Nicaragua today rejected any attempt to undermine not only the founding ideals of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), but also to exclude and neglect the serious problems afflicting the peoples of the region.

This was expressed by Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Valdrack Jaentschke during the IX Summit of the political coordination mechanism that took place in Honduras with the presence of more than a dozen heads of state and government.

«We come to this summit following our tradition of calling for unity, solidarity and peace, as a condition for achieving the well-being to which our peoples are entitled,» he said.

The Foreign Minister referred to fair access to health, education and work, as well as responsibility in the protection of Mother Earth and preparedness in the face of the ravages of nature.

«It is precisely these difficulties, created by the unjust world order and greed, that have forced thousands of brothers and sisters to migrate away from their communities in search of better conditions to sustain the lives of their families.

In this regard, he expressed solidarity with those who have had to migrate out of their countries, while demanding dignified treatment for those who are returned to their nations.

He concurred with Venezuela’s legitimate demand for the safe return of its migrants, and expressed solidarity with those who have been kidnapped and imprisoned and denied all their rights.

He welcomed the forthcoming meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, we are sure that this mechanism and platform for dialogue and its initiatives will be a good opportunity to exchange and open new bridges of cooperation.

According to Jaentschke, the above are part of the positions of principle and dignity that for Nicaragua are inalienable, and should be reflected in any Celac pronouncement, which is why he left Managua’s position in disagreement with the Tegucigalpa declaration unchallenged.

«The attitude of a few countries has been notorious and constant, acting with the aim of reducing and watering down the principles, assets and rich history of our Celac».

«The vetoes have been noted and we have identified those who have drawn red lines to our integration efforts,» he stressed.

He added that a declaration that does not include the rich history of Celac responds to attempts to weaken the efforts of those who want a strong community and aims to divide and reduce its principles to an intolerable minimum.

«Nicaragua expressed at the time and without hesitation that it fully supported the proposal that the Pro-Tempore Presidency presented as a draft declaration a month ago».

«But the actions of those who sabotaged this effort were evident and visible, to the point of proposing a minimised, diluted document that does not express the major issues and problems facing our peoples in the region and in the world».

According to Nicaragua, a Celac declaration should continue to defend the sovereign equality of states, the right to self-determination, territorial integrity and non-intervention in internal affairs.

Reaffirm the commitment to the defence of sovereignty and the right of states to define their institutional and normative framework, free from threats, aggression and unilateral coercive measures.

In addition to continuing to express the firm rejection of the aggressions and blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba for more than six decades.

«It cannot fail to express its solidarity with the brother Bolivarian People and Government of Venezuela in its struggle for the Dignity and Defence of its People in the face of external aggressions».

«It cannot fail to denounce all forms of aggression and unilateral coercive measures against our peoples and governments,» he emphasised.

In this regard, he mentioned other important developments such as the Palestinian issue, the tariff policies announced by Donald Trump, as well as the Caribbean peoples’ demand for reparations for the crimes of colonialism.

Many of these elements have been widely addressed by the majority of delegations, but have not been included in the proposed declaration, the foreign minister argued.

Nicaragua reiterated its firm will to continue building the Patria Grande, and to strengthen the regional bloc in the search for harmony, peace, well-being and understanding.