Paraguay, 2012

At

the opening of my statement in today’s general debate,

allow me to express to Mr. Vuk Jeremić, President

of the General Assembly, the satisfaction felt by the

Republic of Paraguay at seeing him preside over the

work of the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh

session. He can be assured of my delegation’s constant

support during his time in office. Allow me also to

congratulate Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser

for his important and effective work as President of

the General Assembly at its previous session. I also

extend my congratulations to Secretary-General Ban

Ki-moon for his commendable work during the past six

years at the head of the Organization, during which he

demonstrated his firm commitment to global peace and

international security.

In relation to the theme of the general debate,

“Bringing about adjustment or settlement of

international disputes or situations by peaceful means”,

the Government of Paraguay once again asserts and

confirms the importance of settling disputes by peaceful

means while respecting the principles of international

law. Relations between States would be fairer, more

supportive and more equitable were they governed by

full compliance with international law, the principles

of which guide and direct the peaceful settlement of

disputes. In my country’s view, favouring political

expediency over treaty commitments is unacceptable,

because political considerations can never take

precedence over formal international agreements.

On this first and last time that I will address

the General Assembly, I believe it is necessary and

unavoidable to elucidate to the international community

the political process that my country is currently

undergoing. The history of Paraguay changed on the

night of 22 June. The National Congress, exercising its

constitutional powers — and I would like to publicly

express my appreciation for the presence here today of

the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Paraguay,

senators and members of Parliament, the President of the

Chamber of Deputies, and persons of various political

stripes — decided by near-unanimity to remove the

then-President from office by means of an impeachment

process established under the Constitution.

The Paraguayan Congress sought in that manner to

put an end to a very serious political crisis that threatened

the country, in which 17 fellow countrymen had already

lost their lives, and to avoid further bloodshed and grief

on Paraguayan soil. As mandated by the Constitution and

owing to my duty as Vice-President, I assumed office

as President of the Republic. Since then, in accordance

with my oath of office, I have been governing Paraguay

peacefully and democratically, fully respecting public

freedoms. The Government of Paraguay, along with the

overwhelming majority of Paraguayans, takes pride

in the fact that there are no political prisoners in the

country, that nobody has been exiled, that freedom

of the press and freedom of expression are fully

guaranteed, and that each and every right enshrined in

human rights agreements signed within the framework

of the United Nations, as well as in the Organization of

American States, is ensured.

Paraguay has normal diplomatic relations with the

great majority of the States Members of the United

Nations. We guarantee to all of them that Paraguay

will continue to work tirelessly in favour of peace and

security, the basic pillars of our Organization.

Nonetheless, Paraguay finds itself in a difficult

international situation, one created by its neighbours,

the members of the Southern Common Market and the

Union of South American Nations. Both entities have

adopted sanctions against the Republic of Paraguay

without allowing it to exercise its right to defend itself,

a right that is clearly set forth in the international

agreements that are invoked for the application of

sanctions. In violation of international treaties, those

countries have attempted to become the custodians of

Paraguayan democracy, putting aside the principle of

non-intervention enshrined in the Charter of the United

Nations.

Throughout its history, Paraguay has repeatedly

suffered from arrogant interventions in its internal

affairs.

The holocaust brought on by the War of the Triple

Alliance, stemming from an unjustifiable coalition,

has still not faded from the memory of my people. It

decimated my country’s population and destroyed its

economy.

In the short period that my Government has served,

our critics have been unable to find a single violation of

the agreements that I have mentioned. The great Justo

Pastor Benítez, a famous Paraguayan politician, rightly

maintained that it is dangerous to be right where there

is no justice.

Before humankind’s highest Assembly, I clearly

state that Paraguay will never accept interference in

its internal affairs by foreign Powers. We will continue

to build our democracy in accordance with the will of

the Paraguayan people, and fully implement it through

our freely elected institutions. We are certain that

we know how to get through this crucial period with

dignity and integrity. We will not be subjugated. We

call on members to reflect and work together to find the

path towards rebuilding South American integration,

which is currently compromised. Peace is built through

dialogue, to which we are open.

Those who today wish to become leading actors in

the international community will have to acknowledge

that that is not possible without regional unity.

Leadership is built through respect for international

law. That is the only way that we will have a common

position on Security Council reform, which is a long-

standing wish of the universal institution that embraces

us.

In such difficult times for the international

community, we will find solutions to our current

political and economic difficulties only by putting

international institutions on the path for which they

were established, namely, to serve the women and men

that build humankind’s future day by day. Paraguay,

a founding member of the Organization, remains

committed to that.

The various events in different parts of our planet

this past year demonstrate the relevance and true

validity of a forum such as the United Nations in the

international arena. That is why there is an urgent need

for the courageous, innovative and profound reform of

its organs, structure and functions. Changes are needed

to adapt the Organization so that it can respond with

greater effectiveness and agility to an international

agenda that is very different from that which existed

when the United Nations was conceived. Moreover, it

faces a shifting dynamic in the international picture

that was impossible to envision at its inception.

That is why Paraguay calls on the international

community to strive towards the wonderful international

utopia of a universal Organization governed by the

strong and the weak, the large and the small, and the

rich and the poor, all equal in a great world Assembly.

Paraguay believes that it is necessary to insist that the

reform process include the gradual elimination of the

veto power.

