Statement by
Dr. Carlos F. Ruckauf Minister
of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine
Republic
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
17 September 2002, New York
MR. PRESIDENT,
FIRSTLY, I WISH TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR ELECTION AS PRESIDENT
OF THE 57TH PERIOD OF SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. MY COUNTRY CELEBRATES
THE FACT THAT A DISTINGUISHED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC HAS BEEN
CHOSEN.
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC REJOICES WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE
INCLUSION OF SWITZERLAND AS A NEW MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF EAST TIMOR, THE FORMATION OF ITS FIRST SOVEREIGN
GOVERNMENT AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE JOINING THE UNITED NATIONS ARE THE RESULT
OF THE STRUGGLE OF THAT COUNTRY TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHT TO FREE DETERMINATION.
MY COUNTRY SALUTES THIS YOUNG NATION THAT IS NOW INCORPORATED TO INTERNATIONAL
LIFE
ARGENTINA WISHES TO STRESS ITS SPECIAL GRATITUDE TO THE SECRETARY
GENERAL, MR. KOFI ANNAN, FOR TRANSLATING, THROUGH HIS ACTIONS AND HIS PERMANENT
SEARCH FOR PEACE, THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WISHING TO
BUILD A MORE SECURE AND STABLE WORLD.
MR. PRESIDENT,
ONE YEAR AFTER THE CRIMINAL TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE UNITED STATES
WE REITERATE OUR SOLIDARITY TO THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. TERRORISM IS THE CHILD OF POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS
FANATICISM. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION HAS TO BE STRENGTHENED
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ANY TERRORIST THREAT, TO ELIMINATE THAT THREAT THAT ENDANGERS
PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE ATTACKS
SHOULD BE JUDGED AND PUNISHED AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HELP THEM AND SUPPORT THEM.
THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION, NOR WILL THERE BE ANY, FOR THESE BARBARIC ACTIONS
THAT BRING SHAME TO HUMANITY.
MR. PRESIDENT,
IT IS BAD THAT THERE ARE MEMBER STATES THAT DON'T ABIDE BY UNITED
NATIONS RESOLUTIONS.
IT IS INTOLERABLE THAT THESE RESOLUTIONS REMAIN UNFULFILLED WHEN
ISSUES RELATED TO THE MERE EXISTENCE OF THE HUMAN BEING ON THE PLANET ARE INVOLVED.
THE EXISTENCE OF ARSENALS WITH BACTERIOLOGIC, CHEMICAL AND OTHER SIMILAR WEAPONS
THAT CAN BE SPREAD IN A FORMAL OR TERRORIST WAR IS A QUESTION THAT AFFECTS ALL
MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF THE WORLD.
MY COUNTRY, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY,
HAS CONSISTENTLY CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ TO ACCEPT IMMEDIATELY AND
WITHOUT CONDITIONS THE UNITED NATIONS' INSPECTORS. THESE INSPECTORS REPRESENT
ALL OF US INSPECTING ONE OF US.
THERE ARE NO REASONS TO REFUSE THE INSPECTIONS IF THERE IS NOTHING
TO CONCEAL.
THEREFORE, ARGENTINA WELCOMES THE ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY THE SECRETARY
GENERAL THAT IRAQ FINALLY AGREED TO LET THE INSPECTORS IN WITHOUT CONDITIONS.
WE HOPE THAT IRAQ FULFILLS ITS PROMISE IN GOOD FAITH.
MR. PRESIDENT,
THE MAIN CONCERN IN THE UNITED NATIONS FOR PEACEKEEPING AND TO
MAINTAIN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS, EVEN THOUGH SOME
SITUATIONS OF EXTREME SEVERITY AND A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT STILL EXIST
AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLVED.
THE PROMISING EVENTS RELATED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEPAD THAT
WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY, CONTRAST WITH THE WORSENING SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE
EAST. THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS WITH PAIN AND GREAT CONCERN THE ACTS
OF VIOLENCE IN THAT REGION. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT NO POSSIBLE SOLUTION SHALL
RESULT FROM THE INDISCRIMINATE AND BRUTAL USE OF FORCE, BY PLANNED MURDERS OR
BY TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS. THE ONLY ROAD TO PEACE AND STABILITY
IS THROUGH A DIALOGUE BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS. THEREFORE WE REITERATE
OUR POSITION IN SUPPORT OF THE REINITIATION OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES
WITH THE HOPE OF COMING TO A PEACEFUL, FAIR AND FINAL SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT,
THAT SHOULD INCLUDE THE RECOGNITION OF THE UNDENIABLE RIGHT THE PALESTINIAN
PEOPLE HAVE TO FREE DETERMINATION AND TO FORM AN INDEPENDENT STATE AS WELL AS
THE LEGITIMATE RIGHT ISRAEL HAS TO LIVE IN A LAND SURROUNDED BY SECURE AND INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED BORDERS. AT PRESENT SEVERAL PLANS FOR PEACE HAVE BEEN PROPOSED AND,
TOGETHER WITH THE EFFORTS MADE BY THE "QUARTET", THESE INITIATIVES
DESERVE OUR URGENT ATTENTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
AT THIS TIME I WISH TO RATIFY THAT, AS A PART OF THE VOCATION
FOR PEACE OF ARGENTINA AND OF ITS DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO A SOLUTION TO THE
SERIOUS EXISTING CONFLICTS, OUR COUNTRY SHALL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ARMED FORCES
AND POLICE PERSONNEL AS WELL AS CIVILIANS FOR THE PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS ESTABLISHED
BY THE UNITED NATIONS' SECURITY COUNCIL.
