Guatemala: democracy, sovereignty and transition

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Distinguished representatives of the Member States and observer States, Mr. Secretary General, Mr. Assistant Secretary General, friends all: "Democracy is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." This immortal phrase of Nelson Mandela is no mere set of words; it is an echo of the eternal struggle for freedom and human dignity. For us, the Dominicans of today, democracy is not just a term; it is a lived experience woven into the soul of our nation, which, seeking hope in a sea of uncertainty, forged it in the crucible of effort and sacrifice. That breath drives our social and economic development.

Thus, in the Dominican Republic, we have learned that stability and progress are not simple companions of our young and spirited democracy. No. They are very precious fruits that grew from that seed, cultivated with the perseverance and passion of united, worthy and hard-working Dominicans. And we Dominicans do not forget. In the most critical moments, we have always had and felt the strength of the solidarity of many of you here. And that is why we are here today.

Dear colleagues, today we turn our eyes toward Guatemala and raise our voice, not only in concern but also in the hope that maturity and responsibility will light the way. We reaffirm firmly: the attempt to disregard the voice of the Guatemalan people cannot and must not be tolerated. Democracy demands unbreakable respect for the electoral results, which today shine with the clarity of truth, validated by international observers and sealed in the records of history by thousands of Guatemalan men and women.

We urge the institutional actors to embrace prudence and serenity, and to reject vehemently any attempt to obscure that reality with manipulation or distortion. We also look with unease on events in Guatemala that seem to undermine the very foundations of governance: selective persecution and the attempts to constrain the incoming administration even now give rise to a concern that resounds beyond its borders. If all this is not a call to constructive dialogue and deep reflection, we do not know what is.

Another matter of interest is freedom of expression, of thought and of a free press. These are the pillars on which a sturdy democracy stands. A free press is not a luxury but a necessity for a healthy democracy. We observe, with a mixture of concern and bewilderment, the attempts to silence dissenting voices and the base and cowardly onslaught of the net centers in cyberspace.

In that regard, I open a parenthesis to recall a universal truth: it is with reason and love that we win minds and hearts. It is not through hatred and irrationality, but with understanding and compassion, that we forge paths toward unity and understanding. In every word and every gesture, let us seek to inspire, not to divide; to embrace, not to reject, because it is on the ground of respect and empathy that the truest human connections flourish.

The last of the concerns we wish to raise today relates to the presidential transition. Guatemala, under the watchful gaze of the world, stands at the crossroads of defining its future. It has the opportunity to show commitment and to write a new chapter imbued with the dignity of its people.

Mr. Chair, dear colleagues, allow me at this crucial moment to speak of what truly defines sovereignty, which is not an empty word but the echo of the will of the people, resounding in every vote cast, in every dream longed for, in every voice raised to define the course of a nation.

True sovereignty is measured not only in respect for freedom, but also in the dignity of every citizen and in the justice that can be felt in every street and every corner of life. Now, when fundamental rights are darkened under the shadow of a distorted interpretation of sovereignty, we are summoned to a collective responsibility. And we are not mere observers of history; we are its makers. This responsibility unites us all, transcends borders and politics, and weaves a bond that embraces this entire international community.

We are here today not as countries divided by ideologies, but as guardians of the principles on which our free societies rest. Before their erosion, silence is complicit, but dialogue emerges as the beacon that guides toward a more promising future. Sovereignty, in its purest essence, is not a veil to hide injustices, but a standard that flies high, that celebrates and honors the values that unite us as one humanity, in the tone, color and shade that our individualities give it. Today, the voice of the international community is not a murmur but a clear and firm cry: we come not to impose but to support, to back the tireless quest of the peoples of the Americas for freedom and democracy.

Mr. Chair, in these challenging times, we look toward Guatemala with that mixture of concern and hope to which I referred at the beginning. From the sunlit lands of the Dominican Republic, we extend a fraternal embrace of solidarity to Guatemala. We recognize the turbulent waves you face, sailing seas of division in these dark days and nights, with winds of uncertainty, clouds of doubt and lightning of unrest. You do not deserve that.

To conclude, and to breathe in a little optimism: in the thick of so adverse a storm, never forget that you are not alone and that everything passes. Everything passes. We, your brothers and sisters of the Americas, are with you, sharing every sigh and every hope. Your anguish is our anguish. Your longings are our longings.

We know, moreover, that in the vivid palette of Maya culture every color tells a story, every tone is a reflection of life and every shade is a song to the cosmos. Today, Guatemala stands before an immaculate canvas, ready to be adorned with the colors of a future yet to be defined. Every Guatemalan holds in their hands a brush steeped in dreams and possibilities. Every stroke, from the most timid to the boldest, contributed by the spirited young, the indigenous communities, the ancestral peoples, the professionals, the academics, the wise and the productive sector, adds to the creation of a collective masterpiece. I mean a tomorrow in which justice and equality shine with the brilliance of the sun on a summer afternoon.

I conclude with an invitation to Guatemala: do not allow the shadows of pessimism to eclipse the dawn. Do not let a few rob the hope of many. Do not abandon the path toward the destiny that, with effort, wisdom and democratic values, you can and must reach. Guatemala carries within it, like a seed in the darkness of the earth, the strength to flourish. May you water it with unity and fertile optimism. Only thus will the light break of a luminous future of opportunity and change, one that honors the legacy of your Maya ancestors and enriches the fabric of our America.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.