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New York UN

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS BY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS BURHAN GAFOOR ON AGENDA ITEM 39: "NECESSITY OF ENDING THE ECONOMIC, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL EMBARGO IMPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AGAINST CUBA", 6 NOVEMBER 2019

6 November 2019

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Mr President,


1 I have the honour to address the General Assembly on behalf of the ten Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to express our support for the resolution to end the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against the Republic of Cuba. ASEAN aligns itself with the statements delivered by Azerbaijan on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and by Palestine on behalf of the G77.


2 This is the fifth year that ASEAN is making a statement at the General Assembly calling for the lifting of the United States’ embargo against Cuba as soon as possible. It is the 18th year that ASEAN Member States have voted unanimously in favour of this resolution, which has been consistently adopted by an overwhelming majority since it was first tabled in 1992.


3 ASEAN is firmly committed to the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and which underpin the multilateral rules-based order. We firmly believe that differences between states should be resolved through engagement and inclusion, not confrontation and isolation. We also believe strongly that differences between states should be resolved on the basis of the fundamental principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and non-intervention. ASEAN does not support the imposition of unilateral economic, commercial and financial measures on other countries.


4 Four years have passed since the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba in 2015. This was an important step towards the normalisation of relations between these two countries, and remains key to building better regional relations in the Americas. But in the past year, we regret that we have seen regression rather than progression in this important relationship. ASEAN continues to believe that ending the United States’ economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba will contribute significantly to improving the quality of life and living standards of the Cuban people, and to the economic and social development of Cuba. It would also advance this Assembly’s efforts towards achieving an inclusive 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.


5 The 75th anniversary of the United Nations next year will be an opportunity for us to assess our achievements, reaffirm our support for multilateralism, and renew our commitment to the UN Charter. In that spirit, ASEAN encourages the United States and Cuba to renew their commitment to an open and constructive dialogue, underpinned by mutual respect. Once again, ASEAN joins other members of this Assembly in reiterating our support for the lifting of the unilateral economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba as soon as possible.


6 I thank you, Mr President.


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