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Statement by Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba at the General Debate of the Subsidiary Body of the Main Committee I (Nuclear Disarmament And Security Assurances)

Eighth Review Conference of the Parties to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
New York, 10 May 2010

Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of the Cuban delegation, I congratulate you on your election as chairman of this important subsidiary body. You can count on the full support of Cuba.
The major positions of our country on questions relating to nuclear disarmament and security assurances were duly stated at the general debate of the Main Committee I. However, I consider necessary to make a brief statement in this moment, in order to convey two key considerations. 

1. We cannot be satisfied with a Review Conference that just reiterates commitments already undertaken in previous Conferences. Nuclear disarmament cannot remain a continuously postponed and conditional goal. To guarantee the implementation of the 13 practical steps agreed upon in 2000 is important but not enough. Therefore, we request that the Report of this subsidiary body properly reflect the proposal submitted by NAM to adopt in the Review Conference a phased Plan of Action enabling the total elimination of nuclear weapons by 2025.

1. The conference must agree the immediate beginning of negotiations on a legally-binding international instrument providing non-nuclear-weapon States with universal and unconditional security assurances. Such assurances must remain in force while total nuclear disarmament is not achieved.

 

Mr. Chairman,
In Cuba’s opinion, the two abovementioned questions must be the highest priority of this subsidiary body. The success of the Review Conference will greatly depend on their results. The Cuban delegation is ready to start working immediately on a language on these issues, which is acceptable for all delegations.
Thank you