Chile, 2012

Allow me to convey to Mr. Jeremić our warmest

congratulations on his election as President of the

General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session and to

once again extend to him our fullest cooperation. We

would also like to convey our gratitude to Mr. Nassir

Abdulaziz Al-Nasser for his significant work during

the previous session. We also congratulate Secretary-

General Ban Ki-moon on his leadership at a time

marked by the immense scale of the challenges that we

face.

Chile’s foreign policy is based on principles such

as the defence of democracy, respect for human rights and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Among others,

those principles form part of the Charter of the United

Nations. Their observance provides for coexistence

among States at the international and national levels,

and thus preserves, for nations and their peoples,

the most precious asset of national societies and the

international community, namely, peace.

Peace is the basic value at the root of this body.

However, despite the efforts made, serious problems

persist internationally, as well as nationally in some

Member States. We have witnessed the Arab Spring,

which, by channelling the legitimate expression

of its peoples for greater freedom, democracy and

respect for human rights, resulted in some cases,

without prejudice to the difficulties that remain to be

overcome, in processes that have led to democratic

changes. Regrettably, in other cases, it has given rise to

repression and violence.

The repression of their people by dictatorial

regimes and the inability to peacefully forge democratic

transition processes are the result of a mistaken way of

engaging in and understanding politics. Confrontation

has prevailed over tolerance, violence over dialogue and

conflict over understanding, as we see now happening

in Syria.

From this rostrum, we reiterate the call to all

parties, in particular the Government of that country,

for an immediate end to the violence, respect for

human rights and the establishment of the foundations

for a dialogue that can lead to a political solution of

the current crisis, in which justice and the rule of

law prevail. The international community bears the

responsibility to support that process, while respecting

the principles of non-intervention, territorial integrity

and, above all, human life.

We must condemn the intolerance that shows a lack

of respect for different cultures and beliefs and has

given rise to outbreaks of violence. Nothing justifies

the criminal act committed in Libya against United

States diplomats. We vigorously condemn that event

and any other act of violence, which, in that particular

case, negates the essence of the diplomatic function,

which this forum must specifically seek to defend with

the utmost resolve and determination.

In addition, we have resolutely supported all

international efforts towards a just, legitimate and

lasting solution of the problem between Palestine

and Israel. We recognize the Palestinian State — a country that we hope very shortly to welcome to the

Organization. We strongly believe that the Palestinian

people have the right to a free, sovereign and democratic

State. However, we also note that the State of Israel has

the right to recognized, safe and respected borders.

Only in that way will Palestinians and Israelis be able

to coexist and move forward in peace and harmony.

The leaders of the States members of the Assembly

have the moral obligation and enormous responsibility

of seeking to harmonize interests in order for reason

to prevail. The United Nations is the sole international

forum with the necessary capacity to address the

maintenance of peace, security, the protection of human

rights and international development cooperation. It is

therefore our responsibility to strive to find the means

for consensus to enable us to cooperate in resolving

current conflicts, averting future ones, preserving

peace and launching a cycle of development for the

benefit of our peoples.

Chile, through a sustained effort, has enjoyed more

than 100 years of peaceful international coexistence

on the basis of understanding and dialogue, as well

as legally and politically respected border agreements

and treaties, as borne out by our peaceful vocation.

Nearly 40 years ago, however, my country experienced

a crisis that shattered its institutional order and divided

our society, leading to a confrontation with tragic

consequences. Thanks to a united effort, an exemplary

peaceful transition was possible. Despite the deep

divisions that were a hallmark of that time, we were

able to move forward in building a solid foundation

owing to the willingness to reach an understanding that

prevailed among political forces that previously held

irreconcilable positions.

Moreover, despite its differences, Latin America

has learned to live in diversity and has progressed more

than other regions in the past decade. In our region,

various kinds of Governments that propose different

political and development models coexist. However,

through dialogue, understanding and reason, we have

reached consensus on establishing regional integration

mechanisms that have enabled us to move forward

with common goals. That policy, based on respect

for differences and the pursuit of mutually beneficial

integration, is at the heart of our foreign policy.

Just as mutual respect and human understanding are

ground rules of our national policy to achieve freedom,

progress and social justice, the same should occur in the international political arena. This is the best forum

for the leaders of nations to debate ideas, free from

absolute, exclusive or discriminatory positions, which

inevitably lead to confrontation. Many of the problems

facing us are due to the fact that the virtue of dialogue,

which is the only means for our mutual understanding

and civilized coexistence, is increasingly undermined.

However, countries alone cannot always find

the basis for understanding in order to achieve the

political stability that makes solid institution-building

and economic and social development possible. The

international community also has a responsibility.

We believe that it is crucial not only to help countries

emerge from crisis situations, but also to support them

in peacebuilding and development in a comprehensive

way. That means support for the rebuilding of political

institutions and for internal reconciliation processes and

social and economic development, which are tasks for

which the Peacebuilding Commission was established.

We strongly support its work.

