Hugo Martínez, El Salvador's New Vision
El Salvador's new vision to the world
By Hugo Martinez
The political scenario in El Salvador has changed significantly since the signing of the Peace Accords in 1992. We have come a long way from years when Washington and the world talked about us in terms of a long and painful war. Last March 15, Salvadorans elected the first leftist government to the presidency. With the arrival of President Mauricio Funes and the FMLN Party, the Salvadoran government has risen to the challenge of writing a new history for our country and bringing about the necessary changes for people to achieve a better future.
The new history stems from the desire of most Salvadorans to change all that was not accomplished in the last 17 years. We had peace, yes, but lacked fairness and justice. We did not govern for our countrymen in need, for those who, as our martyred Archbishop Monsenor Oscar A. Romero said, never had a voice. This government wants, above all, to be that voice.
By Hugo Martinez
The political scenario in El Salvador has changed significantly since the signing of the Peace Accords in 1992. We have come a long way from years when Washington and the world talked about us in terms of a long and painful war. Last March 15, Salvadorans elected the first leftist government to the presidency. With the arrival of President Mauricio Funes and the FMLN Party, the Salvadoran government has risen to the challenge of writing a new history for our country and bringing about the necessary changes for people to achieve a better future.
The new history stems from the desire of most Salvadorans to change all that was not accomplished in the last 17 years. We had peace, yes, but lacked fairness and justice. We did not govern for our countrymen in need, for those who, as our martyred Archbishop Monsenor Oscar A. Romero said, never had a voice. This government wants, above all, to be that voice.
With this yearning for change, the government initiated bold steps to undertake, from the beginning, fundamental issues never addressed by previous administrations, due to either lack of political courage, vision, or simple collusion with major economic powers. We are now engaged in completing a tax reform that will allow us to expand the tax base, to ensure better living conditions for our citizens and thus tackle, in the medium term, the mass migration of Salvadorans seeking in other countries what their country has yet to provide.
Our government is resolved to fight against impunity, which previous administrations had failed to eradicate, and is committed to regional security and determined to eliminate infiltration within our institutions by drug traffickers and organized crime.
The concept of change extends to our foreign policy, which will be guided by our nation's interests, and certainly not the interests of any group, be it economic, political or ideological. Our priorities will be bilateral and multilateral relations in the new world order, respect for international law and human rights and the unwavering and comprehensive battle against organized crime in the region.
For El Salvador, a country that wants to find friends in the world, diversity of thought in the Americas is an advantage. We want to open our frontiers to bind our friendship among peoples and nations. In that path we hope to have the same respect that we offer.
We recognize the leadership of President Barack Obama In the international domain. From our government's first contact with him at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, as President Funes stated, President Obama showed the Americas one of the best faces that the United States has had in its history. President Funes, then newly elected, welcomed his words regarding the possibility to live in a world of peace and respect, a priority also shared by our nation.
During the next five years, we look forward to laying down foundations for an inclusive economic policy that allows Salvadorans to find in their country, the dream of prosperity they have searched for beyond our borders, We have therefore, launched a pilot program of permanent employment in two municipalities largely impacted by immigration, as one of the starting points of our new economic policy.
Nevertheless, we recognize the value of the contributions that our countrymen have made to the cultures and economies of those countries where they have migrated, especially the United States. We acknowledge, support and advocate for those Salvadorans who, especially in the last two decades, have become the main platform of our economy. And so, in the short term, our government will look after the interests and immigration stability of those who live, work and pay taxes in their host countries
We hope that one of the most fruitful issues of our dialogue with the Obama administration be related to comprehensive immigration reform. We understand that any legal decision regarding the regulatory framework of migration in the United States is an exclusive decision of U.S. legislators and are respectful of that. But we join the voices of those who, within and outside the United States borders, are advocating for a reform that guarantees respect of human rights of our compatriots among all.
I was recently in Washington, D.C., to discuss with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the aforementioned issues and to reiterate the deep respect and friendship from the people and the government El Salvador. From my first visit in 2001, invited by the State Department with a group of young politicians in Latin America, to my first official visit as foreign minister, I can state that it was gratifying to see the sense of change that now permeates in the U.S. capitol, and rewarding to come as an envoy of El Salvador's new government of change.
Hugo R. Martinez is foreign minister of El Salvador - Source: elsalvador.org
Our government is resolved to fight against impunity, which previous administrations had failed to eradicate, and is committed to regional security and determined to eliminate infiltration within our institutions by drug traffickers and organized crime.
The concept of change extends to our foreign policy, which will be guided by our nation's interests, and certainly not the interests of any group, be it economic, political or ideological. Our priorities will be bilateral and multilateral relations in the new world order, respect for international law and human rights and the unwavering and comprehensive battle against organized crime in the region.
For El Salvador, a country that wants to find friends in the world, diversity of thought in the Americas is an advantage. We want to open our frontiers to bind our friendship among peoples and nations. In that path we hope to have the same respect that we offer.
