| Republic
of Nicaragua Mr.
President, Mr. President, 1.
Allow me to congratulate you on your election as President of the fifty-eighth
session of the General Assembly. 2. May I take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to the fine work of your predecessor, Mr. Jan Kavan. Your Excellencies, distinguished representatives, 3. Last
month, we were all shocked by the terrorist
attack on United Nations headquarters in 4.
Precious lives of innocent United Nations staff members were lost, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the High Commissioner
for Human Rights. 5.
The world must not be intimidated by terrorism.
The role of the United Nations as a guarantor of collective security
is irreplaceable. 6.
Global security is the responsibility of all nations, just as we are
all equally bound by international law. Security Mr. President, 7. Nicaragua comes before this General Assembly to propose that we forge a new era in the world order and cooperate actively within the multilateral system to combat (among other scourges) terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, trafficking in arms and persons and transnational crime, which are harmful to the consolidation of democracy and progress. 8.
In Central America, we have launched a new era, one in which 9.
On 17 July, at the meeting of Central American Presidents in 10. The idea behind my Government's proposal is to establish the necessary controls and a reasonable balance of power and implement modern policies for defence and regional public security by strengthening mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes, an issue which was subsequently espoused by the Central American Presidents gathered in Belize earlier this month, and on which technical teams area already working. 11.
In the current situation, international trafficking in small arms and
light weapons is equally worthy of our attention. 12. Drug trafficking is a global threat and an attack on democracy and its institutions, putting integral human development at risk. 13.
Because of our privileged geographical position, transnational organized
crime is attempting to spread to our region and make it a route between
producers and consumers of illicit substances. We have cut off its advance
in 14. However, cooperation of all international actors must be consolidated on the basis of "shared responsibility" to prevent the expansion of organized crime and the proliferation of drug consumption. Candidacy to the Security Council 15. My country's commitment to democratic security is consistent with the struggle for peace and the establishment of a just international order. 16. Who can make a more effective contribution to preventing war than those who have known it? 17.
We Nicaraguans have suffered the horrors and aftermath of war. The candidacy
of 18. For this reason, too, I come to this forum to tell you of the fervent desire and just aspiration of the people and Government of Nicaragua to be elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2006 - 2007 term. 19. Our candidacy has garnered strong support and we hope to consolidate it further in the coming months. Corruption Mr. President, 20. My Government will not abandon the fight against corruption. We have achieved major successes and have set an example for other sister nations, which makes us proud. 21. I wish to express my gratitude for the support of the international community, which understood our desire to bring morality to public administration. 22. Corruption is the root of many evils and takes a huge toll on the economy, in addition to undermining public and private institutions. 23. 24. However, the fight against corruption must be coupled with stronger judicial and electoral systems at home in order to strengthen democratic governance. 25.
Recently, I presented my proposal for a National Development Plan to
Cooperation 26.
27. Additional new resources will also be necessary to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals. 28. We appreciate
the proposal by the 29. Joint cooperation by the international community has been particularly meaningful for mine clearance activities in my country, where substantial progress has been made thanks to the fine work of national and international institutions participating in this humanitarian endeavour, and the professionalism of the Army sappers. 30.
As a token of the gratitude of the Nicaraguan people, we have decided
to participate in the purely humanitarian mission involving mine clearance
and the provision of medical support to the civilian population in Trade Mr. President, 31. International cooperation is not sufficient to achieve economic development. 32. We must promote a more equitable international trading system through the World Trade Organization. 33. To phrase it differently, what good is cooperation for productive development when there are tariff and non-tariff restrictions on trade? 34. We want
fair treatment. This is the issue, and we hope the developed countries
will be favourably disposed towards a new
trade relationship with developing countries like 35. With fair treatment and outlets for our products, we will have a more competitive Central American market, we will attract greater investment to generate more jobs and fair wages and we will reap the benefits of our strategic geographic location and our great potential as an interoceanic route so necessary for international transportation. 36. Major strides have been made in the Central American integration process, a linchpin of my foreign policy. 37. The
most significant results have been in the area of economic integration.
We have paved the way for the successful negotiation of free trade agreements
with other countries and regions, like the one we are currently elaborating
with the 38.
In these negotiations, 39. Greater development and generation of wealth will keep our citizens from emigrating to countries of the North. Inter International Situation
40. In some parts of the world, there is still hope for peace. 41.
42. We are concerned by the escalation of the situation in the 43. My Government supports the immediate resumption of the peace process launched this year under the peace plan known as the "Road Map". 44. We confirm our commitment to strengthening the universal calling of the United Nations so that all peoples of the world can be fairly represented in it and none are excluded. 45. We thus reiterate to this august Assembly the importance of considering the longing of a legitimately represented people - the Republic of China - to participate as a full-fledged member of the United Nations. Mr. President, 46.
47. Since that fateful day of I I September, it has been our lot to live in difficult times. 48. May we be capable of building a different world, so that future generations will not blame us for our lack of consensus in the face of the pressing problems of humankind! 49.
50.
May God bless you, may God bless the United Nations, may God bless all
peoples of the world and may God ever bless Thank you. |