WE STRESS AGAIN THE PERMANENT COMMITMENT OF ARGENTINE DEMOCRACY
TO THE INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND UNITED NATIONS' ACTIVITIES
IN THAT AREA. WE WANT TO MENTION OUR SATISFACTION AT THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF
THE STATUTE OF ROME, ARGENTINA BEING A FOUNDING PARTY.
MR. PRESIDENT,
ARGENTINA IS TODAY LEAVING BEHIND AN EXCEPTIONALLY DEEP CRISIS.
AS TO OPENING THE COUNTRY TO THE WORLD, OUR COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE
TO TRAVEL THE PATH TO BE FOLLOWED TO BECOME A PART OF THE CONCERT OF NATIONS
THAT EXCHANGE GOODS AND SERVICES, AS IT HAS DONE UNINTERRUPTEDLY FOR THE LAST
TWELVE YEARS. THEREFORE WE WILL CONTINUE PARTICIPATING ACTIVELY IN MULTILATERAL
NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) AND
WE WILL IMPLEMENT NEW TRADE POLICIES THAT, AS PART OF A GLOBAL STATE POLICY,
WILL BE AIMED AT GIVING THE ARGENTINE ECONOMY A CLEARLY EXPORT PROFILE. IT IS
ONLY THROUGH THE GENERATION OF GENUINE FOREIGN EARNINGS, RESULTING FROM TRADE
EXCHANGE, THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH, WHILE
MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO REPAY OUR DEBTS.
THE CONSOLIDATION OF THIS MODEL DEMANDS ACCESS FOR ARGENTINE PRODUCTS
TO THE CURRENTLY RESTRICTED MARKETS OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
PRECISELY THE OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING ACCESS TO MARKETS IN INDUSTRIALIZED
COUNTRIES WAS, DURING THE CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT HELD IN MONTERREY,
THE OBJECT OF A CONSENSUS SINCE THIS UNDERTAKING WAS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO
ERADICATE POVERTY AND TO START ON THE ROAD TO LEAVE UNDERDEVELOPMENT BEHIND.
TO BRING PROSPERITY TO OUR PEOPLE IT IS NECESSARY TO SEE THESE
INITIATIVES ENACTED AND NOT ONLY BE CONSIDERED PROPOSALS. IT IS FINALLY NECESSARY
FOR FACTS TO ADAPT, ONCE AND FOR ALL, TO THE PRINCIPLES THAT ARE VOICED AND
THE COMMITMENTS THAT ARE MADE. IT IS OFWFOREMOST IMPORTANCE THAT TARIFFS TO
BE PAID BY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS BE REDUCED AND, SIMULTANEOUSLY, PROTECTION
MECHANISMS AND SUBSIDIES SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. THESE MECHANISMS FOR THE YEAR
2000 IN OECD COUNTRIES ROSE TO THE STAGGERING FIGURE OF 325 BILLION DOLLARS.
OF THESE 80% CAME FROM THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THEN THAT THE GUIDELINES TOWARDS FREE TRADE FOR
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS BECOME A REALITY: THIS WILL ALLOW THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
TO STOP ASKING FOR CIRCUMSTANTIAL AID, LEADING TO A VICIOUS CIRCLE. AS A RESULT
THEY ONLY INCREASE THEIR ALREADY HEAVY AND UNBEARABLE DEBT. THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED
TO SUSTAIN GROWTH SELLING THEIR PRODUCTS. IN OTHER WORDS WE CHOOSE TRADE AND
NOT AID.
MR. PRESIDENT,
THE GRAVE SITUATION THROUGH WHICH ARGENTINA IS UNDERGOING HAS
MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FULFILL OUR OBLIGATIONS WITH THIS ORGANIZATION. THIS DIFFICULTIES
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH HAS ISSUED A RECOMMENDATION
AND WE EXPECT THAT IT WILL BE ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING
OF THOSE COUNTRIES THAT ARE FRIENDS OF ARGENTINA.
