YouSaid · the spoken record

Alejandro Toledo Manrique

lines on the record: 48
first: 2002-09-24
most recent: 2005-09-24
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

“This generous support encourages us and strengthens our commitment to work with dedication and responsibility in the Security Council. We are grateful for this opportunity and the support offered by countries worldwide for our candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2006-2007.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Currently, Peruvian Blue Helmets are participating in peacekeeping operations in Eritrea- Ethiopia, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Burundi, the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in Cyprus and Haiti. We cherish peace. For all these reasons, Peru is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the term 2006-2007 in the elections to be held during this session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. I should like here to express Peru’s deep gratitude for the majority support for our candidacy; we now enjoy the widest possible support from Latin American and Caribbean countries as well as from our brother countries in Africa and Asia, the Arab League States and countries of Europe and of Oceania.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Secondly, Peru was an advocate of the creation of the South American Zone of Peace and Cooperation and the Andean Zone of Peace, which have been recognized in Assembly resolutions 57/13 and 59/54, respectively. Thirdly, Peru participated actively in formulating the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. Fourthly, Peru is participating in peacekeeping operations by providing troops, staff officers, military observers and equipment. To increase our contribution in this area, Peru has signed a memorandum of understanding under the United Nations Stand-by Arrangements System, which includes army, air force and navy units.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“For my Government, international peace and security is a prime objective, and we have adopted the following measures in that context. First, Peru is promoting the limitation of defence spending at the regional level in order to release resources for social investment. The first decision I adopted on my Government’s first day in office was to cut back military expenditure in my country by 23 per cent in order to allocate it to food, health, education and social investments. Progress in this field has been significant; there are agreements with Chile, Colombia and Ecuador to craft and implement standardized methodologies to reduce our military spending.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“As it carries out its development agenda, the international system must strengthen collective security to confront threats such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and organized transnational crime. This year again, we have been shaken by acts of terrorism perpetuated all over the world. Peru suffered from, and combated, terror for many long years, and expresses its solidarity with the victims of these criminal acts. We reiterate our firm condemnation of all acts of terrorism and restate our commitment, through mutual cooperation, to prevent, combat, punish and eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Peru appeals to the Assembly not to continue to delay the adoption of a comprehensive counter-terrorism convention.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“That is why it is necessary for the Doha round to be completed next year. That is tremendously important. As the Millennium Declaration recognizes, a very important cross-cutting element in the partnership for development is assuring the sustainability of the environment. As proof of our commitment, I was proud 8 05-51226 some days ago to deposit the instruments of ratification of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, both of which are intended to reduce the negative impact of pollution.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Nor — even less — do we see obstacles to foreign trade being dismantled. The new partnership for development has to overcome adverse factors for developing countries and eliminate obstacles such as rigid intellectual property standards, the speculative volatility of global capital, the lack of foreign investment, subsidies, the debt burden, and, above all, the absence of genuine special and differential treatment in trade negotiations for developing countries. This is not only about receiving assistance to reduce poverty; it is also about a new association for development that will make it possible to generate employment and create wealth. Implementing this new partnership would fulfil Millennium Development Goal 8 and the commitments made in the Monterrey Consensus.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“While each country is responsible for its own development, it must be recognized that development encounters obstacles at the international level that call for new partnerships and new forms of association. These must go beyond the assistance-based paradigm characterizing much so-called development assistance. And, more important, they must overcome the asymmetry that currently prevails in relations between developed and developing countries. On the one hand, developing countries are being asked to commit to open their markets, to foreign investment regimes and to reforming their public administrations. We agree with all of that. But there is no matching solid commitment that developed countries will, as promised, allocate 0.7 per cent of their gross national product (GNP) for cooperation.