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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.