Good morning everybody.
Mr. President, distinguish delegates and observers.
On behalf of the Republic of Cuba and the Cuban delegation to this 33rd Annual Meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, let us express our gratitude to the Canadian authorities for the opportunity to meet once again in this beautiful city of Halifax.
The Organization has made significant progress in ensuring that all together, compromise ourselves in addressing the conservation challenges before us, but still we have a lot of work ahead.
The adoption of the amended Convention constitutes the first step to achieve more credibility of the Organization among the other Regional Fisheries Organizations. Cuba is making real efforts to complete the process of ratification before the end of the year and urge Contracting Parties to do the same as a sign of their commitment to the Organization.
This year we will again face and discuss important matters resulting from the work of NAFO Performance Review Panel and working Groups of Fishery Managers and Scientists on Conservation Plans and Rebuilding Strategies, Greenland Halibut Management Strategy Evaluation and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems.
The Cuban delegation looks forward to work with all Contracting Parties in an understanding atmosphere to achieve the common goal which is the recovery of stocks, the conservation and sustainable use of the marine resources in the Convention Area for the sake of future generations.
Thank you very much.