Peru
H.E. Mr. Jos Antonio Garcia Belaunde, Minister for Foreign Affairs
27 September 2008
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Statement Summary
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JOSÉ ANTONIO GARCÍA BELAÚNDE, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Peru, said the struggle against poverty and the creation of opportunities was a priority for the Government of President Alan García, and the Peruvian Government welcomed the General Assembly’s recognition of poverty as an issue that required a comprehensive global response. The increase in food and energy prices was felt most intensely by the poor. The Government was working to find an appropriate sustainable solution to enhancing food security and adopting measures to cater to the needs of the most impacted sections of society. New and more ambitious formulas were needed to deal with poverty and increasing food prices.
The new global threats were threatening to overwhelm efforts to battle poverty and there was a need for a decisive response by the developed countries to eliminate those crises, he continued. His Government had a policy of growth and had created jobs and a social policy that reduced poverty and promoted equal opportunities. Policies also included using advanced technology and management techniques to improve production and exports, and create jobs. Thousands of small- and mid-size entrepreneurs had entered the economy, as a result.
Another priority for the Peruvian Government was expanding health, education and all basic services. There had been a 5.2 per cent reduction in poverty and significant achievements in maternal health, literacy and other indicators. All that demonstrated that Peru would achieve the Millennium Development Goals before the deadline of 2015. Peru recognized the role of international cooperation in improving the social fabric of the country.
Turning to migration, he said it was a problem that should be globally resolved, and migration could generate opportunities and those factors should be discussed in international forums. The United Nations and other organizations should insure the human rights of migrant workers and their families. The matter could be handled with information-sharing mechanisms.
The issue of global warming required working with the international community to reduce carbon emissions, he said. Peru believed it was important to advance the platform adopted in Bali last year and work together towards a comprehensive, broad-based agreement in Copenhagen in 2009 to reduce emissions to avoid future natural disasters.
Globalization and fragmentation of the world was leading to increasing social inequality, he said. Other emerging threats were terrorism, the degradation of the environment and the flouting of international law as a means of settling disputes. Those issues jeopardized the collective security of all. An international law based on peace was necessary and that called for strengthening the role of the United Nations to deal with the affairs of the international agenda, particularly peace and security, sustainable development, environmental protection and human rights.
[Source: GA/10757]
