73 UNGA: Address by Ambassador Anayansi Rodriguez Camejo, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the UN, to the Security Council. New York, 26 January 2018.

Mr. President:

Latin America and the Caribbean is today the scene of persistent threats, incompatible with the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace signed by the Heads of State and Government at the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, in January 2014.

This commitment implies fully respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, not intervening, directly or indirectly, in the internal affairs of any other State, and observing the principles of national sovereignty, equal rights and self-determination of peoples.

The current U.S. administration has proclaimed the validity of the Monroe Doctrine and in a new deployment of its imperial policy in the region, threatens Venezuela with special fury and declares that it has “all options on the table”.

The region resembles a great prairie in the days of seguía. A spark could generate an uncontrollable fire that would harm the national interests of all.

Mr President:

We regret that the United States government intends to use the Security Council to legitimize the international campaign against the constitutional government presided over by Nicolás Maduro Moros.

The main threat to peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean is the harassment of the United States and its allies to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in an open disregard for the popular will and institutionality of that country, expressed in the elections of May 20, 2018, from which the Venezuelan opposition excluded itself.

We reiterate our absolute support for the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution, for the civil-military union of the Venezuelan people and for their legitimate and democratic government, led by the constitutional president Nicolás Maduro Moros.

We strongly condemn the attempt to impose through a coup d’etat a government at the service of the United States in Venezuela and the recurring calls to the Bolivarian military to join this onslaught.

The sovereignty of our peoples is settled today in the attitude towards Venezuela. To support the legitimate right of the sister nation to define its destiny is to defend the dignity of all.

Mr. President:

Other attempts should not be forgotten, such as the military coup of 2002 and the oil coup of 2003, the aggressive Executive Order of the United States which qualifies Venezuela as “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy” of the super-power, unilateral coercive measures, the call for a military coup against the constitutional Government of Venezuela, the warning of the President of the United States to use “a possible military option” and the assassination attempt on 4 August against President Maduro.

Mr President:

The acts of a group of countries and the shameful role of the OAS constitute a new and desperate attempt to implement a failed policy of regime change, which has been frustrated time and again by the unwavering resistance of the Venezuelan people and their will to defend national sovereignty.

We reaffirm our unwavering respect for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, for the non-use or threat of use of force in international relations and for non-interference in the internal affairs of States.

The sovereign will of the Venezuelan people will prevail over imperialist intervention. History will judge those who encourage and recognize coup usurpation.

Thank you very much.

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