Refinitiv Newscasts - Summit of the Americas opening plenary session 1

Kaltura

10/06/2022 24:46

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>> Actions to secure our borders and resolve the shared challenges. And
tomorrow, I'll be speaking more to this and laying out our commitments. The
bottom line is this, the Western Hemisphere is home for all of us. Back in
2013, when I was Vice President to Barack Obama, he asked me to lead our
engagement with the region and I said we should be talking about the
hemisphere and I made a speech back then saying the hemisphere, we should look
at it as a middle-class, secure, democratic hemisphere from Canada to Chile,
and everywhere in-between. Over the past decade, our region has changed.
Challenges we faced have changed. And so our policies and our solutions have
to change as well but I want to be very clear. My fundamental view and my
approach to the hemisphere has not changed. I still believe what I said then
and I hope that you do too. There's no reason why the Western Hemisphere can't
be the most forward-looking, most democratic, most prosperous, most peaceful,
secure region in the world. We have unlimited potential. We have enormous
resources and democratic spirit that stands for freedom and opportunity for
everybody. And no matter what else is happening in the world, the Americas
always be the priority for the United States of America. So thank you again
for being part of this summit. We have a busy few days and incredible
opportunities ahead of us. So let's get to work. And I'm now as opposed to
shush up and sit down and we're going to have a conversation, is that right?
>> Yes, Mr. President. Good afternoon. The Chair recognizes Miss. Cecilia
Vilches Gonzalez, youth participation component, coordinator of the Young
Americas Forum. >> Good afternoon, everyone. Excellencies, head of state and
government, my name is Cecilia Vilches. I'm Mexican. I'm the youngest of 13
children and today's a great honor for me to represent youth in the Americas.
I can't believe it, but this is not about me. This is about youth. The youth
forum of the Americas, is the forum that allows us as young people to reach
this spaces, is an ongoing process of engagement with youth of OAS member
states monitoring actions and defining priorities that are relevant to young
people. It is a great honor for me to represent young people here and to bring
the voices of over 27,000 young people from each of the OAS member states.
Considering the last summit of the Americas and the commitments made by young
people and understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this led to the
reshuffling priorities in society. From YBT the organization that incorporates
the form of the Americas, this led to the sixth youth forum as an official
forum for the 9th summit of the Americas. There has been a combination of
conversations on follow up and establishing priorities through a process of
consultation. We believe that an ecosystem of development for youth that helps
strengthen democratic governance and putting forward an American agenda. That
is why through the sixth forum, we promoted dialogue participation, informed
recommendations from experts and a call to innovative entrepreneurship through
young people. Around several major themes, climate change, working with young
people, the fight against corruption, connectivity and digital transformation,
as well as COVID 19. This main areas show the evolution of the priorities of
young people that we bring to the table. The current engagement process began
just after the last summit in Lima, Peru held in 2018. Since then,
contributions, proposals, opinions and recommendations, actions have been put
together from over 27,000 young people all over the continent. Throughout the
entire continent, as a response to the commitments made for the ninth summit,
the youth forum of the Americas has found an opportunity to provide tools to
young people who just as I do aspire to continue growing professionally, we
want to our change our lives, not only for ourselves but for other people who
need us in order to find their way. The results of this was the creation of
the five [inaudible 00:05:38] that I've mentioned throughout this process from
the youth forum of the Americas, we have brought a statement of commitment and
a plan of action created by young people based on our opinions and our
recommendations. This is follow up of a strong consultation process directed
at youth in the entire continent. With the support of over 400 young people's
networks who work daily through dialogue, consultations, different actions and
mechanisms. Our goal is to make sure that the voices of young people
throughout the continent are heard in different context, in different
countries and we want to make sure that there is ethnic, geographic, and
gender representation. In order to achieve inclusive representative
participation, we've worked with local, international organizations and
governments. There have been over 160 dialogues from 2019 to date. Over 14,000
young people have been involved through this specific channel and currently we
continue to support young people and have created forum for local and regional
dialogues. On May 16th, we held a hemisphere dialogue, 45 networks of young
people throughout the continent created a statement of commitment and an
action plan where we presented the opinions of each representative and the
experience and actions that we have experienced as young people. We also are
promoting the program for talents and skills in the Americas and they have
information to technology involving over 14,000 young people from OAS Member
States. Likewise we are grateful for the interest shown by the government of
Colombia, Panama, Peru, the United States and the OAS. Specifically the
secretary general and the assistant secretary general who have been a part of
this process from the beginning. They have shown a commitment support and they
worked closely with the young people from the six forums of the Americas. Now,
results to date from the sixth forum specifically are in the area of Cs.
