Honduras

This is the first time that I come the house of the peoples of the United Nations. This is also a crucial time in history, as it is for the Organization. A few years ago, the international community met in this Hall to restructure the agenda for the new millennium. We placed pressing issues and commonalities on that agenda, as well as the vision and goals necessary to guide our work. In fact, that agenda became our guide to ensure international peace and security, democratic governance and the joining of efforts to combat the most serious scourges afflicting the peoples of the world. That notwithstanding, a condemnable terrorist attack changed the course of our common agenda and forced all nations of the world to make adjustments to the priorities that had been set. Security then became the key, most pressing and compelling focus of collective action. Honduras rejects and condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of where it takes place and regardless of its material and intellectual authors. In that regard, our Organization, wherein reside the hopes and desires of all the peoples of the world, also suffered the backlash of that new threat that sows terror and suffering. From this rostrum, I wish to pay tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello, a victim of injustice and fratricidal hatred. 4 Aware of our responsibilities as a member of the United Nations, Honduras and the Government over which I preside have fully assumed their commitment to the challenges before us. It is for that reason that Honduras today is party to a greater number of international conventions aimed at guaranteeing the security of the inhabitants of the planet. Despite our modest resources, we have responded to Security Council resolutions by sending a clearly humanitarian mission, comprised of a contingent from the Honduran armed forces, to Iraq in order to contribute to the reconstruction, stability and democratization of a friendly people. In the same spirit, Honduras has renewed its commitment to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. In addition, along with our sister republics in Central America, we have worked arduously to develop a plan to prevent and combat terrorism, as well as a plan to fight organized crime in all its manifestations. I have also proposed to the heads of State and Government of Central America timely initiatives to increase the exchange of information and to establish a regional regime for arrests that will keep criminals from enjoying impunity simply by crossing the borders of Central America. I am also pleased to report that we Central Americans have moved forward with an agenda to ensure adequate limits and a balance in weapons. That will make it possible for us to invest the resources freed up in priority social areas. We have done all of that without forgetting or setting aside the extraordinary declaration of solidarity and commitment that we have all undertaken to eradicate poverty and hunger. Our commitment and focused efforts have been appropriately reflected in the Human Development Report, which was recently presented in the Latin American and Caribbean region by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). My Government and people were extremely honoured to have been selected as the site of that presentation. It is clear from the UNDP report that, compared to averages in other countries, Honduras has been able to considerably reduce inequality vis-‡-vis its economic growth. In other words, although relatively low, economic growth in Honduras during the reporting period was rather equitable. We have also made very significant progress in social spheres and in the area of institutional reform, and we have benefited from the support of the United Nations in that regard. We would like to express our gratitude for our access to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which has made it possible to considerably increase our focus on those diseases to historical levels. Again with the support of the Organization, we have greatly expanded our school lunch programme. In just 20 months, from an initial figure of 16 per cent, we have succeeded in reaching 80 per cent of the children who were going to school hungry. That programme is being carried out with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP). It also serves as a model for a WFP programme that purchases ingredients for town mayors and mothers of families that are then used to distribute prepared meals. Meal costs in that programme amount to $.09 per meal, which means that it costs $18 to feed a child during 200 school days. We have also achieved considerable progress in the area of institutional reform, thanks to an agreement signed during the last electoral process by all political parties in Honduras, under the aegis of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Honduras. At the centre of that agreement is the fact that an independent superior court of justice has been established. In addition, the main State monitoring body is now more independent, electoral bodies are being made more professional and other reforms of great importance for democracy are being carried out to strengthen the trust of citizens in their institutions. The UNDP has also been involved in our programme to reduce corruption. We have established an aggressive programme to delegate much of the State's procurement to UNDP and other non- governmental organizations in order to ensure honesty and avoid the temptation of corruption. My Government has therefore come to this world forum with facts testifying to our desire to follow through with our commitments to reduce inequality and exclusion. However, Honduras is also here in the hope that the slow pace of human development in the world can, because it must, be overcome with increased and heightened international solidarity. I therefore appeal that the opportunities and benefits of globalization be made more equitable and just for all peoples and nations. In that regard, I should like to refer to the Organization. The United Nations must increasingly be the meeting place for cultures and civilizations. Common effort is essential to achieve the purposes we agreed upon in San Francisco, and which we enshrined 5 in the Charter. We need a more efficient Organization to meet the challenges faced by peoples and to be able to channel our differences towards the peaceful causes we have agreed upon. Undoubtedly, there are pressing situations that require our attention. The situation in the Middle