Mr. Editor of the Taipei Times, I have the pleasure to address you on the occasion of requesting the Right of Reply, enshrined in International Law, on the editorial article of your newspaper dated March 22, 2024, titled “The Taiwan-Paraguay Relationship,” which is detailed below.
The democratic values of a state are the set of ethical, moral and social virtues, based on a series of beliefs and behaviors, which a given society sustains. They support their actions, both in the internal sphere and in the external sphere of the nation. It is within this context that Paraguay has given a number of principles of international law the status of constitutional foundations of our foreign policy.
Our Constitution, in its Part II “On the Political Order of the Republic,” Title I “On the Nation and the State,” Chapter II “On International Relations,” in its Article 143, expresses: “The Republic of Paraguay, in its international relations, it accepts international law and conforms to the following principles: … 2) the self-determination of peoples …”
This concept means the right of a people to decide its own forms of government, pursue its economic, social and cultural development, and structure itself freely, without external interference and in accordance with the principles of equity and equality. It also means the right to interact with other nations that make up the international system and that no foreign state can encroach on that right.
Since the establishment of democracy in my country in February 1989, numerous legal provisions have established the defense and promotion of democracy as a basic principle of Paraguayan foreign policy. What has been clearly reflected in international scenarios such as support for UN peace operations, declarations on human rights violations in other countries and the repeated request both in the UN Assembly and in the various international organizations, the reintegration of Taiwan into the international system.
There is no doubt that we must consider the existence of two main aspects in the contribution of foreign policy to the consolidation of the observance of human rights and democracy in our nation. First, by strengthening political and economic ties with those countries that share the same values and have as a rule the full validity of the rule of law, as is the case with this island, and secondly, establishing formal agreements that contribute to strengthening and protecting human rights and democratic institutions around the world, appealing to international solidarity through the establishment of multilateral commitments that seek to protect and consolidate this system of life around the world.
Thus, we can summarize Paraguay’s foreign policy in the field of human rights and democracy in four main purposes:
One: Democratic coexistence according to the model established in the Constitution of 1992.
Two: Security understood as the effective protection of the life and rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as the defense, stability, continuity and territorial integrity of the state.
Three: Sustainable prosperity; or, what is the same, a country aimed at achieving economic well-being based on growth, social cohesion, job creation, respect for the environment, competitiveness of the productive fabric, secure access to energy supply, the possibility of obtaining financing, and fiscal responsibility.
Four: Culture and knowledge, understood from the respect for diversity and variety of positions and thoughts. Based on these principles and values, Paraguay develops its foreign policy and it is incorrect and offensive to assume that other motives are guiding, as stated in the aforementioned editorial.
In closing, I would like to recall Israeli leader David Ben-Gurion who said: “Without moral and intellectual independence, there is no anchor for national independence.”
Paraguay is currently a model of democracy and full observance of rights, and the categorizations expressed by foreigners often lack objectivity because they point to different models from the mentality of our people, a fact that Taiwanese know in depth.
The author of the article in question in this newspaper should know more about Paraguay to be able to talk about it, otherwise he becomes only a spokesperson for organizations or individuals who have a particular interest in damaging the image of my country and the solid relations between two fraternal peoples, such as Paraguay and Taiwan.
I take this opportunity to greet you with my most distinguished appreciation.
Carlos Jose Fleitas Rodriguez is the Ambassador of Paraguay to the Republic of China (Taiwan).
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