First, climate change responding to a political commitment for a green future
and clean energy. We call upon governments and businesses to incentivize more
sustainable transportation models and creating projects for cities that allow
for strengthening mobility for pedestrians and especially protecting the
environment. For the environment and the health of our populations, we want to
strengthen the water supply of our cities via reafforestation. We ask
governments to incentivize research and developments and use new energies in
the region in order to lead to investments in the use of technologies in a
more inclusive fashion, investing in mechanisms for implementing renewable
energies in industries and implementation mechanisms for smaller medium sized
enterprises. As young people we commit to work on initiatives that allow
access from all sectors to these technologies, including access to bio-fuels.
Now within this second area which we have been discussing throughout this
process of consultation defied against corrections as a response to the
political commitment of democratic governance for the ninth summit. We
understand that multilaterism is a tool for cooperation, political, economic,
partnerships can be made with the hemisphere and based on this then as young
people we suggest creating policies for young people that allow us to talk
about issues that are of interest of us such as immigration, trade, and
innovation. One of our greatest challenges is making sure we can guarantee
survival in several areas such as education, we must provide alternatives and
safety and access to basic rights for young people and for all of society. Now
within the third C, connectivity and digital transformation, we urge
governments to ensure that our region has access to high level of technology.
>> In every area of society this include digital education for indigenous
peoples and vulnerable populations, we must promote, establish, and regulate
labor policies and we must strengthen human capital. Then since that represent
COVID-19, the political commitment of health and resilience, we must show the
impact of the pandemic when it comes to gender. School dropout rate to lack of
access to health services the cultural burden of domestic work and
care-taking, these have meant that women are at greater risk for violence
women, young women and girls. Therefore, we think we must reinforce social
protection mechanisms for all people in the area of human mobility, we need
work employment and social program and we must make the most of the skills of
our entire population. As a response to the impact of the pandemic and more
vulnerable population, we wish to promote economic monitoring inclusive with a
focus on collaboration and with agenda perspective. These are some of the
contributions we've identify the same people. We continue to search for ways
to implement things and to work together with each one of the organizations
present here today in order to make this possible. We will also present the
entire declaration to the secretariat of the America so that it may be
circulated to all of you so that you may use it as a foundation for developing
public policies and to establish priorities and mandates that we have as a
region. We thank you very much for your support and for the space as young
people. We believe that as young people we must be partners for prosperity.
Thank you very much. >> The chair recognizes the Honorable John Brazenio prime
minister of Belize. >> His Excellency, Joseph Biden, President of the United
States of America, and madam Vice President Harris, heads of state and
government, distinguished representatives, ladies, and gentlemen, we have
gathered in the City of Angels, the American city that most reflects the best
and worst of the Americas. A city that is home to millions of citizens from
every country in the western hemisphere. A melting pot. Lunch. When Chris on
the Kaltura, a city in which too many, have too much and too many have too
little. A mirror of the Americas in 2022. Los Angeles, a beautiful city and
doubted abundant riches, where ambition, coupled with hard work makes real the
promise of the American dream that a decent living is possible for the
majority. My friends we have come to this blessing, please, to refresh our
collective will to do good unto once again recommit ourselves to building a
socially just Americas. From Barrow, Alaska in the north to Tierra del Fuego
in the south, the peoples of the Americas are with the outcome of this 9th
summit of the Americas. Their needs are many, their hopes expectant. While our
philosophies and approaches are divergent, our vision is the same. To build an
America that works for all of us. But we are at a tipping point. The Americas
and the world face existential threats. As leaders, we are called to make
consequential choices which will irreversibly shape our collective futures.
