STATEMENT DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELENCY AMBASSADOR NASSIR ABDULAZIZ AL-NASSER, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE OF QATAR TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF 77, BEFORE THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 28: "NECESSITY OF ENDING THE ECONOMIC, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL EMBARGO IMPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AGAINST CUBA" (New York, 28 October 2004)

Mr. President,

Thank you for affording me the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on this agenda item: "Necessity of ending the economic, Commercial and Financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba".

In fact the Group attaches great importance to this issue as it relates to the question of extra-territorial measures that infringes on the national sovereignty, and undermines the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, while at the same time it severely curtails the freedom of trade and investment.

The Group of 77 and China calls for an immediate end to the embargo, as also called for in the Havana South Summit, other G-77 declarations, and the United Nations relevant resolutions. We note with appreciation the positive support of a large membership of the U.N. on this issue.

We therefore support the Secretary-General call in his report to put an end to this economic, commercial and financial embargo.

In this context the G-77 and China would like to reiterate the call in the South Summit for:-

• the necessity for developed countries to eliminate laws and regulations with adverse extraterritorial effects and other forms of unilateral economic coercive measures, inconsistent with the principles of international law, United Nations Charter and the principles of the multilateral trading system.
• Its concern over the impact of economic sanction on the civilian population and development capacity in targeted countries and therefore urge the international community to exhaust all peaceful methods before resorting to sanctions, which should only be considered as a last resort. If necessary these sanctions must be established only in strict conformity with the Charter of the United Nations with clear objectives, clear time frame, provision for regular review, precise conditions for their lifting and never be used as a form of punishment or otherwise exact retribution.
• the G-77 would like to recall the Summit's sincere appeal to the Government of the United States of America to immediately lift the economic embargo imposed on the Republic of Cuba since 1960.
• that the economic embargo, which has lasted too long, serves no other purpose than to preserve tension between two neighbouring countries and impose untold hardship and suffering on the people of Cuba, especially women and children, and
• its conviction that the replacement of the embargo with greater dialogue and co-operation will contribute greatly not only towards the removal of tension between them but also promote meaningful exchange and partnership between two countries whose destinies are linked by history and geography.

Mr. President,

As in the past the G-77 and China will support the resolution on this matter and urge al member states to do so.

I thank you.