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> EMBARGOES UNDER FIRE, AGAIN > Vatican Tells U.N. They Hurt the Poorest > > NEW YORK, OCT. 20, 2000 (ZENIT.org).- The Vatican again denounced > international economic sanctions, such as embargoes, because they tend to > hurt the poorest people. > > Archbishop Renato Martino, the Vatican's permanent observer at the United > Nations in New York, spoke at a plenary assembly Thursday which was > debating "the elimination of coercive economic measures as means of > political and economic compulsion." > > "The Holy See has always opposed the use of coercive economic measures, > which are harmful to the social development of a nation and its people," > Archbishop Martino said. > > John Paul II and the Vatican previously denounced what they consider futile > embargoes, such as those against Cuba, Iraq and, until a few days ago, > Yugoslavia. > > "On a number of occasions," the Archbishop stressed, "especially in the > recently concluded special sessions of the General Assembly, the Holy See > has noted its concern with the effects of these measures, not only upon the > nations on which they are imposed, but also on those states that suffer the > negative effects of trade barriers that are part of those measures." > > Archbishop Martino said that the responses to a report prepared on this > issue by the U.N. General Secretariat reveal that many countries are > against these economic measures. > > The apostolic nuncio said that the Vatican wished to add its voice to that > of countries which have appealed for the abolition of sanctions as being > incompatible with international law, the objectives of the U.N. Charter, > and the spirit last month's U.N. Millennium Summit. > ZE00102008 > ------------------------ > > VATICAN DELEGATE'S SPEECH ON ECONOMIC SANCTIONS > Intervention at United Nations on Oct. 19 > > NEW YORK, OCT. 20, 2000 (ZENIT.org).- Here is the text of the Oct. 19 > intervention by Archbishop Renato Martino, permanent observer of the Holy > See to the United Nations, before the plenary of the 55th session of the > General Assembly on Item 31, "Elimination of coercive economic measures as > a means of political and economic compulsion." > > Mr. President: > > My Delegation is pleased to take this opportunity to participate in the > discussion of Item 31 of the Agenda, the Elimination of coercive economic > measures as a means of political and economic compulsion. > > The Holy See has always voiced its concern for cooperation and solidarity > among peoples of all lands. In his great Encyclical Letter, Rerum Novarum, > written in 1891, Pope Leo XIII spoke of the necessity of understanding the > common needs and aspirations that guide economic growth and the elimination > of poverty. > > In celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of that first social > Encyclical Letter, Pope John Paul II wrote: "The poor ask for the right to > share in enjoying material goods and to make good use of their capacity to > work, thus creating a world that is more just and prosperous for all." > (Centesimus Annus, 28). > > Unfortunately, Mr. President, the ‘right to share in enjoying material > goods ... and the creation of a world that is more just and prosperous’ has > been and continues to be challenged by the imposition of economic measures > that are not only coercive but which also tend to stifle the very spirit of > cooperation leading toward sustainable economic and social development. > > In his Report, the Secretary General provides the responses of the thirteen > governments that replied to his request to contribute to the Report. > > My Delegation realizes that receiving only thirteen responses might appear > insignificant however, upon reading each statement provided by these > governments, a truer picture emerges and a number that might seem small > speaks volumes. > > The Holy See has always opposed the use of coercive economic measures which > are harmful to the social development of a nation and its people. On a > number of occasions, especially in the recently concluded Special Sessions > of the General Assembly, the Holy See has noted its concern with the > effects of these measures, not only upon the nations on which they are > imposed but also on those states that suffer the negative effects of trade > barriers which are part of those measures. > > In his address to the Jubilee of Workers, Pope John Paul II reflected on > his understanding of the rewards that come from a recognition of the gift > of human dignity: "Therefore the Jubilee Year calls for a rediscovery of > the meaning and value of work. It is also an invitation to address the > economic and social imbalances in the world of work by re-establishing the > right hierarchy of values, giving priority to the dignity of working men > and women and to their freedom, responsibility and participation. It also > spurs us to redress situations of injustice by safeguarding each people’s > culture and different models of development." (Pope John Paul II, Homily at > the Jubilee of Workers, 1 May 2000) > > My Delegation believes that those words and the sentiment that they convey > can easily be translated to our discussion today ... ‘addressing economic > and social imbalances and redressing situations of injustice.’ > > Mr. President, > On reading the responses provided in the Report of the Secretary General it > is evident that opposition to the use of coercive measures is wide spread. > That same opposition can be seen in the resolutions adopted by the > Fifty-first and Fifty-third Session of the General Assembly where we read: > "Recalling its numerous resolutions in which it has called upon the > international community to take urgent and effective steps to end coercive > economic measures" and "Expresses its deep concern at the negative impact > of unilaterally imposed extraterritorial coercive economic measures on > trade and financial and economic cooperation, including at the regional > level, as well as the serious obstacles posed to the freedom of trade and > the free flow of capital at the regional and international levels." > > My Delegation adds its voice to those replies received by the Secretary > General and to the Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly which call > for an end to the use of any measures that are coercive and that are > incompatible with international law and the purposes and principles of the > Charter of the United Nations. > > The many Heads of State and Governments who gathered in this very hall only > a few weeks ago reaffirmed their commitment to that same Charter. My > Delegation hopes that the spirit of that Millennium Assembly will continue > and help to bring an end to any measure that would hinder the social or > economic development of any nation or its people. > > Thank you Mr. President. > ZE00102020 > -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk