What an honour it is to be at the General Assembly and to
represent Ecuador and our citizens’ revolution. I
would like to begin by congratulating President Sam
Kutesa on his election to lead the General Assembly
at its sixty-ninth session. I want him to know that he
will have the full support of the delegation of Ecuador
during his tenure. Similarly, I want to express Ecuador’s
appreciation and gratitude to our brother John Ashe for
his work at the head of the General Assembly. I wish
to convey the brotherly greetings and solidarity of
President Rafael Correa, Minister Ricardo Patiño and
the citizens’ revolution.
Four years ago today, Ecuador suffered an
attempted coup d’état in which there was an attempt
against the life of the President of the Republic, Rafael
Correa Delgado. Four years ago, democracy in Ecuador
was threatened, but it prevailed. The international
community’s condemnation was immediate. Countries,
particularly those in the region, and the United Nations
and other international organizations supported the
millions of Ecuadorians who took to the streets and
squares of my country, condemning the use of violence,
rejecting the coup d’état, channelling the aspirations
of all sectors of the population and consolidating
democracy in my country.
I would like to convey my appreciation to
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who immediately
made statements bringing that issue to the world’s
attention and sent a special mission to Ecuador to
assess the situation. The effective work of Assistant
Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco and his
team deserves to be remembered and appreciated.
Democracy in Ecuador was strengthened, the coup
plotters were isolated and the law and the will of the
people, as expressed at the ballot box, prevailed over
the interests of small, but powerful, groups, which
were then left behind in history. On the night of
30 September 2010, all the Heads of State of the Union
of South American Nations (UNASUR) met in Buenos
Aires to support the Ecuadorian Government and
President Rafael Correa. As a result of that meeting, the
12 countries of South America adopted an additional
protocol to the Constitutive Treaty of UNASUR, which
added a democratic clause that seeks to discourage a
breakdown of, or threat to, democracy in the region. In
Ecuador and in South America we are not returning to
the past; we cannot return to the past. The use of force
as a means of expression and of resolving differences
will not return. That became clear on 30 September
2010. We have chosen the path of law and dialogue to
build a better world and future for our peoples.
The Government of Ecuador — the Government
of the citizens’ revolution — has suggested the
implementation of a radical change in the State’s
structures and its political and development model.
Ecuador’s position internationally is therefore in
line with that reality. “Sumak Kawsay”, which in
the language of our ancestors means “living well”, is
built on a daily basis through a new model based on a
socially inclusive and supportive economy, supported
through a citizen-based democracy and sustained in
its planning. The changes made by the Government of
the citizens’ revolution in Ecuador are clearly in line
with the Millennium Development Goals and the post-
2015 agenda and reflect the values encapsulated in the
Human Development Index of the United Nations. Let
me briefly mention some of the achievements of the
citizens’ revolution over the past seven and a half years.
Approximately 1,136,000 Ecuadorians — 10 per
cent of the population — have been lifted out of poverty.
We reduced the rate of unemployment to 4.9 per cent in
2013, which is the lowest in Latin America. We have
maintained a policy of wage increases, and Ecuador
now has the highest rates in real values in the region.
Moreover, Ecuador is the leader in Latin America
and the Caribbean in reducing inequality, which is a
major problem afflicting our region. The country’s
competitiveness is no longer based on labour scarcity or
exploitation, but rather on public investment in roads,
ports, airports, telecommunications, power generation
and systems of justice and security for our citizens.
Public investment in Ecuador is the highest in the
continent, at 15 per cent of our gross domestic product
(GDP) in 2013 — three times the Latin American
average. Thanks to that effort, we have moved up
15 places in terms of our competitiveness, according to
the World Economic Forum.
We have universal basic education, which fulfils
one of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. Child
and youth labour have been substantially reduced.
There are 82 public schools that have been registered
with the International Baccalaureate Organization, and
it is expected that, by 2017, 500 schools will offer the
International Baccalaureate. Thanks to the educational
changes under way in Ecuador, 179,290 students have
moved from the private education system to the public
education system. In other words, in the past two years,
19 per cent of students left private schools to study in
State schools. As I said, we are experiencing a true
revolution in education.