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Peace and security also have social and economic components. Poverty and exclusion conspire against peace, security and democracy. Social exclusion triggers violence and instability, renders democracy fragile and leads to national and international fragmentation. That is why we must agree on action to confront these contradictions. That is the main commitment that we as States undertook at the recent High-level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Goals, and that is what the United Nations and the multilateral system as a whole must tackle next. That is why I am highlighting the two main axes along which these commitments must develop. I refer to security on the one hand and development on the other.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“On the one hand, our countries are becoming part of the globalization of production, trade, financial flows, the digital telecommunications revolution, and the spread of values such as democracy and human rights. At the same time, however, the world is fragmented by an increase in social inequities, the proliferation of civil wars, the collapse of States, genocide, terrorism, transnational crime and environmental degradation. These contradictory trends of globalization on the one hand and fragmentation on the other, call into question the governance within States and within the international system, and ultimately call into question international collective security itself. Peace and security and the stability of the global system are not related only to political, military and strategic issues.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Allow me first, Sir, to congratulate you on your election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to express from the very bottom of the Peruvian heart our sincere feeling of solidarity with the women and men of the United States who have suffered as a result of the natural disasters in Mississippi, Alabama and other southern states. Their suffering is shared by us, just as we would share suffering anywhere in the world. I am sure that the faith and hope of the people of the United States will enable them to overcome this tragedy. A year ago in this forum (see A/59/PV.5) I spoke of the need to face, with vision and realism, the new challenges now facing us, the developing countries in particular.”
2005-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 60 (2005)
“Therefore, I appeal to the Government of Japan to contribute to access to justice by authorizing the extradition of former President Alberto Fujimori for the crimes against humanity with which Peruvian justice has charged him, including his alleged responsibility for acts of torture, forced disappearances, summary executions and acts of corruption. Democratic Peru guarantees a fair trial and due process under the rule of law. I make this appeal in the conviction that the rule of law and the international legal order must guarantee access to justice. To deny such access is tantamount to enshrining impunity, and I am sure that the international order is not prepared to consider itself an accomplice to such impunity. We hope that that will not happen.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The rule of law and the international legal order must guarantee access to justice and respect for human rights. The rule of law must prevent impunity. At the same time, democratic societies must make transparency and the fight against corruption true policies of the State. Peru, before the process of recovering its democracy, was captive to corruption, systematic human rights violations and the subjugation of justice to political power. The corrupt and authoritarian Government hijacked democracy, tortured systematically and made corruption a tool of political power. Today, the free consciences of Peru demand that those responsible be brought to justice.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Today, the decrease in personal incomes and the increase in inequality are colliding like tectonic plates, producing tremors of social disintegration and international conflict. Therefore, we in the international community must understand that the peace, security and stability of the world system are not related solely to political, military or strategic aspects. Peace and security have social and economic components. Poverty and exclusion militate against peace, security and democracy. Social exclusion produces violence, instability and national and international fragmentation and renders democracy fragile. We cannot overcome that situation if we do not cause globalization to have a human face and to become a positive force that provides tangible benefits to all nations and all human beings.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“As a result of our long-standing participation in maintaining peace and security and in promoting development, Peru has announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council during the period 2006-2007. We are grateful for the considerable support that we have received and for the favourable consideration given to our candidacy. Today, 2.8 billion people live on $2 per day; 1.3 billion people subsist on $1 per day. Moreover, in the 1990s, social inequality became more pronounced throughout the world. According to the Worldwatch Institute, that increase in inequality affected not only personal incomes, but also access to water, food and energy ó public goods essential for civilized life and socio-political stability.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“5 Peru is a country whose diplomatic tradition, since the nineteenth century, has supported multilateralism as the best means for international decisions, particularly to promote peace and development. Peru participates in United Nations peacekeeping operations. My country is contributing military troops in Cyprus, on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and we are participating in Liberia and in CÙte díIvoire. Recently, my Government decided to send a fully equipped company to help achieve stability, security and the reinstitutionalization of democracy in the Republic of Haiti.