Paraguay, 1995

At the outset, allow me to express my best

wishes to you, Sir, and to congratulate you on your

election. I assure you of Paraguay’s most complete

cooperation.

I also wish to express my appreciation and gratitude

to Ambassador Amara Essy of Côte d’Ivoire for the way

in which he guided the work of the General Assembly at

the last session.

At the same time I am pleased to convey to the

Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the

congratulations that I bring on behalf of the Government

and people of Paraguay for the commendable efforts that

have been made. I wish to express once again, on behalf

of Paraguay and the President of the Republic, Juan

Carlos Wasmosy, our full support for the United Nations,

of which Paraguay was one of the founders.

We are living in an exceptional year, an important

one, marking the first 50 years of the United Nations.

I myself was one of the fortunate witnesses of the

birth of the Organization after the Second World War.

Life then led me to work for 25 years as a staff member

within the structure that was created. I believe that the

United Nations has essentially fulfilled the aspirations

placed in it for peace, security, efforts to establish a more

equitable international legal order, and the commitment to

development for all the peoples of the world.

Undoubtedly, we must admit that in spite of the

efforts made, we cannot say that we have been as

10

successful as we would have wished in the sphere of

political achievements.

On the contrary, in the economic and social fields, in

which the Secretary-General and the different agencies of

the United Nations system can take their own decisions,

there is an immense wealth of great achievements, some of

which are truly extraordinary. By way of example we

would like to mention the United Nations Convention on

the Law of the Sea, successes as regards decolonization,

invariable and universal support for individual and

collective human rights, the openness and liberalization of

international trade, the immense mass of statistical data

collected and published in the fields of demography,

economics, health, education, and so on.

Without attempting to be exhaustive I should like to

emphasize our admiration for the world summits — for the

defence and protection of the environment in Rio de

Janeiro; the International Conference on Population and

Development in Cairo; the World Summit for Social

Development in Copenhagen; the World Summit for

Children; the recently concluded Fourth World Conference

on Women in Beijing; and the equally hoped-for and

awaited United Nations Conference on Human Settlements

(Habitat II). The contribution that these summits have made

to mankind is truly historic.

I should also like to highlight my Government’s

appreciation for the report of the independent Working

Group on the future of the United Nations, many of whose

observations and recommendations we share.

Without attempting to elaborate on the immense

agenda of this session we would like to emphasize the need

that Paraguay feels for a greater adaptation of the United

Nations to the new and changing realities at the same time

we support, where possible, the greater strengthening of the

entire system, not only to preserve peace through law but

also to strengthen security with a view to the harmonized

and integral development of all peoples the world over.

In this context Paraguay continues to support the

reform of the organs of the United Nations, strengthening

the General Assembly, democratizing the Security Council

with the presence of more non-permanent members and

restricting the power of veto. Among the new permanent

members it would be vital to ensure that there is equitable

representation for Latin America and other continents

among whose representatives we mention by way of

example Japan, Germany and Brazil.

All this would be impossible if States in accordance

with agreed contributions were not to confront positively

and conscientiously the serious problem of financing the

system. In keeping with its means Paraguay is up to date

in the payment of its assessment and we would like to

emphasize the need to rationalize resources and improve

the administrative efficiency of the United Nations.

We have also said in the past that the allocation of

funds for programmes and projects in the world by the

United Nations is unbalanced in that only 8.66 per cent of

the programmes are allocated to countries of Latin

America whereas other regions have 50.42 per cent and

40.67 per cent respectively.

Paraguay is following closely the enormous efforts

being made by the United Nations concerning peace and

development.

As regards the maintenance of peace, Paraguay

wishes to refer to a few specific points.

Regarding agenda item 27, I am pleased at the

continued economic openness in the sister republic of

Cuba. It is a pleasure to recall that the great hero, poet,

political leader, writer and teacher, José Martí was Consul

General of Paraguay in New York and that his

contribution to my homeland was at the time, and

continues to be fruitful.

In this context Paraguay reiterates its full support for

the Rio Group as regards its declaration in favour of

lifting the embargo on Cuba and we repeat our support

for the changes required in accordance with the will of

the people and with respect for the self-determination of

peoples and the principle of non-intervention.

Regarding the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Paraguay supports the different courses of action

promoted by the General Assembly and monitored by the

Security Council through the efforts of the United Nations

Protection Force (UNPROFOR) and the Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and

other related agencies.My country has not lost hope that

the strength of reason and the inspiration of human

compassion will, in the near future, alleviate the

enormous suffering and sacrifices of those peoples that

are separated now by hatred and violence.

