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Mr. President,
Before formally beginning my statement, I would like to express deep condolences to the victims of yesterday's brutal attack in New York, which we strongly condemn. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims
India associates itself with the statement made by Ecuador on behalf of G-77 and Venezuela on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement.
2. We welcome the distinguished Foreign Minister of Cuba among us here today. We also thank the Secretary General for his report on this issue.
Mr. President,
3. The issue of the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed five decades ago by the United States against Cuba has now been considered annually by the General Assembly for more than two and a half decades.
4. This Assembly has consistently rejected the imposition of laws and regulations with extra-territorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic measures that hurt the progress and prosperity of the people the world over.
5. Last year 191 member states voted in favour of the resolution 71/5, expressing their strong support to lifting the embargo.
6. The General Assembly has also called upon all States, in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law, to refrain from promulgating and applying, and to repeal and invalidate laws and measures that have extra-territorial effects affecting the sovereignty of other States.
7. The continued existence of this embargo, in contravention of world opinion, as expressed by this Assembly, undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the United Nations itself.
Mr. President,
8. As the world's largest democracy with abiding faith in multilateralism, India stands in solidarity with the international community in its unambiguous rejection of domestic laws having extraterritorial impact.
9. Embargoes impede the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected country, in particular children and women. They also hinder the full enjoyment of human rights, including the right to development, food, medical care and social services, among other things.
Mr. President,
10. Successive reports of the Secretary General, including this year's report, have established that the embargo, particularly through its extraterritorial effects, has adversely affected the Cuban people and the development efforts of the country.
11. At the same time, we would like to acknowledge the notable achievements of the Cuban people in the socio-economic and development fields, in particular the high HDI ranking of Cuba and its achievement of several MDGs.
12. While launching the transformative '2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development', the world leaders have again strongly urged all States to refrain from any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
13. The continued embargo would severely impact Cuba's ability to implement the comprehensive 2030 Agenda.
14. Cuba's expertise in healthcare, achieved despite such conditions, enabled it to respond quickly and effectively, in a substantial manner, to the call made by the UN General Assembly three years ago to all nations to respond to the Ebola crisis in Africa.
Mr. President,
15. People-to-people contact holds immense possibilities for fostering better understanding between the two nations.
16. The international community needs to step up its efforts to promote an environment free from sanctions and embargoes.
17. India hopes for the withdrawal of this embargo at the earliest.
18. India supports the draft resolution moved by Cuba.
I thank you.
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