Excellences, we will continue to postpone the urgent action needed to reduce
emissions, finance adaptation, and migration, and protect the most vulnerable
countries and populations from the impact of climate change we can not. When
we implement practical and innovative measures to alleviate the crushing debt
crisis, we must. When we ensure that the socioeconomic devastation, including
a sharp rise in poverty, hunger and education loss caused by the pandemic do
not result in the last decade for the Americas with more irregular migration
and insecurity. We can, when we allow ourselves to be divided by field Cold
War pardons or when we meet the profound challenges united and with a common
purpose we will. These are questions which underpin the theme of this 9th
summit of the Americas. Building a sustainable, resilient, and equitable
future. How we respond to these questions will design our destiny. As we seek
solutions, we know that money is not the problem. For example, in less than
three months two countries in this hemisphere committed over $55 billion to
Ukraine. The question is, how much would be pledged to finance the ambitious
agendas we agreed at this summit? The future of the Western hemisphere is a
responsibility for all the countries of this hemisphere. Irrespective of our
size or GDP, our system of governance, we all have a shared interest in a
sustainable, resilient, and equitable future. The power of the Summit of the
Americas is this piece it provides for all the countries of the Americas, the
dialogue and agree on joint auctions. This summit belongs to all of the
Americas. It is therefore inexcusable that all countries of the Americas are
not here, and the power of the summit diminished by their absence. It is
incomprehensible that we would isolate conscious of the Americas, which have
provided strong leadership and contributed to the hemisphere on the critical
issues of our times. Cuba has provided consistent on much cooperation in
health to almost two thirds of the countries in this hemisphere, including
Belize. The illegal blockade against Cuba is an affront to humanity. In fact,
it is an American. The time has come, Mr. precedent, to lift the blockade and
to build bonds of friendship with the people of Cuba. Similarly, Venezuela has
done so much towards energy security for the Caribbean region through its
innovative financing programs, Venezuela's absence is unforgivable.
Excellences. >> At this most critical juncture when the future of our
hemisphere is that stake. We stand divided. And that is why the Summit of the
Americas should have been inclusive. Geography, not politics defines the
Americans. The Belizean people, people across Latin America and the Caribbean
are wondering successive and simultaneous crisis. Caribbean economies are in a
precarious place because of our inherent vulnerabilities to external shocks,
including exposure to climate change and devastating storms. But the pandemic,
and now the effects because of the war in Ukraine have further patted our
economies. Not withstanding the 6% recovery in global growth in 2021, Caricom
Member states, except for Guyana, recorded an average growth rate of 1%. A few
members states experienced even further GDP losses ranging from negative 1% to
negative 6.3%. Member states were expected to record a stronger growth
performance in 2022. But the effects of the war, rising inflation, rising oil
costs, and further supply chain disruptions have led the IMF to downgrade
growth projections for the region. We cannot continue on this path. The
recession was not of our making. We have come to Los Angeles to agree specific
deliverables of climate change. That relief, access to concessionary
financing, energy, and food security. With firm commitments, we can move
forward. Action must include equitable access to vaccines and treatment for
COVID-19 to end the acute phase of the pandemic and a strengthened and
sustainably finance global health architecture. Action must include the Paris
2030 delivery agenda. We demand firm plans from developed countries for
emission reduction targets in line with the 1.5 degrees centigrade Paris
temperature gold. A plan to scale up climate finance beyond the floor of the
$100 billion annually through 2025 and doubling of adaptation finance. Action
must include finalization and use of a multi-dimensional vulnerability index
so that countries like ours can affordably finance or recovery and build
resiliency. Action must include that relief. Action must include a coordinated
multilateral response to the deepening food and energy crisis. Action must
include finding peace in Ukraine. Today believes a firm's they integral role
of democratic governance. Let there be no doubt about our unshakeable
commitment there too. The confluences of crises of our times requires all the
countries of the hemisphere to work together in a spirit of solidarity and
cooperation. As we work this things Summit of the Americas, let us call to
mind the words of a Libertador Simon Bolivar. In the unity of our nation rest
the glorious future of our people. The unity of our nations rests the glorious
future of our peoples. Thank you very much. >> The chair recognizes his
Excellency Laurentino Cortizo Cohen the president of the Republic of Panama.
