Laura Gamba
20 September 2023•Update: 20 September 2023
BOGOTA, Colombia
In his final address to the UN General Assembly, Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez made impassioned calls for international financial reform and decried the burden of debt on middle-income countries.
"The international financial system shows no willingness to adapt to a world that wants equality, instead insisting on enforcing the same orthodox policies that have deepened inequality and misery," said Fernandez. "The global financial architecture serves only to concentrate wealth in the hands of very few," he added.
Fernandez specifically pointed a finger at the International Monetary Fund for "applying excessive charges" to many countries that "make it unbearable to carry the weight of foreign debt".
"They are funding Ukraine amid a war while simultaneously imposing excessive interest charges."
The head of state joined the chorus of left-leaning leaders in the region who called for an end to the US blockade of Cuba and the removal of the island from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
"Argentina is firmly opposed to the use of unilateral coercive measures and the adoption of discriminatory trade practices. The perpetuation of the blockade against Cuba is inadmissible," he said.
He also called for an immediate end to the sanctions imposed by the US on Venezuela, expressing concern about the adverse impact these restrictions have had on the living conditions of the Venezuelan population, which he says, led many to seek refuge abroad.
Fernandez affirmed that the government's commitment is to continue fighting against impunity and investigating the attacks against Argentina in 1992 at the Israeli Embassy and in 1994 at the AMIA Jewish center in Buenos Aires. The AMIA Jewish center bombing, allegedly carried out by Hezbollah terrorists funded by Iran, killed 85 and injured hundreds.
"We want those responsible for such atrocious attacks to be identified, tried and condemned," said Fernandez.
He implored Iran to cooperate with the Argentinian judicial authorities in advancing the investigation into the bombing.
"We urge the international community to accompany us in our struggle by not receiving or harboring any of the accused, even when they enjoy diplomatic immunity. We must remember that they are subject to international arrest warrants and Interpol red alerts," he concluded.
