El Salvador, 2000

It is a source of great satisfaction for me to

congratulate you, Sir, a former Prime Minister of

Finland, on your election to the presidency of the

General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session, which

faithfully reflects your personal virtues and diplomatic

experience.

I am also pleased to offer my most sincere

congratulations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of

Namibia, Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, for his excellent work

at the previous session, and in particular for his work to

coordinate the preparatory activities for the Millennium

Summit.

Special mention should be made of Secretary-

General Kofi Annan for his indefatigable work to

promote the mandate of this Organization and for his

vision for strengthening its future activities, set out in

his excellent report We, the peoples: the role of the

United Nations in the twenty-first century.

With regard to the situation in El Salvador, the

process of implementing the peace agreements has

been an exceptionally arduous and highly complex task

that has been made possible by the firm political will

of the Government; by the willingness of the

Salvadoran people and all the country's political

forces; and by national efforts that have enjoyed the

valuable cooperation of the international community, in

particular the group of friendly countries, which have

always remained close to us, and the United Nations,

whose verification work has contributed to the success

of peace in El Salvador and to national reconciliation.

We are now entering a new phase of our history

in which political and economic freedoms prevail. This

will ensure the continuity of a broader and deeper

process requiring the cooperation and participation of

all national sectors and the renewed support of the

international community in consolidating the progress

achieved and in making further advances towards more

humane and supportive forms of co-existence within

the framework imposed by our institutions and

democratic Government.

During this phase, we have opened up new

possibilities and opportunities for all sectors of the

country to benefit from peace in democracy and to

meet together the challenge of continuing to work to

reduce existing disparities in our society, particularly

economic and social ones. In this vein, poverty in its

various forms is and always has been a structural

problem, of which every country in the world is aware.

In our case, we are according it priority attention, not

only to ensure that these phenomena do not undermine

our emerging democracy, which was won by our people

with so much pain and blood, but also so that we can

assign it due support and social context.

On this basis, President Francisco Flores of El

Salvador has focused his government plan on

increasing the levels of well-being and progress for all

Salvadorans. He has concentrated his attention on the

most vulnerable and dispossessed sectors in order to

improve their quality of life through a policy to

generate employment and job opportunities via

enhanced productivity, the promotion of trade and

increased investments on the basis of shared

responsibility. As President Flores has already done in

this forum, I would emphasize the fact that the future

of our nation is in our own hands. Each individual,

group and sector of our society must assume its own

responsibilities and duties in order to overcome the

problems of and obstacles to the promotion of growth

and sustainable human development.

Similarly, President Flores has emphasized the

fact that in a globalized and interdependent world,

solidarity and international cooperation are vital to

complement the efforts of the developing countries in

order to face the global challenges jointly and with

greater capacity. It must be understood that this does

not mean that the international community, and the

industrialized countries in particular, are going to solve

our problems, but rather that they can contribute to the

creation of an international environment that provides

opportunities, including policies that offer greater

access to their markets for the products of developing

countries, investment opportunities, the transfer of

technology and information, and fulfilling the

commitments made to improve development assistance.

We know that we are facing an enormous and

complex task, and in this effort we hope that we can

continue to rely on the valuable support of the

multilateral institutions and the community of nations,

with whom we share interests and problems in

particular the joint mission to preserve and consolidate

peace after conflicts have come to an end. In this

regard, as we celebrate the International Year for the

Culture of Peace, I would like to reiterate the

importance that El Salvador attaches to the continuity

of the efforts focused on strengthening a culture of

peace, especially on the eve of the International

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Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for

the Children of the World.

In Central America, since 1987, when the

agreement on the Procedures for the establishment of

a firm and lasting peace in Central America was

signed, our peoples have welcomed with hope and have

supported national, regional and international

initiatives to achieve pacification in the region. These

efforts culminated in specific agreements that made it

possible to end the armed conflicts in the affected

countries and to carry out profound political and

institutional transformations, which have contributed to

improving living conditions for all the peoples in the

region.

Along the way we have adopted and implemented

measures and mechanisms that, in a general sense, have

made it possible to guarantee human rights and

fundamental freedoms, establishing the base from

which Central America can begin democratic life, free

from armed conflicts and with legitimate and

sovereignly elected Governments. These Governments,

in fulfilment of their historical responsibilities, have

established institutions and developed a process of

consultation in order to coordinate and harmonize

efforts to overcome the profound causes of conflicts

and to avoid retreating from the advances achieved.

It is important to reiterate in this forum that the

countries of Central America have reaffirmed our

commitments to make Central America a region of

peace, liberty, democracy and development, and in

particular to foster gradually and progressively a

Central American union. This is the best route for

ensuring a prosperous future for the region and, at the

same time, to strengthen our capacity to confront our

problems in the best possible way, as well as to take on

the new challenges arising from globalization and

interdependence.