>> Excellency Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America,
Excellency Almagro, general secretary of the organization. Presidents, ladies,
and gentlemen, foreign secretaries, ladies and gentlemen, members of the
delegation , ladies and gentlemen. I find it to be timely, to be facing the
topics for this summit as the Americans because they are key factors for the
development of our nations. Now, the commitment is to make sure that we put
into practice what we agree upon here in Los Angeles. The world is now living
through the effects of the pandemic, the drama of the Ukraine war with
unforeseeable results, and very concrete impacts in the rise of the price of
fuels and food, whose consequences are aggregating the material conditions of
the most vulnerable sectors of our region. So faced with this pandemic, we
have to refocus our attention and this's the challenge to enter connected
problems that are common to our region in an effort to reach economic recovery
supported in international cooperation. Dialogue and the very specific and
affective actions that're directed to reduce poverty and inequalities in our
region. Today, one of the biggest challenges before the Americas is the
irregular migration crisis. Irregular migration crisis has its roots in the
lack of opportunity for the population of the countries of origin of the
migrants. Panama is constantly living this drama of the irregular migrants
that come into our territory through the Darien region, risking their lives
and many cases, losing their life. It is a very dangerous journey through the
wetlands and the inhospitable region. Let's ask ourselves, would you abandon
your country, would leave your county if we had the life conditions that
wouldn't force us to look elsewhere. I think the answer is very simple and
straightforward. No, we wouldn't. The answer to this situation requires
effective actions and very concrete actions as well. I repeat concrete actions
in every single one of countries with shared regional efforts. This is where
we should be concentrating today and after the summit as well. Ladies and
gentlemen, in relation to climate change, our country is fulfilling its duty.
It is working in a very formal manner, punctually, and even before the
deadlines. >> Commitments to preserve and safeguard life on the planet, Panama
is one of the three countries in the world that has been declared with net
zero carbon emissions. We were also able to protect 30 percent of our marine
areas nine years before the deadlines in order to reach the global objection.
Mr. President and countries of the America, I would like to call upon you so
that we can work together in a united fashion so that there's greater cohesion
in our region so that we can go through this changing world reality. Finding
mechanisms, financial resources and I would like to repeat financial resources
so that we can face the great challenges that all of us are experiencing. I
can also say with optimism that our region has the wealth that comes from its
diversity. Each and every one of our countries has very unique strengths that
can lead to a great joint effort in order to overcome today's challenges as
well as future challenges. The road that will be undertaken and our shared
success is what our people deserve. This is what they demand and they want
from this summit. As far as Panama is considered, we can contribute with our
logistical capacities that include the best maritime connectivity, air and
digital connectivity as well in the region. The Panama canal and its 180
marine routes that serve 190 ports in 170 countries. The regional Logistical
Center for Humanitarian Assistance and above all, the conviction by
Panamanians is that peace and union of our countries is what matters. And I
would like to underline this. The union between our people, we're here to
serve. Panama once again is at your service to be a bridge in our region and
to bring countries together. That is the historical vocation of Panama. Our
resources and our strategic values are the disposition of the countries in our
continent. Leaders of the America, my hope is that this summit in Los Angeles
will take us to grater unity so that we can go on to complete steps and we
come together to face our shared challenges with a single voice. Thank you. >>
The Chair recognizes His Excellency Mario Abdullah Benitez, President of the
Republic of Paraguay. >> Mr. President of the United States of America, Joe
Biden, Madam Vice President Kamala Harris, colleagues, presidents, heads of
state, ministers, delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I celebrate the opportunity
for us to meet at this summit. This is a vital space with great importance for
the strengthening of democracy. Or be it an imperfect democracy, it's the only
acceptable way of government to provide progress for our countries. I'm
talking about creating a moral conscience on the supreme value of democracy, a
conscience and awareness which once it takes routes, is a shield, a solid
shield and a long lasting shield against its opposition. The main duty we have
as those who govern our countries is to makes sure that we can see democracy
in a constitutional manner as the undisputable way in which we live together.
