Cuba on Monday called for political will in international cooperation mechanisms, arguing that developing countries are trapped in a complicated web of economic and financial tools.

 
Addressing the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Cuban delegate Yusnier Romero said relations of dependence are being perpetuated and financial flows are being channeled to the benefit of the rich.

Any action of international cooperation for development should have as its inviolable principle respect for the right of governments to decide national priorities without conditions, Romero said.

The political will of donor countries is an indispensable element for a necessary increase of financial resources, he said.

Romero said he agreed that all countries should be responsible for the fundamental aspects out of their economy, but that there was no acknowledgement of the policy determined by the conditions set by the IMF and the World Bank.

The diplomat also mentioned the importance of South-South cooperation and three-way projects, while recalling the harsh U.S. economic blockade suffered by Cuba for over 50 years.