United Nations, September 28 (RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has strongly condemned sanctions policies and violations of international law during his speech at the UN General Assembly, emphasizing the devastating impact of these measures on developing countries.
In his speech, Rodríguez denounced how these coercive policies, especially those promoted by the United States, are undermining global stability and seriously harming the most vulnerable countries.
"The blockade is not only a violation of international law, but also contravenes the purposes and principles of this organization," he said, while condemning the inclusion of Cuba on the State Department's list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism, a designation he described as "fraudulent" and without moral authority.
Although the United States has publicly recognized Cuban cooperation in the fight against terrorism, the blockade and sanctions have not been relaxed, which, according to Rodríguez, reinforces the hypocrisy and lack of coherence in US policies towards the island.
In a gesture of solidarity, Rodríguez extended his support to other countries that also suffer from sanctions and unilateral coercive measures, including Syria, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Iran and North Korea.
Regarding Venezuela, the Cuban foreign minister reaffirmed his country's firm support for President Nicolás Maduro, highlighting the civic-military union of the Venezuelan people as a bulwark against destabilizing actions, and condemned attempts to ignore the election results in Venezuela, considering them irresponsible and a violation of the sovereign right of Venezuelans to decide their future without foreign interference.
He also highlighted the historical debt of the international community to Haiti and praised the efforts of the Caribbean community to find a sustainable solution to the Haitian crisis, calling for the independence and sovereignty of the nation to be respected.
"History will not forgive the indifferent"
Rodríguez began his speech by pointing out the situation of the Palestinian people, victims of more than 75 years of occupation and violations of their rights. He denounced that in the last 11 months, the Israeli army has killed more than 40 thousand Palestinian civilians, mostly children.
These actions, he said, are supported by the United States government through the provision of weapons and the complicit silence of the international community. "History will not forgive the indifferent," he said, quoting Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
"The genocide against the Palestinian people must cease without conditions and without delay," warned the Cuban foreign minister, who also stated that Israel's aggressions, backed by the United States, puts the world in danger of a "conflagration of large proportions," affecting not only the Middle East but global peace.
For this reason, he also condemned the growing militarization and the aggressive expansionist doctrines of the hegemonic powers.
According to Bruno Rodriguez, continued violations of the United Nations Charter and international law, such as interference in the internal affairs of other states and unilateral coercive measures, have become part of daily routine in global politics.
Meanwhile, he detailed that global military spending reached a record figure in 2023, exceeding trillions of dollars, which has increased the danger of a nuclear catastrophe.
This massive investment in weapons contrasts with the lack of commitment by developed countries to fulfill their promises of official development aid, a failure that, according to the foreign minister, reflects indifference to the poverty that affects 5 billion people in the world.
A call for peace and sustainable development
During his speech before the UN General Assembly, the Cuban foreign minister stressed the importance of peace and development as essential conditions for global stability. He added that peace will not be possible without development and that developed countries refuse to invest adequately in the prosperity and security of all.
"The richest 1% accumulate almost twice as much wealth as the rest of the world's population," he denounced, highlighting the growing economic inequality that perpetuates poverty in vast regions of the planet.
The Cuban foreign minister insisted that, in order to face global challenges, it is necessary to move towards a fair and democratic international order that guarantees equitable development for all states.
"In the face of the enormous obstacles and challenges we face, the solution must inevitably include the forgiveness of external debt and an international order based on sovereign equality," emphasized Rodríguez.
Finally, the Cuban foreign minister called on the international community to strengthen multilateralism and promote an international order based on solidarity, mutual respect and cooperation.
"We need a new civilized coexistence between nations where international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes prevail," concluded Rodríguez, urging the United Nations to take a more proactive role in defending the rights of the most vulnerable peoples in the face of hegemonic aggression.
