Uruguay, 2002

The

profound and dizzying change that took place in the

world during the last decade, with the end of the cold

war and the acceleration of the process of

globalization, did not bring with it the ideal

international society for which we had hoped, and

world peace now seems as elusive as ever. That is the

great challenge the Organization must face as we begin

another session of the General Assembly, whose

relevance as a coordinating body for the international

community is again being put to the test.

The events of September 2001 radically changed

the perception of security in the world. The main threat

to international peace and stability now comes in the

form of organized multinational clandestine groups

which, having wide access to weapons and financial

resources, seek to sow terror with a total lack of basic

human feeling.

Despite its cultural and religious diversity and the

diversity of its political systems, and notwithstanding

the marked differences in levels of development, the

international community reacted to terrorism with a

deep and resolute sense of solidarity, which is reflected

in its decision to combat it vigorously within the

framework of international law, through the relevant

conventions and fulfilment of the obligations stemming

from the Security Council, based on the principles of

the Charter and on respect for human rights. In facing

that scourge, we must not forget what the President of

Uruguay, Jorge Batlle, said in his address to the

General Assembly last year in reference to terrorism:

to fight it, it will also be necessary to move

against other enemies of peace, such as poverty

and underdevelopment, to give to every person

good reason to live and to make all of us

guardians of humankind, which is a common

good from which no one must feel excluded, and

for which we must fight unwaveringly'.

(A/56/PV.44, p. 19)

It must also be borne in mind that that ubiquitous

and anonymous enemy terrorism invokes

political pretexts related to unresolved conflicts. In that

regard, Uruguay reiterates its confidence that the

Palestinian authorities will show proof of their peaceful

aspirations through their acts. At the same time, we call

on the Government of Israel to make all the efforts

necessary to return to the negotiating table, as the only

way to achieve lasting peace.

We retain our optimism in the face of all those

challenges. We wish to highlight two positive

developments that demonstrate that the international

community is moving in the right direction: the first is

the establishment of the International Criminal Court

(ICC), which will contribute to the maintenance of

peace by preventing, deterring and punishing the most

serious international crimes that individuals can

commit.

My country, Uruguay, by signing and ratifying

the Rome Statute, indicated its willingness to

contribute to the important process of the development

and strengthening of international law through the

establishment of permanent legal institutions.

Secondly, the world has this year laid the

groundwork for the management of the broad spectrum

of the positive and negative effects of globalization.

The recent Summit on Sustainable Development

represents the culmination of a process that

complements the results of the Monterrey Summit on

Financing for Development and the Ministerial

Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO),

held at Doha, which will enable the international

community to coordinate its efforts to eradicate poverty

and to promote global development by increasing

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development assistance and liberalizing trade in a

sustainable manner.

The overall conclusion to be drawn from these

conferences is clear. If the developing countries are not

given equal opportunities and conditions, both with

respect to the elimination of subsidies and unfair trade

practices and with respect to market access, then those

countries the particularly small and developing

countries will continue to suffer the negative effects

of globalization without enjoying its benefits, thereby

aggravating the political, social and economic situation

in the vast majority of States in the international

community. This is the path to deadlock.

Uruguay, with its firm commitment to

multilateralism, belongs, at the regional level, to the

Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), together

with Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, as well as Bolivia

and Chile. MERCOSUR, which is now a decade old

it has been in existence since the AsunciÛn Treaty of

1991 has established itself as an effective actor

within the international community, going beyond the

dimension of an economic project to play an active role

as a stabilizer of democracy in the region, thus

consolidating the rule of law and full respect for

fundamental freedoms and human rights.

It is therefore as a member of MERCOSUR that

Uruguay has opted for an ambitious policy of trade

liberalization characterized by the principle of

transparency. It hopes that the other trading blocs in the

developed world will apply the same principles and

avoid the duplicity inherent in advocating the need to

promote free trade on the one hand, while at the same

time protecting one's markets with discriminatory

practices. We therefore ask for reciprocity from our

trading partners.

We must not forget that this is the reason why we

are now facing increasing difficulty in achieving our

development goals. Uruguay, like many other countries

in other regions of the world, is experiencing an

economic and financial crisis that was completely

unavoidable as a result of the severe impact of

regional, extra-regional and external factors. This was

attributable to our increasing dependency on foreign

trade, to the fall in the international prices of our

products, to the implementation of subsidies and to

other protectionist measures by the developed

countries, and to the rapid spread of the crisis in the

financial systems of the main exporting markets.

To this we must add another tragic irony. Our

export products, which are mainly agricultural, cannot

compete with similar goods from other countries

because of their higher cost, which results from the fact

that Uruguay fulfils all of its international obligations

in the labour and social fields, particularly with regard

to child labour, the work of women, the minimum

wage, social benefits and working conditions.

Nevertheless, the developed countries preach respect

for human rights, the strengthening of social security

and the fulfilment of those obligations, while at the

same time purchasing products that are produced at

lower cost, in violation of international legal

obligations.

The phenomenon of globalization, which has

developed thus far without a proper cooperation

framework, appears to be the cause of many of these

problems. We continue to believe that it is within this

Organization that we must continue to explore ways

that will lead to a political solution to the principal

problems that we all face.

On the one hand the United Nations is the

obvious body to manage the impact of globalization. In

this process of constant change which is accelerated,

no doubt, by the technological advances of the so-

called information society we recognize the

potential that information technology innovations have

for the development of democracy and the economy as

well as social progress, and we note with great interest

that the World Summit on the Information Society will

be held next year.

Furthermore, we must bring to life once again the

true purpose and meaning of international economic

cooperation. True solidarity is reflected not only in the

undertaking of commitments at international summits

and conferences. It is expressed above all in the

faithful discharge of these commitments by each State,

in particular developed countries. This is the only way

in which developing countries can move beyond their

low levels of progress and achieve sustainable

development.

All of this requires the introduction of changes in

the organs and in the procedures of the United Nations

in order to ensure better representativity in its structure

and to enhance the efficiency of its functioning. The

reform of the Security Council and the revitalization of

the General Assembly are tasks that are still pending

and which we must continue to pursue.

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Uruguay has confidence in multilateral

mechanisms for preserving and building international

peace and security. It is a signatory to the San

Francisco Charter and since 1952 has contributed

troops to 13 United Nations peacekeeping missions.

We take pride in the fact that the more than 1,500

members of our military and police forces currently

participating in peacekeeping operations represent this

firm commitment and our belief in this Organization.

Therefore Uruguay shares in its entirety the

eloquent and passionate advocacy of multilateralism

reflected in the Secretary-General's statement last week

in this very Hall. Like Mr. Kofi Annan, the people and

the Government of Uruguay reaffirm their genuine

commitment to multilateralism, deeply rooted in our

spirit and based on principle, on tradition and on

conviction.

The most recent political developments, in terms

of the crisis posed by Iraq, is in our view proof of the

need for balance which can be achieved only within the

framework of mutilateralism.

In conclusion, I should like to warmly and

sincerely congratulate you, Sir, on the manner in which

you have been accomplishing your work, which we

know will be successful. We also welcome the two new

Members who are joining the Organization the

Swiss Confederation and Timor-Leste. We know that

under your leadership, this will be a fruitful and

successful session of the Assembly.