Ecuador has invested some 2 per cent of our GDP
in higher education, which is more than double the
average for Latin America. In the seven and a half
years it has been in office, the Government of Ecuador
has funded 8,000 scholars abroad, most of whom are
enrolled in masters and doctoral programmes at the
best universities in the world. That represents the
largest investment in scholarships in terms of GDP in
Latin America.
I have mentioned all those achievements of our
citizens’ revolution — and many more exist, but I
cannot mention them owing to a lack of time — because
those achievements were at stake on 30 September
2010, four years ago today. Those advances were made
possible because democracy prevailed and because the
Government of Ecuador continues to work for the well-
being of its people.
The most important challenge facing the Ecuadorian
State, along with the fight against poverty, is changing
its economy, and that means changing the production
matrix of our country. To ensure sustainability in our
domestic and production model, we are committed to
boosting our productive development, trade flows and
non-speculative foreign direct investment in target
sectors, such as technology transfers and the financing
of strategic projects. The fundamental objective
of Ecuador’s foreign policy is therefore to assist in
promoting the internal development of the country,
balancing that with its international relations. That
means expanding its political, trade, economic and
social networks with an alternative and complementary
view of the integration scheme that the country has
traditionally had at the global level.
Ecuador reiterates its concern with regard to
the challenge of global warming. As we change our
production and energy model, my country is promoting
the generation of renewable energy sources with fewer
greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, the
mass use of induction cookers and the optimization of
the use of raw materials, reducing waste as much as
possible. However, the ability of developing countries
to meet the goals of a post-2015 development agenda
is directly proportionate to developed countries’
continuing provision of resources aimed at the timely
implementation of plans and projects for addressing
natural disasters caused by weather events exacerbated
by human activity, based on the principle of common
but differentiated responsibilities.
My country was grateful for the Secretary-
General’s invitation to the Climate Summit held here
on 23 September. We are pleased with the decisions
some developed countries have made on their national
plans for mitigating and adapting to climate change,
particularly the announcement by some, including
France, that they would be increasing the capitalization
of the Green Climate Fund. Despite those efforts, the
Fund will not reach its target of $15 billion by the end
of the year. We, the developing world, would like to see
more ambitious national plans and policies on the part
of the developed countries if the global consequences
of this irrefutable scientific reality are to be addressed.
Ecuador’s foreign policy is now making it a priority
to strengthen South-South relations with a view to the
sovereign integration of our peoples and the creation
of new areas for regional governance. In that regard,
Ecuador is working to achieve harmonious South
American and Latin American integration, to build a
multipolar world and to democratize our international
organizations, with the goal of creating a more just and
equitable world order. We are promoting multilateralism
and working on innovative integration processes,
cooperation for development and a harmonious political
dialogue. In that context, UNASUR, the Bolivarian
Alliance for the Peoples of Our America and the
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
(CELAC) are very relevant entities and are national
priorities in our efforts to create improved integration
mechanisms.
Regarding UNASUR, I am pleased to announce
that its new headquarters will soon open in Quito, at the
centre of the world, the point where two hemispheres
and the South American brotherhood meet. In January
2015 Ecuador will take over the rotating chairship of
CELAC, with the purpose of reinvigorating the regional
integration agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean
and furthering our political cooperation, while
continuing to base integration on respect for pluralism
and States’ diversity. The Government of Ecuador
initiated the creation of this integration mechanism,
and it has been a major undertaking. CELAC does
not exclude any Latin American or Caribbean State;
we have firmly rejected unilateral embargoes and
sanctions, and our ongoing struggle is about fighting
inequality and poverty.
We must overcome and end injustice. It is therefore
unacceptable that the United States of America’s
blockade of our sister Republic of Cuba has been
going on for more than 50 years, and that despite the
fact that Cuba has been supported by the Assembly for
21 years. We also condemn Cuba’s inclusion in the list
of countries that sponsor terrorism.
We would like to reiterate once more that we must
call for a settlement through dialogue of the conflict over
Argentina’s Malvinas Islands. The United Kingdom
should comply with the more than 40 resolutions
adopted by the Assembly on the subject. We also support
Argentina in its efforts to address the pernicious effects
of speculative hedge funds. Argentina is not alone in
that fight, and it can count on the backing and solidarity
of Ecuador and our entire region.
