New York, 25 April 2005.

Mr. President,

My delegation wishes to thank the Chairpersons of the Committees created under Resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) for the information provided in this session.

However, as we analyse actions to fight international terrorism, Luis Posada Carriles, one of the most hideous terrorists of this hemisphere is in Miami City, USA. His lawyer has even requested political asylum for his client on account of the services he has provided to the United States for over 40 years, as a member of the CIA and the US armed forces.

In the name of the “war on terror”, the US government has unleashed unilateral wars of aggression, in violation of the Charter and the principles of International Law, in which thousands of people have died and continue to die, including more than 1500 US youths.

Since last 11 April, the President of the Republic of Cuba has publicly provided abundant and reliable information on the criminal background of this terrorist, on the means he used to enter US territory and on those who, carrying out instructions of the terrorist Cuban American National Foundation, facilitated his voyage on board of the shrimp fishing boat “Santrina” from Islas Mujeres in Mexico to Miami City.

Therefore, my government cannot understand why the US government has remained motionless, has not conducted an in-depth investigation on the most recent voyage of the “Santrina” and has not immediately detained and interrogated those, such as the well-known terrorist Santiago Álvarez Fernández Magriña, a well-known Miami resident, who knows Posada Carriles’ whereabouts and also helped him in his illegal entry into the United States.

The US legislation is clear. To provide entry into the United States of an avowed terrorist, mainly someone as notorious as Posada Carriles, is one of the most serious crimes that may be committed in the country victim of the
atrocities of September 11, 2001.

Resolution 1373 (2001) adopted by this Council under US request, is also clear, when invoking Chapter VII of the Charter, categorically establishes the obligation for all States to take effective measures to prevent the transit of terrorists, deny refuge not only to terrorists but to those who protect them and exchange information leading to their detention.

Moreover, the President of the United States said on 26 August, 2003, that:
“if you harbor a terrorist, if you support a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you’re just as guilty as the terrorists”.

Posada Carriles is not unknown to Washington. He was trained and used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to carry out terrorist actions against Cuba for over forty years. He perpetrated the in-flight sabotage of a Cubana
de Aviación civil aircraft, in which 73 persons were killed, and also directed a string of Havana hotel bombings in 1997, causing the death of the Italian tourist Fabio Di Celmo. He has also planned a number of assassination attempts on President Fidel Castro, being sentenced for one of them, but deceitfully pardoned by the ex-President Mireya Moscoso on 26
August, 2004.

Mr. President,

My delegation calls upon the US Government, particularly its President, as President Fidel Castro has been repeatedly doing since last 11 April, to say if he is or not aware of the presence of the terrorist Posada Carriles in US territory and to inform the measures he is taking to locate his whereabouts in Miami City.

We would consider it very serious, both for the actions being carried out by the United Nations against terrorism, and for the credibility of the US Government in its self-proclaimed “war on terror”, if Washington would decide to harbor Posada Carriles or would resort to legal cunning arguments to allow his stay in the United States.

Allowing this avowed terrorist to move freely, enjoying total impunity, while imposing long and unjust sentences on Five Cuban Youths fighting terrorism, is immoral and greatly irresponsible. It is an insult to all victims of terrorism in the world and their relatives.

US authorities face a serious dilemma. Either they definitely align with terrorism by protecting this person or they hit hard on terrorism and, in compliance with their legal obligations, detain and extradite Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela, where he escaped from prison in 1985.

My Government, while ratifying its willingness to cooperate with justice by handing over all information available on this terrorist, urges the international community to stay alert at the possibility that Posada Carriles abandons US territory unpunished or is killed by internal forces in the United States to “solve” the dilemma to which he dragged the Government of that country with his presence. We do not wish this man’s death. We only want justice to prevail and make him pay for the horrendous crimes he has committed during his long terrorist career.

Mr. President,

Once again, my Government reiterates its request to the Security Council’s Counter-terrorism Committee, established pursuant to Resolution 1373 (2001), to evaluate the information submitted by my country, among others, in documents S/2002/15 and S/2004/753, in the hope that its work can lead to put an end to the impunity enjoyed by those who have committed and still commit terrorist acts against Cuba.

Thank you very much.

(Minrex)