this vote. Their own investigation, the documents are available, have exposed GAESA's financial records, 18 billion in military-controlled assets, 14 billion in cash. Havana says these figures are false. Fine. Open the books. Examine these documents for yourself. Permit an independent audit, we suggest. But even Cuba's own comptroller general admitted she could not audit GAESA. Two months later, she has disappeared, not to be seen. So let's think about these billions. It's enough cash to pay every Cuban salary for two years, stock every Cuban pharmacy for over 40 years, or buy 2 billion gallons of gasoline on the world market. Yet, as I've shown you, the regime elites are driving BMWs, vacationing in Europe, and pharmacies sit empty, and they're asking you, an insult to this assembly to just turn a blind eye and cast another vote. And you have to ask yourselves, with what you saw here yesterday, if this is how Cuban officials behave on the world stage before diplomats and cameras, imagine what they do to ordinary Cubans behind closed doors. Well, we know, because the regime today is holding 800 political prisoners. And actually, don't even imagine, turn around and you'll see some of those political prisoners who thankfully have been freed now. They're sitting right here. Please, turn around and look at them as you take this vote. Jose Daniel Ferrer is with us today, in prison not once. But twice and repeatedly thereafter for demanding simple freedoms for his fellow Cubans, Mr. Farrer knows. What those prison walls conceal. He's living proof of what this regime feel fears. It fears its own people. And come meet him, talk to him, hear from him. You have also with us today, Orlando Gutierrez Boronat. He's also with us and has spent decades fighting for the freedoms that Cuban regime has denied its own people and is facing immense intimidation and persecution by this regime. You just got a taste of it yesterday. But make no mistake, colleagues. It is those same ordinary Cubans who will suffer. by your vote. Listen to their testimony and hear them. And every year, they will tell you, every year, the Cuban regime takes this vote that you're about to make, puts it on state television back in Cuba, and tells the Cuban people that the world is with the regime and not with them, and that all of this suffering comes because of this fake, phony, made-up blockade. Colleagues, history is watching. Do not stand with this regime. History will remember the vote. They will remember you casting this vote and the abuses that it allows the regime to put on its own people. Vote no on this resolution. Stand with the Cuban people. Cuba libre. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nicaragua.

Thank you very much. Mr. President, our explanation of vote is based on the principles and values of all peoples and of all of humanity, which we feel deeply, not only because of the maintenance, but also of the intensification of actions against the heroic people of Cuba. Nicaragua will vote in favor, faithful to and consistent with the people of Cuba that are represented in this resolution that calls for an end to all forms of aggression and blockades against the victorious and undefeated Cuba. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nicaragua. There is no other delegation on my list. Thus, we have heard the last speaker and explanation of vote before the vote. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/81/L.5, entitled Necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba. A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favor of draft resolution A/81/5, please signify; those against; and abstentions.

The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/81/L5, entitled “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.” Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine.

The result of the vote is as follows: those in favour 130, against 17, abstentions 25. Draft resolution A/81/L.5 is adopted. Please keep order in the balcony, please. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote after the vote, I remind delegations that they are strongly urged to limit explanations of vote to five minutes, which should in any case not exceed 10 minutes and be made from their seats. The first speaker on my list is Ireland, on behalf of the European Union. You have the floor.