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We call for peace, security, juridical equality of States, the non-use of force, the prohibition of aggression, the international rule of law governing relations among States, international cooperation, economic and social development and respect for human rights ó all of which are more necessary and have more validity today than ever before. We also propose a change of tools, mechanisms and measures. The reform of the Security Council must be tackled realistically, bearing in mind its role as a mechanism for collective security for the international community as a whole. The people want a Security Council with guarantees of legitimate and effective decisions.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In a context in which no single Power can assure global governance, in a world where fragmentation abets nuclear threats, both nations and peoples demand urgent decisions ó decisions ensuring global governance based on international law, increased respect for the United Nations, within a renewed and strengthened multilateralism, and the reinforcement of the values of peace and international justice. In the global era, the world requires broad consensus. Peru considers that the best solution is to be found through both change and continuity. We must stabilize the world political situation and generate an international alliance for development and social justice. We call for continuity in order to attain the goals of the United Nations.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Those contradictory trends of globalization and fragmentation jeopardize governance not only at the international level, but also within nations. Conflicts sharpen; many poor States are rocked by domestic and external violence; terrorist organizations and traffickers in drugs, weapons and persons are emerging and amassing devastating global power. Since the end of the cold war, more than 30 civil conflicts have caused approximately 5 million deaths and created almost 17 million refugees. In 2004, the United Nations has been administering 15 peacekeeping operations and 15 special political missions. That means that 16 per cent of Member States are affected by issues undermining peace and international security.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Allow me to join previous speakers in congratulating you on your election to the presidency of the fifty- ninth session of the General Assembly. The world of the twenty-first century faces a paradox. It is unified globally in the areas of production, such as trade, finance and in the digital revolution of information and communication technology - yet it is divided by the increase in conflicts, civil strife and transnational terrorism, as well as cultural and ethnic violence. The world is unified by universal values, such as democracy, human rights and respect for freedom of expression and the environment - yet it is divided when democracy clashes with social demands for more jobs and less hunger.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We have an obligation to build a more just, secure and humane world. That is why today I ask the United Nations and our great friend of peace, Secretary- General Kofi Annan, to exercise their great authority and prestige to promote within the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank and the member countries of the Group of 8 a wide debate on the innovative financial mechanisms that will make it possible to finance democratic governance in the region; increase public investment in schools, hospitals and roads; generate jobs and promote private investment. That is the only way by which globalization can be inclusive, and by which governance can be strengthened. May God bless peace in the world.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“We are being asked to open up our markets in the agricultural sector while there are still countries that are investing billions of dollars every day to subsidize their own products. Do not ask us to practice something that you do not practice yourselves. Our countries are aware of the fact that we have to be competitive, but we must build that two-way commercial highway. Peru is especially concerned about the negative results of the recently held ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization in Cancun, which, despite some progress, was unable to reach consensus. There is a continuing desire for multilateralism and free trade in Peru. We therefore trust that there will be a return to negotiation in the next few months so as to realize the goals set out at Doha, which placed development foursquare on the agenda of the WTO.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“14 Developing nations are concerned about the alarming increase in external vulnerabilities resulting from instability in financial flows and their impact on investment levels and economic growth in our region. Those countries also perceive the presence of protectionism in the area of trade, in particular on the part of certain industrialized nations. I would like to be frank in this connection: we ask developed countries not to demand that we open our markets while they protect their products with billions of dollars in subsidies every year, especially in the agricultural sector. Our countries can no longer withstand asymmetrical relations in the area of trade. The time has come to build a two-way business highway that is more transparent and predictable.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Likewise, we have signed a memorandum of understanding on physical and economic integration to set into motion three axes of development integration in Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Ecuador on the road to South America's integration. Accordingly, Peru signed an agreement that will lead to the creation of a free trade zone with MERCOSUR. From this international forum, we would like reiterate that those efforts and achievements in the area of integration constitute decisive steps on the path towards building a South American community of nations. However, I wish to point out that, beyond the decisions that two or more countries of the subregion may take, it will be essential for the international community to commit itself to the initiatives emanating from an exercise in collective reflection.