YouSaid · the spoken record

Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal

lines on the record: 81
first: 2009-09-24
most recent: 2013-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (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.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Panama will continue to advocate for the international community to work on an institutional and multilateral structure that would reinforce the rights of all people to a planet with an environment suitable for the development of a healthful and peaceful life. We will insist on a new high-level discussion forum on the protection of the environment in the context of the General Assembly. Finally, Panama reaffirms that it is a country that favours peaceful and respectful coexistence among all the peoples and Governments of the world. We Panamanians believe that humankind will always be capable of fighting for that cause, united by the hope that we can all build a better tomorrow. There is still time to share, as brothers, in the feast of existence on a peaceful planet that truly belongs to all.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Such an increase indicates we are doing things well. Panama’s economic growth is the greatest in Latin America. It is based on free market principles, is respectful of the environment, social standards and free enterprise initiatives, and is strongly committed to social inclusion. That has made it possible for us to significantly reduce unemployment in our country to 4.6 per cent and to reduce poverty, including extreme poverty, from 33.4 per cent to 25.8 in just three years, without compromising the riches of our environment. At the same time, our economic growth allows us to allocate resources to confront the threats of climate change, which is affecting and will continue to affect large and small nations without regard for their level of development. We all need to be more responsible in that regard.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We invite friendly nations who are committed to those reforms to financially contribute to that project, which will soon be open to international bidding. The other project is the regional humanitarian assistance logistics centre for the Americas for the delivery of humanitarian aid in the event of disasters in the region. Panama is committed to being a responsible humanitarian actor in the region, and we place our advantages as an international logistical platform at the disposal of the international community. Panama’s economic growth is widely recognized throughout our region. From 2012 to 2013, Panama moved up nine places — from 49 to 40 — in the Global Competitiveness Index, which represents our biggest jump in that ranking since 2005, when our country began to be monitored by the World Economic Forum.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Let us harness information and communications technology for the benefit of development and to ensure a better quality of life for our children, and let us not allow the benefits of accessing the Internet to put them at risk. The Government of the Republic of Panama supports the international community and the United Nations through two large-scale projects. The first is the United Nations Regional Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama, which will host the 16 United Nations subregional offices already established in our country. That Centre will contribute to greater coordination and synergy within the United Nations system, thereby contributing to its operational process, as outlined in the report of the High-level Pannel on United Nations System-wide Coherence, “Delivering as One” (see A/61/583).”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We must become allies and close ranks against Internet sites that promote child pornography and pornography in general, obscene and lascivious conduct, and physical, sexual and emotional violence. Let us combine efforts and take concerted action against sites that facilitate the making of weapons or explosives, that incite illegal drug use, and that promote racism, xenophobia or any other type of discrimination that runs contrary to human dignity. Let us take measures against those who dedicate themselves to making public, using and disseminating minors’ personal information and to making threats of all kinds against our boys, girls and adolescents.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I also invite all States represented here to share their experiences in order to establish and harmonize, on the basis of international telecommunications criteria, norms that will allow us to ensure that minors are no longer exposed to the risks and dangers disseminated through cyberspace. That should in no way be interpreted as a means of limiting or distorting freedom of expression or the universal use of the Internet, which we defend firmly and with great conviction. Panama is preparing draft legislation in order to establish minimum regulations geared towards protecting our children and adolescents from the dangerous content spread through the Internet and other electronic media. We are currently working to pass that legislation based on consensus with all of Panamanian society.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Every step in that direction will be key to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Nevertheless, I remain uneasy about the risks posed by the misuse of cyberspace for boys, girls and adolescents. Our job will not be finished if we do not assume the responsibility of facing up to one of the most significant ethical and moral challenges of our time: the protection of children and young people from the threat posed to them by the misuse of cyberspace. For that reason, we support the initiative promoted by the International Telecommunications Union in that respect.