Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cuba, ambassador Ileana Núñez Mordoche, on item 99 “Measures to eliminate international terrorism”.
New York, 8 October 2008.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba joins the statement made by NAM and wishes to reiterate its steadfast determination to cooperate in the fight against international terrorism.
As a basic principle, it expresses its deepest rejection to all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations by whomever, against whomsoever, and wherever committed, whatever its motivations, including those in which States are directly or indirectly involved.
Measures to eliminate international terrorism must be based on the strict respect to the UN Charter, the principles of international law and Humanitarian International Law. They cannot be arbitrary and unilateral measures leading to pre-emptive wars, acts of aggression, covered-up actions, unilateral sanctions or the drafting of politically-motivated “lists” or certifications of countries, all of which can lead unequivocally to a situation of true international chaos.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba believes that it is important to continue working to conclude the General Convention on international terrorism, with a view to eliminate the gap in instruments adopted by the General Assembly in the prevention and repression of international terrorism. For this Convention to be “general”, it must provide a clear definition of such crime, free from selectivity and national interest purporting to be above those aimed at achieving international peace and security. As to its application, it must include the activities of the armed forces that are not regulated by Humanitarian International Law, as well as a clear distinction between terrorism and the peoples’ struggle for their independence and in defense of their right to self-determination.
Likewise, my delegation considers important the implementation by the States of the UN World Strategy to Combat Terrorism, adopted on September 8, 2006, as a major instrument that shall guide, hereinafter, our actions against this scourge, which has claimed so many innocent lives throughout history. Furthermore, it welcomes the results of the review of the Strategy, expecting a better institutionalization of the Special Task Force and a greater interaction between the latter and the Member States so as to have an effective implementation of the action plan by all States with the United Nations as a collaborator.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba has never allowed nor will allow the use of its national territory to carry out, mastermind or finance terrorist acts against any other State. Cuba is one of the first three countries to ratify the 12 first international instruments on international terrorism and is currently in a constitutional process to become a State party to the Convention on nuclear terrorism. It has promulgated a comprehensive law against terrorist acts and has adopted internal non-legislative measures to fight this scourge. Likewise, Cuba collaborates with and abides by Resolution 1373 (2001) of the Security Council, contributing comprehensive reports on the issue to the Committee on Terrorism.
Mr. Chairman,
The US government, unilaterally and resorting to a psychological and political terrorism, includes Cuba in the list of States that supposedly sponsor international terrorism. However, with total impunity, funds are granted and collected in Miami and other cities of this country to carry out terrorist acts, bank accounts financing terrorism are managed, terrorists are recruited, weapons are supplied, a safe haven is provided and free use of the territory is allowed to those who finance, mastermind and commit terrorist acts against Cuba.
All this is proved by the fact that last 8 May 2008 marked the first year of the final release, in the United States, of the notorious terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. This Government continues to fail to comply with its international obligation to prosecute or extradite this terrorist, whose extradition was requested by the Government of Venezuela on June, 2005.
He is the mastermind of the downing of a Cubana de Aviacion airliner in October 1976, claiming the lives of 76 innocent civilians; of the bombing of tourist resorts in Havana in 1997, and of dozens of US-financed plans to assassinate the Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, are just some of the facts their author has even admitted having committed.
Judge Kathleen Cardone ordered his release after the Government accused him of committing fraud and of lying to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to obtain his naturalization in said country. The very same US Immigration and Customs Enforcement recognized in a letter that “due to his long record of criminal activities and acts of violence, which caused the death of innocent civilians, releasing him would pose a danger for the community and national security of the United States.” However, the judge ordered his release claiming that, "The realm of this case is not terrorism. It is immigration fraud. Terrorism and the determination of whether or not to classify an individual as a terrorist, lie within the sound discretion of the executive branch."
Posada Carriles is currently free and without charges against him, walking down the streets of Miami, despite the U.S. Government having the evidence deriving from its old relationship with him and the evidence provided by Cuba since 1998.
Another responsible for the mid-air bombing of the Cubana de Aviación airliner is Orlando Bosch, who also enjoys total freedom in Miami, and publicly boasts about his numerous terrorist acts against Cuba in the Florida press.
This gives rise to the question of where are President Bush’s threatening statements that anyone who harbored a terrorist in its territory would be deemed as one? Or is it that there are double-standards to classify terrorists or some sort of “good” or tolerated terrorism when peoples like Cuba are attacked?
Mr. Chairman,
In contrast to the aforementioned, last September 12, 2008 marked 10 years of imprisonment in U.S. prisons of five Cuban heroes, due to the only crime of fighting terrorism perpetrated against Cuba in Miami and tolerated by the authorities of this country.
When there are just a few months left in his term of office, it is clear that the legacy of the current U.S. administration in the fight against terrorism will be hypocrisy and lack of political will to combat it.
Mr. Chairman,
Cuba believes that a sincere path in this fight against terrorism should be opened and impunity and double-standards must be avoided by all means. Terrorism must be rejected in any circumstance. The States should work closer in the fight against this scourge, based on respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the States’ internal affairs. Selectivity and the mean desire of the usual powerful countries to size territories to satisfy their insatiable hunger for strategic resources must cease.
Thank you very much
(Cubaminrex- Embacuba ONU)