In that context, with regard to the United Nations

Stabilization Mission in Haiti, we believe that the

required modifications to its composition and size

must be offset by strengthening the presence of the

development component of the United Nations system

through its agencies, funds and programmes. That

is fundamental to helping the reconstruction and

development of Haiti.

In that spirit of cooperation in peacebuilding,

we also welcome with satisfaction, a sense of

responsibility and enthusiasm the invitation of the

Colombian Government to assist in the negotiations

process launched to put an end to the internal conflict

that has affected that brother country for more than 50

years, causing so much suffering. We commend the

willingness and readiness of the parties and the courage

of the Government of Colombia, which, building on the

circumstances brought about through its efforts and

patience in recent years, took the decision to initiate

a peace process that, we trust, will end successfully to

the benefit of all Colombians.

We have conveyed our vision of what we believe

to be the most profound purpose of politics. On this

occasion, we would also like to address the issue

of Security Council reform. In order to strengthen

its capacities and legitimacy, a more representative

and democratic organ that is in line with the new

international reality should be formed. Chile reiterates

its support for a Security Council reform that envisages

the expansion of its membership in the permanent and

non-permanent categories, thus ensuring due regional

representation and enhanced transparency of its

working methods.

We also wish to reiterate our opposition to the veto

power. However, given its existence, Chile supports the

call for the veto not to be used in situations of crimes

against humanity, war crimes, genocide or ethnic

cleansing. The countries with the veto power have a

great responsibility and the obligation to use it with

moderation and transparency in seeking to resolve

crises, putting aside national or ideological positions

that hamper the system and render it ineffective.

In that context, our commitment to the main themes

on the international peace and security agenda has led

us to submit our candidature for Security Council for

the period of 2014-2015. As part of that effort, we wish

to help strengthen the effectiveness of the multilateral

system based on democratic values and principles,

namely, equality and individual freedoms and solidarity,

which are substantial aspects of our foreign policy. We

also wish to contribute to that from the perspective of

Latin America and the Caribbean.

Democracy demands respect for, and the promotion

of, human rights, which requires full implementation

of the rule of law. Chile is firmly committed to that.

Our own experience regarding a shattered democracy,

with tragic consequences for the rights of individuals,

which I have already mentioned, underscores for us

the importance of developing public policies. It also

highlights the need to implement the instruments

made available to us by the international system, with

particular emphasis on those that support the most

vulnerable, namely, children, women, young people,

indigenous peoples, people with disabilities and the

elderly. In that regard, we support strengthening the

functioning of the human rights treaty body system

and the work undertaken by the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights.

In addition to the issue of peace, another acute

problem for nations today is the international financial

crisis. It has wrought havoc on markets, trade, finance,

investment and, worse still, employment. As in the case

of politics, where confrontation and the lack of dialogue

impede solutions and compromises, in economics the improper practices of excessive spending, a lack of

fiscal tightening and the absence of adequate regulatory

frameworks triggered the crisis that currently affects us

and whose end is not yet in sight.

The experience of our country and our region has

taught us harshly in recent decades that progress and

true development require measures that are not populist

or short term. Governments must act responsibly and

control public spending without turning to that as

an easy solution to artificially promote an economic

boom. The current crisis blatantly shows the painful

consequences of such policies. A rigorous fiscal policy

and the establishment of stabilization funds, like some

countries have created, such as Norway on the basis

of oil and Chile on the basis of copper, are examples

of efficient mechanisms for economic stability and

balancing global cycles.

Similarly, in seeking solutions to the crisis, we

must avoid the temptation to resort to artificial and

short-term measures. There are voices clamouring

for the imposition of protectionist practices to boost

the economy. Such practices may benefit a specific

economic sector in the short term. However, they have a

f leeting effect. Let us not fool ourselves. Protectionism

protects inefficient industries and provides citizens with

poor quality and more expensive products. Worse still,

it undermines productivity, eliminates competition and

entrepreneurship and hampers real development.

Our experience shows us that we must take the

opposite path, namely, greater openness and more free

trade. Threats to democracy are thereby overcome

through greater democracy. Economic growth is boosted

by greater openness to markets and fewer obstacles to

global trade. Years ago, our country launched trade

liberalization by, first, unilaterally reducing its tariffs

and, subsequently, through free trade agreements

that today extend to more than 60 countries and that

represent more than 85 per cent of world gross domestic

product. Chile has the most free trade agreements and

has the world’s eighth-lowest tariffs, at less than 1 per

cent on average.

Despite external difficulties, that policy has enabled

us to increase our growth by 6 per cent in the past two

years and to achieve the region’s highest per capita

income. In turn, it has made it possible to reduce the

level of unemployment, poverty and extreme poverty

by creating new jobs and social protection programmes. Real and effective integration goes beyond trade.

