CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Statement by Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of The Republic of Cuba, in Response to the Presentation of the so-called Special Representative for Cuba

Geneva, 26 September 2006

Mr. Chairman,

Like a disastrous inheritance from the defenestrated and discredited Commission on Human Rights, this Council listens today to the report of the so-called Special Representative for Cuba. The libellous document does not deserve any respect or credibility. We will send it to the same place we have sent previous reports: the paper recycling bin.

The mandate of the Special Representative is a heavy burden of the old Commission, that of hypocrisy, double standards, selectivity and political manipulation.

Among your multiple occupations, Madame, this has not been exactly an honourable job. Do not have the slightest doubt that sooner rather than later no one will remember your illegitimate mandate. If you still wish to contribute to the incipient efforts to build this Council, there is indeed a significant contribution you can make by quitting.

Someone who, with veiled and cautious criticism to the criminal blockade of the United States against Cuba, only questions it because –in her opinion- it would serve as a pretext for the Cuban Government to apply laws that she qualifies as ‘repressive’, cannot pretend to be objective and impartial. Mrs. Chanet intends to deny the Cuban people the vindication of its right to self-determination, its decision to defend the homeland and to struggle for its survival as a nation against the most powerful and aggressive empire in history.

Someone who, as a last resort, when carrying out its mandate ends up being an instrument serving the interests of a fascist clique which tries to produce and generously finances mercenaries at their service from Washington under the false disguise of “dissidents”, cannot pretend to be independent.

How to explain then that the so-called Special Representative has not made any mention in her report of the acts of terrorism carried out with total impunity against the Cuban people from the United States territory and to the fact that Luis Posada Carriles, the most notorious terrorist of the Western hemisphere, is still in that country without being judged or extradited for his acts?

How can she keep an accomplice silence about the cause of the Cuban 5 young men who remain arbitrarily imprisoned in the Unites Status for fighting against terrorism and defend the lives of the Cuban people?

But in any case, we are not concerned about the ravings and stale fantasies of the Special Representative. Revolutionary Cuba, that long narrow trench which the empire and its accomplices have not and will not take ever, will remain firm and unyielding in its nobility, attached to its principles, raising the flag of dignity and its conviction that a better world can be built.
Our National Hero, José Martí, said: “It is with the poor of the Earth that I wish to cast my lot”. Loyal to his words, together with the Third World, we move forward and will continue to struggle until we achieve justice.

It is that Third World, representing two thirds of humanity, which we thank for the privilege of giving us a seat in this Council so that we can continue to raise our voice against injustices and the subjugation of the powerful.

Thank you very much.

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