Guatemala: the red carnation

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

The resolution we adopt today is not the epitome of our aspirations. Yet even if it does not reach the perfection some would have preferred, it is a significant advance and an expression of shared values, a testimony to the importance we attach to democracy and to respect for the popular will. Despite differing political visions, today we are united by the conviction that democracy is sacrosanct and that the right of peoples to determine their destiny is inalienable.

We also take this opportunity to reaffirm our confidence in the Missions of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Guatemala, both the Electoral Observation Mission and the Mediation Mission, whose efforts have been and are crucial to supporting a peaceful and orderly transition. We urge all parties to take an active part in the initiatives of dialogue and mediation sponsored by this Organization.

Mr. Chair, we will continue to denounce any attempt to undermine the transition in Guatemala, because that contravenes the will of the Guatemalan people expressed at the polls. We call on all Guatemalan institutions, as the resolution we have just adopted states, to respect the integrity of the electoral process and to cease all acts of intimidation, which some who know the subject suggest already border on the obsessive.

Dear colleagues, we are witnessing a moment in which the voice of Guatemala rises with the force and clarity of a nuclear reaction, but in a symphony of peace and democracy. It is a reaction which, though peaceful, can resound with the power to change not only a nation but the heart of an entire region. So, as if it were a nuclear explosion, the voices in Guatemala have released an energy that crosses borders, a shock wave of democratic desire that has been felt even in calm waters at other latitudes.

Here, almost five thousand kilometers away, we have felt the vibration and the roar, the warmth of their civic commitment and the light of a hope that dispels the shadow of authoritarianism and exclusion. That collective feeling, the exemplary coming together of political leaders, indigenous movements and civil society, is a reminder that true strength does not lie in stridency or violence, but in the calm and firm conviction of a people that longs for change, not through destruction but through the metamorphosis of its society. A change that is both an inspiration and a call to action for those of us who value freedom and democracy.

So, from a distance, we observe, we learn and we stand in solidarity with the peaceful and democratic demand of the ancestral peoples, the students, civil society and the sensible political forces. A struggle which, though born in the streets of one country, belongs to all those who dare to dream of a better tomorrow.

At the same time, we recognize the conduct of the Guatemalan authorities, who have managed to get through difficult moments without committing excesses and to make rapprochement and dialogue possible. The challenges, however, are real; but history teaches us that change is possible, that justice and democracy can flourish even in arid ground if the right seeds are cultivated with the dedication and constancy they deserve.

Dear colleagues, allow me now to travel in time with you and connect the present with the past, because everything makes sense when placed in context. Since the dawn of time, the ancestral peoples of Guatemala have been the silent caretakers of that country, with a wisdom that transcends generations. They have woven stories of resistance and resilience in the face of injustice, abuse and actions against the popular will. With unbreakable dignity, they have shown the world what it means to protest peacefully, without taking up arms but with an indomitable strength in their hearts. They have conducted their protests with honor and rectitude.

That age-old dance of resistance reminds us that there are ways of raising one's voice without breaking the silence. Just that. Exactly that: there are ways of raising one's voice without breaking the silence. In their conduct we find a lesson in humility and strength, a reminder that the true battle is won with integrity of spirit and the conviction that justice will always prevail.

Nor can we forget that democracy in the Americas, and in Guatemala, which is one of so many examples, has been watered with the blood of the brave, with the sweat of its working people and with the tears of the mothers who have dreamed of a better future for their children. Every vote and every voice that is raised is a red carnation in the garden of freedom, a tribute to those who fought for justice, for peace, for freedom, for the right to decide the destiny of their nation.

There is, then, no better moment to evoke the life and legacy of three illustrious Guatemalans. I refer to Oliverio Castañeda, Irma Flaquer and Myrna Mack. Their lives remind us that the defense of democracy requires courage and entails sacrifice. Each, in their own way, has become a symbol of the struggle for a true democracy and of the defense of human rights, justice, freedom and truth, in times when the darkness of oppression seemed impenetrable.

Oliverio Castañeda de León, with the bright energy of his youth, taught that the longing of the young for freedom is eternal. Irma Flaquer, with her unbreakable voice and imperishable pen, reminds us that silence must never be an option in the face of injustice. Myrna Mack, with her deep conviction of justice, advocated unceasingly for human rights and shed light on the hardships and the ravages that the internal conflict inflicted on the many, on those who are the majority in every respect.

The three of them summon us, from collective memory, to take a resolute and peaceful stand to demand accountability from those who attack democratic ideals; to be like the persistent flow of water, whose constant and serene pressure shapes and transforms, which erodes the pillars of corruption and impunity with collective strength and unity of purpose. For the strength of a people cannot be contained when it unites in pursuit of a higher purpose.

To conclude, Mr. Chair, the red carnation that my Delegation has placed before each of you today is much more than a flower. It is a powerful symbol that goes beyond its natural beauty. We are also symbolizing our shared commitment as an international community to support Guatemala in its persistent struggle toward progress, justice and dignity. May this red carnation be a bond that unites us, a constant reminder of our support and of our collective responsibility to foster and protect democratic values. By their presence on every table, these carnations do not merely decorate; they invite a deeper reflection on the price of democracy and the cost of indifference.

And on this journey, Guatemalans are not alone. We, the community of inter-American nations, sisters in aspirations and challenges, extend our hands in an embrace of solidarity. Together we support Guatemala in its noble walk toward a future where every step is a step of peace, where every gesture is a gesture of unity, where every word is a verse of love toward you. The sacrifice of many has been the seed. The task today is to cultivate the fruit of those ideals.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.