Ecuador, 2004

I

have the honour to represent the President of Ecuador,

Mr. Lucio Gutiérrez Borbúa, and the people of Ecuador

in this world forum of nations, to affirm once again

that my country, Ecuador, is an ally of States

committed to peace and the peaceful settlement of

disputes. Ecuador is a law-abiding country, upholds the

principle of international security and solidarity and is

a staunch defender of all the mandates arising from the

Charter of the United Nations.

It is worth highlighting once again that Ecuador,

in its relations with the international community,

opposes all forms of discrimination or segregation,

colonialism or neocolonialism. On this occasion, the

Government of Ecuador must once again ask the

community of nations and the international financial

organisms to not lose sight of the heavy burden on our

countries represented by the service of the debt, which,

year after year, severely strains our economies. The

Ecuadorian Government calls on the United Nations to

move forward with greater determination in identifying

specific actions aimed at effectively reducing existing

pressures, and, furthermore, in formulating proposals

to efficiently address with this issue in the long term

and enable our countries to develop.

The Government of Ecuador must also draw

attention to one of the most momentous problems

afflicting the international community, namely the

protection of civilians in armed conflict. This terrible

problem reflects a reality entirely at odds with the most

elementary ethical and moral principles of human

conduct and that destroys the basic premises of

civilized co-existence, in which respect for life and the

dignity of all individuals must necessarily be a priority.

It is time for the international community and the

United Nations to give absolute priority to this issue

and to find the political will and determination to

tackle and eliminate every bloody and inhuman

conflict in which international humanitarian law no

longer prevails. The Security Council is duty-bound, in

accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, to

reinforce the protection of civilians in armed conflicts,

in order to avoid undermining the entire international

juridical structure.

True to its international commitments and its

humanitarian vocation, Ecuador has been welcoming

thousands of refugees and immigrants from Colombia

and other countries who have fled their countries

because their lives, freedom and economic security

have been threatened. We must remind the

international community that, in order to solve this

critical situation, we need the commitment of every

country and international organism. For this reason, it

is essential that in conformity with principles of shared

responsibility and shared burdens, countries, such as

Ecuador, which take in refugees and immigrants,

should receive greater technical and economic support.

This support is necessary to alleviate the social burden

resulting from large numbers of persons entering local

border communities, which experience higher levels of

poverty and lack basic services.

With regard to the analysis of the northern border

of Ecuador made by the United Nations inter-agency

mission, we appreciate the support offered by the

United Nations Secretary-General to implement the

development proposals suggested in the report.

Ecuador would also like to have the support of the

international community and the international financial

institutions in this undertaking.

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The Government of Ecuador urges the

international community to make good its commitment

to the implementation of programmes established by

Ecuador and Peru within the framework of the

bi-national development plan for their common border,

following the signing of the peace agreements in

Brasilia in 1998. These projects aim at meeting the

basic needs of the populations of the region, through

social programmes and infrastructure projects.

However, both Ecuador and Peru require the financial

support of the countries that pledged their assistance

for the post-conflict era.

To our countries’ development problems we must

add the persistent trade barriers which developed

countries impose on our exportable products, as well as

the subsidies worth millions that they grant to their

own products, especially agricultural ones, which

seriously limit normal competition among countries,

increase unemployment and threaten the future of the

education, health and well-being of our peoples.

Deteriorating conditions in developing countries

have resulted in increased flows of migrants towards

industrialized centres in search of employment, which

is no longer available in their own countries. In some

countries, this exodus has met with restrictive and

unfair policies based on xenophobic concepts that,

instead of providing a solution to the existing problem

and to its root causes, make it even worse.

International migration is a problem that has

grown more severe during the last decade. Each year,

more countries are affected by migration movements,

which are commanding increasing attention at the

decision-making level. Migration reflects the human

longing to have the opportunity to pursue a better

quality of life and enjoy greater economic prospects. It

also promotes exchange and understanding between

peoples, strengthens dialogue and adds cultural and

economic enrichment.

The history of humanity is inconceivable without

constant migratory flows. It is evident, then, that the

consequences of these migration movements have

economic, political, social and demographic effects, as

much for the countries of departure as for those of

arrival. In this context, and in this current era of market

globalization, emphasis must be placed on the

liberalization of the supply of services via the free

movement of persons.

Ecuador is strongly committed to cooperating in

the search for solutions to this huge problem through a

strict control of the illegal migration of persons and the

elaboration of universal agreements that favour the

development of human beings within their respective

countries. However, to this end we require active

cooperation between migrant source and recipient

countries, as well as from international organizations.

