Statement Ileana Núñez Mordoche, Ambassador, Deputy-Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cuba to the United Nations.
Twenty-fifth Session of the Plenary Committee of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). New York, 9 February 2009.
Mr. Chairman,
First and foremost, my delegation wishes to thank the interesting presentations we have listened to. They have been very revealing and confirm once more the sense of responsibility and commitment of ECLAC when traditionally carrying out its work on the socio-economic analysis of the region, particularly its marked interest in supporting the efforts of our countries to face the current global economic and financial crisis.
The situation of economic chaos the world faces is, obviously, a clear evidence of the unfeasibility of the neoliberal model, based all these years on the principles of total deregulation and the false assumption that markets tend to balance by themselves. Undoubtedly, this is a direct consequence of the current international economic order ruled up to now by the most powerful countries, main responsible for this crisis with a global negative impact. The disastrous effects of this crisis on the development of the countries of the South are an unquestionable fact already.
Today, it is undeniable that the financial globalization and the speculation it entails seriously threaten the true wealth of humankind. Besides, the vulnerability of the dollar, the financial imbalances and the recession of the major developed economies, particularly that of the first world power, deny the myth of the soundness and reliability of the existing International Financial Institutions.
Nonetheless, even amidst the seriousness of the situation, the attempts to perpetuate the current order of things continue proliferating among developed countries, hoping to keep the international financial system under their absolute control and to continue marginalizing the vast majority of world nations from the economic and financial decision-making worldwide.
Mr. Chairman,
Last December, the leaders of our region met to hold the historic Latin-American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development in Costa do Sauípe, in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. The explicit purpose of that great event was to deepen regional integration and to establish effective commitments of joint action in order to promote the sustainable development of our peoples.
The region’s willingness to continue fostering the dialog and collective actions in very diverse topics was evidenced there. Particularly, concerning the issue we are dealing with, the willingness to promote the exchange of information about the financial crisis impact on the countries of the region and on the measures taken to control and mitigate its effects, was expressed. Likewise, the final Declaration adopted recognizes the need to build a new international financial architecture guaranteeing the democratization and transparency of financial management practices worldwide.
Our Heads of State and Government also reiterated their full support to the convening of the High-Level Conference on the Global Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impacts on Development, to be held soon, under the auspices of the UN General Assembly.
We hope the idea that the only possible solution to the serious problems currently faced by humankind lies in a deep reform of the current international economic order and its discredited financial system, where all nations participate as equals, prevail in such Conference arising from the will of developing countries. We also hope the valuable contribution of ECLAC is taken into account in the deliberations and negotiations to take place.
Mr. President,
Today, our region faces common challenges and has the opportunity to unite in order to overcome them. We must take the necessary steps to make the historic aspiration of our peoples to integrate politically, economically, socially, and culturally come true. Unity, particularly in these hard times, constitutes a necessary factor to move towards the sustainable development and wellbeing of the entire region, as demonstrated in Sauípe.
Thank you.
(Cubaminrex- Embacuba ONU)
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