Concerning Palestine, I would like to state that on
17 July the Government of Ecuador firmly condemned
Israel’s military incursion into Palestinian territory
and called for an immediate end to Israel’s military
operations and the indiscriminate attacks on the
civilian population in the Gaza Strip. My country has
appealed to the international community to shoulder
its responsibility for preventing such indiscriminate
attacks in the interests of saving innocent lives and
maintaining international peace and security. As proof
of our support for the Palestinian cause, Ecuador
decided to establish a diplomatic presence there, and
it is now up and running in Ramallah. Meanwhile,
just a few days ago we sent humanitarian assistance to
Gaza, and we will shortly send a second humanitarian
assistance convoy there for the use of the Palestinian
national authorities.
In 2016 Ecuador will host the Africa-South
America Summit, a responsibility requiring considerable
preparation and providing an opportunity to draw
up joint policies that unite us with our African
brothers. The time has come to further strengthen the
relationship between Africa and Latin America, and
Ecuador has therefore decided to open new embassies
in Algeria, Nigeria and Angola in the near future. We
will also strengthen our existing embassies in Africa,
and we will be opening additional diplomatic missions
there in a second phase. We intend to work with our
African brothers for our mutual benefit and shared
opportunities.
For Ecuador, it is a source of pride and a heavy
responsibility to be hosting the forthcoming third
United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable
Urban Development, Habitat III, in 2016. Thus in one
year, 2016, we will host the meetings of the CELAC
Heads of State, the Africa-South America Summit and
Habitat III.
For over a year, we have undertaken intensive work
to address the main issues stemming from the rapid
urban growth that we have seen in our countries, issues
that were raised at the most recent World Urban Forum,
last April in Medellín, Colombia. We hope to continue
to generate synergies in order to move towards a new
global agenda for sustainable urban development that
we will take up at Habitat III.
The Government of Ecuador, in its efforts to build
a just and equitable society, has sought in recent years
to implement a system of rights in terms of habitat
and urban development. The principle guiding its
action — “the right to the city” — is understood not as
a unitary right, but as a set of interrelated rights linked
to the land. Policies for habitat, human settlements and
housing are expressions of the State’s aspiration to
build, as I mentioned, a society of living well, through
public regulation in line with the concept that Ecuador
promotes, namely, harmony with nature. Ecuador
is the only country in the world that sets forth in its
Constitution “the right to nature”.
With respect to the reform of the United Nations
system, Ecuador has actively and constructively made
profound and comprehensive proposals for change
in some international organizations, with a view to
making them more efficient, democratic, participatory
and inclusive. We aspire to their universalization and
transparency, as well as to increased and equitable
representation, consultation and decision-making on the
part of all States, especially the developing countries.
Consistent with that, the Government of Ecuador has
advocated the reform of the global governance system,
in order to democratize decision-making and improve
transparency in the management of all multilateral
organizations. Many Members of this Organization join
us in that approach.
Ecuador proposes marking a turning point with
respect to the United Nations system, as with its current
structure it is not addressing the international tensions
and disputes or the troubled international situation.
Ecuador seeks to democratize the Security Council,
which should be composed of clusters, in order to
find a balance, ensure representativity and protect the
principle of the equality of States. Only in that way
can the Council play its role in maintaining peace and
international security.
We are at the threshold of the seventieth anniversary
of the United Nations. We have a historical obligation
to modernize and democratize the Organization,
strengthening the role of the General Assembly in
such decision-making as the election of judges to the
International Court of Justice and the election of the
Secretary-General.
At present, we are concerned that, despite the
progress made in 2014, a great many threats continue
to loom over humankind. Situations of armed conflict,
humanitarian crises, violations of human rights
and breaches of international law threaten entire
populations, demanding an urgent response from the
international community. The Government of Ecuador
has expressed its conviction regarding the need to
respect international law and reach negotiated and
peaceful solutions. It has totally rejected all forms
of interference and unilateral action that violate the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, trample
on human rights or disregard international law. We also
strongly condemn all terrorist acts, whether perpetrated
by irregular groups or in the name of a State. Ecuador
has condemned the actions of the Islamic State in both
Iraq and Syria.