Paraguay shares the concern of the international

community regarding the conflicts in Rwanda and

Burundi and other parts of the African continent.

11

The very diverse actions of the United Nations in

other parts of the world deserve our respect and our

support. Without being exhaustive in our listing we would

like to refer to the problems that have existed in El

Salvador, Haiti, Iraq, Kuwait, Angola, Mozambique,

Somalia, Western Sahara, Liberia, and in Lebanon, Cyprus,

Cambodia, Georgia, Tajikistan, and so on. The United

Nations is contributing or has contributed actively with

observer missions or assistance missions and with peace-

keeping forces in a world that is experiencing so much

upheaval.

We continue to be hopeful as regards the peace

process between Israel and its Arab neighbours in the

Middle East. Paraguay is gratified by the recent agreements

between Israel and Palestine and we hope that new progress

will soon be made in those lands which were the cradle of

three universal religions and their magnificent cultures.

Of course Paraguay supports the work of the United

Nations with a view to achieving disarmament, whether it

be in regard to conventional, biological, chemical or nuclear

weapons. In the same context, Paraguay expresses its

concern also at the nuclear tests being conducted in

different parts of the world.

The struggle against the terrible scourge of terrorism

is one shared by Paraguay in an increasingly united

framework of international cooperation to eliminate the

problem at its very roots.

Paraguay would like to mention its hope that as a

result of the talks between the two parties, a just and

equitable understanding will be reached to resolve the

situation of the Republic of China, in keeping with the

principle of universality enshrined in the Charter.

Regarding agenda item 27, I am pleased at the

continued economic openness in the sister republic of Cuba.

It is a pleasure to recall that the great hero, poet, political

leader, writer and teacher, José Martí was Consul General

of Paraguay in New York and that his contribution to my

homeland was at the time, and continues to be fruitful.

In this context Paraguay reiterates its full support for

the Rio Group as regards its declaration in favour of lifting

the embargo on Cuba and we repeat our support for the

changes required in accordance with the will of the people

and with respect for the self-determination of peoples and

the principle of non-intervention.

Regarding the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Paraguay supports the different courses of action

promoted by the General Assembly and monitored by the

Security Council through the efforts of the United Nations

Protection Force (UNPROFOR) and the Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and

other related agencies.My country has not lost hope that

the strength of reason and the inspiration of human

compassion will, in the near future, alleviate the

enormous suffering and sacrifices of those peoples that

are separated now by hatred and violence.

Paraguay shares the concern of the international

community regarding the conflicts in Rwanda and

Burundi and other parts of the African continent.

The very diverse actions of the United Nations in

other parts of the world deserve our respect and our

support. Without being exhaustive in our listing we would

like to refer to the problems that have existed in El

Salvador, Haiti, Iraq, Kuwait, Angola, Mozambique,

Somalia, Western Sahara, Liberia, and in Lebanon,

Cyprus, Cambodia, Georgia, Tajikistan, and so on. The

United Nations is contributing or has contributed actively

with observer missions or assistance missions and with

peace-keeping forces in a world that is experiencing so

much upheaval.

We continue to be hopeful as regards the peace

process between Israel and its Arab neighbours in the

Middle East. Paraguay is gratified by the recent

agreements between Israel and Palestine and we hope that

new progress will soon be made in those lands which

were the cradle of three universal religions and their

magnificent cultures.

Of course Paraguay supports the work of the United

Nations with a view to achieving disarmament, whether

it be in regard to conventional, biological, chemical or

nuclear weapons. In the same context, Paraguay expresses

its concern also at the nuclear tests being conducted in

different parts of the world.

The struggle against the terrible scourge of terrorism

is one shared by Paraguay in an increasingly united

framework of international cooperation to eliminate the

problem at its very roots.

Paraguay would like to mention its hope that as a

result of the talks between the two parties, a just and

equitable understanding will be reached to resolve the

12

situation of the Republic of China, in keeping with the

principle of universality enshrined in the Charter.

United Nations cooperation in development implies an

enormous restructuring and revitalization effort in the

economic, social and other related spheres. In this context

we view as very fruitful the cooperation between the United

Nations and the Latin American Economic System and

cooperation between the United Nations and other regional

groups. Particular emphasis should be placed on horizontal

cooperation.