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That is the reason for my Government’s focus on the well-being of Panamanian children through the improvement of our schools and classrooms; the creation of a free national Internet network; the provision of free computers; the implementation of a universal scholarship, without any distinction on the basis of class or politics; and, finally, the transformation of our educational curriculum. However, access to information must be provided to children in keeping with their developmental stage, respecting the fact that they are children and requiring that they do the best they can for their age. To respect children is to harvest peace. As I stated at the recent Connect Americas Summit, held in our country in July, we must continue to harness our respective wills to reduce the digital divide and to maximize Internet access around the world.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The substitution of competition for violence can be achieved only through a modernization process in which our principles are preserved. A good education is one that is built upon a foundation of ethics and values. Money is not the best type of assistance we can give our children. The best assistance we can give them is an education that is divorced from politics, passions and paradigms. That is the only way to achieve excellence. We must focus our educational efforts on young children. Good, balanced primary education is the base of a solid pyramid. Educating our children properly today is the best guarantee of a better future for all tomorrow. Without education, there is no possibility of dialogue and vice versa.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“It helps us understand and respect different ideas. It provides us with an opportunity to be dreamers. Through education we can learn to value cultures that might seem strange to us; being different does not make us enemies. But in order to understand this in an all-encompassing way, we need a good and objective education. Access to information through the Internet and social networks is an indispensable tool to raise the level of knowledge and discernment among all peoples. While I advocate for the responsible use of those tools, I think that we have to go further. I believe that we must also address the issues of equality and self- esteem, which help distance us from resentment and violence. Once again, education is the answer. Such intangible wealth leads us to honest competition.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The feat accomplished by Vasco Núñez de Balboa on 25 September 1513 helped to forge Panama’s character as a country dedicated to the global transit of goods, and, with the construction of the Canal, it was consolidated as the hub of worldwide maritime trade. There is no magic formula for the resolution of conflicts. Nor do the global conditions exist for the complete fulfilment of Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations, on the peaceful settlement of disputes. The world still has some important steps to take in order to ensure that dialogue is always the means of adjudicating differences. There must be a commitment at the State level for meeting that goal. One of the major steps forward we must take is in the area of education. Education not only sets us free: it makes us free thinkers.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“With the discovery of a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, we saw the beginning of a process of economic and demographic globalization around the world. From that moment on, Panama began to play an important role in global navigation and trade that continues today. Since then, Panama has become the primary hub of the Americas. Indeed, it is one of the most important telecommunications and navigation routes in the world. We continue to make good progress in the expansion of the Panama Canal and Tocumen international airport, which will become the largest airport in Latin America. Both of those projects will make it possible to further develop the Panama Canal route and will have a tremendous impact on international trade and on tourism.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“That summit represents an effort, involving dialogue and cooperation, to foster the development of our countries by opening up new markets and new opportunities for trade and cooperation with the peoples and the countries of Europe. The international meetings set to take place in 2013 will be held in the context of the celebration of a historic event that marks Panamians to this day. I note that today is the anniversary of that event — the discovery of a passage, through our country, to the Pacific Ocean. Today — 25 September — marks almost 500 years since the so-called discovery of the South Sea, later known as the Pacific Ocean, a feat that changed the geography of world navigation and the history of humanity.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We will also host the fifty-fourth annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank, at which ministers of economy and finance, central bank presidents and representatives of various multilateral financial institutions will discuss topics related to their financial appointments. In addition, we will host the Americas Competitiveness Forum, which will address the issue of the development of the region’s competitiveness agenda on the basis of the 10 general competitiveness principles of the Americas. We will also host the Ibero-American summit, which will bring together the 22 States of Latin America and those of the Iberian peninsula.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Panama will welcome the International Congress of the Spanish Language, an event of a universal character and a forum for the ref lection on the status of the Spanish tongue, which shapes our identity as a nation and unites the peoples of Hispanic America. In 2013, Panama will also host the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption. That demonstrates that the fight against corruption and the promotion of transparency are essential elements of the modern rule of law to which my Government is fully committed.