Cuba's DPR to the UN, Yuri Gala,

United Nations, Oct 21 (RHC)-- Cuba called at the UN on Friday to banish unilateral and selective exercises between nations and condemned the enactment, at the national level, of politically motivated laws directed against other States.

In his address to the UN Sixth Committee on Universal Jurisdiction, Cuban Deputy Representative Ambassador Yuri Gala reiterated his country's commitment to the fight against impunity for crimes against humanity.

Likewise, the alternate permanent representative of Cuba to the UN recalled that the scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction is a major issue whose questions should be debated by the General Assembly, the highest legislative body of the organization.

Gala expressed concern about the misuse of the principle of universal jurisdiction in the unilateral, selective, and politically motivated exercise of the jurisdiction of the courts of developed States against individuals, natural or legal persons from developing countries, without this emanating from an international norm or treaty.

He also condemned the enactment, at the national level, of politically motivated laws directed against other States, which has disastrous effects on international relations.

He emphasized that universal jurisdiction cannot be used to undermine the integrity and values of the various legal systems in the world, undermine respect for national jurisdiction, or undermine the integrity and values of a legal system.

The limit to applying this principle lies in the absolute respect for the sovereignty of States and is limited to exceptional circumstances when there is no other recourse to avoid impunity, the Cuban diplomat stressed.