American governments. Wetherefore consider ~hatresponsibility fortheproblemofourindebtedness cannotbeconsidered insimpleterms,suchasthatitissolelyourresponsibility anditisuptoustoresolveit..Allofthosehereknowfullwellthatthis crisishasvarious causesandthedebtors areonlypartlyresponsible. Weare debtors notbecause wewishtobeso,butbecause anunjustinternational economic orderhascompelled ustobecomesuch. Wehavenotdeniedourresponsibility, but wewishtomakeitclearthatthesolution tosuchamajorproblemalsolieswith theindustrialized countries, thelending banksandinternational financial institutions. CostaRicaacknowledges itsdebt.Itisattempting tomeetitdespite the harshtermsset,butitneedsreasonable termsOfpayment, inconsonance withits economic situation, sothatitcanconsolidate itspolitical, economic andsocial damocracy. CostaRicadevotes ahighpercentage ofitsresources totheimprovement and development ofitseducation andhealthsystems anditsphysical infrastructure.Itsdisarmament policymakesthispossible. However, inrecentyearsithashadto earmark St)me 5~percentofitsincome, deriving fromexports, toexternal debtsK/29 A/40/PV.9 123 (Mr.nutierrez, CostaRica) servicing. Wedonotspendmoneyonweapons~ norareweabletospendthesefunds ondevelopment. CostaRicaconsiders thatthescaleoftheproblemofLatinAmerican debtis suchthatitcannotbeignored bythisorganization. Wetherefore callonthe UnitedNationstogivepolitical andeconomic consideration tothesearchfor comprehensive andpractical solutions, aswellastofinding newmethods for negotiations whichwouldinvolveallparties whichinonewayoranother are responsible forthiscrisis. Onlythuscanwefindtherightpathtowards solvingthisurgentmatter. Theoverwhelming external debtisnot,however, theonlyproblemfilling the peoples ofLatinAmerica withdismay. Situations ofinjustice, aggression and violence continue toleaveascaronthelivesofthousands ofLatinAmericans. At thistime,themostcruelandvisible faceofthisreality isthecrisiswhichfor yearsnowhasbeenbesetting Central America, anareasorelytriedbyhistory and whosetraditional problems, inthemselves overwhelming, havenowbeencompounded. Despite thewishesandinterests ofitsinhabitants, Central America hasbecomea further arenaforEast-West confrontation, anoutletfortheconflict between extraregional Powers. Since1983,weinCentral America haveseenourselves involved inanambitious andinnovative negotiating process underthecommendable auspices ofColombia, Mexico, PanamaandVenezuela. TheContadora initiativ~, inspired bythe fundamental goaloffinding apeaceful solution tothecrisisinCentral America, hasbeendirected atfinding asolution toourproblems. TheContadora process has givenrisetogreatexpectations andthereaction toitbytheinternational community couldhardlyhavebeenmoreencouraging.A/4O/PV.9 124-125 (Mr.Gutierrez, CostaRica) Ithasbecomeco1mmonp1ace ininternational forumstoissueverypositive views oftheCcmtadora initiative. Tocommenditsspiritandtoexpress repeated support fortheContadora mdiation processisregarded astheJ:ightthingtodo.This I118gnificent support forCcntadora bytheinternational community isasourceof pleasure, because wealsobelieve, aswehavestatedonmanyoccasions, thatit constitutes themostviableoptl<mforthepeaceful andglobalsolution tothe problems ofCentral America. CostaRicacontinues tobelievethatthisviewisthecorrect one.Butmy counttyconsiders thatthetimehascomeforustoseethefruitsofthisprocess, toseerealsolutions ratherthanwords. Otherwise, COIl1tadora runstheriskof becoming anendinitselfandanendless roundofnegotiations resolving nothing. Thelossofcredibility ofthisLatinAmerican initiative wouldhavetragic anddis~strous consequences. Itwouldprovide further arguments forthosewho believethattheswordandtheriflearetheonlymeansforresolving Central America's problems. Inthisconnection, wewerehighlysatisfied andencouraged atthesighificant progress achieVed inthelastmeetingoftheForeign Ministers ofCentral America andtheContadora countries whichtookplaceinPanamaon12and13September. TodaywehavebeforeusanewversionofthedraftContadora ActonPeaceand Co-operation inCentral America. Wehavegoodreasonstobelievethattodaywecan stateherethatwefindourselves atatimeofhopeandthatthereareprospects of apractical solution intherelatively nearfuture.BCT/at A/40/PV.9 126 (Mr.Gutierrez, CostaRica) Forthepeaceandprosperity ofCentral America, weverymuchhopethatthis isthecase,andwetherefore vehemently urgealltheparties andallthecountries thatinonewayor.anotherarepresent, asitwere,intheCentral American c~isis todemonstrate withfactstheirdetermination toprovide aconcrete solution tothe problem inourregion. Letrealstepsbetakentosubscribe toandratifythis vitaldocument; lettherebethepolitical willthatissoindispensable ifthis majorpeaceeffortistobecomeabindinglegalcommdtment. CostaRicahopesthatthrough themachinery tobeestablished pursuant tothe
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a statement by Costa Rica's representative to the United Nations, addressing the country's debt crisis and its implications on the region. The speech touches on the economic situation, international relations, and regional conflicts, making it a complex issue that transcends a single category.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade, International relations