Gobierno de Reconciliación y Unidad Nacional
Unida Nicaragua Triunfa
STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR LUIS ALVARADO AT THE EXTRAORDINARY VIRTUAL SESSION
OF THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS) APRIL 24, 2020
Mr. President
The Nicaraguan delegation appreciates the convening of this virtual session of the OAS Permanent Council, aimed at addressing the challenges that all the countries of the region face, as a consequence of the impact of COVID-19. We welcome the presence of the distinguished Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sister Republic of Costa Rica, Mr. Rodolfo Solano Quirós, and we take note of the presentations made.
We are facing an unprecedented crisis in which the turning point of this Pandemic is not clearly visible on the horizon, which makes it difficult to determine for sure the magnitude of the health, economic and social impact, among others, that it will leave in the region.
In his message to the nation on April 15 of this year, the President of the Republic of Nicaragua, Comandante Daniel Ortega Saavedra, called for peace, to end all kinds of war, all kinds of aggression against any people; to cultivate Peace, and strengthen Peace. These are moments for Solidarity and Unity of the Peoples of the World, said President Ortega.
The current pandemic of COVID-19, has revealed that in highly developed countries health systems were not designed to serve the impoverished population or to serve workers, but were designed to serve only the wealthy people with the means to pay and cover the onerous health expenses of these institutions.
This explains why in the face of this Pandemic these Sister Countries are lacking in sufficient instruments and medical supplies, they lack beds, breathing machines and installed capacity to attend to their populations.
This Pandemic has brought to light the strengths and weaknesses that Member States of this Organization and many other countries of the world face in the health field, and has shown which health systems are in a better position to face this pandemic.
With regard to the Nicaraguan health system, it is used by the poor, by workers, indigenous peoples and people of African descent who enjoy free coverage at the national level.
As for the economic aspect of this crisis, according to an analysis of CABEI on April 19, worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced practically all countries of the world to take measures to prevent, contain and mitigate the its spread that, collaterally, have affected the world economy. The immediate consequences have been a sudden stop in global production, creating disruptions of supply chains, in market demand, in the actions of companies, as well as disruptions in financial markets.
In the case of Central America, according to the CABEI study, the effects are expected to become visible in the external sector: trade, tourism and remittances; and in the real sector: investment, aggregate demand and transportation. The cascade of economic consequences will demand supportive policies from governments, which are expected to generate significant fiscal pressures, the promotion of countercyclical monetary policies that will create pressures on indebtedness.
According to the analysis of the World Bank in its 2020 prospects for the economies of Latin American and Caribbean countries, the region's economy will contract by 4.6% as a result of social tensions, the collapse in international oil prices and the crisis of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
Mr. President, the voices of peoples, such as the Nicaraguan, and other nations of the world are still echoing, demanding that the illegal unilateral policies called sanctions be ended, that the debt of poor countries be forgiven, and that the economic and financial blockades that continue to be maintained against various nations of the planet, in contravention of the principles of International Law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, whose transgression endangers international peace and security, be lifted.
These are times of profound changes towards brotherhood, solidarity and peace among the peoples and nations of the world, it is the call of nature, it is the call of God to humanity for a change of heart.
In her message of April 21 of the current year to the nation, Comrade Rosario Murillo Vice-President of the Republic, referred to our family practices, “Learn, always Learning, to try to do things better, and to create, among all of us and for the Good of all of us, a Better, a more Just, Respectful, Fraternal, Equitable World ... A World of Solidarity...
A World that beats like a Good Heart, beyond all miseries, and more here in our Spiritual Condition, which precisely because of Spirituality makes us Humans. Truly Human!
We live in this Blessed Nicaragua, loving and caring for ourselves, working and learning, as we have stated. And learning to love and care for ourselves more and better, in our Homes, among our Families,
in our Neighborhoods, Counties, Municipalities and Communities, throughout the Country, and honoring and loving God in Loving thy Neighbor, every day.
Converting that Love in Protection of Health, Life, and the Strength of our Commitments, with Honest, Modest, Creative, Intelligent Solidarity… Our daily efforts, in the Powerful Name of Jesus!” End quote.
As his Holiness Pope Francis said in his homily on April 19, 2020, “Now, as we think about a slow and arduous recovery from this pandemic, this danger is just insinuated: forgetting the one who stayed behind. The risk is that an even worse virus will impact us, that of indifferent selfishness,” he said.
Nicaragua, will continue to advocate and work for the peace, protection of life, health, and citizen and economic security of the Nicaraguan family.
Thank you very much Mr. President.