Panama, 2013

It is a great honour for my country to congratulate

Mr. Ashe upon his election as President of the General

Assembly at its sixty-eighth session. He can count on

the unconditional support of the delegation of Panama

during his tenure. We cannot think of a more appropriate

theme for this high-level debate than to focus on “The

post-2015 development agenda: setting the stage”.

The theme invites us to reaffirm our commitment to

continuing to work towards an agreement on the new

development agenda. The agenda will be available for

our people and the planet.

The 13 years that have elapsed since we identified

a way to achieve development through the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs) have witnessed the fastest

reduction in poverty in the history of mankind. In

that connection, we as Panamanians have had great

pleasure in carrying out studies indicating that half a

billion fewer people now live below the poverty line,

that infant mortality rates have fallen by over 30 per

cent, and that deaths owing to malaria have declined by

a quarter, among other things.

Panama has presented three national reports on the

MDGs. They have demonstrated our country’s progress

in improving the living conditions of our population and

in setting the issue of poverty as a priority on the social

agenda and focusing the Government’s contribution

on achieving clear, concrete and measurable goals to

reduce poverty and the inequality gap. We have made

notable progress in various areas. That is where we need

to redouble our efforts so as to provide Panamanian

citizens with a better future and so that all may benefit

from a better Panama.

In 2012, along with 17 other countries, Panama

received the Americas Award for reducing poverty and

hunger. On behalf of the people of Panama, we recently

accepted an award from the United Nations Food and

Agricultural Organization for reaching the goal of

eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, between

1990 and 2015, by halving the number of people who

suffer from hunger and by reducing the prevalence of

undernourishment by 50 per cent or more, with respect

to the levels in 1990-1992, now below five per cent. We

are pleased with the work we have done.

For the first time in history, humankind has the

technological, economic and sociopolitical structures

to eradicate extreme poverty. With an agenda for

development coordinated between the public and

private sectors and civil society, we can carry out

a meaningful process that makes a difference and

reaches everybody. Because of its capacity and scope,

the United Nations has played a facilitating role, unlike

that of any other organization, in order to coordinate

the global conversation about development, and it has

a special responsibility to its Member States to provide

information, analytical thinking and experience from

the field.

In that regard, I wish to thank the Secretary-

General for establishing a United Nations task force

and in particular for convening the High-level Panel

of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development

Agenda, whose extraordinary efforts are now giving us

more insights into a more productive discussion about

what path we should follow. The post-2015 agenda

should focus on eradicating extreme poverty from the

face of the Earth within a set time frame. Countries have

learned much about development. We have realized

that development that is not sustainable is simply not

development.

The MDGs were silent on conflict and the effect

of violence on global development, nor was the impact

and importance of institutions that guarantee freedom

of expression and the rule of law for development

included. The Government of the Republic of Panama

believes that we need to integrate the economic, social

and environmental aspects of development more

sustainably. For that we support the efforts resulting

from decisions made at the United Nations Conference

on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro and the

work resulting from the meetings convened for the

establishment of the High-level Political Forum.

Global inequality is still prevalent and very much

a part of this conversation. Some 1.2 billion people

account for only 1 per cent of global consumption. The

Republic of Panama has successfully reformed its trade,

tax policies and transparency. In the same manner, we

have reviewed the regulation of our financial markets

and productivity. As a result, we have, as far as possible,

charted a successful path towards development. It is

clear that now we face even greater challenges, different

from the previous ones.

Financing development is not easy, but we have

a great capacity and the patterns of productivity are

becoming more sustainable and equitable. Panama

supports the view that the post-2015 agenda must make

sustainable development a cornerstone and not leave

anyone behind.

The original promise of the MDGs must be

kept. The new route towards development must be

transformed from reducing poverty to ending extreme

poverty. Furthermore, the fight against inequality must

be a substantial part of our development agenda and

should be measured by the social inclusion generated

from economic growth. The promotion and protection

of universal human rights must be an integral part of a

post-2015 development agenda.

Similarly, institutions and the rule of law must be

evaluated as contributions toward the development of

countries. Equally, a sustainable planet is crucial not

just for the growth of our peoples, but also for their

survival. Finding a solution for global environmental

problems should be a priority of the development

agenda. That is why we support the integration of

sustainable development objectives into the post-2015

agenda.

Panamanians believe that unless we forge a

global partnership, nothing we say in this Hall will be

effective. We need a new spirit of mutual accountability

that supports the post-2015 agenda and the work done

by the United Nations towards that end. There is no

doubt that the post-2015 agenda will depend on new

economic partnerships and financing.

The post-2015 agenda cannot possibly succeed

without the active support of the Group of 20 and the

institutions of economic cooperation and governance,

such as the International Monetary Fund and the World

Trade Organization. The General Assembly has been

given an historic opportunity to promote a platform for

global development, with so many leaders present here,

together, with only one theme in mind. We believe that

effective political leadership emanating from the high-

level event on the Millennium Development Goals and

its forum can give us decisive momentum to make a

legitimate change to our post-2015 agenda.