Thank you, President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. We reiterate today our conviction that the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba has adverse economic and humanitarian impact on the Cuban people. We reaffirm that the UN Charter is and remains the guiding framework. At a moment where Cubans are facing increasingly dire conditions, humanitarian support and access must be protected under all circumstances. While responsibility for its domestic economic policies lies with Cuba, Lifting the embargo could make economic reforms more effective and facilitate the further opening of the Cuban economy to the benefit of the Cuban people. Millions of Cubans today face daily power outages, shortages of medicines and food, collapsing public services, and growing difficulties in accessing even the most basic health care. Hospitals struggle to function, and the education system is under serious strain. Families spend hours searching for fuel, transport, or essential products. In 2026, the EU stepped up its humanitarian response to Cuba to 16 million euros, implemented through international partners. The aid focuses on the most vulnerable, prioritizing health care, emergency food assistance, access to water and energy. Nevertheless, the decisions made by the Cuban authorities, including long-standing structural weaknesses and inefficiencies in the economic system, lack of economic, judicial, and political reforms, and inadequate investment, have significantly contributed to the current crisis. Cubans, in particular young people, want a better life. They aspire to freedom and opportunity, and deserve a brighter future. Meaningful political, economic, social, and judicial reforms by the Cuban authorities are urgently needed to alleviate the suffering of the Cuban people. We call on Cuba to ensure that its reform agenda is implemented in a manner that addresses the key concerns of the Cuban population and meets the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Cuban people for more opportunities to participate in shaping the country's future. We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Cuba, in particular following the events of July 2021. about the severe judgments issued by Cuban courts so far, and about the respect of civil and political rights, including restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, as well as continuing harassment of independent journalists, human rights defenders, and members of civil society. We therefore reiterate our call on the Cuban government to fully grant its citizens internationally recognized civil, political, and economic rights and freedoms, including freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information, to release all political prisoners and those arbitrarily detained, to ratify the UN Covenant for Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and to extend a standing invitation to all UN special procedures to visit Cuba. Moreover, the EU urges the Cuban authorities to make concrete advances towards opening spaces for a constructive and inclusive dialogue with civil society. We take note of the announcement of 176 economic and social measures adopted last June. What matters now is their swift implementation, and that they deliver concrete improvements in economic freedoms and transparency for the Cuban people. These economic and social reforms need to be accompanied by rule of law, pluralism, and democratic reforms, which must include the full respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cuban people. Our approach to Cuba is grounded on the same principles that guide the European Union's relations with all of its partners: respect for international law and the UN Charter, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and the universal protection of human rights. These principles cannot be applied selectively. We deeply regret that Cuba's position on Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine continues to be inconsistent with the principles of the UN Charter. This was exemplified by its vote against the 24 February 2026 General Assembly resolution on support for a ceasefire and lasting peace in Ukraine. In this context, the EU once again urges Cuba to refrain from providing any direct or indirect support to Russia's aggression and to actively take all necessary and effective measures to prevent its nationals from joining Russian armed forces involved in the war. The EU expects all partners, including Cuba, to align with the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity they invoke in other contexts. Extraterritorial measures negatively affect EU economic interests and the lives of European residents on the island. As a matter of principle, we oppose such measures due to their extraterritorial application, which is contrary to international law. To protect the interests of natural or legal persons residing in the EU and the extraterritorial application of the Helms-Barton Act, EU law forbids our Member States from implementing that legislation. The EU reaffirms its support to dialogue and a diplomatic solution between the US and Cuba, grounded in international law, including the principles of the UN Charter. To conclude, neither isolation nor the absence of reform offers a sustainable path forward for Cuba. The EU will continue its critical, yet constructive engagement with Cuba to support the country's institutional, economic, social, and political modernization, while recalling that the swift implementation of reforms is the responsibility of Cuba. We stand ready to share our experience. We will also continue to support the Cuban population with humanitarian assistance to address its urgent needs. But let us be equally clear: humanitarian support alone will not solve Cuba’s crisis. Important sovereign decisions can no longer be postponed. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ireland. I now give the floor to Australia, also speaking on behalf of New Zealand. You have the floor.

Thank you, President. Australia and New Zealand wish to record the fact that we supported this annual resolution because the embargo restricts open trade and investment, which are key principles of the international system. Our vote today reflects our long-standing commitment to those principles, and we take this opportunity to express our concern about the severe humanitarian situation facing the Cuban people, including limited access to food, power, clean water, health care, sanitation, and other essential services. We support the free flow of humanitarian supplies into Cuba. President, Our support for this resolution should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the policies or actions of the Cuban Government, or as diminishing its responsibility to uphold human rights and address the humanitarian crisis facing its people. Australia and New Zealand have consistently raised concerns about Cuba’s human rights record and its support for Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. These concerns persist. We also remain troubled by reports of ongoing restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association, arbitrary detention, harassment and intimidation of journalists, activists and political opponents, and constraints on independent media. President, Australia and New Zealand urge the Cuban Government to respect and uphold human rights, address humanitarian needs, and create the conditions for meaningful political participation and peaceful dissent. We call for the release of all political prisoners and those who are arbitrarily detained. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. I now invite the representative of Sri Lanka to make a statement.