This year, on the twentieth anniversary of the

historic United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and known

as the Earth Summit, we believe that it is necessary

to reaffirm the belief that sustainable development

and its economic, social and environmental aspects

must be the linchpin of the United Nations focus. The

Republic of Paraguay therefore reaffirms its belief

in that goal and in the need to maintain the balance

between economic development, social development

and environmental protection as interdependent pillars

of human development.

As the world’s largest producer per capita of clean

renewable hydroelectric energy, which drives our

economy and its industrialization, we will use that

energy for the country’s development for the benefit of

the Paraguayans and foreigners who inhabit our land

and shape its future. That energy, which we will use

little by little, will be another driver of our well-being.

The issue of landlocked developing countries

(LLDCs) is an important aspect of Paraguay’s foreign

policy. The asymmetry and disadvantages of our

geographical position have caused and continue to

cause a huge problem that can be offset only through

international recognition and special and differentiated

treatment on the part of the developed economies that

seeks to include Paraguay in the globalized world.

In that regard, on 12 September, during the recent

fourth Meeting of Trade Ministers of Landlocked

Developing Countries, a group that Paraguay had the

honour of chairing during the biennium 2010-2011,

the need for transit States, in the first place, and the

international community, as a whole, to duly recognize

the comparative disadvantages of our countries in

relation to the conditions needed for their development

was underscored.

Paraguay wishes to reiterate here its commitment to

international peace and security. In the specific context

of United Nations peacekeeping operations, it affirms

its political willingness to continue contributing

human resources to such operations. Regionally, we

highlight the progress achieved by the United Nations

Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Paraguay

increased its deployment to MINUSTAH by more

than 100 troops to show its firm commitment to the

reconstruction of a brother country devastated by the

scourges of nature.

I would also like to underscore the effort and

commitment of the Paraguayan military observers in

the increasingly difficult situation in the Syrian Arab

Republic, where they have remained, even in the most

difficult circumstances. I take this opportunity to pay

tribute to those soldiers who perform their duties, in

many parts of the world, with dedication, hard work and

sacrifice in the service of the United Nations. Today,

we must all also remember the obligation of Member

States to protect and defend the security of diplomatic

and consular premises in all countries.

Paraguay is increasingly concerned about the

growth in transnational organized crime in its worst

manifestations, namely, drug trafficking on a large and a

small scale, arms trafficking and trafficking in migrants

and in persons, among others. Those transnational

crimes stem mainly the social and economic inequality

of our peoples. Joint international efforts are needed,

therefore, in order to fight such scourges head on. The

Government of Paraguay reaffirms its unequivocal

commitment to the fight against all activities of

criminal organizations and calls for a stronger position

on the part of developed countries, where most of the

demand associated with those crimes originates.

Paraguay also reaffirms its strong condemnation

of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. For

that reason, Paraguay, through its Secretariat for the

Prevention of the Laundering of Money and Goods and

in close cooperation with other national institutions,

has made a coordinated effort to bring its legal and

normative framework in line with its commitments and

with the recommendations made by the international

organizations charged with preventing and prosecuting

crimes related to money laundering and the financing

of terrorism. Laws and resolutions have been passed

pursuant to the recommendations of the Financial

Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF). In

February 2012, Paraguay was removed from the FATF grey list and is now, as a result of our efforts, included

on the white list, a fact that we are proud of, as a

member of our region and in line with our commitment

to the fight against money-laundering and the financing

of terrorism.

Promoting and building awareness of, and full

respect for, human rights worldwide must continue

to be one of the unchanging and incontrovertible

commitments on our Organization’s international

agenda. Human rights violations are a scourge that

must forever be eradicated from our civilization.

The Government of Paraguay reiterates that the

growth of nations can be achieved only through social

equality, by prioritizing basic needs such as education,

health and land reform. Growth without social

development will only result in a world that is more

unequal and unjust.

The Paraguayan Government is actively working to

build a development model that gives priority to decent

work. In that regard we are promoting mechanisms

within the framework of a State policy aimed at

improving working conditions. They include, first,

the creation of a Ministry of Labour, Employment

and Social Security; secondly, the ratification of

the Domestic Workers Convention No.189 of the

International Labour Organization, adopted in 2011 by

the International Labour Conference in order to improve

the working conditions of thousands of domestic

workers in Paraguay; and thirdly, the implementation

of an employment policy for young people through

a bill aimed at enabling young people to enter the

workforce, which has been partially approved by the

National Congress.

Since its beginning, my Government has maintained

its belief in and commitment to making inexorable

progress towards equal opportunities and rights for

all of Paraguay’s inhabitants. In that regard, we have

never faltered in the constant struggle for full social,

economic, political and cultural rights for women. As

evidence of those firm beliefs, soon after assuming

its duties, my Government decided to upgrade the

Secretariat for Women’s Issues to an executive ministry,

in accordance with United Nations recommendations.

Finally, in that respect, I must mention our satisfaction

with, and full commitment to, Paraguay’s election for a

new term as member of the Commission on the Status

of Women for 2013-2017.

The Government of Paraguay, which I have

proudly led since the end of June, now has a historic

democratic obligation to organize the general elections

scheduled for 21 April 2013 and to guarantee that they

are peaceful, transparent and exemplary. When the next

President takes office, on 15 August 2013, the soundness

of Paraguayan democracy will be confirmed. At that

time I will look into the eyes of my countrymen and

those of foreigners who live in our country and shape

our future alongside us and will be able to say: mission

accomplished. I ask God and the Virgin to help us and

to bless us so that all Paraguayans together can move

towards the future that we want.