East is of great concern to us. As in other countries, people whose ancestors came from that part of the world live peacefully in our country. They, along with all Hondurans, want peace to be a reality for the Palestinian and Jewish peoples, as well as for others in the region. Hanging by a thread, peace in the Middle East is precarious. It is our clear duty to strengthen that peace. We are also concerned by clashes on the African continent and by the hotbeds of tension that occasionally flare up in Asia, whose consequences, were they to develop further, could jeopardize the entire world. Good sense must always prevail. It is for that reason that we look forward to promising results from the negotiating table. Peace in the world is our peace. We are therefore committed to respecting and promoting human rights. While respecting human rights, Honduras is also committed to combating the various scourges besetting our societies. Today in Honduras we have a very serious problem with juvenile crime, which has reached alarming levels that affect all of our citizens. In that regard, I would like to highlight one aspect of that violence. A number of years ago, criminal activity led to the tragic deaths of a number of young people under the age of 18. Given that tragic situation, my Government established a presidential commission for the physical and moral protection of young people. It also ordered an investigation of this phenomenon whose results were published in September 2002. In addition, we have set up a special unit to investigate the death of minors, which ensures that such reprehensible crimes are punished. In that connection, Honduras has adopted the recommendations contained in the report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of the Commission on Human Rights, which has already begun to produce very positive results. The time is ripe to categorically reiterate that the State of Honduras does not in any way tolerate, accept or promote the killing of children and young people. We have committed a considerable amount of our limited resources to mitigate, and if possible eradicate, this affront to human dignity. It is inconceivable for a violent minority to take hostage and threaten the peaceful and honest majority. Organized civil society is working on behalf of the majority of Hondurans in that effort, and together we are succeeding in reducing the level of crime in its various forms. In order to deal with that evil which is closely related to other forms of international crime, such as drug trafficking and terrorism, whose causes extend far beyond my homeland my Government requires understanding and brotherly support from the international community. We also require that understanding and support in order that we can reach satisfactory agreements with the International Monetary Fund, thereby making possible the comprehensive implementation of the Stockholm Agenda for the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America. Foreign debt relief must not continue to be mere words; it must become a reality. With the resources freed up by debt relief, my Government and the Governments to follow will have on hand extremely valuable capital to continue to combat poverty, illiteracy and HIV/AIDS and to meet other goals of the Millennium agenda. Cooperation and solidarity is an obligation, not charity. It is an assumed commitment. Honduras hopes that greater and immediate efforts will be made so that the percentages agreed upon for cooperation will become a reality. We also recognize the fact that globalization, and specifically with regard to increased international trade, holds out the promise of growth for our peoples. We are involved in negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States and Canada, and will do the same with the European Union and others next year. However, we would ask more developed countries to allow our products access to their markets, which now benefit from outdated protection schemes. We also ask for the elimination of agricultural subsidies, as well as for better benefits for our producers, who today receive only a minimal part of the value of the fruits of their labour. I would like to refer to the case of coffee as an example of the lack of equity in the added value of basic goods from our region. The recent crisis in the price of coffee beans has led to the unemployment of 600,000 persons in Central America. Over 80,000 small producers, most of whom are poor people from rural regions, carry out coffee production in Honduras. That is an enormous advantage during times when prices are good, because it provides a very efficient mechanism for the social 6 distribution of income. However, the contrary is true now that prices are at historical lows. Six years ago, in 1997, it was estimated that the total value of the retail coffee market was $30 billion. Forty per cent of that amount, which is to say, $12 billion, was returned to producers. Today that market price has more than doubled, to $65 billion. However, producers are now getting less than half of what they had been getting, namely, $5.5 billion; which means that only 9 per cent of the final market value goes to producers. I wish to reiterate that it is essential that we redistribute the benefits of globalization and that we increase solidarity. That situation is not limited to just one of our export products. The actual terms of trade for our main export products conspire against democratic governance, but the Honduran people require, as I have said, clear actions to redistribute the benefits of globalization and increase levels of solidarity. International peace and security require all our efforts. The attitude adopted on conflicts is very important. Hence, Honduras is taking part in two cases before the International Court of Justice. In both cases, Honduras has come forward in peace to seek justice. We are certain that in the case of El Salvador, there will be a positive outcome to the 1992 ruling of the Court. In the case of Nicaragua, we are also certain that the definition the International Court adopts regarding our respective maritime claims will be fully respected. Honduras has always faithfully and strictly complied with international rulings. Rest assured, Sir, of our firm determination to respect in both these cases the decisions of the International Court of Justice. I cannot leave this rostrum of universal conscience without expressing my congratulations to you, Sir, on your election and wishing you every success in your sensitive tasks.