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“I am speaking of a demilitarized country, one that by virtue of its domestic law adheres to the doctrine of human security and that possesses a canal that is neutral. In addition, Panama has tradition and experience as a participant in efforts for the peaceful solution of international controversies. Those conditions are our guarantee and asset in advocating for a world that is peaceful and respectful of international law. Panama continues to be committed to multilateralism, dialogue and negotiation among States as the only way to seek and achieve just solutions in global affairs. As a part of this commitment, in 2013 we will host a series of important international meetings at the global and regional levels.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“As a firm believer that dialogue is a powerful tool for facilitating peace and the international political stability so necessary to ensure economic and social development for our peoples, Panama wishes to reiterate its call, as it has done on other occasions, to support the Chinese people in Taiwan so that they may have greater participation as observers in international forums, organizations and initiatives and may cooperate and support the development and maintenance of peace both in Asia and other parts of the world. Panama is a multicultural country where people of diverse ethnicities, cultures and religions coexist in peace and harmony and which has historically maintained friendly relations with States of different political and ideological orientations.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We call loudly and clearly for tolerance, dialogue and peaceful coexistence, The Republic of Panama is convinced that all international conflicts should be settled by peaceful means, using the instruments and mechanisms that have been created for those purposes. For that reason, Panama formally joined the Group of Friends of Mediation, demonstrating its historic commitment to the peaceful solution of conflicts, which is the central topic of this debate at the current session of the General Assembly.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“Panama energetically condemns such actions, which cause sorrow and grief to a friendly nation and which violate the fundamental principles of international law, particularly the Charter of the United Nations and the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations. The recent attacks on the diplomatic missions of the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel and France are absolutely unjustifiable. We reiterate that host States have an obligation to ensure the principle of the inviolability of the diplomatic and consular missions of the world and to safeguard international peace and security, as they are the source of communication and understanding.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“The Government of the Republic of Panama expresses is concerned about the severe crisis that has affected the fraternal Syrian Arab Republic for over a year. We therefore respectfully remind all parties involved that peaceably resolving conflicts is the only means acceptable to the community of nations and peoples of the world for achieving a just and permanent solution. The Panamanian people deeply deplore the murder of His Excellecy Mr. J. Christopher Stevens, Ambassador of the United States of America to Libya, as well as the Foreign Service personnel who were victims of the nefarious attack against the American Consulate in Benghazi. Our prayers and thoughts are with their families.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“For that reason, the Government of the Republic of Panama considers that Palestine has the right to be recognized as a nation-State. However, it must resolve its differences with its neighbour, Israel, recognizing that Israel has the right to a peaceful and safe existence within its national territory — a right that has already been recognized historically and legally by the international community. Panama expresses its concern at the escalating violence that has been developing in the Middle East and calls upon the international community to propose and attempt to enforce plans and solutions oriented towards peace, contributing to ending violent acts that affect the most vulnerable populations.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“We support the promotion and defence of multilateralism and of all multilateral organizations as ideal frameworks for solving, through dialogue and cooperation, the problems that afflict humankind so that we may thereby maintain peace and international peace and security. The search for mediation and dialogue has been the stance that Panama has historically always maintained with regard to the conflicts that disturb peace and international political stability. That search must include legitimate representatives of the parties in conflict, who must make efforts to recognize the rights of their counterparts and comply with their own obligations, with sincerity and a generous spirit, to reach just and permanent solutions.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)
“International conflicts have always been and will remain a challenge for the international community and a grave threat to freedom and the right to enjoy a peaceful coexistence among all the nations and peoples of the world. That is why all the countries of the world have the responsibility to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security. The Panamanian people possess the strong conviction and the commitment to use all existing peaceful means to solve international conflicts on the basis of the United Nations Charter and international law. Those are simple truths that are easily forgotten, but which we all must defend. They are the basic condition for our existence in full peace, freedom and independence. Panama advocates for the solution of all international conflicts by peaceful means.”
2012-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 67 (2012)