Paraguay has taken very firm steps toward its democratic consolidation. We
have electoral competition, a separation of powers and respect for individual
liberties. We've been able to make sure that our elections are the only
mechanism whereby we assign political power, making sure that there's an
absolutely undeniable respect for the popular will and the majority. I think
that this form is a very precious seat to share experiences and to reaffirm
our republic and convictions when we are thinking about the threats that could
endanger the existence of a democratic system. The pandemic aside from
threatening our way of life made it apparent like never before the needs that
our societies are going through, the fight, the struggle against inequality.
We can say that this is still one of the greatest tasks that have been
unfinished. COVID-19 left us with great lessons on how to face those difficult
challenges. Our states aligned their efforts in order to make sure that at the
center we had the most vulnerable groups of people so that their situation
didn't become even more serious in the context of social isolation. >> Make
sure that we looked at our priorities so that we can find new methodologies to
face them. Now, after this, we have to share and make sure that we go to the
regional plane to put into practice those strategies and to make sure that we
promote from muli-lateralsm the aim of creating prosperity. I would like to
quote Mathalisio Gonzalez, who was one great thinker. We have the norm
imperative to make sure thatnthe American states serve free men and women. And
in addition to the old challenges, the times we live in present current
challenges such as organized crime, criminal organizations that stopped
operating on the sidelines and they permeate politics and the market
increasingly. Republican institutions are not safe, and we can see this due to
the level of infiltration that we see in public administration, in the justice
system, and political organization among many other areas. Given this
situation attacking the finances of criminal organizations , attacking their
logistics, attacking their links to formal power is the most effective and
best way to stop this progression. This criminal phenomenon leads to a
backsliding in democracy and corrodes the culture of legality, and it can only
beat if we involve our citizens, and make sure that the existence of this
criminality is not normalized. A few weeks ago, our continent, our country
wasn't mourning due to the murder of Marcello Pecci, Paraguayan prosecutor in
Columbia, he was killed by criminals. This send all of us, but especially our
law enforcement community. Organized crime is transnational and the response
to confront it also must be transnational. We need joint solutions to combat
this scourge as it knows no borders and it has all of us as its common
adversaries. Recently, cooperation between Paraguay and Colombian, Colombia
lead to immediate operations that allowed us to identify the potential people
responsible for the murder of the prosecutor. And I would like to once again
thank the administration of President Duque for his commitment to justice.
That is the path that Paraguay would like to follow, and this is what they
shared by the countries who are in this space today. I would like to call upon
you in this forum to defend the rule of law, to not stop and seed to organized
crime, as organized crime wants to capture spaces that are only able to be
occupied by representatives of political will. Ladies and gentlemen, the
climate crisis is another great shared challenge that we must tackle together.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Paraguay are low, however, we have suffered
greatly, and we haven't suffered the effects over the last few years. This is
seen in droughts, floods, fires, and crises when it comes to our water
resources. Paraguay has no cost, and for us, the impact is even greater.