There is no doubt that the progress achieved at

the regional level in the coordination and unification of

the internal and external policies of the countries of the

region represents real proof of the determination of our

Governments to make sure that unity prevails over

division. In our opinion there are more reasons that

unite us than divide us, and we affirm with complete

confidence that in a globalized and interdependent

context the viability of Central America will depend on

the joint effort to build our common historic future.

This is why we must reorient our efforts so that they

meet the requirements, aspirations and needs of our

Central American people, through specific programmes

that provide our people direct and tangible benefits.

Allow me to speak about other important items on

the agenda and in the current international situation

that are of interest to the Government of El Salvador.

A few days ago the Millennium Summit was

concluded, and we can say that the results obtained in

the deliberations and reflected in the final Declaration

have inspired us with hope. In particular we are

heartened by the commitments made to strengthen

peace, security and disarmament. Among the most

notable of these commitments are to eliminate weapons

of mass destruction and to fight against transnational

crime in all its dimensions, including the global

problem of drugs and related crimes, against the illicit

trafficking in small arms, and against international

terrorism.

We also are hopeful because of the commitments

on a highly sensitive and worrisome issue for our

countries: development and the eradication of poverty,

and also on the need to develop a multilateral trade and

financial system that is open and equitable and is based

on rules that are predictable and non-discriminatory.

And we are also hopeful because of the commitments

to make sure that the high-level intergovernmental

meeting on financing for development is a success.

We should mention as well the decision to reduce

by half, by the year 2015, the percentage of people on

the Earth whose income is less than one dollar a day,

including reducing hunger, and on access to drinking

water, promoting equal access to various levels of

education and promoting gender equality, reducing

maternal mortality and the propagation of diseases

including AIDS, and protecting vulnerable individuals.

We would also highlight the commitments made

to preserve the environment and to intensify efforts to

reduce the number and effects of natural disasters. We

would highlight as well the commitments regarding

violations of human rights, democracy and the good

management of political affairs.

In our opinion the issue of the strengthening of

the United Nations deserves special attention because

of the situation that the Organization currently faces

with regard to fulfilling its mandate, which has been

apparent during the last 10 years more than at any other

time in its history. A crisis of confidence, credibility

17

and capacity has increased the conviction of the

majority of Member States that it is absolutely

necessary to introduce substantive changes in the basic

structure of the Organization and in its decision-

making processes in order to reflect the realities of the

current international order, which has greatly changed

since the adoption of the Charter of the United Nations.

The international situation today is more

complex, multifaceted and uncertain, blending

problems and conflicts that have become permanent

fixtures on the international agenda, and there are new

challenges and threats that transcend national borders.

These include phenomena that undermine the security,

sovereignty and independence of States. Taken

together, these developments provide yet further

justification for the existence of the United Nations, as

well as for the validity of its objectives and principles.

We recognize and welcome the changes

introduced in the basic functional and administrative

structure of the United Nations in order to improve its

efficiency. Nevertheless, we share the general opinion

regarding the imperative need to undertake integral

reform. This reform should include substantial

transformations in the principal organs, not only so that

the Organization can better fulfil its mandate, but also

to overcome the contradictions underlying provisions

in the Charter so that the system will function in a truly

democratic and transparent manner.

First, we must recognize that for many years now

the mandate of the Economic and Social Council has

been questioned. Therefore, we believe it is necessary

to resume negotiations aimed at adopting measures to

revitalize one the main functions of the United Nations,

which is the promotion of economic and social

development. In particular, priority should be granted

to sustainable development, with special emphasis on

fighting poverty, the fight against drugs and AIDS, the

protection of the environment and respect for human

rights. All of this is in conformity with the

commitments in the Millennium Declaration and

especially with the objectives pursued through

preventive diplomacy. For this purpose, we believe it is

appropriate to reexamine the initiative to create an

economic security council which would be responsible

for dealing with development problems.

Secondly, we believe it is extremely important to

examine and evaluate the functions and powers of the

General Assembly, given that this is an essential organ

and the most representative body in the structure of the

Organization. Nevertheless, its decisions are limited

and are not binding upon the Member States. As a

result efforts must be made to strengthen and broaden

the Assembly's competence as a political forum in

order to ensure the true role that it must play in world

affairs. In particular the Assembly should be given

greater responsibility in the decision-making process.

This would not only strengthen the democratization

and transparency of the actions of the Organization; it

would also give the Assembly the legitimacy it requires

in order to carry out collective action.

Thirdly, the reform of the Security Council is,

from our point of view, one of the biggest challenges

facing Member States, for my Government it is a

matter of concern that after seven years of negotiations

we have not made progress on the substantive points

related to the category, number and privileges of new

members, as well as on the question of the veto, which

is currently an exclusive privilege of the permanent

members.