As we ponder the post-2015 development agenda, we

cannot set aside the purpose for which this Organization

was created, namely, to ensure the maintenance of

world peace, through undivided and full respect for the

human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people

on Earth, without any discrimination.

In that regard, we cannot let this moment pass without

expressing the deep concern that Panama shares with

many members of the Assembly on the grave situation

in Syria. We condemn, in the strongest terms, the use

of chemical weapons against the civilian population

of Syria. We share the view that such acts constitute

a crime against humanity that should be investigated

and punished in accordance with the norms of existing

international law. We firmly call upon all members of

the Security Council to assume their responsibilities to

ensure compliance with international humanitarian law

and international protection of the human rights of the

Syrian people.

We are concerned about the escalating violence in

the Middle East and the veiled and open threats of the

use of nuclear weapons, which infringe on the right of

countries and peoples to live in peace in their territories.

Our global Organization has the supreme duty to speak

forcefully and clearly in support of world peace and the

right of humankind to continue living on our planet.

In this crucial time for life and survival on Earth, we

must not fall into the habit of believing that nothing

serious is happening and that life will still go on after

the atomic mushroom cloud delivers its final verdict of

death to every species on the planet. The number of

interested parties in the Middle East with nuclear power

and the capacity to introduce and test weapons of mass

destruction in a conflict situation is sufficiently large

that those of us gathered here cannot afford to ignore

what is happening there. This is no time to hide our

heads in the sand like ostriches, thinking that we can

thereby stave off the danger that threatens us and save

our lives. It is rather the moment to firmly demonstrate

our collective responsibility to defend world peace and

life itself.

I wish to inform the General Assembly that

my Government is aware of a request made by the

Government of the Republic of Nicaragua to the

Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf,

established under the United Nations Convention on the

Law of the Sea, to extend its continental shelf beyond

200 nautical miles. Without objecting to the right of

the Republic of Nicaragua to make such a request, as

stated in paragraph 8 of article 76 of the Convention,

my Government wishes to express its strong concern

about the fact that the coordinates given in Nicaragua’s

application constitute an unquestionable infringement

on our maritime space and on treaties between the

Republic of Panama and its neighbours, resulting in

a reduction of our maritime area of 49,892.54 square

kilometres.

The serious concern on the part of the people

and the Government of Panama is not motivated by

Nicaragua’s request to extend its continental shelf but

rather because, despite the fact that our two countries

are connected through friendship, geographic and

regional proximity and political and economic

integration, we were not consulted before the request

was made, so that we could consider all of its possible

effects. The Republic of Panama, in accordance with

its national Constitution, complies with the standards

of international law and has always recognized the

jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice as one

way of achieving the pacific settlement of disputes,

as laid out in Chapter VI of the Charter of the United

Nations.

In that regard, we should also emphasize that

according to article 59 of the Statute of the International

Court of Justice, the decisions handed down by the

world’s highest universal tribunal should neither benefit

nor harm third parties. My Government is therefore

compelled to categorically reject the Republic of

Nicaragua’s attempt to delimit its maritime boundaries

in this manner, since it violates existing treaties with

the Republic of Panama that we have complied with in

good faith, as well as our legitimate maritime rights,

recognized and accepted by the international community

in that area. In accordance with international law, I

will produce all the necessary evidence to correct the

Republic of Nicaragua’s efforts in this matter. But on

the occasion of the current session, officials from both

our countries have begun the process of resolving our

disagreement, which I hope will soon reach a happy

conclusion.

Today I also wish to mention a third issue that is

very important to Panama, the case of the merchant

vessel MV Chong Chon Gang, sailing under the North

Korean flag, detained in Panama since mid-July. My

country, as a State Member of this international forum,

complies with the norms and regulations of its internal

bodies, and article 4 of our Constitution requires

Panama to comply with the norms of international law.

That mandate has governed all of our acts as a nation.

The vessel in question was transporting undeclared

war materiel from the Republic of Cuba destined for

North Korea. Acting on intelligence that we obtained,

we detained the vessel before its transit through the

Canal on the suspicion that the cargo contained drugs.

When the ship was seized, an enormous amount of war

materiel — which, by definition and because of its

destination, clearly violated Security Council Sanctions

Committee mandates — was discovered hidden under

200 tons of raw sugar.

In compliance with the mandates in question, my

Government notified a panel of experts and invited

them to Panama to verify the findings and confirm our

initial impression, as presented by the drugs prosecutor

who initiated the investigation under the Republic of

Panama’s laws. The panel inspected the cargo and

later made a preliminary report in accordance with

Security Council resolutions. The evidence is now with

the Security Council. My Government would like to

emphasize the significance of the action it took, not just

as a Member State but also in its promotion of respect

for the decisions of this body and of the peaceful

coexistence of nations. We are talking here about an

unprecedented and possibly unique situation, at least

on our continent, which is why I stress its importance

today. Panama complied with its duty as a Member State,

even in the face of possible risks, high material costs

and potential consequences to be defined in accordance

with Panamanian law, as outlined in Security Council

resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009) and 2094 (2013).