Lowering the level of our rivers has lead to issues with international trade,
as well as with generating energy because our electrical system comes only
from clean renewable energies that is generated in hydroelectric plants. That
is why our efforts must be geared towards mitigating the effects of climate
change in our societies. We need specific commitments, especially from the
countries who bear the most responsibility. I would like to finally thank
President Biden for his hospitality of the United States as the host country
and the beautiful City of Los Angeles, which is home to the largest Hispanic
community in the country, and due to its cultural diversity, it reflects quite
faithfully the characteristics of our region. With democracy in one hand, the
rule of law in the other, we are excited to participate in this marvelous
encounter with our brother and sister countries who are so beloved and we
recognize them as our allies so that we may come to a consensus, even though
we have genuine differences, but we will have a resilient and equitable future
that we all desire. I take my leave of you by quoting Pope Francis. During the
pandemic, he reminded us that we're all in the same boat and we must row
together because no one can save him or herself alone, and this applies to
every single challenge that we will share in the future. God bless you-all,
and thank you very much. >> The chair recognizes his Excellency, Alberto
Fernandez, President of the Republic of Argentina. >> Good afternoon,
everyone, Mr. President of the United States, heads of state and have
government, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to start by thanking the
organizers of the 9th Summit of the Americas. I'm sorry that all of us who
should have been here are not present in this forum that is so conducive to
debate. Today, I speak in my capacity as president pro tempore of a CELAC with
the community of Latin American and Caribbean States. There we live together
with diversity and respect for each other, we have different viewpoints,
however, we share similar concerns during the current very complicated time.
We are concerned that Latin America and the Caribbean have emerged from the
pandemic as the region with the greatest amount of debt in the developing
world. The average weight of external debt is over 77 percent of the gross
regional product. We're concerned about the informal labor sector, which
currently is over 50 percent. We are pained by this lottery by birth, which
means that people who are born in the humble towns of our region see a
practically 15-year drop in their life expectancy as compared to those who are
born in more affluent areas. Now, why are we undergoing such hardships if our
countries have given us what we need to produce food and energy more so than
in many regions of the world? The answer is found in the global order. The
central world has set financial rules that are evidently unequal, few people
have concentrated income, while millions of people are trapped and mired in
poverty. From the sidelines where we are placed, Latin America and the
Caribbean are pained to see the suffering of our brother and sister countries.
Cuba is bearing an embargo that is over six decades old imposed during the
years of the Cold War, and Venezuela is bearing another, while a pandemic that
is hitting humanity hard is taking with it millions of lives. With measures of
this time, the idea is to put conditions on governments, but in fact, it only
hurts people. We definitely would have wished for a different Summit of the
Americas, the silence of those who are absent is calling to us. So that this
does not happen again, I would like to say for the future, that the fact the
country is the host country of the summit, does not have the ability to impose
the right of admission on member conjures of the continent, dialogue and
diversity is the best tool to promote democracy, modernization, and the fight
against inequality. President Biden, I am sure that this is the time to open
up in a fraternal fashion in order to pursue common interests. The years
before your administration in the United States were marked by policies that
were immensely damaging to our region that were deployed by the administration
that came before you, it is time for these policies to change and for this
damage to be repaired. The OAS has been used as a gender arm that facilitated
a coup in Bolivia, they have appropriated the management of the IDB, which
historically was in Latin American hands, the actions of rapprochement to Cuba
were bitten down. >> Pop Francis had mediate that there had been significant
progress made during the administration Barack Obama while he was the
vice-president. The intervention of Donald Trump's administration before the
IMF was decisive in order to facilitate unsustainable debt for an Argentinian
government that was on the down swing. This was done with the only goal of
impeding the electoral triumph of political force. In the summit we must
analyze the present and look at tomorrow and look towards agreeable
reconstruction of multilateralism. We cannot impose a single thought in a