The differences and the inflexible positions we

have seen are unacceptable because they create a

situation which, in our view, contributes to the lack of

credibility and a loss of confidence in the system of

collective security. It is urgent and we cannot postpone

overcoming our differences and granting each other

concessions so that we can reach a general, fair and

equitable agreement in order to achieve the aims of the

reform and realize the legitimate interests and hopes of

most of the countries of the international community.

El Salvador joins in the very fair demand,

expressed so many times in this forum, to increase the

number of permanent and non-permanent members to

include industrialized and developing countries,

faithfully reflecting the current world configuration.

The numbers should reflect the current membership of

the Organization with equal responsibilities and due

respect for geographic distribution. The use of the veto

privilege should be limited to Chapter VII of the

Charter.

I would like now to refer to other important

issues which are part of the Assembly's agenda in the

new millennium. These issues have important

repercussions for Member States as regards

international peace and security, as well as serious

consequences for the future of our Organization.

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On behalf of the people and Government of El

Salvador, we welcome Tuvalu as a new Member of the

Organization. This act confirms the right of people to

be represented in this worldwide Organization and

illustrates the universal nature of the United Nations.

The Charter was adopted on behalf of the people

who comprise the international community and,

consequently, the United Nations cannot, and must not,

close the door to any people which expresses its

sovereign will and desire to be represented in the world

Organization.

May I refer to the special case which has been

discussed in the Assembly each of the last eight years

regarding the need to examine the exceptional

international situation of the Republic of China in

Taiwan with a view to guaranteeing full respect for the

fundamental rights of its 23 million inhabitants to

participate in the activities of the United Nations.

We support the establishment of a working group

in the Assembly to examine the appropriate place that

the Republic of China should have in international

bodies. We want to make it quite clear that our support

for this initiative is not intended as an intervention in

the internal affairs of another Member State. Nor does

it represent opposition to the peaceful reunification of

the Chinese people. Rather, it represents the

recognition of the right of a people to realize their just

aspirations, a people which exercises democratic rights

in a country with which we have had excellent relations

for more than 50 years.

El Salvador participated with great interest in the

2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on

the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We

recognize that, even though the results were not exactly

what we desired, encouraging agreements and

decisions were reached in the effort to achieve the

objectives of the denuclearization regime which seeks

to encourage nuclear States to act in good faith, to meet

their international responsibilities and duties and to

continue negotiations aimed at eliminating the threat of

nuclear war. With these ideas, we join the members of

the international community who have expressed their

firm support for the proposal by the Secretary-General

to convene an international conference aimed at

seeking ways to eliminate the nuclear threat.

With regard to conventional weapons, we wish to

refer specifically to small arms and light weapons in

light of the fact that El Salvador underwent the tragic

experience of an armed conflict during the 1980s a

conflict that was intense and of long duration precisely

because of the entry and spread of this type of

weaponry weaponry which entered our country

illegally in order to supply the irregular militias.

However, these weapons reached other parts of the

population and resulted in a large number of casualties

and the phenomenon of displaced persons and refugees

from the areas of conflict. This situation was solved

after the signing of the Peace Agreement in 1992.

Not only do small arms and light weapons affect

conflicts, be they internal or international, but traffic in

these weapons has become a danger for public security

and a threat to stability, as well as a threat to the

democracy and sovereignty of States, when these

weapons are used in activities that constitute

transnational threats, such as terrorism, drug

trafficking, money laundering and international crime.

For this reason we firmly support the United Nations

Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and

Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, to be held in 200l.

With regard to domestic or international conflicts

that continue to occupy the attention of the

international community and our Organization, we can

only express our concern and regret that agreements

have not yet been reached to guarantee peace, despite

multilateral efforts. We urge all parties directly

involved in each of the countries in conflict to abandon

their individual or group interests so that through a

national effort, political agreements can be reached

which will make it possible for lasting permanent

peace to be established in conformity with the

aspirations of the peoples.

May I also refer to the Middle East. Here we

believe that the recent negotiations at Camp David are

an important step in the difficult road to peace. We

hope that it will be possible to achieve stable and

lasting peace within sure borders for all the peoples of

the region.

In conclusion, I should like to emphasize that the

Millennium Summit and the Millennium Assembly are

historic events that could mark the beginning of a new

era in the international order. Indeed, the Millennium

Declaration is an ambitious but vital programme to

collectively resolve our common problems. Hence, it is

imperative that the commitments which we have made

become a reality and, in the short term, we should take

concrete steps and show political will for their

19

implementation. The peoples and Governments of the

developing world will be watching closely and we shall

do our utmost to implement those commitments. From

a realistic point of view they require the decisive

support of the developed world in order to be fully

implemented.