Raul Castro Speech at the Summit of the United Nations

 

September 26, 2015

Dear heads of state and government:

Distinguished heads of delegations:

Secretary General of the United Nations:

Mister President:

The instability in many regions has its roots in the situation of underdevelopment in which two-thirds of the global population live.

The Agenda for Post-2015 Development appears to be ambitious, but enthusiasm must not blind us to the realities.

Progress, adopted fifteen years after the Millennium Development Goals, they are insufficient and unevenly distributed. Persist, and even worsen in many cases, unacceptable levels of poverty and social inequality, even in the industrialized nations themselves. The gap between North and South and the polarization of wealth increase.

We note that we are still very far from having a true global partnership for development.

No fewer than 2 000 700 million people in the world live in poverty. The overall infant mortality rate among children under five years, is still several times that of developed countries. Maternal mortality in developing regions is 14 times higher than in those.

Amid the current economic and financial crisis, the wealthy and the transnational companies are becoming richer and dramatically increase the poor, the unemployed and the homeless because of cruel policies called “austerity”. Desperate waves of immigrants arriving in Europe fleeing poverty and conflicts unleashed others.

The means to implement Agenda, without measurable commitments or calendars, are not commensurate with the scope of its 17 sustainable development goals.

If we want a livable world, peace and harmony among nations, democracy, social justice, dignity and respect for human rights of all, we should take prompt tangible commitments to development aid and solve the debt problem already paid several times. You have to build another international financial architecture, eliminate monopoly and technological knowledge, and change the current international economic order.

The industrialized countries should take their historical debt and exercise the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”. It cannot be used as a pretext lack of resources when investing 1.7 million dollars a year in military spending, without which the development or reduction a stable and lasting peace will not be possible.

Mr. President:

The restoration of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, opening embassies and the changes that President Barack Obama said on policy towards our country are an important step forward, which has attracted the widest support of the international community.

However, the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba persists for more than half a century, causing damage and hardship to the Cuban people, is the main obstacle to the economic development of our country, it affects other nations for its extraterritorial scope and continues to harm the interests of US citizens and companies. This policy is rejected by 188 Member states of the United Nations demanding ending.

Nevertheless, Cuba met the Millennium Development Goals and offered its cooperation to other developing countries in various sectors, which continue to do as far as our modest possibilities.

We never give up the dignity, human solidarity and social justice, which are deep convictions of our socialist society.

Thank you.

https://cubainsidetheworld.wordpress.com/2015/09/26/raul-speech-at-the-un-never-give-up-solidarity-dignity-and-social-justice/

Source: Cuba Inside the World