Mr. President, Sri Lanka aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China, and wishes to make the following remarks in its national capacity. Sri Lanka has consistently opposed unilateral economic measures that are inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. We maintain our longstanding position that the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed against Cuba should be brought to an end. The latest report of the Secretary-General highlights the continuing impact of these measures on the daily lives of the Cuban people. United Nations agencies report persistent difficulties in obtaining medicine, medical equipment, and other essential supplies, compounded by higher costs and delays in banking and shipping. The energy situation has placed added pressure on the population. Fuel shortages and prolonged power outages have disrupted transportation, water supply systems, hospitals, and food distribution. The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator reports that interruptions to refrigerate transport delayed the timely vaccination of more than 30,000 children. A child waiting for a vaccine or a patient waiting for treatment should not have to bear the consequences of differences between states. Sri Lanka welcomes, in this context, the humanitarian assistance provided by the United States to Cuban families this year through the Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Cuba, and the Catholic Church. We hope such humanitarian cooperation will continue. Sri Lanka also remains concerned by the extraterritorial effects of unilateral measures, including their impact on the legitimate interests of other states and the freedom of international trade and navigation. Measures that restrict access to essential goods and services place a heavy burden on ordinary people and complicate efforts to achieve sustainable development. Sri Lanka reiterates its long-standing position that the embargo against Cuba should be brought to an end and will continue to support the resolution before this Assembly. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sri Lanka. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Fiji.

Mr. President, Fiji has voted in favor of this resolution. Fiji's position is grounded in the Charter of the United Nations and in the principles that matter most to small and vulnerable states. The preamble of the Charter affirms the equal rights of nations large and small. For a small island developing state with an open economy, a predictable and rules-based international system is fundamental to our security stability, and prosperity. Mr. President, Fiji respects the position of the United States. We recognize that it holds genuine concerns regarding human rights, democratic freedoms, and the well-being of the Cuban people. These concerns are important and are shared by many. Fiji values its long-standing friendship and partnership with the United States. At the same time, Fiji believes that such concerns are best addressed through constructive dialogue and engagement between the parties concerned. Experience has shown that lasting solutions are more likely to emerge through communication, cooperation, and mutual understanding. Our vote today should not be interpreted as a judgment on the domestic policies of either government. Rather, it reflects our principled support for engagement over isolation, and peaceful diplomacy as the preferred means of resolving differences. We also cannot overlook the humanitarian dimension. The people of Cuba, like all peoples, should have reliable access to food, medicine, energy, and the resources necessary to recover from natural disasters and climate shocks. As a Pacific island nation on the front line of climate crisis, Fiji understands this well. Mr. President, this position is also consistent with the values of our Blue Pacific Continent. The Pacific Island Forum leaders have affirmed the vision of the Pacific as an ocean of peace, founded on dialogue, mutual respect, cooperation, and the peaceful resolution of differences. These are the same values enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Fiji will continue to uphold these principles. We will continue to support multilateralism, strengthen dialogue among nations, and defend the right of every state, large or small, to pursue its development in peace and dignity. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Fiji. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Peru. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Peru voted, Peru rather abstained from this resolution, given our concern regarding human rights violations and the violations of the fundamental freedoms of the Cuban people. This concern was already expressed on previous occasions, indeed, by Peru. in its statements before this General Assembly in October 2025 and most recently in July 2026. In both statements, we also indicated that the unilateral economic, commercial, and financial blockade cannot be used as a pretext to justify violations or restrictions of the fundamental freedoms that should be enjoyed by Cuba. This situation is neither new or something that people are not aware of. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has repeatedly reiterated this fact in its mission indicated that in Cuba, a grave violation of fundamental free elements and institutions of representative democracy occur, there is abuse of power that runs counter to the rule of law. There is the systematic violation of the independence of the judiciary. This diagnosis pinpoints three structural problems: the persistence of the single-party system, a concentration of power, and the subordination of justice to political authorities. These practices affect political dissidents, social leaders, activists, human rights defenders, as well as independent journalists. This reality is documented, it cannot be overlooked by the international community, particularly when repression of dissidents is being ratcheted up, particularly since the protests of July 2021. President, all Member States of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to cooperate with the universal system to guarantee that these rights are fully enjoyed. Pursuant to that fact, Peru condemns each and every one of the grave human rights violations documented in Cuba. We urge an end to these practices, and we request that we see guarantees that every human citizen be able to effectively exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms. We reiterate, moreover, therefore, our appeal to the Government of Cuba to heed the recommendations issued by United Nations organs and mechanisms. in accordance with the recommendations of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. We also urge the Cuban Government to release all people detained on political grounds and all prisoners of conscience. Peru, Mr. President, reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the founding Charter of the United Nations, as well as to democracy, the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right of the Cuban people to freely choose their authorities. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Peru. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Navarra. You have the floor, madam.

