Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla reiterated today Cuba’s stance of not relenting in its demands for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide.
The island’s foreign minister addressed the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly commemorating the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, where he also denounced the United States’ irrationally aggressive and genocidal policy aimed at destroying the Cuban people.
Given its importance, Radio Havana Cuba presents his address in full, as taken from the Cubaminrex website.
Address by the Cuban Foreign Minister at the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Mr. President:
For more than ten years, the commemoration that brings us together today has united the vast majority of this Organization’s member states, who share the will to advance—with determination and urgency—toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
This objective is of particular relevance today. The continued development and modernization of nuclear weapons cannot extinguish our peoples’ right to live in peace.
The current United States government’s doctrine of domination heightens this danger by promoting an unbridled arms race and the absurd imposition of a so-called “peace through strength.” Under the cover of that aberrant doctrine, my country is the target of a constant threat of direct military aggression based on multiple fallacies—including the characterization of Cuba as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to United States national security, an irrational accusation coming from the planet’s greatest military and nuclear power, whose arsenal exceeds five thousand nuclear weapons.
Countries of the Global South are suffering from a reduction in already insufficient Official Development Assistance, set against exorbitant global military spending, a rise in the number of people exposed to the scourge of war, and the intensification of cruel blockades and unilateral coercive measures.
As a party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and part of the first densely populated region declared a “Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone”—and subsequently proclaimed a “Zone of Peace” in Havana—we will not waver in our demand for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.
As the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, stated—and I quote: “(…) no human being can be required to renounce their ideals, to renounce their hopes, to renounce their dreams; nor will nuclear weapons ever be able to achieve that (…)”.
Thank you very much.
[ SOURCE: AGENCIA CUBANA DE NOTICIAS ]