We recognize the leadership of President Barack Obama In the international domain. From our government's first contact with him at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, as President Funes stated, President Obama showed the Americas one of the best faces that the United States has had in its history. President Funes, then newly elected, welcomed his words regarding the possibility to live in a world of peace and respect, a priority also shared by our nation.
During the next five years, we look forward to laying down foundations for an inclusive economic policy that allows Salvadorans to find in their country, the dream of prosperity they have searched for beyond our borders, We have therefore, launched a pilot program of permanent employment in two municipalities largely impacted by immigration, as one of the starting points of our new economic policy.
Nevertheless, we recognize the value of the contributions that our countrymen have made to the cultures and economies of those countries where they have migrated, especially the United States. We acknowledge, support and advocate for those Salvadorans who, especially in the last two decades, have become the main platform of our economy. And so, in the short term, our government will look after the interests and immigration stability of those who live, work and pay taxes in their host countries
We hope that one of the most fruitful issues of our dialogue with the Obama administration be related to comprehensive immigration reform. We understand that any legal decision regarding the regulatory framework of migration in the United States is an exclusive decision of U.S. legislators and are respectful of that. But we join the voices of those who, within and outside the United States borders, are advocating for a reform that guarantees respect of human rights of our compatriots among all.
I was recently in Washington, D.C., to discuss with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the aforementioned issues and to reiterate the deep respect and friendship from the people and the government El Salvador. From my first visit in 2001, invited by the State Department with a group of young politicians in Latin America, to my first official visit as foreign minister, I can state that it was gratifying to see the sense of change that now permeates in the U.S. capitol, and rewarding to come as an envoy of El Salvador's new government of change.
Hugo R. Martinez is foreign minister of El Salvador - Source: elsalvador.org
How about the Polistepeque´s arrangement Mr. Martinez
ReplyDeleteIs not that at least a continuation of poor transparency and an example of political comnpadrazgo?
This article has the firm of Mr. Martinez, but who is behind is Mr. Hector Silva Avalos.
ReplyDeleteWe have therefore, launched a pilot program of permanent employment in two municipalities largely impacted by immigration, as one of the starting points of our new economic policy.
ReplyDeleteWhich municipalities?
More specific, please.
Mr. Minister, lets speak clearly and stop BS-ing
ReplyDeleteThere are at least 2.5 million Salvadorans in the US, and over 2,000 community leaders across the United States alone who fight day in and day out for the dignity and the advancement of the Salvadoran people.
That is verifiable fact.
Now tell me Mr. Minister Martinez how many Salvadorans from those 2.5 millions of the called Diaspora have been included in your government??
None. That´s the hard truth and that’s very, very sad and it looks quite horrible and hypocrite in your column when you state charming to the wold: “Inclusive” government.
No sir, you are not being so “inclusive” nor “fair” with the more than 3.3 Salvadoran immigrants living abroad.
Until you fix that, you cannot roll out your tongue speaking for the interests of the Salvadoran communities abroad.
A. Cardoza
In order to bring "a new world order", how does the foreign minister, Mr. Matinez, plans to bring those involved in organized crime to justice? Will they have "due process", and will they be sentenced correctly under verifiable judgement? Will the atrocities done to criminals and non-criminals be stopped? How will the situation in the streets with "policia del estado" and gangs be addressed?
ReplyDeleteMr. Martinez
ReplyDeleteSince June 1 (Funes Era) there have been 2470 homicides, that averages 16.16 killed each day.
How many of those killers are brought to Justice??
I believe less than 2%.
I rest my case
The Chancellor Mr. Hugo Martinez make at least 3 different points of his agenda to develop en Funes administration term.
ReplyDelete1. To communicate that the changes are not easy, after all, there are more than 20 years of abuse in the State Foreign Affairs offices and other attaches.
2. That the influence of the Salvadoran abroad are sentitive (at least in ideas).
3. That the challenges to participate is open and its consideration are undergoing.
I hope this article have more evidence in three points but we have enough patience to continue to observe the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its duties amoung our Diaspore.
Jose Matatias Delgado Y Del Hambre.
Mr. Martinez,
ReplyDeleteHere in the US that’s simply called rhetoric: political words that sound good and look niece.
Unemployment, crime and murder are going up in El Salvador.
Is not your fault, we know, but it is has been 7 months since change came to El Salvador and those three major national issues keep getting worse.
Do us a favor, not take a day off your duties as Minister to write a column that's filled with rhetoric.
Results first please, and maybe then rhetoric.
Mr. Martinez how about the practice of nepotism in your government of hope and change, starting with your relatives in the minister of foreign relations?
ReplyDeleteLet's talk about transparency!
Jose Cardona
San Jose California
Dimplomat Hugo Martinez,
ReplyDeleteLets talk straight.
3.5 Million Salvadorans abroad is a lot of people.
Not three, not two, not one, no one, nothing, nada. Not even one single Salvadoran immigrant in Funes’ Administration and not a single one working in the Foreign Relations Ministry you preside.
No, Mr. Martinez your government could, and still can do, better in meeting the challenge of inclusiveness.