Mr. president:
Six years ago, summoned by the United Nations, practically all the leaders of the world committed ourselves to “leaving no one behind”, in the common purpose of meeting the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Truth be told, millions of human beings continue to be left behind, for a majority of nations, the objectives do not seem achievable in less than a decade.
An unjust and undemocratic international order is the cause of inequalities and exclusion, faced by the vast majority today, in a scenario aggravated by the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As long as that world order prevails, the nobler goals will remain a pipe dream.
I affirm this knowingly from Cuba that it assumed the 17 commitments, seriously and responsibly, but also aware of the great challenges that the condition of Small Island Developing State imposes on us, and the impact of the ironclad economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States.
As we have denounced so many times before the General Assembly, this policy of blockade, deliberately and opportunistically intensified in the context of the pandemic, constitutes the main obstacle to the country’s efforts to advance in its economic and social development and in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The difficulties are enormous, but so is our will to build a sovereign, independent, socialist, democratic, prosperous and sustainable Nation. For this reason, we reiterate here our commitment to the 2030 Agenda, as can be confirmed in the appreciable coherence between the objectives and goals of the National Plan for Economic and Social Development until 2030 and the SDGs.
On July 13, Cuba presented its Voluntary National Report on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda before the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. As can be seen in this document, our priorities focus on promoting the integral and full development of human beings, achieving economic development with equity and higher standards and quality of life for the population.
We will continue advancing “Con Paso 2030” along the path of sustainable development, strengthening planning and coordination at different levels of government, promoting innovation, scientific research and the construction of alliances between the various actors in society, as essential tools. for recovery and progress.
Cuba will also continue to share its experiences with other nations through South-South Cooperation, and betting on a renewed and strengthened multilateralism, for solidarity cooperation and the search for global solutions to common problems.
We revolutionaries are incorrigible optimists and, in the worst case scenario, we seek and find solutions because we believe in the human being and we believe in the future.
Building the world we dream of is a huge task, but possible, if we renounce selfishness and work together to transform the current unjust international order into a more just, democratic and equitable one, in which finally no one is left behind.
Thank you.
