UN General Assembly
2001

task of reconciling all humankind. The Republic of Panama will persist in this task and will always advocate peaceful solutions to conflicts through dialogue and the rejection of violence as the means to resolve internal or international disputes. Other examples of situations that cause unnecessary friction and that could be resolved through dialogue are the issues of the Saharan people’s right to self-determination, the Argentine Republic’s claim to the Falkland Islands, and the representation of the Republic of China on Taiwan in the United Nations system while the internal situation of that fraternal people is being resolved. Panama defends human rights without reservation and will never accept acts which violate them, wherever the violations occur and whatever the circumstances used to try to justify those violations. Let us add to this very clear position of ours our sincere commitment to the universal campaign for the rights of the child and to the fight against HIV/AIDS, as these are an essential part of human rights. On this latter issue, Panama considers that the key to any future