CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Statement by Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba, at the General Debate of the 2nd Committee.

64th session of the UNGA. New York, 5 October 2009

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me at the outset to congratulate you and the rest of the Bureau on your election to lead the works of the 2nd Committee during this session. Since this moment, my delegation assures you of our full support and cooperation.

We would like to join the statement made by the delegation of Sudan on behalf of the G-77 and China. At the same time, we seize this opportunity to make some general remarks.

The work of the 2nd committee during this session will be particularly complex, since it has to be carried out in parallel with other negotiation processes in the face of momentous events, related to agenda items of this body. One of these events is the Copenhagen Conference, in which we expect to reach a consensus on concrete actions to fight climate change urgently and effectively, as required. Another of these important events is the Conference on South-South Cooperation to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, the outcome of which must be focused on the search for viable options to promote the enormous efforts of the South on this matter.

A year after the outbreak of the global financial and economic crisis, the international scenario continues to be extremely discouraging, particularly for developing countries. Some people already speak with enthusiasm about a supposed recovery, but the crisis has expanded and gone deeper and its devastating impact on development is being felt in all its dimensions. Figures speak for themselves.

The International Labor Organization estimates 50 million people will lose their jobs, reaching a total figure of 210 to 239 million people unemployed. Unemployment increases instead of decreasing.

By the end of 2009, the number of poor people is expected to reach 1 422 million, almost one fourth of world’s population. The number of poor people grows ever more, not less.

FAO alerts that 1 020 million people will suffer hunger every day, which is equivalent to one sixth of the world’s population. Every time there is more hungry people, not less.

Likewise, the World Bank warns this year 400 thousand children will die besides those dying today, due to extreme poverty or indigence.

The nations of the South, seriously affected by a sharp fall in its exports, the flight of capital from their economies and the loss of income from the services, have been forced to divert considerable resources from its own development to face the disastrous effects of a crisis they did not create, of a phenomenon generated in the heart of the capitalist system, the dogmas and paradigms of which cannot withstand the least rigorous analysis.

Mr. Chairman,

The call to a new international economic order was present in statements of numerous leaders from all over the world in the recently concluded General Debate at the beginning of the 64th session of the General Assembly. Today, there is no doubt about the unsustainable character of the current chaotic order, the absurd production and consumption patterns of which threaten the very existence of the human race.

It was recognized likewise, almost unanimously, that the reform of the International Financial Institutions, particularly the so called Bretton-Woods Institutions, with a view to the establishment of a new international financial architecture, cannot be postponed.

In the current situation, the works of this Committee have a special meaning. The matters addressed here are key in the international agenda, so they must be taken seriously and in depth. It is our duty to adopt resolutions aimed at finding urgent and effective solutions to such matters, which avoid stale and meaningless formulae, which are creative and provide viable alternatives to the multiple challenges we face today.

Nevertheless, this will only be possible if developed countries show the necessary political will for a frank dialog and constructive negotiations, and give up using the language of conditionalities and imposing schemes and models that have nothing to do with our legitimate aspirations.

Mr. Chairman,

The issue of agriculture and food security, to be discussed in the Committee for the first occasion, takes a very special meaning at this time. That is why we welcome this opportunity to discuss deeply the problems related to the food crisis and all its edges.

Nonetheless, we consider this must not prejudge the negotiations that will take place in Rome with a view to the World Summit on Food Security, to be held next November, to which my delegation will pay full attention.

Last, we wish to remind that this year the Committee will analyze again the report of the Secretary General on unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries.

Cuba is one of the countries directly affected by those measures. However, the unjust and criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US Government against Cuba for more than half a century has not managed to conquer our people with hunger or to impede significant progress in the economic and social development of our nation, not even amidst the obstacles associated with the current global financial and economic crisis and the natural disasters we have recently suffered as a consequence of climate change, the effects of which we have not recovered fully from.

The blockade has not prevented, nor will it prevent, Cuba from continuing to offer its modest and selfless contribution to the development of other Third World countries in different areas, in the framework of the South-South cooperation.

Mr. Chairman,

As in the past, our delegation will engage actively in the works of the Committee, with a constructive spirit, not only defending national interests, but also the common cause of the South and its most desired right: the right to development.

Thank you.

(Cubaminrex- Embacuba ONU)

 

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