CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Statement by the Cuban delegation at the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 51/210
New York, 12 April 2010.

 

Mr. Chairman,

As this is the first time my delegation addresses this Committee, I would like to take this opportunity to express our satisfaction at seeing you leading again our works. We are confident that, under your leadership, we will advance in implementing the mandate given to us by the General Assembly in its resolution 64/118.

My delegation wishes to associate itself with the statements by the delegation of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and by Chile on behalf of the Rio Group. Likewise, in our national capacity, we wish to convey the following considerations:

Cuba reiterates once again its will to contribute to facing all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all their forms and manifestations by whomever, against whomsoever, and wherever committed, whatever their motivations, including those in which States are directly or indirectly involved. State terrorism is one of the most abominable forms of terrorism.

Three main elements have limited the scope of our efforts to eradicate international terrorism. First, the lack of commitment by certain States in the fight to eliminate the root causes generating and allowing the development of such conducts, namely, poverty and the need to ensure the Right to development of peoples. Second, the double standards of the actions carried out by certain States, which illegally occupy territories and invade sovereign nations with the purpose of controlling and plunder their resources, riding roughshod over the right to self-determination and its independence. Third, the measures taken in the name of an alleged fight against terrorism and that violate the most basic human rights of people, which minimize the necessary moral authority to end terrorism. 

In this context, there is a need for the adoption of a General Convention on International Terrorism contributing to fill the gaps existing in instruments adopted by the United Nations in preventing and repressing this scourge.

There are significant international legal instruments addressing terrorism from different approaches; however, the International Community expects a General Convention that defines international terrorism in a clear and comprehensive manner. This important step must be taken with no sort of rush or pressure; only committed to our responsibility to send a clear message of our firm willingness to eliminate terrorism in all its manifestations, as well as to end double standards and imperial policies used to manipulate this issue.

In this respect, the Cuban delegation reiterates and keeps its proposal to add a new paragraph 4, subsection d, to Article 2 according to a proposal contained in document A/AC.552/2005/WP.2. There are no moral, political, or legal obstacles justifying the prosecution of those who, controlling or leading the troops of a State’s armed forces, order, allow, or participate in planning, initiating or carrying out actions described in pp 1, 2, and 3 of the Draft Convention. 

The Cuban delegation considers a new General Convention on Terrorism should clearly and expressly include the following elements:

•           The activities of a State’s armed forces not regulated by the International Humanitarian Law should be included in the scope of application of the future General Convention. 

•           To ensure a clear distinction between terrorism and the legitimate fight of peoples for their Independence and in defense of their right to self-determination.

Moreover, the Cuban delegation supports the proposal to Article 18 submitted by Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and is willing to continue working on the basis of the proposals submitted by the Coordinator in 2007.

Likewise, it is vitally important to establish in the dispositions of the Convention a clear differentiation between terrorism and right of peoples to fight for their self-determination  

Mr. Chairman,

Although, bilateral consultations have borne fruits, we consider we are in a position to initiate a round of general and transparent debates among Member States, where each and every one can openly state its viewpoints and be considered by the rest according to merits of its proposals. We urge those States continuing to hinder the progress of these works to show the necessary flexibility.

Another formula we could use to contribute to the progress of these negotiations and thus comply with the other part of this Committee’s mandate would be to support the holding of an International Conference under the auspices of the United Nations, in order to give an organized solution to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. 

This meeting is of outmost urgency and its convening must be analyzed and considered in all seriousness and at the earliest possible time. In this regard, we would like to remind this issue was also significantly supported in the final document of the 2005 World Summit (A/60/L.1)

A high level meeting under the auspices of the United Nations could be a favorable and ideal space to realize the aspiration to adopt a definition on terrorism.

Finally, we wish to reaffirm our commitment to continuing to work to strengthen the main role of the United Nations in establishing an international legal framework to fight terrorism. 

Thank you

 

(Cubaminrex-Misión ONU)

 

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