International Seminar on Disarmament

Lima, Perú
Dec-1999

"The Treaty of Tlatelolco and Possibility of the
Globalization of Disarmament"

Mr. Luis Echeverría Álvarez
Former President of Mexico 1970-1976

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This meeting of experts on disarmament and denuclearization is politically suitable to examine the objetive conditions in which our peoples are inmersed during the current process designated globalization.

A key factor to achieve a widely productive character in the current global events is the role that the electronic means of comunication can play.

To convince them of creating an International awareness in all areas in favour of nuclear disarmament may very well be a feasible utopia.

A third of a century ago, there was another idea that was considered then an impossible utopia, and now it has been proven that it is quite possible with the stimulus provided first by the Treaty of Tlatelolco, and then by those of Pelindaba, Bangkok and Rarotonga.

Now the OPANAL may be the bearer of a well structured inactive for the massive means of communication to launch a world-wide campaign that may result in a global consensus, in a veritable culture, for disarmament and total elimination of nuclear arsenals and testing.

It is only fair that we express in this International Seminar our gratitude, indeed our most profund recognition to those governments and experts that for more than thirty years have devoted their utmost efforts to the sole purpose of establishing in our region a mechanism that shall free us of the nuclear threat.

Latin-American political ingenuity has been fecund and full of contributions for this area free of nuclear armament and has fulfilled its regional objectives. However, the time has come to fight in favour of an arrangement that guarantees the security of all nations.

As a consequence of the disproportion caused by the nations with a greater military, economic and comercial develoment, for many countries engaged in their own develoment project, globalization has been enacting a new geopolitical order that represents a supremacy of commercial and financial interests.

It has been increasing the great historical contrasts that, in all truth, are favourable to none.

In the rapid commercial and financial International disclosure, faced with events that quite frequently exceed by far the perceptions of the governments of the most powerful nations themselves not only do the circumstances that characterized the Cold War seem to be reborn, those which constituted a doctrine of an ensured mutual destruction, but indeed, also the sadly proven possibility of accidents with a polluting aftermath that overflow geographical boundaries militarily well defended.

It is known that the worst ecological damages, caused by either war or accident, would prove unstoppable for all, regardless of political boundaries.

OPANAL could now undertake another task, surely of the utmost transcendence, either within or in the face of globalization.

The global society currently in the making must be able to percieve the dangers inherent for the International community, including those quarters and interests wich so far have received the greatest financial and commercial benefits.

Issues related to amore equitable and peaceful world as the United Nations Organization has desired since its inception, require a profound understanding of the dangers inherent to belligerence or accidental events that would affect the International community, without exception.

Independently, or better yet, in synchronicity with the similarities and differences the electronic media may have with the advance of the governmental power and International interests in business, is it not possible that the OPANAL should make an urgent call to the world communication media on the risks existing for all the great interests now at stake?

Thank you.