Cuba's New Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Speaks to NAM Ministerial Mtg. in Havana

[magbana]

Thought folks might want to hear from Rodriguez. Below is an excerpt of the last one-third of a presentation he gave to participants of the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial meeting taking place in Havana.

I think NAM may be the only hope left for the world. The upcoming meeting in Egypt of NAM heads of state should be interesting.
magbana

<snip>
"Distinguished Delegates:

The Senior Level Representatives of the non-aligned countries bear the responsibility for carrying forward the negotiation of the documents that will be submitted for the approval of the ministers.

It will be their task to conclude negotiations for the Final Document, whose analysis since last March in the Coordinating Bureau in New York enabled significant advances in the greater part of the text. This document has been negotiated by the delegations and is practically ready to be adopted. I urge you all to concentrate your efforts on the paragraphs that are still pending.

Time is too short to enumerate each one of the important matters that you must tackle in the next two days. Therefore I shall mention only a few of them:

- The Movement must play a main role in international relations and in the struggle to establish a just and equitable world economic order in which special and differentiated treatment for developing countries prevails.

- The current international financial system is unjust and it demonstrated its incapacity to foresee and avoid the current crisis. We need a new international financial architecture to reach the objective of eradicating poverty and of attaining the right to development for our peoples.

- The non-aligned countries must shoulder the task of occupying the vanguard in the defence of the principles of sovereignty and sovereign equality of states, of territorial integrity and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states and of the free self-determination of peoples, ensuring the inalienable right of each country to decide its own political, social, economic and cultural system, without external interference.

- The use or the threat of the use of force in international relations, acts of aggression or destabilization of legitimate governments are incompatible with International Law. It behoves us to promote relations of solidarity and friendship among nations and to ensure that international controversies be solved by peaceful means.

- The United Nations must be reformed and changed into a true and effective instrument of cooperation and peace that can fulfill the purposes and principles enshrined in its founding Charter. Its authority and capacity to adopt decisions in economic matters, including finances and international trade, must be strengthened. The UN with its practically universal composition is the central multilateral forum for analyzing the pressing global problems humanity faces.

- The Security Council must be made more democratic and be submitted to an intense reform, broadening its membership, guaranteeing adequate representation for the South countries. Transparency of its deliberations must be guaranteed along with the eradication of the unjust veto privilege.

- The total elimination of nuclear weapons must continue to be a priority for our Movement. Negotiation of a multilateral legally binding instrument must begin in order to reach that objective. Multilateral diplomacy must be preserved as the paramount channel in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. The problems associated with proliferation must be resolved by political means, and initiatives to that end must be adopted with adherence to International Law.

- The just causes of Palestine and other Arab peoples being submitted to Israeli occupation and aggression, the strong condemnation of the brutal military actions of the occupying power against the Palestinian population, particularly in the Gaza Strip, the rejection of collective punishment and other serious violations perpetrated by Israel against human rights and International Humanitarian Law, all demand our practical action and our firmest solidarity.

- Regional conflicts must continue to be the object of Movement attention. Several of them directly involve some of its members. The causes are different but, fundamentally, they are the result of colonialism and centuries of pillage of our wealth for the benefit of the former colonial metropolises and the imperialist powers. Neither sanctions nor weapons but solidarity and cooperation for development will be the channels that will overcome its structural causes. The peoples who are affected or directly concerned have the right to resolve these problems by peaceful means and without foreign interference. - The war on terrorism in all its forms and manifestations will continue being a Movement priority. The double standards and political manipulation in the treatment of this subject at an international level must cease. The United Nations must play a key role in the harmonizing and coordination of actions to fight against this scourge.

Distinguished Delegates:

I thank you all for contributing your proposals and initiatives towards the strengthening of our Movement and for the building of a better future for our peoples.

The objectives we are setting for ourselves are not easy ones. Once upon a time the demise of colonialism and the independence of our peoples, or the disappearance of apartheid, seemed but a mirage. In the attainment of these dreams, our Movement played an important part; it is the same role we take on today.

In order to successfully face up to the enormous challenges we have before us, the united action of our 118 nations will continue to be essential. The Non-Aligned Movement will always be able to count on Cuba’s contribution in the struggle for attaining its noble objectives.

Thank you very much."
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http://www.juventudrebelde.co.cu/cuba/2009-04-27/speech-by-bruno-rodriguez-parrilla-minister-of-foreign-affairs-of-cuba-at-the-opening-session-of-the-meeting-of-senior-officials-at-the-ministerial-meeting-of-the-nam/