Given the significance of his remarks, Radio Havana Cuba is providing the full text, sourced from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cubaminrex…
Mr. President:
My delegation has requested to exercise its right of reply, pursuant to Rule 73 of the General Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, in response to the repeated affronts to the dignity of the Cuban people, the constant lies, and the pathological obsession the United States delegation harbors toward Cuba.
We have noted that some delegations have focused on the issue of human rights — a subject that is not the core matter under discussion in this chamber today. Through this narrative — which serves the interests of Washington — they divert attention from the crime currently being committed against the Cuban people.
Furthermore, it is contradictory to express concern for human rights while failing to categorically condemn the impact of the blockade and the collective punishment — which constitutes the primary violation of the human rights of all Cubans.
Yesterday, we heard the Permanent Representative of the United States attempt to use this chamber to slander our people and their leaders.
No person of dignity in Cuba will ever allow the untarnished record of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution — whom you have failed to defeat — to be besmirched.
We understand that for a “wannabe” politician like you, Mr. Waltz, it is difficult to imagine a leader who is not corrupt. That is what you witness every single day in your own country; corruption is an intrinsic part of the United States’ electoral system.
You are fooling no one — and, above all, you are not fooling our people.
To be clear, interrupting the US ambassador’s speech was not right of reply. This was something done later.
F. Right of reply
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Delegations should exercise their right of reply at the end of the day whenever two meetings have been scheduled for that day and whenever such meetings are devoted to the consideration of the same item.
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The number of interventions in the exercise of the right of reply for any delegation at a given meeting should be limited to two per item.
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The first intervention in the exercise of the right of reply for any delegation on any item at a given meeting should be limited to ten minutes and the second intervention should be limited to five minutes.
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