unofficial transcription of opening remarks by Yuri Gala Lopez, Cuban Ambassador to the United Nations at the 2022 National Network on Cuba Fall Meeting in New York City.
Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez speaking in the NNOC meeting in NYC photo: Bill Hackwell
Let me start by referring to the historic dynamics of this inclusion of Cuba in the US’s State Sponsor of Terrorism like list of. Obviously, this is not the first time Cuba has been on that list. As you all know Cuba was initially included on that list back in 1982 under an unsubstantiated pretext and without presenting the slightest evidence of participation or linkage in any terrorist actions or plans or anything related to that.
That was, obviously at the time, we are talking about the 80s, that was at the time of a political manipulation, a political move that was not in any way sustained or based on international law. Nonetheless, Cuba was included and on that list, some other countries were also mentioned.
The idea behind the inclusion of Cuba was actually to try to strengthen the effectiveness of the blockade against Cuba. Because, in the case of Cuba while we were under the blockade, with the coercive economic measures that is the blockade – then with the inclusion on that list the impact would be more severe on our economy, because of the ramifications and implications that any state included on that list would suffer.
We are talking about implications like restrictions on trade, exports and development, credit and other. So that was 1982. We were on that list for about 30 years. In 2015, in May we were removed from that list. That was the context in which the Cuban government and the US government engaged in diplomatic discussion whereby in July of that year, both countries were able to reestablish diplomatic relations. As part of those discussions in May the U.S. government took the decision for the steps to remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list.
The exclusion, although at the time we mentioned even though obviously it was a positive step to remove Cuba, we nonetheless reiterated that Cuba should never be on that list. So it was not something that was just a positive step. It was actually a rectification or a remedy of a very negative and unjust action that was taken by the U.S.
The other thing that happened in terms of the historic dynamics of this is that after the Obama administration, the Trump administration changed policies toward Cuba. In May 2020 the Trump administration took the steps to include Cuba in a related list, not the already mentioned list, but a State Department list of countries that do not fully cooperate in the fight against terrorism.
This is another document, another list that basically says that Cuba was not fully cooperating with the United States in the fight against terrorism. In January 2021 days before the end of the Trump administration, they included Cuba unjustly in the State Dept list of countries sponsoring terrorism. So that was the evolution in terms of the dates, in terms of the sequence.
What is the nature and purpose of lists?
I think it is important to analyze first of all the nature of those lists that the State Department actually drafts and publishes. The first thing to understand is that since the 80s of last century, the United States has been using those lists as an instrument of foreign policy basically with a number of purposes. Those lists were actually an attempt to qualify or classify countries depending on the nature of the specific list.
There is a list related to state sponsor of terrorism; there is a list of religious intolerance or religious freedom; there is a list on human rights; so there are a number of lists. In all of those cases we are talking about a list that is adopted by a specific country, not by the United Nations, so it is a unilateral list. The impossibility of imposing its agenda and criteria against the will of the majority of states has, since the 80s, led the U.S. government for years to publish on different topics as I explained those ways to actually put a finger or to point the finger at other nations.
In the case of the specific place that we’re discussing today we think that there is ample evidence that the move was unjustified; it is not something actually sustained on facts and is easily questionable but has remained part of the tools of foreign policy against Cuba.
It is also important to recognize that those lists are actually an illegitimate attempt to put Cuba on the spot on an issue that is very sensitive not only for the U.S. population but to the world itself and obviously to Cuba as well.
It seeks to discredit Cuba and put pressure on third countries to sever relations with our nation
Now the second point would be the implications of being on any of those lists which is important. So it’s not only the nature as I mentioned before which is a unilateral list. It is not a list that has been negotiated or drafted or endorsed at the United Nations or at any International Forum whereby member states can actually identify those countries. So that’s not the idea. This is something that is a unilateral exercise by the United States.
The implications of The State Sponsor of Terrorism List
I think we have to analyze this. I think it’s important to understand that for any country not only Cuba but for any country being on any of those lists has consequences. Specifically, being on the list of states sponsoring terrorism has consequences related to the proscription of exports, elimination of certain commercial benefits and access to credits in international financial institutions as well as the prohibition of arms exports and limitations on the granting of economic aid.
So that’s the general approach in terms of the implications, in the case of Cuba, of the inclusion of our country on the list.