We are also pursuing shared projects with other nations,

such as the recent Pacific Alliance initiative, launched

together with Peru, Mexico and Colombia. It focuses on

the integration not only of goods and services, but also

the free movement of people and capital, thus sharing

the full potential of our economies. Such initiatives

with Pacific Rim countries are not new. In 1994,

we were already part of the Asia-Pacific Economic

Cooperation, seeking to accelerate trade liberalization

in a broad region that unites the largest economies on

both sides of that ocean. Subsequently, in 2005, along

with Singapore, New Zealand and Brunei Darussalam,

we launched a process to forge an ambitious free

trade agreement. Today, that project, known as the

Trans-Pacific Partnership, aspires to create the largest

global free trade area with the accession of new

members, including the United States.

Two years ago, only days after the Government

that I represent assumed its duties, a natural disaster of

global proportions, namely, the fifth-largest earthquake

registered in the world since such disasters were

recorded, caused destruction and death in our country.

Chile recovered thanks to the solidarity and unity of

its people and as a result of the generous assistance of

friendly nations and organizations. Recently, President

Sebastian Piñera Echeñique affirmed the announcement

that he made at that time, pointing out that, by the end

of his term in office, all material damage would be

fully rebuilt.

In recent years, we have seen an increase in the

number of natural disasters — f loods, tornados,

typhoons, earthquakes and mudslides. There is no place

on the planet that is not either suffering or has suffered

from a natural disaster. No country has the capacity

to deal with disasters of that scale alone. There is

therefore a need for the assistance and solidarity among

nations that we saw not only during the earthquake in

2010, but also at the time of the collapse of the San

José mine, which affected 33 miners. The lives of

those miners were saved thanks to their courage, to the

determination of the Government of Chile to rescue

them and to international cooperation.

In Chile, we have strengthened disaster

preparedness and early-warning systems and have

enhanced the national civil protection agency in

order to ensure greater coordination at the national,

regional and local levels. However, the occurrence

of some of those natural phenomena is also linked to environmental protection. Preserving the environment

is another topic that merits the attention of the

international community and means that we should act

responsibly to safeguard for future generations a clean

environment and sustainable development that respects

nature. The recommendations of the United Nations

Conference on Sustainable Development, namely,

sustainable development goals, financing mechanisms

and a mechanism to transfer and distribute clean energy,

should now be implemented.

Chile assumed the position of the first pro tempore

presidency of the Community of Latin American and

Caribbean States (CELAC) with great satisfaction. The

33 member States of Latin America and the Caribbean

agreed the Community’s guiding principles and

purposes, including the promotion and protection of

democracy and human rights, political coordination,

integration, the fight against poverty and inequality

and stronger global engagement. Among the issues

of interest to CELAC that I would like to underscore

in this forum is support for the legitimate claims of

the Argentine Republic in the dispute for sovereignty

over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and

South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime

areas. We call for a resumption of negotiations with the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

in order to find a peaceful and lasting solution to that

dispute. CELAC also wishes to underscore the need to

put an end to the economic blockade imposed by the

United States of America against Cuba. The General

Assembly has adopted important resolutions on both

matters.

We live in a world of great opportunities, but also

significant challenges and global threats that require the

coordinated action of the international community in

order to ensure an appropriate response. Only through

effective, efficient and inclusive multilateralism will

we find the best way to respond to those great global

challenges.

The United Nations system has the capacity to

exercise leadership in pursuing international peace and

security, in promoting sustainable development and

cooperation and in protecting and promoting human

rights. Also, in seeking to resolve the global economic

crisis, in environmental protection and in the rapid

international response to prevent and provide assistance

in the case of natural disasters, we, as Member States,

must demonstrate the political will to make that capacity a reality and thus ensure that the politically

correct action is also morally correct.

The President of Bolivia mentioned, in terms that do

not comply with the norms of good coexistence among

nations, that country’s maritime claim (see A/67/PV.11).

Along with the formal note of reply that was submitted

to the President of the General Assembly, in addressing

this debate I feel obliged to categorically reject the

position, affirmation and charges made against my

country. It is timely to reiterate to the Assembly that

there are no outstanding border issues between our

States. Those matters are clearly set out in the 1904

Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and are fully respected.

Chile has fully met its obligations under that

Treaty, allowing the most extensive free transit through

its territory by means of high-quality infrastructure,

as acknowledged by the Bolivians themselves. Bolivia

has no right to claim access to the sea. The respect of

border agreements between neighbouring countries is

one of the cornerstones for coexistence among States

and is the guarantor of international peace, as prevails

between our countries.

Before this Organization, Chile reaffirms that

the Constitution of the Plurinational State of Bolivia,

adopted in 2009, introduced provisions that contravene

the framework of international law, which governs the

peaceful coexistence among nations. Those provisions

are therefore not enforceable with regard to our country.

As declared by a committee of lawyers appointed by

the League of Nations in 1921 and as acknowledged

at the last session of the General Assembly of the

Organization of American States, held in the Bolivian

city of Cochabamba, this is strictly a bilateral matter.

Chile has continued to convey to Bolivia its readiness

for brotherly dialogue, based on full respect for the

treaties in force, which provide significant benefits for

both peoples. It is in the hands of Bolivia to accept that

invitation.