MR. PRESIDENT,
IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF ACUTE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CRISIS, THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC HAS REAFFIRMED ITS FIRM COMMITMENT IN THE NATIONAL
AREA AND IN INTERNATIONAL FORA WITH THE PRINCIPLES AND THE PROGRAMMATIC BASIS
OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR CHILDREN. THIS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT,
INCORPORATED TO OUR NATIONAL CONSTITUTION, IS INCLUDED IN THE VALUES AND LEGAL
REGULATIONS THAT IDENTIFY THE ARGENTINE NATION.
MY COUNTRY HAS OPENLY RECOGNIZED THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, AS FROM
THE TIME OF CONCEPTION, AND STRESSES THE TRANSCENDENTAL IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY
IN DEVELOPMENT. ALONG THESE LINES WE ONCE AGAIN INSIST ON THE RIGHT OF THOSE
CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN SUBTRACTED BY ONE OF THEIR PARENTS. IN PARTICULAR, WE
REFER TO THE PAINFUL SITUATION OF KARIM, ZAHIRA AND SHARIF, THE CHILDREN OF
MRS. GABRIELA ARIAS URIBURU. UNFORTUNATELY, IN SPITE OF THE HUGE EFFORTS MADE
BY THE FAMILY AND ARGENTINE OFFICIALS, NO ANSWER HAS BEEN GIVEN TO OUR REQUEST
FOR MECHANISMS TO BE IMPLEMENTED THAT WILL MAKE A STABLE AND PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP
OF THESE CHILDREN WITH THEIR MOTHER POSSIBLE. THIS POSITION HAS RECEIVED THE
CLEAR SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENTAL EXPERTS CALLED UPON BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE OAS, THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, IN MONTEVIDEO (URUGUAY).
MR. PRESIDENT,
ARGENTINA CONSIDERS THAT THE OUTCOMES OF THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT, RECENTLY HELD IN JOHANNESBURG, CONSTITUTE ONLY A FEASIBLE AGREEMENT,
UPON WHICH IT IS POSSIBLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIFIC
ACTIONS WITHIN THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT.
THE MOST IMPORTANT STATEMENTS WERE MADE BY A GROUP OF CHILDREN DURING THE MENTIONED
SUMMIT "WE ASK OURSELVES WHETHER SNOW WILL FALL IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER
ONE DAY" OR "MORE THAN WORDS OR APPLAUSE WE NEED ACTIONS". UNFORTUNATELY
LITTLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN CONCRETE STEPS TO STOP THE CONTINUUM OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CATASTROPHES.
MR. PRESIDENT,
AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY KNOWS WELL THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC HAS
WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM A SOVEREIGNTY DISPUTE OVER THE MALVINAS, SOUTH GEORGIA
AND SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS AND THE SURROUNDING MARITIME AREAS. THE RECOVERY
OF FULL SOVEREIGNTY ON THAT PART OF OUR NATIONAL TERRITORY, WHILE RESPECTING
THE INTERESTS OF THE INHABITANTS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW, IS A PRECEPT INCLUDED
IN THE ARGENTINE CONSTITUTION. THIS ISSUE WAS INCLUDED IN THE WORK PROGRAM OF
THIS ORGANIZATION AND, THROUGH SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS, THE GOVERNMENT OF ARGENTINA
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM HAVE BEEN ASKED TO START NEGOTIATIONS
AGAIN IN ORDER TO FIND A JUST AND LASTING SOLUTION TO THE SOVEREIGNTY DISPUTE,
THUS ENDING A COLONIAL SITUATION IMPOSED BY THE USE OF FORCE IN 1833.
TODAY, AND IN LINE WITH THIS REQUEST, ARGENTINA RATIFIES ONCE
AGAIN ITS POSITIVE DISPOSITION TO RESUME BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNITED
KINGDOM TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS QUESTION, AND ITS SUPPORT TO THE GOOD OFFICES
MISSION THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENTRUSTED THE SECRETARY GENERAL TO ASSIST
THE PARTIES TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
MR. PRESIDENT,
SOME THREE DECADES AGO, IN THIS SAME VENUE, POPE PAUL VI SAID,
FROM THIS SAME PODIUM, THAT "DEVELOPMENT IS THE NEW NAME FOR PEACE".
THIS BRIEF AND WISE SENTENCE IS FULLY APPLICABLE TODAY AND POINTS OUT THE PATH
WE SHOULD FOLLOW. ALL GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUCCESSES
OR FAILURES RESULTING FROM THEIR ACTIONS. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT
FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD TO FIND THE WAY OUT WITHOUT A REAL INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION,
REFLECTING IN PRACTICAL TERMS THE PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE BEEN PROCLAIMED, SPECIALLY
THE RESPECT OF FREE TRADE. THE TIME HAS COME TO FACE THIS CHALLENGE, LEAVING
BEHIND THE DISTURBANCES OF THE PRESENT DAY, AND BE ABLE TO GUARANTEE A FUTURE
OF PEACE, STABILITY AND PROGRESS.
THANK YOU.