We consider the question of convening an international

conference for development to be of vital importance as

one of the measures needed to ensure long-term economic

growth in all countries, particularly the developing

countries.

Recent financial disturbances on our continent, where

debt, loans and speculative capital combined to create a

widespread and only recently resolved crisis, oblige us to

reassert the fundamental demand for sustainable

development and for effective and broad international

economic cooperation, as was highlighted in the

conclusions of the Rio Group at its recent meeting at Quito.

Paraguay is pleased to affirm before the Assembly that

its democratic process is continuing to grow stronger day

by day. In accordance with the National Constitution, the

Government has guaranteed and will continue to guarantee

all freedoms and compliance with the covenants on civil

and political rights we have signed.

We cannot fail to note that the United Nations

Commission on Human Rights, in its 1995 conclusions with

regard to our country, has recognized Paraguay’s

achievements in this field. At the same time, we cannot

deny the enormous needs to which we must respond.

Democratic transition in our country has not received

the hoped-for material support. Apart from the contribution

of the European Community and Japan, we have had to

deal with our social and economic problems out of our

resources. That alone explains why we have been unable to

resolve all social conflict.

In shouldering the task of coming up with answers, we

repeat that we shall be doing so without digressing from the

moral principles of fairness and the principles of the United

Nations, but we do ask for greater support for our

development from the international community. For that

reason the people of Paraguay were shocked — and, we

must say, indignant — to learn of the attempts by certain

European and United States banks to bring before the

Swiss courts claims of debts that were never sanctioned

by Paraguay authorities and that arose out of fraudulent

operations that were carried out in Italy and that are now

being investigated and judged in those countries.

Paraguay has honoured and will continue to honour

each and every one of its international commitments, but

we can never agree to the payment of debts unrelated to

our legislation and contrary to every principle of law.

The recent Conference of the Rio Group at Quito

came out vigorously in favour of productive investment

and discouraged speculation, which does not create

employment and which is unfortunately characteristic of

today’s climate. In this connection, our Government is

continuing with its plans concerning the Paraguay-Paraná

waterway. This waterway is not a new project or design

to be created from scratch but, on the contrary, something

that already exists as a work of nature and that must be

improved, without curtailing it, by means of river

channels that will be suitable for open navigation at all

times for the transit of goods and persons. The ecological

Summit at Rio de Janeiro strengthened Paraguay’s

awareness of the need to protect the environment, and

since this waterway already exists in its natural state, the

environment — and I would emphasize this — will in no

way be damaged.

As of 1 January 1995 the Southern Cone Common

Market, MERCOSUR, which is a customs union, has

complemented and integrated the economies of Argentina,

Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay into a market covering

over 200 million persons and 12 million square

kilometres, the world’s fourth largest regional entity. The

Treaty of Asunción, which brought MERCOSUR into

being five years ago, is based on two key principles,

namely, international democracy and international

solidarity. It is a flexible system of integration that seeks

to include the economies of the sister Republics of

Bolivia and Chile and that may eventually be joined with

the Andean Pact.

Paraguay is very enthusiastic about the fruitful

negotiations under way with the European Union aimed

at establishing a broad zone of free trade that would cover

Europe and MERCOSUR. Under the outstanding

presidency of Spain a broad framework agreement is now

being studied in the European Union, and we hope it can

be signed in Madrid at the end of this year.

13

Paraguay is firmly convinced of the need to move

forward with the process of creating in MERCOSUR such

supranational entities as an administration commission and

a law tribunal.

Paraguay’s pro-tem presidency of MERCOSUR saw

the entry into force of a customs union that has undergone

steady development, as well as the initiation of the

understanding with the European Union. We have just

handed the presidency over to Oriental Republic of

Uruguay.

Within MERCOSUR, Paraguay is carrying out a free-

trade policy, the most open such policy in South America,

corresponding as it does to article 8 of the Charter of the

International Monetary Fund, which provides for the totally

unrestricted movement of capital.

Paraguay is aware that it must reduce the size of its

armed forces so that the sums invested in it can be

transferred to the social sector, but without losing sight of

its need for security and without impairing the efficiency of

those forces. Fortunately, there is understanding of the

various mandates and the cooperation needed to make this

change. In Paraguay at the present time we are examining

the possibility of participation by our armed forces in

United Nations peace-keeping operations, and we have

begun to send officers to participate in training courses.

