Gobierno de Reconciliación y Unidad Nacional
Unida Nicaragua Triunfa
STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR LUIS ALVARADO
AT THE VIRTUAL REGULAR SESSION
OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OAS
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020
Thank you very much Mr. President:
The Government of Nicaragua has joined the support of this important Draft Resolution related to the response and recovery against the so-called Coronavirus Pandemic, COVID-19, while transmitting on behalf of the People and Government of Nicaragua, the expressions of our sorrow and all our Solidarity with those affected and the relatives and friends of the victims of this disease.
These should be times of solidarity and coordinated actions between the sovereign States of the hemisphere, in order to be able to take the necessary preventive measures to prevent the spread of the Corona Virus, and contribute to an effective response as a region.
However, the reality is far from it and, on the contrary, unilateral illegal actions and practices contrary to international law persist, through the so-called sanctions that are applied to Nicaragua and other countries and the continued maintenance of the blockade against Cuba and Venezuela.
The Nicaraguan people demand the cessation of sanctions against our country, which affect the Right to Peace, Security, Development and Wellbeing of all Nicaraguans.
These illegal practices are in violation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, attempt against the strengthening of universal peace and international security, constitute an act of aggression and a violation of the norms of international law relating to the sovereign equality of States, to the principle of good faith, the equality of rights and the free self-determination of peoples.
The transgression of the principle that the Members of the Organization, in their international relations, shall refrain from resorting to the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other form incompatible with the Purposes of the United Nations.
Likewise, the principles of the Charter of the Organization of American States are violated, in particular the principle that every State has the right to choose, without external interference, its political, economic, and social system, and to organize itself in the way that best suits and has no right to intervene in the internal affairs of another State. Subject to the foregoing, the American States will cooperate widely among themselves and regardless of the nature of their political, economic, and social systems.
There are numerous international personalities who have raised their authoritative voice to demand the end of sanctions, the economic blockade applied to various countries of the world and the cancellation of debt to poor countries.
On this occasion, Nicaragua shares the message of His Holiness Pope Francis, presented during his Homily on April 12 of this year, from St. Peter's Basilica, addressed to the city of Rome and to the world, this past Easter Sunday, in which he called for an end to the ongoing wars, an end to the arms trade and the cancellation of sanctions and debts to poor countries affected by the Coronavirus.
He claimed that “considering the circumstances, the international sanctions of the affected countries should also be relaxed, which prevent them from offering adequate assistance to the citizens themselves, and that the great needs of the moment be faced by all the countries, reducing or even forgiving, the debt that weighs on the budgets of the poorest”.
He insisted that “it is not the time of selfishness, because the challenge we face unites us all and is no respecter of persons.” Nor is it “time for division” and he asked “those who have responsibilities in conflicts to have the courage to adhere to the call for an immediate and global ceasefire in all corners of the world. This is not the time to continue making and selling weapons, spending large sums of money that could be used to care for people and save lives.”
The Pope stressed that the Good News of the Lord's Resurrection is like a “new flame in the night of a world that was already facing crucial challenges and that is now overwhelmed by the pandemic, which subjects our great human family to a hard test”.
He also pointed out that the Resurrection of Christ is not “a magic formula that makes problems disappear. No, that is not the resu-rrection of Christ, but the victory of love over the root of evil.” He assured that it is not time for indifference, “because the whole world is suffering and it has to be united to face the pandemic.” So far the reference to his words.
Mr. President, Nicaragua, as a country that loves Peace and International Security, advocates the promotion of friendly relations, in good faith and cooperation between the Nations and Peoples of the World, which contribute to the fact that together as Brother Countries that we are, we can face the pandemic that affects all our countries. These are Times of Unity and Solidarity.
Thank you very much Mr. President.