My country has traditionally maintained a policy

of promoting, respecting and protecting the human

rights of migrants, and for this reason, from this

General Assembly, I would like to appeal to all

Governments and all sectors of society, particularly

those of the developed world that receive migrant

workers, to direct their efforts towards the protection

of the rights of this vulnerable sector of society in a

non-discriminatory manner, taking into consideration

the highly positive and productive aspects of

migration.

The territory of Ecuador is home to 12

nationalities and more than 17 ethnic groups. This

diversity has been recognized in the Constitution of the

Republic, which defines Ecuador as a social democracy

that promotes the equitable distribution of welfare. The

fundamental charter of the Ecuadorian State lays down

a legal framework that promotes the participation of

ethnic minorities in political structures and processes

and guarantees the exercise of the constitutional rights

of these groups in the public and private spheres.

The Government of my country cannot fail to

mention that inequality has been, and continues to be,

the greatest impediment to economic development and

poverty alleviation in many developing countries. The

disparity of wealth and income currently evident within

and among many countries is a matter of concern for

the international community. In order to prevent this

inequality, we need to adopt effective multilateral

measures aimed at effectively reducing poverty, which

in itself constitutes an affront to human dignity and

consequently harms the rights of individuals.

In this sense, it has become imperative that the

intent of international summits addressing issues of

development and poverty eradication become manifest

through internal plans and programs based on enhanced

international cooperation.

The Government of Ecuador supports these

activities, which are embodied in three key areas:

poverty reduction, political governance and

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transparency, and sustainable development through

equitable access to natural resources. This commitment

has led Ecuador to be chosen as an example for the

implementation of innovative models, with the goal of

optimizing the assistance and the quality of the

country’s response.

I believe it is essential that the voice of my

country be heard on the topic of terrorism. This

phenomenon has endangered the equilibrium, peace,

harmony, and security of the planet. It has torn the

socio-political fabric of societies, damaged financial

structures and undermined the functioning of States’

security apparatus.

I wish to reiterate the most unreserved support

and backing of the Government of Ecuador for all

initiatives and actions created to fight international

terrorism in all its forms and characteristics, but always

within the framework of the decisions of the United

Nations, of international law and of absolute respect

for human rights.

We must highlight the fact that hunger, ill health,

poverty, great economic disparities, lack of respect for

human rights, corruption, attempts to resolve disputes

and conflicts by non-peaceful means and the growing

weight of external debt are the seeds of international

instability and insecurity; they undermine governance

and are factors that destabilize democratic institutions.

The international community must become fully aware

of the fact that these harsh daily realities confronting

developing countries also represent a threat to world

security. Therefore, we must directly combat terrorism

with a broad-based and concerted global strategy to

foster development, improve the living conditions of a

large part of the marginalized world population and

encourage dialogue and tolerance, both between human

beings and among States.

The international community needs to make the

protection and security of individuals a global policy

objective. The security of the State, of society and of

individuals requires a consideration of the threats to

their fundamental values, which are sovereignty,

identity and survival. Only on that basis must we

establish the parameters of political, economic and

military action in a globalized world.

Ecuador, as a founding Member of the United

Nations, resolutely supports the multilateral system,

since it constitutes the best guarantee for the full

operation of the purposes and principles that led to its

creation and which are enshrined in its Charter. As a

result, Ecuador fully supports the current process of

reform of the United Nations, particularly of its main

bodies, such as the Security Council, along with the

revitalization of the General Assembly. We are

convinced that that will contribute to more effective

action in the fulfilment of its mission.

My country wishes to highlight the statement

made here by the Prime Minister of Spain — his words

of solidarity with the cause of Latin American peoples

and his commitment to support the reduction of debt

and of inequalities, as well as to promote and

strengthen relations between the European Union and

Latin America. Ecuador welcomes this expression of

good will shown by Spain’s Prime Minister, since

achieving those goals will contribute to the welfare of

the peoples.

Finally, democracy and respect for Governments

legitimately established through popular vote are the

greatest triumphs of Latin America in recent decades.

No attempt whatsoever should be made to revise this

basic principle of international policy, lest we seriously

affect the system of normal coexistence among nations.

In conclusion, allow me to urge the international

community to always bear in mind the precious ideals

of human beings that inspire this Organization, as set

forth in the Preamble to its Charter, which are the

fundamental mandates for its Members and various

bodies.