We appreciate the financing of the programmes and

projects in our country by the United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the Inter-

American Bank for Development. We are grateful to the

International Monetary Fund for its very effective guidance.

Drug trafficking is not a problem in Paraguay, which

is neither a centre of production nor a consumer market.

The only problem it causes is created by the transit towards

the industrialized countries, which is facilitated by our long

border. Through its own efforts, and without external

assistance, Paraguay is combating this scourge and has

achieved significant successes. Public and private corruption

is the scourge of the whole world today, and it is being

tackled by our Government. In this connection, Paraguay

firmly supports the draft inter-American convention against

corruption submitted by the Government of Venezuela to its

partners in the Rio Group.

Paraguay is proud of its contribution to and

membership in the Rio Group. This is a flexible organ

created as a way to resolve a precise conflict, and it has

provided such good results that it has continued to exist as

a framework for broad, political dialogue that is becoming

increasingly relevant and important. Its establishment by

founding members of the Organization of American States

(OAS) has given it a particularly coherent and timely

political standing. We are encouraged at the practical turn

taken by the Summit Meeting of American Presidents at

Miami, especially at the Ministerial Meeting at Denver,

Colorado.

Before concluding my statement I wish to say that

the Government of Paraguay wants to highlight the

positive understanding achieved with the Republic of

Argentina for solving the ecological problem of the

Pilcomayo river. The sister Republic of Bolivia has now

joined us in a tripartite agreement to redress this problem

in an area ripe for regional development, thanks to the

cooperation of the European Union.

Last year we mentioned the need to create within the

United Nations system a fund for progress in science and

technology, particularly for the developing countries. In

this regard we would like to appeal especially to our

partners from the South. Without science and technology

for our economic, social and political elites, development

is impossible. The gap between the industrialized

countries and our own countries in this respect is so large

that it is a matter of fairness and necessity to reduce it.

Above all, it is question of bringing about a free transfer

of agricultural and food technology that can make it

possible for us to live in social peace.

As the United Nations completes its 50 years of

existence, it has passed many milestones in human

history. Knotty problems that seemed insoluble yesterday

have now been left behind.

A nuclear crisis, which threatened almost two

generations of the human race, now seems unthinkable.

The world can no longer be explained from the standpoint

of two ideologies whose triumph or defeat could be

decided only by a major war, which was fortunately avoided.

The contest between authoritarianism and freedom is

over. Although there are large areas of the world where

fundamental rights are not enjoyed, the benefits of

freedom enshrined in the declarations and covenants of

the United Nations are not at issue.

We cannot forget that since 1819 there have been

353 wars, but none of them has been between well-

established democracies.

14

There is a widespread and growing awareness that

many major issues can be resolved only by pooling our

efforts. The issues of the environment, women, education

and children, as well as a large majority of the other issues

on this grand Assembly’s agenda, are impossible to resolve

through the efforts of one nation-State. This fact is

confirmed every day. Today we forget that not long ago,

when our Organization already existed, there was no debate

over the internal affairs of countries and that no

international intervention was allowable. If the Charter were

rewritten today it would be startling to see the changes

Article 2, paragraph 7.

All this happened in the era of the United Nations. We

still lack the perspective to assess it, but we are sure that

the result is positive. We have not gone backwards; we

have not even stopped.

We are again hearing voices that emphasize the

defects of the Organization. The criticism would seem true

if we lost sight of the major changes for the good of

mankind that have come about with the existence and the

help of our institution. Through me, my country reiterates

its support for vital and necessary reforms. This is our

responsibility, and it is the best tribute we can pay to those

who conceived, shaped and developed the Organization.

But these changes will be valid only if we remember

the principle of the sense of history, as Secretary-General

Boutros Boutros-Ghali pointed out. In recent years we

Paraguayans, in setting out anew on the path of democracy,

believed that we were impelled not only by a desire to

improve our living conditions, obtain the benefits of

progress and ensure well-being for all. We understood that

we were part of a shared adventure with universal roots,

that we were a nation that, in order to understand itself,

needed to understand others.

For this reason, we stand before you with a conviction

that I hope will last for ever: that the great majority of

people believe that with the United Nations it will be

possible some day be possible, perhaps very soon, to find

new forms of cosmopolitanism. That sense of history

obliges us to think once again in terms of the world — this

will, of course, be our new activity — so that morality may

triumph in politics and that the separation of the two will

have been but a moment in the history of our race.

To paraphrase Hegel, we can say, “What are we?

What shall we become?”