Mr. President, NATO reaffirms its long-standing support for the annual resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba. Our support reflects our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including the sovereign equality of states and the right of peoples to determine their own path. For more than six decades, the embargo has affected Cuba's economy and the daily lives of its people. We are particularly concerned by the reports of the serious effects of restrictions on fuel supplies, including consequences for electricity generation and access to health care, drinking water, food, and medicines. Measures that impede ordinary people's access to essential goods and services deserve the attention of this Assembly. We are also concerned that restrictions with extraterritorial effects can disrupt legitimate trade and financial relations involving other States and their businesses. International relations should be guided by dialogue, cooperation, and respect for international law, including the principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention, and freedom of international trade and navigation. NATO therefore calls for the lifting of the embargo and for the removal of Cuba from the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism. Addressing these measures would help create space for constructive engagement and would ease barriers affecting the Cuban people. NATO voted in favor of the resolution, and we urge the United States to heed the repeated call of the international community and take meaningful steps to end the embargo. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Jamaica and the Republic of Cuba share longstanding relations founded on our geographical proximity, historical ties, mutual respect, and cooperation. consistent with Jamaica's commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful coexistence, respect for the Charter of the United Nations, and the principles of international law. We are therefore deeply concerned about the deteriorating socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions being experienced by the people of Cuba, which include shortages of food, medicines, energy, and other essential goods and services. These challenges adversely affect the quality of life and prospects to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals as envisioned in Agenda 2030. Mr. President, the challenges being experienced by the people of Cuba reflect the combined effects of long-standing external economic restrictions, including the United States economic, commercial, and financial embargo, as well as domestic economic policies and structural constraints which have limited productivity, investment, and economic opportunity. We are of the view that sustainable improvements in the welfare of the Cuban people would be supported by a more enabling international environment, alongside economic and institutional reforms that promote productivity, enterprise, investment, and fuller participation in the international economic and financial system. Jamaica also recognizes the importance of respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as other essential elements of sustainable development, and affirms that the welfare and aspirations of the Cuban people must remain central to efforts to address the current challenges. Reiterating our conviction that multilateralism must deliver fairness for all, and affirming our strong belief in resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, We therefore continue to encourage constructive engagement between Cuba and the United States of America. Such dialogue must be grounded in mutual respect, with the objective of reducing economic restrictions and other barriers to international trade, finance, and investment, while facilitating Cuba's progressive integration into the international economic system. rather than its isolation under the economic, commercial, and financial blockade. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Jamaica. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Portugal. You have the floor, ma'am.

Portugal fully aligns itself with the statement made by the EU and would like to reiterate in its national capacity our concern over the situation in Cuba. We highlight in this regard the grave humanitarian situation and the continued severe restrictions on civil, political, human, and economic rights and freedoms. We strongly condemn the systematic repression and human rights violations perpetrated by the Cuban authorities. Portugal stresses that sustainable economic reform and growth can only be attained through the full and free contribution of the whole of society. Therefore, Portugal once again calls upon the Cuban authorities to urgently undertake meaningful and irreversible political, economic, social, and judicial reforms, to overcome the hardships endured by the Cuban people, which are primarily caused by the policies of the Cuban authorities, and to enable the full realization of their legitimate democratic aspirations. Portugal reaffirms its support to dialogue and diplomatic solutions, in respect of international law and the principles of the UN Charter. Thank you.

I thank you, the representative of Portugal. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile. You have the floor.

