STATEMENT BY
HIS EXCELLENCY AMBASSADOR KHAIRI OMAR
PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE PLENARY MEETING
ON NECESSITY OF ENDING THE ECONOMIC, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL
EMBARGO IMPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AGAINST CUBA
[ITEM 38]
NEW YORK, 1 NOVEMBER 2023
Mr. President,
Malaysia aligns itself with statements delivered by Singapore on behalf of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Azerbaijan on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Uganda on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and Mauritania on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Mr. President,
2. Malaysia has been and will continue to be one of the countries that strongly opposes the imposition of unilateral coercive measures against any country, including Cuba. Malaysia views such measures are contrary to international law, international humanitarian law, the UN Charter and the norms and principles of peaceful relations among States.
3. Malaysia believes that such unilateral coercive measures have severely restricted Cuba’s ability to improve its economy and provide the necessary basic needs for its people. They also restrict free and open business across borders, and hamper social development of the general population. The unilateral coercive measures, has become the stumbling block for Cuba in attaining its Sustainable Development Goals, which is contrary to the spirit of leaving no one behind as promised by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
4. Between March 2022 to February 2023, the blockade had incurred more than USD4.8 billion in losses for Cuba. It is a huge amount of money that could have been used to provide food and other basic necessities. It could have been used to provide for better healthcare. It could have been used to provide for better education.
Mr. President,
5. Malaysia is also of the strong conviction that such unilateral embargoes will only cause social problems and raise humanitarian concerns in the states targeted. Therefore, we have always been supportive of the annual United Nations General Assembly Resolution tabled by Cuba, which calls on the United States to end its unilateral economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. Immediately and unconditionally.
6. Malaysia calls for the United States and Cuba to resolve their differences through peaceful means, and avoid any actions that could be detrimental to regional peace and stability. Malaysia encourages both the United States and Cuba to immediately normalise ties and pursue renewed economic engagement.
I thank you.