It is part of the U.S strategy to isolate Cuba and provoke economic collapse so it’s basically a tool to reinforce the blockade as well
Now in practical terms what are the implications for Cuba specifically? Speaking first, financial persecution of anything related to Cuba. So for the banking system worldwide this is something that will automatically trigger concern to any transaction related to Cuba.
So there is financial persecution because of that as well which by the way it was already because to understand this issue better I think it’s important for you to note that Cuba is basically under the impact of two very powerful tools of U.S foreign policies which is whatever sanctions regimes or schemes that you are under – in the case of Cuba, we all know that we are under the blockade for six decades, but at the same time we have been under the impact of this list which has also the consequence.
I explained, for example, we’ve been told that if for any reason the blockade is lifted tomorrow but you’re still on the list of states sponsoring terrorism you will still be subject to many restrictions in trade, commercial aid, access to financial credits, etc and vice versa. So you might be excluded from the list of states sponsoring terrorism but if you are still under the embargo – which is the case of Cuba during the last two years of the Obama Administration – you are still subject to many restrictions. So they complement each other. Really you have to get rid of both if you want to have a normal relationship.
Secondly, the inclusion on the list exponentially increases the so-called ‘country risk’ and forces Cuba to pay for any merchandise at double the price on International markets.
It is important also to highlight that at the international level it causes difficulties for Cuba in its relationship with financial institutions, with banks including governments, governmental banking and commercial institutions of countries with which Cuba has good relations due to the threat posed by the United States against anyone who is related to a country that is supposedly a sponsor of terrorism.
Now there is also an implication which is in the reality of the judiciary or legal proceedings which is that once you are on that list it opens up the possibility for U.S entities to start legal proceedings against Cuba under U.S anti-terrorism laws. As a matter of fact due to the previous inclusion of Cuba on that list a number of lawsuits were presented against Cuba based on the presence of Cuba on that list
So it triggers that additional implication with lawsuits and obviously, it also has economic implications for the human economy as well. In other words, it is not only something that is absurd, it is immoral but also is really causing a tremendous impact in our economy as we speak.
What is the record of Cuba when it comes to fighting terrorism?
It brings me to the idea that the US government has been unable to show any credible evidence whatsoever to justify the inclusion of Cuba in this unilateral list. So that is something that I want to emphasize.
This designation by the U.S Administration for us constitutes an action without any basis, authority or International backing whatsoever.
Cuba – to speak about the record of Cuba we have to look,first of all, to our constitution. Cuba endorses in our current constitution the rejection, repudiation and condemnation of terrorism in any of its forms and manifestation. That is included in our constitution.
I think that it is important to highlight this, to understand what the record of Cuba is when it comes to that, but I think there is a position that Cuba has defended for many years not only domestically but at the international level. I will begin reading because it is a comprehensive position and the one that we will continue to be highlighting in those forums.
“Cuba holds a long-standing position of firm rejection and condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestation by whomever against whomever and wherever they are committed whatever their motivations including those in which states are involved directly or indirectly. ”That is our position.
In the United Nations the issue of terrorism, the fight against terrorism has been very pressing. There has been an intense debate over the years, even in the definition of terrorism. I will enter into this but just to mention that this is an issue which is very difficult in the discussions at the United Nations because that definition of terrorism has many many angles as well. There are a number of countries who support an idea of what terrorism is leaving aside some other important issues that should be in that definition but that’s another discussion
I think that Cuba has a totally clean record in the fight against terrorism. We have never participated in the organization, financing or execution of terrorist acts against any country in the world including the United States.
We have never allowed and we will never allow our territory to be used to commit acts of terrorism against other countries in the world that has been our very clear position. So I am going to write that for the record as well.
In terms of international commitment by Cuba, it has to be said that Cuba was the fifth country in the world to become a state signer to the 19th International conventions of terrorism. Even recently we raised that to the Constitutional rank in our current Constitution. That is something that we have to bear in mind when analyzing what Cuba has done in that field.
Our country has carried out in some bilateral cooperation actions with the United States government in the fight against terrorism. It has to be searched out as well. During the last two years of the Obama Administration we were able to negotiate and sign a number of memorandum of understandings related to law enforcement including the fight against terrorism. So that was done.
