A/74/120 The hostile use of telecommunications, with the declared or hidden goal of subverting the legal and political order of States, is a violation of internationally agreed norms in this area and an illegal and irresponsible use of this media. Through illegal radio and television broadcasts, the United States has been constantly attacking Cuban airwaves, disseminating programming specifically designed to incite the overthrow of the constitutional order established by the Cuban people. On average in 2018, 1,653 hours of programming against Cuba per week were transmitted illegally, using 20 frequencies, from the United States, in contravention of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the rules of the International Telecommunications Union. Once again, Cuba calls for an immediate end to these aggressive policies which violate the sovereignty of Cuba and which are, furthermore, incompatible with the development of ties based on mutual respect and cooperation between States. The economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States Government against Cuba for nearly 60 years has caused severe losses to the Cuban people, including in the use and enjoyment of ICTs. The Heads of State and Government of Latin America and the Caribb ean, at the second Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), proclaimed the Latin American and Caribbean region to be a zone of peace, in order to, among other objectives, foster cooperation and friendly relations among themselves and with other nations, irrespective of differences in their political, economic and social systems or in their levels of development, to practice tolerance and to live together in peace with one another as good neighbours. At the fifth Summit of the Heads of State and Government of CELAC, held in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), in January 2017, the importance of ICTs , including the Internet, as tools to foster peace, human well-being, development, knowledge, social inclusion and economic growth was again highlighted. Egypt [Original: English] [9 May 2019] Introduction In the last three decades, the world has witnessed a dramatic surge in the use of the Internet, smartphones and modern information and communications technology (ICT) gadgets, coupled with an overwhelming amount of ICT uses in the fields of business, commerce, government services, education, knowledge, entertainment , tourism, health care and other economic, social and cultural activities. Alongside the opportunities brought about by the continuous growth in telecommunications and Internet usage and the proliferation of e-transactions and e-services, it is important to be cognizant of the threats and challenges that target the ICT infrastructu re and e-transactions in general and face them, as they undermine confidence and trust in e-services and e-business in particular. Hence, Egypt attaches immense importance to the considerable role of developing and applying the latest information technolo gies and means of telecommunication in order to achieve economic and social progress at both the national and international levels. Egypt also actively supports the use of ICTs for the common good of mankind and to further the sustainable development of all countries, 12/39 19-10580