Cuba calls for full participation of Palestine in UNGA

Cuba´s permanent representative to the UN, Ernesto Soberón, on Monday considered the admission of Palestine to the United Nations as an essential step for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Middle East conflict.

Taking the floor before the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the Cuban ambassador said that a solution to the crisis requires the real exercise of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to build their own State within the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Cuban diplomat also reiterated his country’s willingness to contribute to the legitimate international efforts to put an end to the barbarism suffered by the Palestinian people.

UNGA session was called following the overwhelming approval of a resolution, co-sponsored by Cuba, which expanded Palestinian rights within the forum past Friday.

The draft, with 143 votes in favor, 25 abstentions and nine against, called on UNSC to address Palestine’s full membership and granted significant changes to its current permanent observer status.

Soberón urged to reverse without further delay the historical injustice that has prevented Palestinians from participating in the United Nations with equal rights.

In this regard, he described it as shameful and unacceptable that the U.S. government should once again abuse its undemocratic veto power to continue its complicit support for Israel and block the clear majority position of the international community. Soberon recalled that 144 UN member countries already recognize Palestine, a number that will continue to increase according to the diplomat.

“The State of Palestine is an active member of the international community, of multilateral forums and is the subject of rights and obligations in various international instruments,” Soberón said.

“Every moment of inaction will cost more innocent lives. History will not forgive the indifferent and Cuba will never be among them,” he added.