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“This document comprises four Peruvian initiatives on innovative financial mechanisms that allow us to finance democratic governance in the region; to increase public investment in roads, hospitals and schools; to create jobs; and to supplement private investment. In relation to one of these proposals, last August, jointly with the President of Brazil, Luiz In·cio Lula da Silva, we decided to work together on the establishment of the South American Infrastructure Authority project, which will operate as a fiduciary agency to facilitate the financing of investment projects for the integration of South America. I am sure that that experience can be duplicated in other parts of the world.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“World leaders cannot close their eyes. There is no possible governance without a reduction of poverty. We must be creative and courageous in order to ensure that Wall Street's macroeconomic requirements meet the expectations of Main Street. Last year before this Assembly, I highlighted the need to defend democracy from market turbulence by creating innovative financial mechanisms. We said that the time had come to build a new global consensus to reaffirm democracy and re-evaluate development with social equity. Since then, Peru has been working on a series of initiatives in this regard. Last May, 19 democracies of Latin America and the Caribbean, members of the Rio Group over which I have the honour to preside approved a key document that we call the Cusco Consensus.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“However, we must concede that all these indicators are not enough to make the common people feel the benefits of such macroeconomic achievements in their own pockets. Today, it is necessary for the global economy to reach an annual average growth of 7 to 8 per cent if we wish to reduce poverty and to create employment. If we in the developing world, particularly in Latin America, grow by 6 or 7 per cent, it will barely be enough to recover the per capita income of 1970. We have to achieve adequate growth as soon as possible. The poor cannot wait another 15 years for their economies to grow in a sustained manner that will reduce poverty. Democratic governance in Latin America is at risk. There is no doubt that there is a correlation between the health of the world economy, social inclusion and democratic governance.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“In this regard, the Peruvian State wishes in this Assembly to thank the 20 friendly countries that have announced their decision to detain anyone on the list of extraditables if they enter their territories. Poverty, social exclusion and fundamentalist ideologies are among the causes of the current crises. The hopes of our countries to be part of an inclusive globalization are not bearing fruit. Despite some achievements at the national level, there is a wide chasm to bridge if we are to build such an inclusive globalization. For example, in the case of Peru, despite an unfavourable international environment the economy grew by 5.2 per cent last year, one of the highest rates in Latin America. Inflation was below 1 per cent, international reserves rose to their highest level yet, and exports reached unprecedented figures.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Truth must also be a means to prevent impunity and to lead us to reconciliation with justice. My Government is firmly struggling against impunity. That is why we consider that the fugitives who fled Peru when the corrupt regime of the past decade was overthrown should answer to justice for the gravity of the crimes they committed. We will insure these people a fair trial and all the guarantees of due process, within the framework of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights and Peruvian law. That is why we hope that our requests for extradition will be taken into account. Democratic States have the responsibility to avoid impunity.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Terrorism conspires against the health of the world economy. Terrorism contributes to making the poor even poorer. Peru strongly condemns the terrorist attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad and wishes to pay sincere tribute to all the victims, in particular to Sergio Vieira de Mello, Special Representative of the Secretary-General. We cannot accept terrorism as a political tool. In our case, the 20 years of violence bequeathed by the Sendero Luminoso is a hard lesson to cope with. According to the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recently submitted to my Government, thousands of lives were lost and more than $30 billion in losses were reported. This report is 13 the result of a resolute political decision of our Government to make sure that Peru never again has to face irrational acts of terror.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“Peru has no doubt that multilateralism is the best instrument for confronting global challenges, as well as for guaranteeing peace and international security. For that reason, the United Nations is indispensable. All Member States must have the conviction to strengthen it, to contribute to its institutional regeneration and to reform it. With a reformed United Nations, we will continue our struggle against poverty; we will maintain the world development agenda; we will assure democracy; and we will fight decisively against drug trafficking and international terrorism. The terrorist attacks taking place in different areas of the world and the threats to peace in several regions create an international climate of instability and insecurity that calls for urgent solutions. Terrorism conspires against the democracies of the world.”
