Mr. President, Cuba is addressing the Security Council today to denounce and strongly condemn the definitive release of the notorious international terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. Our country has regularly participated in these meetings on the work of the subsidiary bodies in charge of fighting terrorism. On each and every occasion, we have alerted about the possibility of Posada Carriles being released in the United States. During the last few months, our Government issued several alert statements and communiqués which were circulated as official documents of the General Assembly and the Security Council. The Counter- Terrorism Committee was informed timely and in detail, and we repeatedly requested the adoption of concrete measures to prevent such condemnable action from being carried out. Last April 29, the 118 members of the Non-Aligned Movement adopted a categorical Declaration expressing their concern for the release of the terrorist, on bail at that time, and reiterating their support for the extradition request presented by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, on 15 June 2005. Unfortunately, nothing was done, and last May 8, Posada Carriles was released and all charges against him were withdrawn, despite protests by hundreds of solidarity movements and political forces worldwide and within the United States itself demanding that the terrorist be sentenced. Mr. President, Once again, Cuba denounces the complicity and absolute responsibility of the Government of the United States for the release of this person, who is liable for countless terrorist acts against Cuba and other countries, including the mid-air bombing of a Cuban airliner claiming 73 lives, and the death of the young Italian Fabio di Celmo, after terrorists trained, coordinated and paid by Posada Carriles and the Cuban-American National Foundation bombed several hotels in Havana in 1997. The US Government is well aware, and has all the evidence of the countless terrorist acts committed by Posada Carriles. The decision to charge him for migration petty crimes and after allowing his release, leaves no doubt that the US Government’s intention was always to prevent Posada Carriles from exposing to the public details of his terrorist actions against Cuba, Venezuela and other countries, while he followed orders of the Central Intelligence Agency for more than 25 years. By releasing the terrorist, the US Government has acted against several General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, including resolution 1373. Likewise, it has violated the treaties on terrorism to which it is party, including the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation. While this confessed and unscrupulous terrorist is released, the US Government keeps hostage in high-security jails five Cuban young men who were only trying, with high altruism and courage, to get information on the Miami-based terrorist groups to prevent their violent actions and save the lives of both Cuban and US citizens. Mr. President, It is impossible to eliminate terrorism if some terrorist acts are condemned while others are silenced, tolerated or justified, or the issue is simply manipulated in order to promote some political interests. Based on the aforementioned grave events, Cuba reiterates the pressing need for the Security Council and the Counter- Terrorism Committee to urgently pay attention to the detailed information that they have been provided on this case and take all the necessary steps in accordance with the relevant resolutions adopted. Double standards must not prevail. The Security Council must not continue to keep the conspiratorial silence before this barefaced affront to the world’s victims of terrorism. Thank you very much.
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