STATEMENT BY H.E. CAROLINA BARCO
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF COLOMBIA
Ministerial Meeting of the Non Aligned Movement
New York, September 18, 2002
Being, today, the first
time that I address a Ministerial Meeting of the Non Aligned Movement,
I wish to cordially greet you all and to reaffirm Colombia's commitment
to the inspiring principles of the Non Alignment and to its main objective
of securing an international order based on justice, solidarity and
the well being of our peoples.
It gives me great satisfaction that this, my first participation
before you, takes place in the context adopted by the Movement to coordinate
its positions regarding the agenda of the United Nations' General Assembly.
This allows me to emphasize the validity of the principles of the Charter,
that of multilateralism and the central role that the World Organization
is called to play. To recall our responsibility in promoting the process
of reform initiated at the end of the so-called Cold War era and that,
hopefully, will provide us with a more democratic and more efficient
Organization, strengthened in its political responsibilities and structural
relationship, and, specially, oriented towards the promotion of international
cooperation for development.
To attain all this objectives, your experience and skills,
Madame Chairperson, will be of exceptional use to us all. I wish to
express to you the satisfaction of my delegation at seeing you presiding
over our works. You might count on our most determined cooperation.
I wish you every success.
Madame Chairwoman:
Less than two months ago and backed by one of the highest
turn outs in the history of Colombian elections, the Government of President
Alvaro Uribe Vélez assumed office. Encouraged by the support
of most of Colombians we have introduce in the Congress several initiatives
and proposals aimed at reactivating the economy which has been affected
of late by internal factors and the consequences of external crisis.
Urgent measures for the re-establishment of order and law have been
adopted under the exceptional constitutional regime and within the most
strict observance and respect of the fundamental rights. In the same
manner, we have started important contacts to create an ideal scenario
for a dialogue, aimed at attaining a political and negotiated solution
to the internal conflict in Colombia, having as the only pre-requisite
a cease of fire and hostilities.
Madame Chairwoman:
I have done this brief reference to the internal situation
of my country, since in the Colombian case coincide several elements
of the agendas of the United Nations and the Non Aligned Movement.
To you all it might sound familiar the concept of shared
responsibility that Colombia has invoked to demand the attention and
solution of those problems which are trans-national in their causes
and consequences.
We invoked it for the first time during the 20th Extraordinary
Period of Sessions of the General Assembly dedicated to the common struggle
against the world scourge of drugs, in 1989. We were convinced that
the action against drugs should adopt a symmetrical, balanced and integral
approach by all members of the international community.
Today we reaffirm our conviction. There is not an exclusive
category of producer countries and, hence, the action can not be focused
on the interdiction of the offer. Fight against drugs requires a consistent
action from those countries registering a high level of consumption,
as well as from those producing the chemicals precursors, small and
light weapons, and from those where money laundry benefits from flexible
banking and financial controls.
But, more over, the world business of illicit drugs is
also the combustible that fuels terrorism. A part of the economic flow
generated by this lucrative market finances international criminal organizations,
among them, terrorists groups.
As in the case of drugs, the absence of controls to the
trade of illicit weapons feeds internal conflicts and endangers the
stability of nations and entire regions. Here, also, we have demanded
the shared responsibility of all international community. However, we
do not perceive any signal from those countries where weapons are produced
showing their willingness to comply with the targets of the Plan of
Action adopted during the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Traffic
of Small and Light Weapons, that took place here, in New York, under
the chairmanship of Colombia, in June, last year.
Related to the illicit traffic of drugs and weapons is
the problem of corruption - a phenomenon that affects our daily lives,
both in the public and private sectors, and requires our full attention.
Colombia has not been immune or indifferent to this problem. Currently,
in Vienna, we preside over the work of the Ad Hoc Committee tasked with
the preparation of a United Nations Convention against Corruption. We
are working earnestly to meet the wish of the member States for a legal
instrument to further strengthen international cooperation, technical
assistance and the recovery of illicit assets to turn them over to the
countries of origin. Such basic objectives in the fight against corruption
require the effective application of the principle of shared responsibility.
Shared responsibility must also be extended to migratory
issues. Countries of origin and recipient countries will be able to
cope adequately with the economic, social, legal and cultural aspects
of this issue when they reach agreement on procedures and mechanisms
to facilitate an orderly flow of migrants.
This will allow for a solution to other related criminal
activities, such as trafficking of persons, a most terrifying business
when it involves children and women.
Those of our countries affected by the displacement of
persons resulting from situations of armed conflict must come to the
conclusion that further reflection on the concept of shared responsibility
is required to promote international cooperation to care for these people
with the help of UNHCR.
Finally, the social agenda of our time requires of us
the highest commitment. In addition to the implementation of actions
and objectives agreed to during the Special Session of the General Assembly
on Children and at the World Assembly on Aging, we must act together
to preserve the gains from the world summits hold in the nineties.
Madame Chairwoman,
Tomorrow most of us will come together as the Group of
77 to examine the world economic situation in the light of the program
of work of the 57th General Assembly. Let us join efforts. Let us reinforce
our actions. Let us benefit from the coordination mechanism adopted
in Cairo in 1994 and reaffirmed in Havana two years ago. Let us take
recourse to the Joint Coordination Committee set up jointly by the G-77
and our group. Our common support will open up better opportunities
for the economic negotiations of the G-77.
Madam Chairwoman,
The best tools at our disposal to work for a better world
are the collective resolve that we can gather to face world problems,
as well as the solidarity that guides our movement. This is the legacy
handed down from the founders of Non Alignment. Let us rise to the challenge
and act now.
Thank you very much.
