Brazil reiterates its firm position against the blockade of Cuba

Intervention by the representative of Brazil at the UN general debate on the lifting of the blockade of Cuba. teleSUR

Transcript

00:00 statement, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

00:07 (In Spanish.)

00:12 Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, Brazil aligns itself made by St. Vincent of the Grenadines

00:27 on behalf of the economic community of Latin American Caribbean states and that made by

00:33 Uganda on behalf of the group of 77 in China, and we present this in our national capacity.

00:41 I welcome the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, His Excellency Mr. Bruno Rodriguez

00:45 Parilla, and I would like to thank the Secretary General for his report A/78/84 on this theme.

00:53 My delegation reiterates its firm opposition to the economic, commercial, and financial

00:58 embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba and the application of extraterritorial

01:07 national commercial laws that are discriminatory. We do not agree with the imposition of unilateral

01:12 sanctions of any kind. The only legitimate sanctions are those which are adopted by the

01:18 Security Council in the context of its exercise of its competence in regard to maintenance

01:24 of international peace and security and in conformity with Chapter 7 of the United Nations

01:30 Charter.

01:33 For many years we have been asking for the normalization of relations with Cuba by the

01:36 government of the United States of America. Our objection of the economic, commercial,

01:42 and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba since 1962

01:49 is almost of international consensus. The sanctions imposed against Cuba have not just

01:55 generated significant losses for the country in monetary terms over the last 60 years.

02:01 In quality terms, it has also affected, without doubt, and continues to affect, the full enjoyment

02:08 of the rights of the Cuban people. It prejudices the poorest people who are affected by these

02:16 unilateral measures through unemployment. The embargo is also an obstacle for the efforts

02:24 by Cuba to achieve sustainable development goals.

02:28 Mr. President, the inclusion of Cuba on a list of states sponsoring terrorism of the

02:34 United States on 12 January 2021 worsens the impact of the economic embargo. Putting them

02:42 on this list lacks any justification, and therefore we call for Cuba to be removed from

02:49 that list. Enhancing economic relations with Cuba is the proper path to be followed by

02:54 all countries who are interested in supporting the development of that island and improving

03:00 the living conditions of millions of Cuban citizens.

03:05 President Lula, in his opening statement at the 78th session of the General Assembly on

03:12 19 September, said that Brazil will continue to denounce any measures that are not supported

03:18 by the UN Charter, such as the economic and financial embargo against Cuba and the intent

03:23 to list that country as a state co-sponsor of terrorism. This statement today enhances

03:32 this important and urgent appeal.

03:34 Mr. President, in conclusion, Brazil will vote in favour of the draft resolution 78L5.

03:41 Thank you very much.

03:42 I should like to thank the distinguished representative of Brazil.