Mr. President, I am taking the floor to explain why Chile abstained on the draft resolution on agenda item 37. Our decision is guided by the principles that have guided Chile's foreign policy under governments of various political colors: respect for international law, trust in multilateralism, and the defense of human rights. Our abstention is in line with two beliefs. Firstly, we recognize the effect that economic, commercial and financial measures that unilateral in nature have had on Cuba's economy and Cuba's people. The United Nations Charter entrusted the Security Council with the responsibility of determining when and how coercive measures would be adopted. It is for that reason that Chile does not support situations when these decisions are adopted outside the multilateral framework. Secondly, Chile wishes to air its concern at the human rights situation and the situation regarding political freedoms in Cuba. Here, the text submitted for a vote remains silent. The Cuban people has the right to be consulted and to decide freely and without interference their own economic, political, and social future. Chile has always, in all chambers of this organization, defended the idea that peace and security, development, and human rights are the three pillars on which the United Nations is built. These are pillars which are inextricably linked and which are mutually reinforcing, and Each pillar requires the other. This very same assembly has recognized that fact on several occasions. However, every year when we debate this issue, one of these three pillars is excluded, and that is something that we do not endorse as Chilean people. We do not understand why referring to human rights in this debate on the well-being of the human people might be considered as a hostile act. What we do here is quite simply talk about the three pillars that underpin the United Nations. We do and want to do that at the same time, just as we do in other fora. Excluding one of these three pillars from our discussions does no good to the United Nations. The worsening of living conditions in Cuba cannot be explained solely by external factors. It's also a result of the restrictions of fundamental freedoms and restrictions on free participation in the political and economic life of Cuba by the Cuban people. In light of the above, we respectfully call upon the Cuban authorities to undertake significant political and economic reforms which might also serve to improve the living conditions of the Cuba people. We think that this should include full respect for human rights, the release of arbitrarily detained persons, and the adoption of measures to allow an inclusive and constructive dialogue with civil society. listening to the whole of the Cuban nation, including millions of people in the diaspora that are also living in our country. Chile reiterates its will to continue a critical but constructive dialogue with the Cuban government under the difficult circumstances that currently prevail. Moreover, we submit for your consideration our experience of national crises. We successfully overcame such a chapter in our history when we consulted our nation in its entirety. We're not teaching anyone any lessons. Our desire is to see the cessation of the embargo, and our desire is to see Cuba thrive in unity, diversity, freedom, and prosperity. We continue to harbor the hope that the whole of the Cuban nation might freely determine its future without external interference and with full respect for international law. We will continue to monitor the situation in Cuba in a spirit of solidarity and respect, and staunchly committed to the three pillars of the United Nations. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Chile. I now invite the representative of Panama to speak.

Thank you, President. The Republic of Panama voted in favor of the resolution on the necessity of lifting the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed against Cuba. In so doing, we reiterated a position that we have held over more than three decades. This in line with our commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, and particularly our commitment to the sovereign equality of states, respect for sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Our vote, first and foremost, stands as an expression of solidarity with the Cuban people. We are bound to that people by historic, cultural, and brotherly ties. We recognize the difficulties facing Cuba's people, and we reaffirm our conviction that the well-being of people must occupy pride of place in any discussion of this type. President, we would be remiss if we were not to refer to the situation of Panamanian citizens that continue in detention in Cuba. Their protection and well-being is a non-negotiable obligation for our State. Without disregarding the sovereignty of the Republic of Cuba or the remit and competencies of Cuba's judicial authorities, we reiterate the importance of ensuring that our compatriots enjoy all guarantees of due process, as well as effective access to justice and the full respect of their fundamental rights. More specifically, we wish to underscore the fundamental fact that the foreign policy of Panama, as well as any differences that might arise in our bilateral relations, must not have repercussions on the legal status of our citizens. Neither must they jeopardize the independent and impartial conduct of appropriate judicial procedures. The administration of justice must remain entirely decoupled from any considerations that are political in nature and in full compliance with the rule of law. President, a spirit of fraternity binds our peoples, and with that in mind, we express our firm desire to see the Cuban people enjoy conditions increasingly propitious to the full realization of their aspirations in a climate of peace, respect for human dignity, and the strengthening of their institutions. We appeal to the Cuban authorities to commit to a process designed to achieve democratic institutions whose work is rooted in full respect for and compliance with human rights and in the concept of civic participation. We trust that these endeavors will also serve to strengthen ties of trust with the international community. This aspiration is born of our need to see full respect for the independent sovereignty and the right to self-determination of the Cuban people. It is up to them to decide, without external interference and as part of a democratic process, the course which their own future will follow. President, panama reaffirms its trust in respectful dialogue as a tool to reconcile positions, overcome differences, and promote the peaceful coexistence of all in the international arena. In a relationship rooted in mutual respect, we believe that differences between states must be broached through dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation. We must always prioritize channels which might serve to mitigate a people's difficulties and enhance their development opportunities. For that reason, Panama wishes to offer up its territory as an arena for respectful negotiations between the United States and Cuba. this to pave the way towards a democratic process which might have as its primary goal the well-being and prosperity of the Cuban people. As we offer up our territory in that way, we reiterate our solidarity with the Cuban people and we wish them peace, well-being and democratic prosperity, as we do for all the peoples of our continent. Thank you.

