Mr. President,
Throughout history, peace has been one of the most sublime aspirations of our peoples. In the case of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, it is one of the values set forth in the National Constitution which created our Democratic and Social Rule of Law and Justice State, based on the recognition of the leading role of the Venezuelan people, the respect for its sovereignty and inalienable right to self-determination. In addition, our Homeland has historically fostered the establishment of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Peace Zone, through cooperation, complementarity and solidarity between nations, based on the mutual respect and defense of the rules of international law, including the principle of self-determination of peoples and non-interference in the internal affairs of States.
Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, extended conflicts, still pending colonial situations, enactment and implementation of unilateral coercive measures as well as violence and destabilization in several regions worldwide demand Member States of the Organization of the United Nations to have a strong political will to conduct their international relations with equality and respect, and be fully committed to the peaceful settlement of controversies. We must go beyond reactive positions, which apparently address conflict, privileging the interests of great powers in detriment of the welfare of peoples in different fields. In this sense, the use of preventive diplomacy could play a decisive role, provided that it is not used as a tool at the service of interference.
Mr. President,
We agree on the need to establish a global and comprehensive approach towards peace, which must be based on an ethical position towards fundamental struggles and not on a frailty position, which leaves essential issues on the Agenda unresolved on serious international imbalances. Such frailty position is one of the main causes of conflicts. The welfare of peoples, their own history and culture, the empowerment of women, young people and other vulnerable groups, the promotion and protection of Human Rights and the basic freedoms and respect for the efforts of each country to improve the living conditions of its populations are elements that must be considered and strengthened to achieve the consolidation and sustainability of peace. The struggle against poverty, inequality and exclusion represents the best way to fight against war. The sustainable development and the achievement of the objectives of the 2030 Agenda are the most suitable proposal for a peaceful future. For that purpose, the recognition of States as main responsible actors for the protection of their territory and population represents an inalienable reality. For this reason, it is essential to condemn any act detrimental to any State, preventing it from meeting the economic and social needs of its people, and restricting its Human Rights for the miserly purpose of undermining its political independence and/or territorial integrity.
In addition, it is important to consider that any funding proposal for activities aiming at consolidation and sustainability of peace must go in line with the primary responsibility of the National Government and authorities with regard to the identification and performance of such activities, avoiding them from reinforcing potential dependency cycles on powerful funding institutions and becoming a vice that would prevent countries from breaking the cycle of conflict.
Finally, we firmly believe, as the Liberator Simon Bolivar said, that only confidence can bring peace. For this reason, we consider that it is necessary to strengthen confidence in this Organization to contribute to the strengthening of international peace and security and save future generations from the scourge of war and oppression. It is necessary to strengthen such confidence in light of challenges that correspond not only to the military field but also to the political, economic, cultural, environmental, geographical and technological ones.
Thank you very much, Mr. President