2003-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 58 (2003)
“I wish to reiterate the firm commitment of Peru, first of all, to cooperate with all States in the international fight against terrorism; secondly, to work for peace and development, maintaining our proposal to limit military expenditures in South America and instead to dedicate those resources to the fight against poverty; and thirdly, to strengthen international support for democracy and good governance as an important step in the battle that we are waging against poverty and extreme poverty in our nations.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“I call upon all other members of the international community that have not yet done so to ratify that international instrument in order to stem and reduce gas emissions that harm our nations. This also relates to the phenomenon of El Niño, which has been afflicting Peru and the countries of the Pacific with increasing frequency and intensity.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“For this will be the best way to overcome the poverty 14 of nations. We are committed to facing the great problems and challenges of our time by building democracy in a world that is more just and has greater solidarity. Today, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, international democracy has a name: the United Nations. If the United Nations is weak, then it must be strengthened; if it is slow, it must be given the means to act with greater effectiveness and speed. But we cannot do without the framework of the United Nations. Peru is firmly committed to policies and values that support sustainable development. I am pleased in this regard to announce that today I shall be depositing with the Secretary-General the instrument through which Peru reaffirms the Kyoto Protocol.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Our proposal, which we are taking from door to door, forum to forum, and soul to soul, is based on the conviction that Peruvian democracy is not an island in Latin America and the world, and cannot therefore be evaluated in isolation from global realities. We must insert Peru and Latin America in an interconnected world. We state this with the firm conviction that what is at stake is more than Peru's democracy but rather the democracy of a system that has proven to be the best. My government, as I announced on the day when I took office, wishes to be remembered in history as one that, with full respect for democracy and all the fundamental freedoms of men and women, strengthened the development of Peru through productive and dignified work and through the courage to invest more in better nutrition, health and education.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“It is founded on the deepest aspirations of the majority of our peoples, who are seeking their own development. For that same reason, emerging democracies, which are today plagued by instability and uncertainty, urgently require new resources to facilitate public investment in the economies of the region aimed at re- energizing them, generating employment and protecting them from adverse financial shock. We are at a crossroads of Wall Street and Main Street, where we must resolve the problems of our economies and yet listen to the voices of our peoples demanding that their just aspirations be met.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“From another perspective, and bearing in mind the objective of peace, the Government of Peru believes that building peace and good governance is a vital prerequisite for the preservation of liberty and the attainment of mutual and more equitable development. In that regard, Peru is aware of the urgent need for multilateral efforts — particularly by the richest countries — to strengthen democracy. That is why we reiterate our proposal to create a mechanism of financial solidarity for the defence of democracy and good governance. The time has come to be creative — to create a mechanism for the financing of good governance and democracy among our peoples. We have said that democracy is costly. But democracy is a value that transcends the vote, the ballot box and the institutions of the State.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“That system includes sanctions, to be applied in cases of violations or breaches of democratic institutions, with a view to promoting, preserving and defending democracy in the Latin America. In the framework of the United Nations, we also encouraged the adoption by the Commission on Human Rights of a draft resolution entitled “Further measures to promote and consolidate democracy”, which set out, for the first time within the United Nations system, a set of criteria to determine whether or not a regime is democratic. It includes so-called democratic clauses and legitimizes collective action for the protection and defence of democracy.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“This accord has characteristics that are unique in the history of Peru, since for the first time various political institutions and representatives of civil society met and together committed themselves to continuity in State policies in the areas of democracy, equality, social justice, competitiveness and transparency in political affairs. Likewise, I would like to emphasize the signing, at Peru's initiative, of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, adopted by the Organization of American States on 11 September 2001. The Charter is an effective means of making the principles, norms and mechanisms of collective action consistent throughout the region.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Our Government has begun this task with full respect for democratic values, as well as for the independence of the branches of State power. I would also like to emphasize the efforts that we have been making to consolidate our democracy through mechanisms of coordination and political and social dialogue. In July, my Government, the political parties, the business sector, workers, churches and other civil society organizations signed a national accord that contains 29 long-term State policies to be implemented by the current and future Governments over the next 20 years.