I thank you, the distinguished representative of Panama, for your statement. The next speaker on my list is the distinguished representative of Namibia. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Mr. President. Namibia takes the floor in explanation of the vote after the vote. Mr. President, if you Google the words “child of international solidarity midwifed by the United Nations,” The results will be obvious. It will lead you to Namibia, and I want to focus on international solidarity, which refers to many countries and people who supported Namibia in its quest for freedom. And Cuba is one such country whose sons and daughters selflessly sacrificed their lives in the decisive battle of Cuito Cuanavale in southern Angola. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale brought independence to Namibia, and eventually to South Africa from the tyrant apartheid regime. Cuba, under the gallant leadership of Fidel Castro, did not request for any payment in return of their bravery and sacrifice. They did not take any diamond, gold, or other precious minerals from Angola, Namibia, or South Africa. They took the caskets of their sons and daughters and buried them in their home country. Cuba's selfless actions are unlike those of other countries who for years denied us freedom, dignity, and human rights, and independence. Even from this very United Nations and now parry themselves as human rights defenders. This is the time to defend the human rights of the Cuban people, whose hospitals cannot perform surgery as a result of the oil siege imposed since the beginning of this year. Mr. President, Namibia will continue to express solidarity with the people of Cuba who have been subjected to this inhuman and genocidal economic embargo for many years, despite the entire world rejecting such inhumanity. Mr. President, every delegation that addressed this General Assembly over the past two days rejected the United States’ false narrative about the embargo and the oil siege. Delegations made it very clear that every country deserves the right to conduct lawful trade and financial transactions with Cuba. We continue to call upon the United States to engage Cuba in a meaningful bilateral dialogue based on mutual respect and respect for the sovereignty and independence of Cuba. Namibia voted in favor of the immediate and unconditional lifting of this unjustified embargo and the removal of Cuba from the list of the so-called state sponsors of terrorism, as well as the lifting of the oil siege, and in raising awareness of the humanitarian, economic, and social consequences of this embargo, while reaffirming the need for international relations grounded in international law. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar.

Mr. President, Qatar abstained from voting on the draft resolution that was just adopted. We would like to reiterate that the position of the State of Qatar is firm regarding our conviction of the importance of mutual respect, of sovereignty of States, and that we oppose any coercive unilateral measures that are against the UN Charter and international law. But we also believe that the best way to settle disputes between States must be diplomacy, dialogue, and peaceful means. to reach consensus and avoiding any unilateral measures. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of Qatar. I now call upon the representative of Vietnam to speak.