world that requires harmony given existing promise. Here I must point out the
urgent need to rebuild institutions that were created specifically to
integrate us, the OAS. If it wishes to be respected and if it wishes to once
again be the regional policy platform that it was created to be, it must be
restructured and those who must immediately be removed. The Regional
Development Banks must immediately return its governance to Latin America and
the Caribbean. The IDP requires the capitalization process in order to have
more and better means of financing in the America where we live. Exclusions to
well-being, sustainable financing and productive diversification to technology
for social progress and gender equality are not permissible. We must tackle
the challenge of dealing with the deep-seated causes that are living together
democratically at risk. The world is being threatened by opportunities by
people who hate in countries that are discouraged and very hit by the
pandemic, it is time to confront this. Latin America and the Caribbean know
about the need of integration as a basic condition in order to achieve
development. The Russian invasion of Ukraine fully impacts us. It is urgent
that we create for negotiation to put an end to this catastrophe with no
humiliation or desire to dominate without dehumanized geopolitics or
privileges of violence. The humanitarian tragedy that we currently see must
not blind us. I'm convinced that we face the opportunity to develop a true
common strategic partnership. I propose two large objectives. We must organize
at the continental level, the production of food and protein. And we must
develop a tremendous energy potential and a potential to produce critical
minerals for the ecological transition. I come from a humanistic country where
human rights are a value and at heart of identity. And we will always defend
these in every area. It is specifically because of this, that it is natural
for us to think about building a sustainable future, one that is resilient and
equal. As stated in the theme of this summit, I didn't come to Los Angeles to
argue over when to do it. The time is today, hunger attacks and we must only
debate how to do it. Given so much inequality, we must talk about the need to
have progressive taxation policies even when our domestic elites put these
forth as a danger to equality democracy, the unexpected income that the war
gave as a gift to huge the corporation's food, weapons, and oil corporations
must be taxed in order to improve the distribution of income. Why we were
elected if it was not to put forth measures to benefit all of the population
and not simply a few people. There is no theory of trickle-down of wealth that
we want. It is time for us to take note of this and act accordingly. Climate
change also presents us with new challenges. The Caribbean is experiencing
this dramatically and there's no time to wait for answers. We are
environmental creditors. We provide oxygen to the planet and we're not
responsible for the gas emissions that lead to the greenhouse effect. The
environmental injustice that we are experiencing is destroying our continent.
We must confront an ecological transition with sufficient financing in order
to mobilize innovation with social justice. Argentina is a peaceful country.
We continue to call their diplomatic groups for legitimate rights over the
Mavinas. We continue to trust in dialogue. After the tragedy of the pandemic,
we see wars as the triumph of human insensitivity we must build together.
United, renewed humanism as Pope Francis teaches, this must begin with the
last and reach every single person, either united or nominated. United by the
common cause or dominated by economic selfishness. United by multilateralism,
or dominated by polarization. United by democracy with social inclusion, or
dominated by individualism and collective misery. President Biden, I am here
trying to build bridges and tear down walls. As president of ECLKC, I would
like to invite you to participate in our next plenary meeting. I dream that in
America that is united as brothers that we commit to all human beings who live
on our continent. They all have the right to their daily bread, to land, a
roof over their heads, and two decent employment. Thank you very much. >> The
chair recognizes his Excellency, Antonio Gutierres, Secretary General of the
United Nations. >> President Biden, distinguished heads of state and
government, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. President Biden, thank you
very much for your invitation to be here today in Los Angeles. Like the
Americas itself, the city of [inaudible 00:56:15] both embodies and celebrates
the rich gift of diversity. Today it is more important than ever to bring the
countries of the Americas closer together and they'll deliver the prosperous,
democratic, and equitable societies that people expect. However, the
challenges loom large. It is essential to close the gap between the great
potential of this region and the daily struggles faced by the people who call
it home. Across the region, we see countries that continue to weighed down by
a toxic brew of inequality, poverty, crime, insecurity, and mistrust.