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“It is currently conducting its largest demining operation to date, to reduce mines in border regions, as part of an agreement signed in 1998 with the fraternal country Ecuador. 13 In the same context, our Government reaffirms and renews its commitment to the creation of a South American peace and cooperation zone, as declared in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on 27 July, during a meeting of South American heads of State or Government. We propose the inclusion in the agenda of the General Assembly of an item on the South American peace and cooperation zone and will encourage the adoption of a draft resolution in that regard. With regard of the promotion of democracy, Peru is today endeavouring fully to re-establish the freedoms of its citizenry, strengthen its democratic institutions and resolutely fight against corruption.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Today more than ever, Peru would like to reaffirm, before the international community, that is it committed to the building of a participatory and efficient system of collective security. To this end, we are promoting the adoption of the Andean Charter for Peace and Security, which was approved in June by the ministers of foreign affairs and defence of the Andean Community. Its resolute goal is to begin to formulate a community policy of security and confidence-building, establish an Andean zone of peace, improve and expand confidence-building measures and thus reduce the resources that are currently allocated to defence. Peru is pleased to announce that, in compliance with its commitments under the Ottawa Convention, it has completed the process of destroying its arsenals of anti-personnel mines.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Peace is not just a beautiful sentiment; it is the principal value shared by peoples and a prerequisite for the development of our nations. On the basis of that conviction, our Government is promoting, as one of the main pillars of its foreign policy, a limit on military expenditure at the regional level, with a view to freeing up resources for social investment and to combating want and abject poverty. My country's commitment goes beyond mere words. In 2002, consistent with our proposals, we have taken the decision to reduce our military expenditure by 20 per cent and to redirect the resources to health, nutrition and education. I am pleased to be able to say that we have made progress in this respect, and we are gratified by our recent achievements in this area with our fraternal country Chile.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Peru is a party to 12 United Nations conventions which relate to the fight against terrorism and, in that regard, we call upon those States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify these conventions. I refer in particular to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings. That would be a decisive step towards the eradication of this scourge, which threatens peace, security and democracy, creating instability and jeopardizing the development of our peoples. We make this appeal from the perspective of a country that lived for more than 20 years with the violence of terrorism, which took more than 20,000 lives and cost billions of dollars in material losses.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“In that regard, Peru pledges before this Assembly to continue to cooperate with the Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee by making available the experts it needs in order to counter with intelligence and resolve the threats and acts of international terrorism, consistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and Security Council resolutions. We are convinced that our nations must weave a vast network of commitments if we are to cooperate effectively in all fields in order to defeat terrorism. Peace, democracy and human rights, along with freedom of expression, are the concepts that must be given priority in the process of globalization. And to that end, Peru supports every effort to reach a consensus in the negotiation of a draft comprehensive convention against terrorism.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“For that same reason, and driven by our democratic convictions, I wish to reaffirm here, without ambiguity, my firm condemnation of the insanity of the terrorist attacks perpetrated against the people of the United States on 11 September 2001, and to reaffirm the solidarity of the Peruvian people and Government to our friend the United States of America. My Government will continue to support the international community's efforts to confront, always within the framework of international law, the cruel and irrational ravages of international terrorism.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“As President of Peru I reaffirm from this rostrum the commitment of the Government and the people of Peru to the international community to fight resolutely in favour of democracy and international security, which my country considers fundamental to human development. The world has put an enormous challenge before us, the challenge of globalizing security. Without that security our economies cannot grow and our nations cannot develop socially, for it is clear that global insecurity conspires against the poor.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)
“Mr. President, may I first of all congratulate you on your election to an office of high responsibility in the United Nations. The best wishes of the Peruvian people and their Government go also to the delegations gathered here for an event that coincides with our 12 commemoration of the sad moments that one year ago put to the test the feelings and solidarity of humankind. Human beings cannot and must not, either as individuals or as a species, cease their efforts to make history rational. Because it is that effort to give a sense of freedom and justice to collective living that alone can humanize life.”
2002-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 57 (2002)