As President of a sovereign nation, I have not

come before this forum to demand action against the

countries involved in the incident. Panama simply

desires and requests recognition that our conduct was

based on our firm wish to comply with the rules that the

Organization has laid down. We will respect the results

of the investigation, and we wish to make it clear that

Panama has no issue with the States involved in the

matter, which is why its settlement is not a bilateral one.

We Panamanians did our duty, and the United Nations

must now also do its duty, at a time when following

the rule of law is the only way to solve the delicate

international problems that threaten the peaceful and

human coexistence of the peoples of the world.

Panama and its people anxiously await just

recognition of their act, which we see as an important

precedent for our hemisphere. We call on the

international community to implement programmes

and solutions conducive to peace. Panama reaffirms

its historical position that we should use the tools of

mediation and dialogue to deal with all current conflicts

in the region and to seek solutions that defend and

protect the right of peoples to live and work in peace.

Since the end of my term is approaching and this

is the last address I will give to the General Assembly,

I wish to say that I feel the satisfaction of a task

completed as I leave Panama in the place it now occupies

in the world. We leave behind a legacy of social and

political stability and sustained high economic growth

throughout the Latin American region, and we have

helped to promote and build the common welfare of the

Panamanian nation.

I would like to cite some favourable statistics that

illustrate our growth and social welfare, published by

entirely credible international entities. On the index

of human development for 2012, according to the

United Nations, Panama is classified as a country of

high human development, scoring 0.780 as compared

to the average for Latin America, which is 0.741, and

for the world as a whole, which is 0.694. In a country

of 3.63 million inhabitants, 1.83 million are men and

1.79 million are women, according to the United Nations

Human Development Report 2013. On the literacy

index, Panama is at 94.1 per cent, also according to

the Human Development Report 2013. Panama invests

4.6 per cent of its gross national product in public

expenditures for culture and health, the highest level

in Central America, according to the Genral Treasury

of the Republic. Average life expectancy in my country

is 76.3 years, according to the Human Development

Report 2013.

When it comes to the enjoyment of political rights,

we have a rating of 1 according to Freedom House in

2012. Panama’s competitive ranking on the 2013 index

of the World Economic Forum was forty-eighth out of

148 countries reviewed, and its Fitch investment rating

was upgraded from BB+ to BBB, indicating a stable

perspective. Our Moody’s rating was Baa2, a stable

perspective, and according to Standard and Poors

we rose from BB+ to BBB, again indicating a stable

perspective.

The latest United Nations Conference on Trade

and Development report shows Panama as one of the

highest ranked Latin American countries for maritime

connectivity. According to the 2013 index, Panama

improved its score from 42.38 to 44.88, similar to

Mexico, which moved from 38.81 to 41.80, while

Brazil dropped from 38.53 to 36.88. The United

Nations Economic Commission for Latin America

and the Caribbean estimates that Paraguay leads Latin

American growth with an increase of 12.5 per cent

in gross domestic product, followed by Panama, with

7.5 per cent.The International Monetary Fund estimates

regional gross domestic product growth in the region as

follows for 2013: Paraguay at 11 per cent and Panama

at 9 per cent. In sum, Panama is on a firm path to full

development, and with the support of the international

community we will continue responsibly to meet the

challenges that still face us in order to achieve the

sustainable development for the well-being of all our

citizens.

The year 2013 has been one of great international

events for our country. We will soon have the honour for

the second time of hosting a Summit of the Americas,

the thirteenth, when Heads of State and Government

will discuss the Ibero-American community within

the new global context as it pertains to the political,

economic, social and cultural spheres. In November,

we will also host the forthcoming Conference of States

Parties to the United Nations Convention against

Corruption, which reflects the priority that our country

accords to the struggle against corruption as a factor

in development. In a similar vein, we will continue to

advance projects for the establishment in our country

of a regional hub for humanitarian assistance and

of a regional centre of the United Nations for Latin

America and the Caribbean. That project will serve as

our contribution to the international community, with

respect both to humanitarian actors and to the United

Nations system, and expresses our full support for their

efforts on behalf of those most in need.

I am an optimistic man. I believe in human

intelligence and in the capacity of our species to

recognize errors and dangers in order to change course

and ensure our continuity on this planet. Moreover,

the nation of men and women of which I am the leader

shares the dreams of a world united by its respect

for life and by the way it values and loves the vast

cultural heritage that has been built by generation upon

generation of people. I am convinced that however

great the challenges and dangers that lie in wait for

us may be, we will know how to meet and overcome

them with courage and intelligence. Nevertheless, I feel

compelled to mention the great dangers that surround

us today. Only through concerted, responsible action

will we be able to overcome the difficult hour that faces

humankind.

Today, multilateralism itself is being sorely tested.

We are facing one of the most serious and decisive

moments in the history of the planet and the human

race. At this unprecedented moment, the Organization

will have to take serious decisions in order to honour its

responsibility to our peoples with concrete results. The

Governments of the world need to focus their efforts

on raising the level of discussion so that our ambitious

contract with humankind and our planet can be fulfiled

in time. Not to do so in the face of all the destructive

forces that exist on the face of the Earth, and to allow

the passions that lead peoples and nations to conflict

and war to be unleashed, would be to lose one of the last

remaining opportunities for humankind.