Gobierno de Reconciliación y Unidad Nacional
Unida Nicaragua Triunfa
MESSAGE FROM COMANDANTE DANIEL ORTEGA SAAVEDRA,
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA,
TO THE LVIII REGULAR MEETING OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT
OF THE SYSTEM OF CENTRAL AMERICAN INTEGRATION (SICA)
Wednesday, November 29th 2023
Brothers Nayib Bukele, President of the Republic of El Salvador;
Vice President Félix Ulloa, Pro Tempore President of the Central American Integration System;
Sisters, Brothers, Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Member States of the System of Central American Integration (SICA).
1. Faced with the challenges that a unipolar world represents for our region, it is our task to define and direct the policy of SICA, accelerating the steps towards multilateralism. We must not permit the imposition on us of external proposals prolonging a model incompatible with our reality, our history and our institutional development. We must prevent SICA from being turned even more into a caricature of the European Union. We should not accept any kind of interference. We must prevent SICA from being politicized in accordance with the plans of the European Union. It is up to us to defend the sovereignty of our region. We are a Region that is independent and sovereign!
2. To face the regional and global challenges, it is necessary to promote a dynamic, efficient, effective agenda, so as to de-bureaucratize SICA's institutions, promote development and deepen the fight against poverty. More institutions are not required, we must strengthen and revitalize the ones that currently exist, in line with the Tegucigalpa Protocol and other regional instruments, working decisively in the priority areas for the benefit our peoples.
3. Our priorities should be aimed at developing programs, policies and actions that mark the path to economic development with a view to reducing poverty and inequalities; we are obliged to identify needs and open opportunities to restore the rights of our peoples for a peaceful, dignified and just life, in the face of global capitalism acting to the detriment of social welfare. Organized crime, drug trafficking, and migrant smuggling must be fought in the spirit of Integration and Unity of all the countries of the SICA.
4. Let us continue working on a common regional, sovereign, independent agenda that strengthens multilateralism, based on SICA’s principles, purposes and objectives. The global reality must be an opportunity to project our Messages, making ourselves heard as be part of the momentous decisions for the existence of our peoples and humanity; among our priorities are climate change, food and nutritional security, sustainable development, international peace, stability and security.
5. We are on the eve of the celebration of the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, COP 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where we must join forces and continue to demand that developed countries, who are mainly responsible for Climate Change and global warming, comply with their commitments, especially climate finance to promote resilient and inclusive development, cooperating with the Sustainable Development Goals and making the Climate Justice demanded by our peoples a reality.
6. Migration is a human right. We seek to ensure that it is Orderly, Safe, Regular and Responsive, both regionally and extra-regionally; guaranteeing the human rights of migrants in conditions of vulnerability, as well as of the local communities through which migrants transit.
7. Transport and communications open up opportunities for people to move from one place to another more easily, to move across borders in mass migration. This is generating the increase of extra-regional migratory flows through our region, so in this sense it is necessary to deepen both intra-regional dialogue as well as with the countries of origin and destination, since this is everyone’s responsibility.
8. We know that security is strategic for Central America and the Dominican Republic. Our geographical position requires us to prevent risks and threats. Cooperation in this area must be smooth in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking, among other criminal activities.
9. In this period we have completed tools in relation to the Intersectoral Regional Plan against Organized Crime (PRICCO) and the amendment to the Convention Establishing the Permanent Commission for the Eradication of the Illicit Production, Trafficking, Consumption and Use of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of the Central American Integration System (CP-SICA), we must implement them with maximum effort to achieve optimal results.
10. Nicaragua believes that in order to achieve our goals and objectives, we require political will and urgent action. To this end, we have proposed a list with an integrationist perspective for the appointment of the Secretary General, starting as soon as possible for the continuity of this period 2022 - 2026 which corresponds to Nicaragua.
11. The new Secretary General must promote with dedication and responsibility the regional commitments for the good and fulfillment of the aspirations of the peoples of the SICA Region, taking into account that SICA’s institutions, the Tegucigalpa Protocol and its complementary and derived regulations must be of universal application and with equity for all.
12. Brothers, Heads of State and Government, as of now we thank you for your decision to elect the new Secretary General of the Central American Integration System (SICA), from the shortlist we are presenting to you, made up of Comrade Valdrack L. Jaentschke, Iris Marina Montenegro Blandón and Violeta Irias Nelson.
13. We also wish to convey to you that November 19th marked two years since the Government of Nicaragua renounced the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS), so that Charter has become without any international effect in relation to the State of Nicaragua. We are definitely withdrawing, Nicaragua is no longer a Member of that meddlesome organization, an interventionist instrument of the United States of America.
14. The role of the OAS has been demonstrated throughout history, in its repeated interventionist actions against the progressive Governments and Peoples of our America, of Nicaragua, transgressing the principles of non-intervention in internal affairs, respect for the sovereignty of States and the right of peoples to freely choose their destiny, principles recognized by International law and contained in its Charter. That interventionist action was demonstrated by their involvement and biased action during the failed coup d'état of 2018 in Nicaragua.
15. Sisters and Brothers, Nicaragua is committed to the SICA Region, in the spirit of unity and Central American integration bequeathed to us by our Heroes and Founders.
16. We thank the Salvadoran People, President Nayib Bukele, his Government and Vice President Felix Ulloa for the kind attention offered during the celebration of this meeting.
Thank You Very Much