CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Statement by the delegation of cube at the thematic discussion on disarmament machinery. First Committee, 65th UNGA, 18 October 2010.

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me to reiterate the importance attached by Cuba to the need to make concrete progress in the negotiations and deliberations in the field of disarmament and arms control.

Cuba reaffirms the significance of the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating body.

It is regrettably that this body continues to fail to conduct substantive work. However, the solution does not lie in beginning to ignore the Conference or minimize its importance. On the contrary, today more than ever, it is our responsibility to preserve and strengthen it.   

We reiterate the call to flexibility, on the basis of the respect for the rules of procedure, for the Conference to adopt, at the earliest possible delay, a comprehensive and balanced agenda taking into consideration real priorities on disarmament.

Nuclear disarmament is and must remain a top priority. On this basis, consensus must be built, in the framework of the Conference on Disarmament. We reiterate our support to the call by the Non-Aligned Movement to initiate negotiations as soon as possible on a gradual program for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, within a time-bound framework, including a Convention on Nuclear Weapons.

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me also to stress the importance and relevance of the United Nations Disarmament Commission, as the sole specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery.

Cuba fully supports the work of this Commission and hopes all States show the necessary political will and flexibility to reach agreements on concrete recommendations. 

Furthermore, I wish to reiterate our concern about the growing tendency to create “Expert Groups” of limited membership to analyze issues in the field of disarmament and arms control highly sensitive and of interest to all Member States.   

We believe the creation of Expert Groups must be the exception and not the rule; instead, transparent and inclusive processes where all Member States are part of on an equal footing must be favored.

Mr. Chairman,

As NAM has been reiterating, we insist on the need to hold a Fourth Special Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to disarmament (SSOD-IV). We express our concern at the failure to convene said necessary event.

It is important that the General Assembly establishes a preparatory committee for the SSOD-IV, without further delay.

Allow me to conclude by stressing the, to Cuba, the major obstacles faced by the disarmament machinery do not derive primarily from the degree of effectiveness of its working methods, but from other reasons, particularly the lack of political will expressed by some States to advance in relevant matters that are essential for international peace and security, like the question of nuclear disarmament. 

We are optimistic and continue waiting to see a more positive panorama in line with the expectations of the international community.
 
Thank you.

(Cubaminrex-Embacuba Grecia)

 

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