COVID-19, as it is region had, reversing, hard won development gains. Climate
change threatens to erase the entire communities from small island developing
states in the Caribbean to the fires that they've leveled communities here in
California. And the global consequences of looseness in Russia's invasion of
Ukraine and repairing across the world already struggling with rising
commodity prices, food insecurity, and high levels of poverty and inequality.
Inflation is growing, debt is growing, and many countries lack the fiscal
space and financial support to invest in recovery. And some middle-income
countries in desperate needs are considered ineligible for support from
international financial institutions. These stems from an over-reliance on
narrow measures of progress that count as production of richness. The
activities that are destroying our planet, and ignore the vulnerabilities to
external shocks and I refer the gross domestic product or the gross domestic
income that are far from translating the realities of all societies. In this
context, people see violence and the security that are driving them to flee
their homes and their countries. And they see increasing levels of gender
violence. And more fundamentally people risk to lose their face in their
governments and in their institutions. They see frequently crime and
corruption going unpunished. They see a broken global financial system that
benefits the wealthy and punishes the poor. They see lies, misinformation and
hate speech going viral, sawing divisions, mistrust and hatreds. And they hear
the voices of democracy drowned out by rising authoritarian and the
nationalist sentiments giving false promises of security and prosperity. This
summit allows us to face these challenges. We'll be able to look at the
development of these new challenges of all people. We're trying to provide. >>
Decent jobs, social welfare, and vaccination for all. This implies investing
in quality education for everyone. This implies reforming the world financial
assistance that all countries can access financing and debt relief in order to
invest in recovery. This implies ending with our dependency on fossil fuels to
make sure that we save biodiversity and financial support towards transition
and the adaptation of developing countries. It also implies looking newly on
migration making sure that people are received and protected and that they are
offered, they are afforded the security, the dignity that all of us deserve
based on the world part on migration. We require more cooperation between the
countries of origin, transit countries and destination countries and as a
center to our policies. We have to provide impartial justice systems in new
efforts vis-a-vis crime and violence, democratic systems that protect human
rights advocates and reflect the voice of the people and either build
multilateralism that will bring together all the world nations so that we can
face our common challenges. Dear friends, in every step that you take on this
journey, you will have the firm support of the United Nations. We would work
together in order to support people who are part of the hemispheric family. We
have to be there to provide the potential and aspirations of the Americas.
Thank you. >> Thank you to our speakers for this first plenary. Now I'd like
to ask President Biden to share a few words to close us out for this session.
>> I'll be very brief. I want to thank you again for participating in the
Summit. I think we're off to a strong start. Heard a lot of important ideas
raised. And notwithstanding some of the disagreements relating to
participation on the substantive matters, what I heard was almost unity,
uniformity, rational migration policy, doing something about a need to provide
access to recovery and funding, a situation where we concluded that we must
work on the environment in climate change and so many other things. And
there's no reason why the Western Hemisphere can't be the most
forward-looking, most democratic, most open and peaceful, secure region in the
world. We can lead the world and with the potential that exists in our people
and in our values. And so the way we achieve that vision, I think, is by
working together. And that's what we're doing in these last couple of days.
It's going to take a challenge that impacts on all of us and to unlock the
opportunities and the benefits that are available. But notwithstanding the
disagreements, think back what we heard today. We heard almost total agreement
on the substantive things that we should be doing. So let's get down to real
specifics in the next couple of days is that what those substantive things
are, how they're implemented , who implements them, how we agree on them, what
differences we have on them. So we get down to as an expression in English
goes to brass tax. There's probably a better Spanish rather phrase for it than
mine, but get down to really what's at stake so we can solve some serious
problems. Thank you all and enjoy the rest of the day. >> Thank you, Mr.
President. This concludes our first plenary and we look forward to the
conversation continuing tomorrow. Thank you