CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Statement by the Permanent Representative of Cuba, Ambassador Pedro Núñez Mosquera, on Agenda Item: Memory of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization.

Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, 6 October 2009.

Mr. President,

We wish to thank the Secretary-General for the presentation of his Annual Memory.

We agree on the relevant diagnose made in the report on the current situation of the world, plunged into a severe economic and financial crisis with devastating effects for all countries, particularly for developing nations which, although not responsible for it, are the ones that suffer the most its disastrous consequences.

Since its inception in 2000, our country warned the very modest Millennium Development Goals would not be achieved unless the prevailing unjust and inequitable international economic order was not radically modified. Today, we confirm such prediction in the face of multiple crises striking the countries of the South, all at the same time. Those crises are the result of a structural crisis of capitalism, intensified by neoliberal policies promoting an economic model based on unsustainable patterns of production, consumption, and distribution. Therefore, we reiterate the true cause of the failure to achieve these Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, lies in the lack of political will showed until now by developed countries.

The report points out additional financial resources will be necessary to address the growing needs of low-income countries, on which we agree. However, this is not enough. The conception and implementation of policies focusing on the human being and promoting the development of all countries are required. Nonetheless, the prompt actions to bail out financial institutions of the North that are in bankruptcy shamefully contrast with the exiguous outlays to the Official Development Assistance and the reluctance of the developed bloc to commit itself to provide new and additional resources.

The need to find collective solutions to global problems is imperative not only for the promotion of development, but also for the survival of the human race. In that regard, it is essential the recognition, expressed in the report, that the United Nations must play a key role in addressing the multiple crises presently threatening the world, and use this historical moment to promote progress. But this progress will not be possible without a new international economic order based on sustainable development and the creation of resources on the basis of justice and equity, and the economic and financial institutions of which, under the aegis of the United Nations, turn the promotion of development into their main objective.

In this context, last United Nations Conference at the Highest Level on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development is for us a significant first step forward, which we expect can be complemented and deepened with the work of the open-ended Working Group of the General Assembly that will follow up the issues addressed in that event.

As one of the United Nations system’s responses to the crisis, the report cites the putting in place of a Global Impact and Vulnerability Alert System that will track the impact of global crises on the poor and most vulnerable people. We expect such system to be a useful tool instead of a mere repetition of data and evidences we already have. We do not need a diagnosis, but urgent and viable solutions. Therefore, we believe that consideration must be given to the creation of a system which monitors the responses to crisis, particularly those stemming from the true responsible, as well as the actual effects of such responses on the most affected countries.

Mr. President,

The phenomenon of climate change arouses particular attention in the face of the Copenhagen Conference. Last Summit on Climate Change convened by the Secretary-General reaffirmed the main concerns of the developing world regarding the need for financing and transfer of technology and know-how, in order to advance in the processes of adaptation and mitigation. For all it is clear that the success of these negotiations will depend, to a large extent, on the willingness of developed countries to meet their commitments and to set themselves new and more ambitious objectives in line with their historical responsibility and with the ecological debt to humankind.

Mr. President,

We uphold both the need for the existence of the United Nations and of its in-depth reform and democratization. However, it must be done respecting its Charter instead of redrafting it or distorting its purposes and principles.

The main challenge we face is the reform of the United Nations so that it serves equally the interests of all nations. We cannot let the reform fail and end up turning our Organization into an instrument to the interests and caprices of a few rich and powerful countries.

The Memory deals with the controversial matter of the Responsibility to Protect, while many important questions and legitimate concerns about this concept remain improperly answered. It is the duty of the General Assembly to continue giving transparent and deep consideration to this matter, and to take the relevant decisions.

Some have the intention to implement the concept even before it is clearly defined. Cuba opposes such intentions, since they would open up the possibility to turn the Responsibility to Protect into an easily manipulable instrument to attempt against the sacred principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of the States.
We have to strengthen the leading role of the General Assembly, the only UN body where there is no place for hegemonies, where we all have voice and vote, and where the obsolete right to veto does not exist.
On the other hand, we will not be able to talk about a true reform of this Organization until a real reform of the Security Council takes place. The intergovernmental negotiation process on the reform of the Security Council initiated last year has been an important step forward. However, it has not given the concrete results we expect. We are confident real progress will be made during this session. 
We urgently need a truly equitable and representative Security Council, which acts on behalf of all and within the mandate given to it by the Charter, without encroaching, as it is increasingly doing, on the functions and prerogatives of other bodies of the system.
Mr. President,

Concerning the chapter of the report on Humanitarian Affairs, we reiterate the importance of continuing to work to improve the effectiveness and timeliness in coordinating UN humanitarian assistance.

We reaffirm the validity of the governing principles of humanitarian assistance recognized in the emblematic resolution 46/182.

In the report, reference is made to activities of humanitarian assistance by the UN in response to about 55 emergencies in the period under analysis. Just a few are mentioned. We would have appreciated more information on the rest.

With respect to the reform of the United Nations system in this regard, we consider essential the vision of the countries of the South which, the majority of them, are affected by those humanitarian emergencies. We recognize the work being done by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Also, the so-called cluster approach requires intergovernmental consideration and analysis by Member States.

Mr. President,

Cuba reaffirms the importance of the principles of international cooperation and genuine dialogue in terms of human rights. The political manipulation, selectivity and double-standards in handling this matter must be eradicated.

All of us must prevent the current UN machinery of human rights, including the Human Rights Council, from being affected by those vices. With this spirit, it actively engaged in the institutional creation of the Council and has taken part in its works with a high sense of responsibility. We hope the Council remains away from the phenomena that put paid to its predecessor.    

In his Memory, the Secretary-General refers to the support given by the United Nations country teams on the ground so that States implement the recommendations resulting from the universal periodic Review. In this regard, we are concerned about such mention limiting the results of that review only to developing countries, where those country teams are. It must not be forgotten that the countries of the North must also account to this mechanism for their state in terms of human rights, including those countries not reviewed yet. It must be kept in mind that human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent.
Mr. President,
As to the UN system-wide coherence, we consider this negotiation exercise must remain within the framework of intergovernmental deliberations, since Member States will be the ones to take an eventual decision thereupon. In this respect, any proposal to reform operational activities must respond to the needs and priorities of recipient countries regarding development. Due to their diversity, operational activities cannot accept inflexible formulae, which may be intended to be forcibly applied to all equally. Besides, any initiative on these matters by the Secretariat coordination mechanisms shall be duly presented to the Member States for its proper consideration and eventual adoption. In that regard, once more we call upon the UN System Chief Executives Board to respect the intergovernmental mandates and to substantially improve the transparency and accountability of Member States.

I would like to conclude, Mr. President, by joining the appeal by the Secretary-General in his Memory when stating: Let us join together to make 2009 the year when we remade the world, restoring global hope and solidarity and renewing the foundation for international security and peace, sustainable development and human rights. Huge challenges lie ahead. More than ever, the world needs the United Nations and our joint action.

Thank you
(Cubaminrex-ONU)

 

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