CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Statement by Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, Chargé d’Affaires a.i of the Permanent Mission of Cuba, at the high level Interactive Dialogue on World Water Day. New York, Monday 22 March 2010

Panel III: Water and Peace and Security
Mr. President,
The water crisis is at the very center of our survival.
Conflicts over water are part of conflicts over the control of global natural resources.
Main concerns of the countries holding the 263 international basins are related to contamination and the great reservoirs or diversion canals due to their impact on water supply, irrigation, electric power generation or flood control.
Every State has the sovereign right to manage its water resources for all, their uses and services, and to set its own priorities, according to its specific characteristics. Any action of interference in the internal affairs of States is unacceptable.
The United Nations must be the main forum to discuss and reach agreements on the issue of water and cleaning up. It is backed by its representativeness and universal character.
The UN can play a key role in strengthening international cooperation, which Cuba considers indispensable to develop infrastructure, human capacity in managing water resources, adapt to climate change and reduce local risks and vulnerabilities.

It is important to create and develop funds and financial mechanisms that are not subject to the discriminatory dictates and conditionalities of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The main goal must be to foster the provision of both financial and technological tangible funds as well as to guarantee exchange and institutional strengthening.
           
The criminal economic, financial, and commercial blockade imposed against Cuba for over 50 years brings about serious difficulties for our country to have access to new technologies and products of the water industry and its benefits, and to have a greater professional training in these issues.

Cuba calls for the immediate elimination of all unilateral and extraterritorial measures contrary to International Law and the rules of free trade that many developed countries claim to strongly defend.   

The access to drinking water is a fundamental right of Humankind. However, it will only be fully exercised if cooperation and mutual respect prevail over confrontation and imposition.

Thank you