CUBA: US Blockade Hinders Payment of UN Dues Because of Having to Pay through Third Party

[magbana]

"Cuba: US Blockade Hinders Payment of Dues to the United Nations

HAVANA, Cuba, May 23 (acn) Cuban ambassador to the United Nations Ileana Nuñez condemned the hostile policy maintained by Washington against her country as she explained about the difficulties posed by the US punitive measures on Cuba´s payment of dues to the UN organization.

Cuban News Agency

The diplomat addressed a session of the 5th Commission of the UN General Assembly on the improvement of the UN financial situation. She explained that the fact that Cuba can not use US dollars for its international transactions forces Cuban operations under constant fluctuations of currencies at the market.

Nuñez said that the problem has a negative impact on Cuba´s payment capacity, which includes the difficulties to pay its dues the United Nations, an operation the Caribbean nation has to undertake through a third country.

Cuba maintains its contributions updated to the Infrastructure Improvement Master Plan; it has paid half of its dues to the ordinary budget and has made important contributions to Peace Keeping Operations, the ambassador pointed out and noted that such payment was done despite the hurdles posed by the US economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba, the huge damage inflicted by recent hurricanes and the current financial crisis created by neo-liberal capitalism.

Ambassador Nuñez expressed her delegation´s concern about the increase in UN expenditures in terms of peace keeping operations and she pointed out that on this occasion some 8,2 billion dollars have been allocated with that aim.

In her address at the 5th Commission, Nuñez called the participants´ attention on the fact that peace keeping expenditures can not be compared to those dedicated to assistance for social and economic development.

For Cuba, said the ambassador, the main guarantee of peace and security is the definitive eradication of poverty, the wiping out of all kinds of social marginalization and the support of consecration for the rights to development by all countries.
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http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2009/0523ONU.htm

[Mika]

1. But the ball is in Cuba's court, so to speak.

"Cuba must make the next move." - Uncle Sam.