Gobierno de Reconciliación y Unidad Nacional
Unida Nicaragua Triunfa
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF RECONCILIATION AND NATIONAL UNITY
AT THE VIII SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE
COMMUNITY OF LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN STATES (CELAC)
Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
March 1st, 2024
Comrade Valdrack Jaentschke
Minister Adviser to the President of the Republic for Policies and International Affairs
Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Comrade Ralph Gonsalves, President
Pro Tempore of the Community of Latin
American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Vice Presidents,
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of
Delegation of the Member States of CELAC,
Representatives of Regional and International Organizations,
Comrades All :
1. We come from Nicaragua, Blessed, Worthy and Sovereign, to convey to you the fraternal greetings and the Message of the President of the Republic, Comandante Daniel Ortega and the Vice President, Comrade Rosario Murillo.
2. Nicaragua and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are united by this important space which is the Caribbean Sea, are united by the shared history of our peoples, especially the Garifuna Culture, which arrived from Saint Vincent to the coasts of Central America along with the inspiration of its leader Joseph Chatoyer.
3. We are united by the strength and spirit of our brave men and women who knew how to fight against oppression in the past, inspiring us to continue fighting against the imperialists of the earth.
4. We dream of a united, supportive and cooperative Latin American and Caribbean Community, guided by the principles of sovereignty, independence and non-interference in the internal affairs of States. But the reality is that we are facing the attempts of Imperialism to continue its colonialist and neocolonial practices, threatening the unity of our region.
5. It is remarkable that this CELAC meeting is been held in an Island State, which together with the rest of the Island States of the Caribbean and the low coastal areas of Central America suffer the consequences of the predatory and environmentally destructive Capitalist System.
6. Our Latin American and Caribbean countries, which contribute the least to global greenhouse emissions, face the most severe impacts of climate change: Prolonged droughts, extreme weather events, rising sea levels and loss of biodiversity are just some of the threats that limit our development, food security, access to drinking water, public health, and endanger the lives of our Peoples.
7. Our country has reiterated the urgency of measures to fight against climate change and we demand climate justice. We maintain the position of demanding greater ambitions, which correspond to the reality demonstrated by science, in line with the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capacities, strengthening Climate Justice and the indispensable Reparations Policy. We are at a point where it is imperative to convene in order to defend life on the planet.
8. We categorically reject unilateral coercive measures which have a negative impact on the economy, development and social aspects of our countries, directly affecting the human rights of our inhabitants.
9. The interest of capitalist countries in taking over the natural wealth of our Peoples is the reason behind these unilateral measures. The Imperialist countries that claim to be Human Rights defenders, instead, they have been the greatest in violating Human Rights in the History of Humanity.
10. The same system that intends to prevent the dignified development of our peoples is the one that has caused the scourge of hunger and malnutrition in the world. That is why it is a priority to work in our space for food sovereignty, in line with the eradication of hunger, poverty and inequalities.
11. The Nicaraguan People, along with the Peoples of the World, want international Peace and security, but these are threatened by great powers such as the United States and its allies.
12. We continue to witness terrible crimes and genocide committed and sponsored by imperialist states that intend to teach us lessons on democracy.
13. The imperialist and capitalist system unleashes wars, commits crimes against humanity, and is guilty of genocides and atomic attacks against innocent and defenseless peoples. The capitalist system itself attacks, plunders and destroys without pain, much less glory.
14. They are the same ones who, in their criminal history, have established the transatlantic slave trade business, one of the most atrocious crimes committed against humanity by kidnapping entire communities of African peoples to turn them into merchandise and drag them across the Ocean, to serve their purposes of accumulation and greed.
15. The so-called development that Europe and the United States want to boast about is built on the blood, sweat and suffering of our African sisters and brothers kidnapped and subjected to slavery.
16. Those same Capitalist States want to come and teach development lessons today. What they must do is recognize and implement, without conditions, fair reparations to our indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples who have suffered their colonial and neocolonial policies.
17. Colonialist and imperialist practices of genocide like the one that the Palestinian people are being victims today. Nicaragua condemns, in the strongest terms, the genocide perpetrated by the State of Israel and its sponsors against the Palestinian people and we will adopt all measures deemed appropriate, in accordance with International Law, including the appeal to the International Court of Justice to guarantee respect for the Convention against Genocide.
18. On February 1st, 2024, the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity notified the governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada of its decision to hold them responsible, in accordance with International Law, for flagrant and systematic violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, International Humanitarian Law and Customary Law, including the illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories, in particular the Gaza Strip, urging these Governments to immediately stop the supply of weapons, ammunition, technology and components to Israel.
19. No matter how harsh the current situation of aggression against the Palestinian People may be, we have the certainty, conviction and confidence that Peace will defeat imperialist policies.
20. Once again we reiterate our determined support and commitment to the sister Republic of Cuba, in its fight against the inhumane economic embargo imposed by the United States since 1962.
21. We stand in solidarity with the Sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in its fight for the Dignity and Defense of its People against the aggression of foreign powers.
22. We enthusiastically welcome the China-CELAC Forum Summit, we are confident that this dialogue mechanism and platform and its initiatives will be a good opportunity to exchange and open new bridges of cooperation.
23. We welcome the initiatives to strengthen relations with the African Union (AU).
24. We convey the recognition of our People and Government to the coordination work of the Pro Tempore Presidency/Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
25. Our best wishes for success to the sister Republic of Honduras in exercising its PPT-CELAC. You will be able to count on the support and good will of the People and Government of Nicaragua.
26. Nicaragua will continue on the path outlined by the Liberators and Heroes of Our Latin America and the Caribbean, advancing in CELAC under the premises of unity in diversity, regional integration and the defense of Freedom, Sovereignty, Self-determination and Social Justice of our Peoples.
Thank you.