Those agreements or memorandums – it is my understanding, that they are still in effect. I don’t know in terms of implementation but that shows the willingness that the Cuban government has had over the years to cooperate in a meaningful manner with the United States government in the fight against terrorism.
Terror attacks on Cuba, not by Cuba
The other angle of this issue is what Cuba has been over the years which is Cuba has been a victim of terrorism. So we have been unjustly accused of being a sponsor of terrorism but the reality is that Cuba has been a victim of terrorist actions for many years.
I’m sure you have plenty of information on that but let me just recap a little bit.
Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution many, many actions have been taken against Cuba including violent actions to try to destroy the Cuban Revolution. Cuba has been a victim of terrorism and we’re still suffering from the instigation of violence and terrorist acts from the United States territory. So for more than 60 years the Cuban people have been, as I mentioned, a victim of many terrorist actions. As a consequence of that we have a humanitarian toll or a human toll from that. It is very sensitive for us, but I think it should be remembered.
So far we have lost more than three thousand persons in Cuba because of terrorist acts while more than 2,000 have been maimed because of terrorist acts. So that’s the aggregation of those terrorist actions over the years. Obviously, that has caused tremendous suffering and damage to the Cuban population as a whole.
It has had an economic impact but I think the most important thing here is the human toll of those terrorist actions.
There are a variety of terrorist actions taken against Cuba. We have for example the destruction of civilian and economic targets in our country in hired attacks against merchant ships, fishing boats, kidnappings, explosions – you name it – so there is a variety of terrorist actions there. But we’re not only talking about terrorist actions in Cuban territory, but also elsewhere.
That brings me to the diplomatic missions of Cuba in countries in the world, including in the United State. Here in New York, we will always remember one of the diplomats that was killed some years ago, but it is not only that example; there are other examples, in terms of explosives put on diplomatic missions.
We’re not talking about things that happened decades ago. That is important because in 2020 we had another incident which was very important to highlight then and now. An individual went to Washington DC and opened fire on our Embassy there.
Fortunately, there were no human casualties but it was a very, very dangerous incident. We obviously classified that as a terrorist action. We’re thinking it is evidence that danger is still present there.
International reaction
The other thing that I wanted to mention is the international repudiation of this.
We have been claiming, we have been denouncing, obviously the unjust inclusion of Cuba in the sanction list. I think that we have gotten a lot of support internationally speaking from individuals and solidarity groups in many countries in the world.
I think that there are a number of governments all over the world who have also come forward in supporting the claims by Cuba.
An example of that is what happened in the recent high level sector of the General Assembly of the United Nations where a number of countries or delegations not only mentioned the need to get rid of the blockade but also they mentioned that it was also important to remove Cuba from the states sponsoring terrorism list. So that is something that proves that we have been receiving that kind of support at the government level from certain countries.
Even the United Nations secretary, specifically the spokesperson of the Secretary-General, back in 2021 mentioned that Cuba should be excluded from that list – that was at the beginning of the year 2021. Cuba and Cuban delegations will continue denouncing this in any multilateral forum in which we are present.
The other thing just supporting my initial statement, it should be highlighted that some days ago or weeks ago a number of former leaders from Latin America signed a letter in which they asked President Biden not only to eliminate the blockade but also to remove Cuba from that list.
We know that few politicians in the United States think Cuba should be on that list.
I would say that the majority of persons who are related to this issue understand that this is a political move that should be rectified. We hope that this can be done sooner rather than later.
We have to remember that the inclusion of Cuba on that list was actually done when the Trump administration was about to be ended – Cuba was put on the terrorist list only nine days or eight days before its tenure ended.
The current U.S. president could correct it with just one signature because there’s an established procedure that is not a secondary decision to do that. If there is a way to do that, It would be morally correct and in accordance with the law as well.
So to finalize my initial statement here I would also reassert that terrorism cannot be eradicated if double standards, manipulation, political opportunism, and selectivity in dealing with this prevail. So we have to have a consistent approach when it comes to fighting terrorism. There shouldn’t be any double standards; you have to be very transparent and straightforward when dealing with this scourge. It is unacceptable that some terrorist acts are condemned while others are silently tolerated and encouraged, justified or manipulated for political or economic interests.
And with that I thank you.
Source: National Network on Cuba