New York, April 6, 2005

Mister President:

Allow me to address this session on behalf of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Peru, Member States of the Andean Community, a region with 120 million inhabitants.

Created almost 36 years ago, the Andean Community is the oldest and most institutionalized tool for integration in South America. It is the modern expression of an Andean identity built on the basis of common geography, history and interests with a common foreign policy, the core of the integration of the South American Community of Nations.

Mr. President:

The Andean countries, founding members of the United Nations, have reviewed the Report of the Secretary-General entitled: “In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all”. We are currently analyzing with a high interest the proposals contained thereof and we commit to participating actively and collectively in the consultation and negotiation processes aimed at the strengthening of the United Nations and its efficiency in promoting development and security for all as well as the compliance with international law.

In this opportunity, only general observations will be raised. We will present specific suggestions in future consultations and negotiations.

We share the need for a new concept of an international collective security that embraces both old and new threats, particularly those related to the struggle against poverty and social exclusion. We also support the idea that development, security, freedom and protection of human rights are closely related.

A first reflection is derived from the fact that the proposals of this document constitute a “package”, that is, the concept of “single undertaking”. However, the variety of the issues covered by the Report gives them a specific value which demands separated considerations. Therefore, our countries consider that the decisions to be adopted in the process of evaluation of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and the reform of the United Nations must lead to balanced results that enable the fulfillment of the interests of all Member States.

The Andean countries fully support multilateralism as a means of improving and strengthening the capacity of Member States to meet the needs of their populations individually or collectively, and to comply with international commitments taken voluntarily, strengthening in this way, the agreed international regimes.

Mr. President:

It is with concern that we observe that the Secretary-General pays little attention to countries such as those of the Andean region which, in spite of their struggle to reach a level of average income, still maintain high levels of poverty. If this issue is not addressed properly, their income levels could revert and the Millennium Development Goals would be even more difficult to achieve.

Foreign debt, poverty, recurrent economic crises and social instability are serious issues that require an urgent solution. The path towards development and the reform of the United Nations system must take into account the situation of every State and region.

We are confident that the reform of the United Nations and the review of the Millennium Declaration goals, which include that of the system for the promotion of development will contribute to eliminate the existing inequality in the international trading system through the elimination of subsidies and tariff barriers of developed countries that hamper the strengthening of our national productive capacity. Likewise, actions are necessary to avoid the volatility of capital flows, the high vulnerability and the high levels of foreign indebtedness as well as an international regime for intellectual property that allows the transfer of technology and the participation of developing countries in the world’s decision making.

Breton Woods Institutions and the World Trade Organization should adjust themselves to the United Nations system and to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals to face the current social deficit of globalization, which impedes the generation of employment and creates instability.

These are all very important issues that must have a specific place in the eighth goal of the Millennium Declaration targeted to “developing a global partnership for development”. A clear commitment should be made to favor a special and differential treatment in trade issues, stronger actions in the fields of science, technology and innovation and an adequate international solution for the problem of foreign debt in our economies as well as a clear acknowledgement to the need of new financial mechanisms at the international level to strengthen efficiency of public policies and democracies.

The Report of the Secretary-General acknowledges that globalization has contributed to social inequality. Inequality caused by globalization undermines political security. In practice, economic and social rights as well as the right to development will be hampered, and with this, the validity of political rights and democracy itself.

For Andean countries, eradication of poverty is a very important issue and a part of their national strategies. This is why they contribute tirelessly in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. However, we consider that a strategy for development in the long run must aim at the creation of wealth through the promotion of an international environment favorable for development. From the Secretary-General’s Report some bias can be observed in assistance issues. We hope that future debates to review the application of the Monterrey Consensus help us strengthen our proposals in the areas of development, including accountability to multinational enterprises.

Mr. President:

Allow me to conclude by conveying the firm belief of the Andean countries in the protection of the fundamental rights of men and women, the human dignity and value, gender equality and the consolidation of democracy. As Member States of the South American Community of Nations, the Rio Group, the Group of 77, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Andean Community, we will seek for the 2005 Summit to achieve the goal of creating conditions for all countries to live in peace, security and prosperity.

Thank you.