Mr. Secretary-General:

Mr. President:

Distinguished Heads of State or Government:

Permanent Representatives:

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the health, finance, economy, employment and society of all countries, with more negative effects on developing nations.

In the face of rising health expenditures to address the pandemic and the reduction in revenue from the paralysis of the economy and international trade, the fiscal, trade and balance of payments deficits of developing countries, as well as food insecurity, are increasing.

The current global crisis has been aggravated by the protectionism of the United States of America, its trade wars, and its unilateral coercive economic measures to sovereign states, contrary to the UN Charter, international law, and multilateral trade rules.

Cuba has been subjected for 60 years to a strong economic, trade and financial blockade of extraterritorial scope, imposed by the government of the United States of America, which constitutes the main obstacle to the economic and social development of our country. It has even increased amid the COVID-19 pandemic, hampering the acquisition of vital medicines, equipment and medical supplies in these circumstances, denying the most basic of rights: the right to life.

In the face of these unprecedented challenges, concrete, supportive, inclusive, just, innovative and coordinated responses are urgently required. Global problems need global solutions, without discrimination, political, economic or other exclusions.

We support debt relief initiatives, although insufficient; the unpayable external debt owed by the countries of the South, which, aggravated by the socio-economic effects of the pandemic, undermines the sustainable development of peoples, must be eliminated.

Commitments on official development aid, increased external financing on fair terms, market access and technology transfers must be met.

The peoples of the world need effective and immediate solutions. It’s time for action. They urge facts and not words.

Thanks a lot.