shortcomings ofitsownrepressive revolution, which,after30yearsof dictatorship, havelefttheCubanpeoplestillyearning forthebasichumanrights andfreedoms nowenjoyed bythevastmajority oftheirLatinneighbours. Thisevening, because ofthelateness ofthehour,Iwilladdressbriefly only acoupleofthepointsraisedbytheForeign Minister ofCuba. First,weobjecttohismention ofPuertoRico,whichyearsagowasremoved fromthelistofNon-Self-Governin~ Territories bythisv9ryGeneral Assembly. I wouldonlyexpress thehopethatsomedayi:bepeopleofCubawUlenjoythe freedoms -inclUding freeelections, freedom ofspeechandfreedom of communications fromwhatever sources -currently enjoyed byourcitizens inPuerto Rico. Secondly, Imusttakeexception totheremarks oftheForeign Minister ofCuba coacerning theUnitedStatesactionsinthePersian Gulf.Aseveryone inthe Assembly isaware,theUnitedStatesforcesintheregionarethereattheexpress w Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryRM/26 A/45/PV.ll 114-115':sIN (Mr.Watson. UnitedStates) request oftheGovernments ofKuwaitandSaudiArabia, actinginaccordance with theCharter oftheUnitedNations. Wehavestatedpublicly thatthoseforcesof theUnitedStatesinSaudiArabiaandthosether.eattherequest ofKuwaitwill leaveassoonasrequested todosobythosecountries. Itisalsoclearthat thereareover20othercountries th~thavebeenrequested bySaudiArabiato provide personnel andequipment toshoreuptheirdefence against possible invasion byIraq.TheUnitedStatesisbynomeansalone. Morethanadozencountries have sentshipstoengageinthenavalportion oftheefforttoturnbacktheaggression byIraqagainst Kuwait. Therepresentative ofCubaseemsoutofstepwiththesolidarity andunanimity ofthisbodyinitsefforttostopandrollbacktheaggression ofIraqagainst Kuwaitthatalsothreatens otherStatesoftheregion, anaggression whichis completely outofstepwiththekindofworldweinthisBallaretryingtoforge inthepost-cold-war era. Iwouldcallonthedelegation ofCubatorefloct seriously onits participation inthisbody. NowisthetimeforCubatobegintoacceptthebasic principles oftheUnitedNations andtheUnitedNations Charter. Itistimeforit toputasidedemagoguery anddistortions andjoininthisnewspiritof co-operation andfreedom whichisbecoming increasingly evident throughout the world,eventhough-andespecially as-thatspiritoffreedomisthreatened by blatant aggression inthePersian Gulf• 1 • Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryNS/fcA/45/PV.11 116- 5 Mr.LOPEZDlLAMP(Cuba)(interpret3tion fromSpanish): The representative oftheUnitedStatessaidthatthestatement made ~ytheForeign Minister ofCubawasunfortunate andfailedtotakeaccountofthespiritof conciliation. Khatisunfortunate isthattheUnitedStatesGovernment has easentia11y notchangeditspolicy-notonlytowards theRepu~lic'of Cubabutalso generally towards thepeoples ofthethirdworld. True,therehavebeenchangesintheworld,andtherepresentative ofthe UnitedStatessaysheregretsthatCubahasnotkeptpacewiththem. Cubaisacountrythatisconstantly developing andchanging, aslifeitself does.WhatCubahasnotchanged, andwillnotchange,isitsprinciples -the ideaswhereby asmallbutheroicpeoplehasprovedabletodefenditsindependence inthefaceoftheuncea~in9 aggression ofthemostpowerful nationonEarth. IfCubahadbeenadictatorship whichdeniedhumanrights,iftherehadbeena hostile regimeinCuba,wewouldnothavebeenabletowithstand allthemilitary, economic andpolitical actsofaggression thattheUnitedStateshaskeptup against ourcountry througheightconsecutive administrations. Itisprecisely because theCubanrevolution steered usawayfromthe purported democratic modeloftheUnitedStatesmarketeconomy, nowpraised tothe skies,thatwemovedawayfromittocarryoutaprofound revolution whichreturned toeachCubanhisfulldignity. Thatiswhywehadthestrength sovictoriously to carryoutmajorsocialandeconomic changes andtopressahead. Therepresentative oftheUnitedStatesaskedwhywewereconcerned aboutthe presence ofUnitedStatestroopsintheGulf. Wehavemanyreasons tobe concerned. Weknowfromexperience: UnitedStatestroopsreached PuertoRicoin 1898,almostacentury ago,andtheyarestillthere,andtheystillkeepthat countryincolonial status. , Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryNS/fcA/45/PV.11 117 (Hr.LqpezpelAme«'!m)& InlS9Stheyreached Cubatoo,andtheyetillmaintain themilitary baseat Guantanamo Bay,onourterritory, against ourwill. ItisDottheUnitedStatesGovernment thatcangiveuslessons about solidarity inthis forum~ Cuba,throughitsconduct, hasshownitsgreat solidarity, aarepresentatives ofthethirdworldpresent herewilltestify. Of courseCubaaccepts theUnitedNations Charter andvorkoonitsbehalf, because we worktosecurerespect forit.ItistbeUnitedStatesGovernment thathas violated theCharter wheneverithasseenfit,without theslightest respect for it. IfthereistobeaDewspirit,thatDewBpiritshouldcomefromtheUnited StatesGovernment, whichshouldundertake tomakerealcbengesinitsforeign policyandtrulytorespect theprinciples oftheCharter, abandoning itspolicies ofexpansion anddomination. TheUnitedStatesshouldlearnthatrespect forthe rightsofoth&raistherootofpeace,aaSenitoJuareapointed out. themeeting roseat7.25 p~. Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the political relations between Cuba and the United States, as well as the Cuban government's stance on international issues, such as the Persian Gulf crisis. The speakers mention economic and human rights issues, but these are secondary to the political debate. The text does not focus on any specific economic, environmental, or scientific topic, but rather on the principles and policies of the two countries.

**Category**
Politics, Human Rights