Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, at the High-Level Segment of the 61st session of the Human Rights Council.
Madam Vice President: A dictatorship has emerged in the globalized world. The order born from the Second World War to prevent a third is being destroyed, and the philosophy of plunder is proclaimed as the exceptional and supreme right of the United States of America to conquer and use force as an inherent, natural, and everyday way of being. Beyond ideologies, all nation-states are in danger, regardless of their cultural or political models.
The world's largest reserve of hydrocarbons, Venezuela, was viciously attacked. What will happen to critical mineral and rare earth deposits, water reserves, the Amazon rainforest, the seabed, the Arctic and Antarctic, the occupation of supposedly strategic enclaves, interoceanic passages, and trade routes? Weakness and opportunism fuel conquest. What would freedom of trade and navigation look like with the use of tariffs as an instrument of aggression and with the extraterritorial application of U.S. laws and the jurisdiction of U.S. courts?
The executive order of January 29th, issued by the President of the United States, declares collective punishment against the Cuban people and aims to create a humanitarian catastrophe through an energy blockade.
Can a great power be allowed to attempt to destroy a small, peaceful nation, provoke a humanitarian tragedy, destroy its national culture, and subject a noble and compassionate people to genocide under the flimsy pretext of national security? The Cuban people will defend with the greatest vigor and courage, in close unity and broad consensus, their right to self-determination, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order.
We will do it with the help of Cubans living abroad. We will prevent a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, even though we will endure hardship and suffering. We are a conscious, educated, and courageous people, with highly qualified human resources and robust, universal education, healthcare, and science systems.
We have arable land, water, mineral reserves, and infrastructure; we produce almost half of the crude oil we consume; we have refining capacity; and we are making significant and efficient progress in solar energy. Through hardship, three generations of Cubans have overcome the United States blockade, which has lasted for more than 60 years. We have shown solidarity with everyone, especially with the nations of the Global South.
Even in the worst-case scenario, we will persevere. We will find creative solutions. Faced with all difficulties, we will mitigate the humanitarian damage.
We will be in solidarity. We are also open to dialogue with the United States based on sovereign equality and international law, mutual respect, and reciprocal benefit, without preconditions or interference in internal affairs, intending to achieve a civilized relationship despite our differences and even promote cooperation in areas where possible. Our commitment to defending and promoting all human rights for all human beings is strengthened.
We will continue to defend the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the integrity of migrants. We admire the people of Minnesota for their community resilience. We will oppose double standards and political manipulation.
On the Centennial of the Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, our determination to defend the nation is absolute, and our commitment to safeguarding a society centered on achieving the full dignity of the human being and the broadest justice is unwavering.
Thank you very much.