Mr. President, my delegation voted in favor of draft resolution A/81. /10.5, consistent with Vietnam's long-standing and principled positions on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial embargo against Cuba. Our vote reflects our firm commitment to the purpose and principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and the rights of all peoples to determine their own path of development. We reiterate our deep concern about the consequences of the embargoes for the well-being of the Cuban people, as well as its extraterritorial effects on legitimate economic, commercial, and financial relations between Cuba and other States. Vietnam believes that differences between countries should be addressed through peaceful dialogue, mutual respect, and constructive engagement. We encourage efforts that facilitate access to essential goods and services in Cuba. and create favorable conditions for peace, friendly relations, and deep cooperation among countries. Vietnam reaffirms its long-standing friendship and solidarity with the people of Cuba and reiterates its call for the full and immediate lifting of the embargo. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of Vietnam. We have heard the last speaker in explanations of vote after the vote. The exercise of the right of reply has been requested. It had been proposed that the time limits for statements in the exercise of the right of reply under this item be limited to five minutes for the first intervention and three minutes to the second intervention. The delegation of Cuba has informed the President of its objection to this proposal. Accordingly, the proposed speaking time limit will not be applied to the exercise of the right of reply under this item. May I nonetheless remind delegations that statements in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and to five minutes for the second intervention, and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now invite the distinguished representative of Cuba to speak.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, my delegation requested to exercise its right of reply. Under rule 73 of the General Assembly, faced with repeated offenses to the dignity of the Cuban people, constant lies, and the obsession of the delegation of the United States with Cuba, we have noted that some delegations focused on the question of human rights, which is not the substance of what is being discussed today in this room. With this narrative that is in service of the interests of Washington, they divert attention from the crime being committed today against the Cuban people. Moreover, it is contradictory that there are concerns over human rights without a categorical condemnation of the impact of the blockade and the collective punishment, which is the primary violation of the human rights of all Cubans. Yesterday, we heard the Permanent Representative of the United States attempt to use this hall to slander our people and its leaders. As expected today, he repeated his pathetic performance. No decent Cuban would ever allow the reputation of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution to be stained. They have not been able to defeat them. Mr. Walz, it is difficult for him to think about a mandate holder, an office holder that is not corrupt, the ones that he encounters every day in his country. Corruption is an intrinsic part of the election system of the United States. They are not misleading anyone. They're not fooling anyone, and certainly they're not fooling our people. With these lies and their campaign of misinformation, they aim to fracture the firm unity of Cubans and to pit our people against their leaders. It is another smokescreen to try and divert the attention of the international community and of the US public opinion from the crime that their government is committing against Cuba. Another shameful lie from the delegation of the United States is that the blockade does not exist. Either Mr. Wolf is not following the statements by the main figures in his government, which have publicly recognized the intensification of the siege against Cuba and the intention to close any escape valve, or he's a hypocrite, which also seems to be fashionable in the US political system. The blockade is real, and it is having a direct and daily impact, above all, on the Cuban people. It is a proven fact recognized by everyone. It is not a narrative that we have invented. That has been recognized by this Assembly and the majority of its Member States and the United Nations system. If there is no blockade or energy siege, Mr. Wells, then I would ask you, why is it that Cuba is not able to freely import fuel like any other nation can? And why is there the threat of tariffs and secondary sanctions and extraterritorial sanctions against those that want to trade with our country? The answer to those questions is very simple. For the delegation of the United States, the delegation of the United States will not provide that answer, however, because they do not want to recognize the the existence of a collective punishment policy against an entire people, as well as their pretensions for domination against Cuba. I just heard imperialists say that Cuba is not a colonial possession of the United States, nor a defeated enemy. The times in which you decided the future and the fate of Cuba is over once and for all, in 1959, with the revolution of Fidel Castro, who today still seems to caused you so many problems and you are trying to do away with. The Government of the United States knows very well that its measures taken against the Cuban people are a flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. You know perfectly well as well the harm that they are causing. It is an entirely premeditated and indiscriminate crime. In its cynicism, the delegation of the United States is trying to blame the Cuban Government for the effects that its policies are causing. This is the highest expression of miserliness, trying to present the victim as the aggressor and themselves as saviors. Another question that the delegation of the United States will not be able to answer is why the blockade is being maintained if it is nothing more than a justification on the part of the Cubans. And here there are other awkward questions that they seem to not want to answer. Why not eliminate this supposed pretext, following the example of Cuba? Why are they afraid of our model as an alternative to their capitalism, their predatory, wild capitalism, in which case they should leave Cuba in peace? Yesterday, Mr. Walz also spoke about human rights in Cuba, another gross manipulation. The United States does not have the moral or any other authority to lecture anyone. That is another means to attack Cuba. The accusations of the extrajudicial executions in the Caribbean Sea, brutal police actions against minorities, the militarization of cities, and the hunting of migrants, mass shootings in schools, rampant social inequality, the lack of access to good quality health care services, the high prices of medicines are just a few examples of grave violations of human rights within this false example. The reality is that the government of the United States States has no interest in human rights in Cuba whatsoever, nor the fate of our people. Their policy towards our country proves this. Their real intention today is the same as the Mallory memorandum, to cause suffering and shortages for our people, to bring about a social explosion that would lead to a fundamental change in the constitutional order that was freely chosen by our people. That is what explains the blockade, the economic suffocation, the many forms of aggression, the energy siege, and the collective punishment against the entire Cuban people. However, they do not know how determined we are. Cubans have nothing more sacred than our homeland that our fathers and mothers won for us and which they preserved standing tall. They are wasting U.S. taxpayers’ time and money. to support the industry of hate against Cuba, above all in the south of Florida. Our people has already paid several times over the highest price for their sovereignty and independence, and it will continue to defend that. That is what is truly unusual and extraordinary, the determination of an entire people to decide on their own destiny on their own land. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 37. The meeting is adjourned.