Gobierno de Reconciliación y Unidad Nacional
Unida Nicaragua Triunfa
OPENING STATEMENT OF AMBASSADOR
RUTH ESPERANZA TAPIA ROA
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NICARAGUA
TO THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, DURING THE ORDINARY SESSION OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL
OF THE OAS ON OCTOBER 4, 2019
Madam President,
It is a great honor for me to be incorporated into the activities carried out by the Permanent Council, in which you can count on our participation and constructive contributions, aimed at addressing the main challenges we face in the hemisphere.
As a Government of Reconciliation and National Unity, we reaffirm once again our commitment to continue working with the OAS, to achieve peace, justice and solidarity, which allows for the promotion of cooperation between the States and defends their sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
Nicaragua will actively participate in the development, execution and implementation of hemispheric programs and initiatives of this Organization; aimed at strengthening the unity of the Latin American and Caribbean countries, defending the mandate and the purposes for which the OAS was conceived, because only through the defense of its governing principles and norms can we guarantee the trust and credibility of this regional organization, destined to be a forum for dialogue and negotiation.
As a Country, we will work jointly with the Member States of the Organization, in the search for common goals to ensure greater well-being for the citizens of the Americas, in order to achieve higher levels of security, stability and employment, in which an environment of peace prevails and allows for the sustainable development of our nations.
We will participate constructively in the meetings of the General Assembly of the Organization, the Permanent Council and the different commissions and working groups, responsible for carrying out the preparatory work for the meetings of the Organization.
Madam President.
The efforts made by the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity, led by
the President of the Republic, Comandante Daniel Ortega Saavedra and Vice President Rosario Murillo, have been aimed at the construction of a new development model, focused on reducing poverty, particularly extreme poverty, the improvement of the living conditions of the Nicaraguan families, all of which has been realized through the National Human Development Plan, allowing for the harmonization of public policies with national priorities and in accordance with the resources of foreign cooperation from sister countries, allowing us to achieve important Socio-economic and cultural advances that have garnered worldwide recognition from prestigious specialized organizations and which attest and certify the good performance of the National Government.
Regarding the development of the Economy. The World Bank points out that in 2011, economic growth reached a record 5.1%, remaining stable in subsequent years, and more recently a growth rate of 4.7% and 4.5% in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
In 2018, the growth forecast stood at 4.4%, placing it in second place among the countries of Central America, with favorable prospects for foreign direct investment and trade, all of this before the unfortunate events of April, promoted by the terrorist coup against Nicaragua.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also indicated that “The performance of the economy in 2017 exceeded expectations and the outlook for 2018 was favorable”, estimating along with the World Bank a growth rate of 4.5% during 2017 and 4.3% for 2018, placing Nicaragua among the first countries in Latin America and Central America.
As a country, we have a Family and Community Health Model that ensures the implementation of social programs such as: Amor para los más Chiquitos (Love for the Youngest), Todos con Voz (All with a Voice) and Operación Milagro (Operation Miracle), among others, that ensure changes in the health, well-being and happiness of the Nicaraguan families.
Regarding Gender Equality, the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report and the World Economic Forum placed Nicaragua in sixth place worldwide, remaining for the second consecutive year in the Top Ten of the Latin America and Caribbean region. The general assessment of the report on Nicaragua is very positive, since it points out that “with a large increase in its general index it rises
four places, that is to say, from tenth to sixth place. With more than 81% of its General Gender gap closed, it remains the best performer in the Latin American and Caribbean region for the sixth consecutive year.
Nicaragua has welcomed the international efforts made at the Climate Action Summit, held recently in New York. Our country, like our neighbors in Central America and the Caribbean, are nations that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change and its destructive effects on our economies, which is why we urge the Member States of this Organization to redouble our efforts to adopt the measures that curb global warming in order to ensure the future of the Earth and its ecosystems, humanity and the lives of present and future generations.
Based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, we will continue to carry out our best economic, social and prevention efforts to face climate change.
We will remain committed to fighting terrorism, transnational organized crime and the illicit trafficking of weapons and ammunition, as well as to continue carrying out actions aimed at controlling drug abuse, emphasizing the structural causes from which it originates.
As a country, we will continue to be a factor of stability, peace and security for the region, and we will be strong advocates of non-interventionism in the internal affairs of States and their right to self-determination.
Thank you very much Madam President.