Those global challenges must be dealt with by
the United Nations, as the most appropriate forum to
address and respond to the difficult situations that we
are facing. It will surely have the support and solidarity
of all Member States.
Let us endeavour to ensure that international law is
the standard that governs our actions. A few months ago,
in this very Hall, Member States adopted a resolution
which called for respect for the right to privacy in the
digital age (resolution 68/167). The same label has
been applied to another abuse — global surveillance.
Once again we are in a situation where we are being
monitored and spied on. Ecuador, along with several
other countries, co-sponsored a draft resolution put
forward by Germany and Brazil and, with the adoption
of that legal instrument, a new process for defining
human rights — the right to privacy — was initiated.
The resolution, adopted by consensus, constitutes a
rejection of an abusive posture. The abuse was brought
to our attention by an Australian citizen who felt that
the world should know what was being done with
sovereignty.
The decision of that Australian citizen led to
the harshest persecution, which caused him to seek
protection for his life in the light of the real threats he
had received. I am referring to Julian Assange, who is
now associated with Ecuador because, after reviewing
the merits of his case, we granted him asylum. Two
years have passed in the new life of Mr. Assange, two
years without freedom of movement, two years in
which he has been confined to a small space waiting
for justice. There it is again, Sir, that dream of justice.
When asylum is granted, it is primarily by
immediate recognition and respect for a fundamental
human right — the right to life. What has been difficult
is convincing the counterpart — the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — that in this
situation the fundamental human rights of Julian
Assange should be taken into account. Ecuador will
continue to work tirelessly to find a solution in this
case. To that end, we hope to have the support of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
and the Kingdom of Sweden.
I appeal to the Kingdom of Sweden to enforce
one of the most important legal principles recognized
internationally and by the Swedish legal system:
effective judicial protection. After four years, the
Prosecutor’s Office of that country has been unable
to take statements from Julian Assange, even though
under Swedish law this could have been done in another
country, even though Ecuador repeatedly offered its
judicial cooperation, and even though Julian Assange’s
lawyers expressed their willingness to cooperate.
Turning to another subject, and with this I will
conclude my statement, I would like to speak about
transnational corporations. In recent years, there have
been increased demands brought by transnational
corporations in international arbitration courts against
the States and peoples of the South. Those multimillion
dollar disputes, such as the Chevron-Texaco case in
Ecuador, threaten the tax resources and jeopardize the
validity and legitimacy of the national jurisdiction of the
States concerned. The scale of the problem could even
compromise the development plans of the countries of
the South, in Latin America and other regions of the
world.
In that context, we are also establishing, within the
framework of UNASUR, a regional arbitration centre
that will, inter alia, provide legal advice in investment
disputes. We are also creating a code of conduct for
arbitrators and mediators within UNASUR. And we
are establishing, with other regions of the world, an
observatory on transnational corporations. All of that is
aimed at creating support mechanisms that can analyse,
monitor and respond to States’ requests so as to prevent
and solve investment disputes. Ecuador, together with
South Africa, has also submitted a proposal in the
Human Rights Council aimed at creating a binding
instrument to impose international human rights legal
obligations on transnational corporations. For the
time being, a working group is being established to
consider that initiative. My country attaches special
importance to the matter, and we will work to reach an
understanding with States because that is an extremely
important issue. We are confident that we will have the
States’ full support.
Finally, I wish to reiterate to the Secretary-General
Ecuador’s gratitude for the appointment of the former
Vice-President of the Republic, Mr. Lenín Voltaire
Moreno Garcés, as Special Envoy on Disability and
Accessibility. Ecuador will continue to support all
initiatives of the Organization to promote and protect
the rights of people with disabilities and their families.
At the beginning of my statement, I pointed out
some achievements of the citizens’ revolution in the
past seven and a half years. The changes brought about
have had a profound impact and have caused a historic
transformation. My country also wishes to work with all
Member States to achieve a true transformation of the
United Nations. We have enormous challenges ahead
to promote development, maintain peace and reduce
inequality and poverty. Ecuador is fully committed
to working together on that historic task. I hope to
see fellow Member States in the Hall next year at the
seventieth session of the General Assembly, when we
can then celebrate important decisions that we have
taken.