November 2, 2022
Mr. President,
India associates itself with the statements made by the Chair of the G77 and the Chair of NAM. We welcome the distinguished Foreign Minister of Cuba H. E. Mr. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla here today, and we also thank the Secretary General for his report on this issue.
Mr. President,
Every year this Assembly has rejected the imposition of laws and regulations with extra-territorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures that hurt the progress and prosperity of the people the world over. Last year, 184 member states voted in favour of resolution 75/289, expressing their strong support to lifting of the embargo. The General Assembly has also called upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying, and to repeal and invalidate, laws and measures that have extra-territorial effects affecting the sovereignty of other States, in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law. There is no doubt that the continued existence of this embargo, in contravention of the overwhelming opinion as expressed by this Assembly, undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the United Nations itself.
Mr. President,
As the world’s largest democracy with abiding faith in multilateralism, India stands in solidarity with this Assembly in its unambiguous rejection of domestic laws having extraterritorial impact. Such embargoes have the effect of impeding the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected country, in particular women and children. They also hinder the full enjoyment of human rights, including the right to development, food, medical care and social services, among other things.
Mr. President,
Successive reports of the Secretary General have established that the embargo, particularly through its extraterritorial effects, has adversely affected the Cuban people and the developmental efforts of the country, with particularly devastating effects owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and attendant shortages of essential commodities. At the same time, we would like to acknowledge the notable socio-economic and developmental achievements of the Cuban people, in particular the high HDI ranking of Cuba and its achievement of several SDGs. In 2015, while launching the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, world leaders had again strongly urged all States to refrain from any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The continued embargo would severely impact Cuba’s ability to implement the comprehensive 2030 Agenda. Cuba’s expertise and contributions in the healthcare sector, despite the restrictive conditions, enabled it to respond quickly and effectively to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. President,
People to people contact holds immense possibilities for fostering better understanding between nations. There is no doubt that the people of Cuba can contribute much to the needs of the global community today. To enable this, the international community needs to intensify its efforts to promote an environment free from sanctions and embargoes. India hopes that the embargo will be withdrawn at the earliest and India supports the draft resolution moved by Cuba.
I thank you.