Mexican President Proposes
A Global Truce for Peace
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador / Office of the President

(September 16, 2022) — Leading the civic-military parade for the 212th Anniversary of the Beginning of Independence, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador presented the proposal for a world truce for five years to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, promote peace and reverse the effects of inflation.

It is about, he said, addressing “the great and serious economic and social problems that afflict and torment the people” because “without peace there will be no economic growth, much less justice.”

The initiative includes the immediate suspension of military actions and provocations, as well as nuclear and missile tests; establishes the commitment of all States to avoid confrontations and not intervene in internal conflicts.

In addition, the creation of a committee to promote dialogue between the presidents of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski. They will act as possible mediators, if they accept it, Pope Francis, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and the UN Secretary, António Guterres.

The head of the Executive explained that the person in charge of presenting the document, on behalf of the Government of Mexico, will be the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon.

“Hopefully we will be successful with this initiative, but, even if what happens, it will never be in vain to fight for justice and peace,” he said.

Accompanied by the Legal and Extended Cabinet and special guests, the president reaffirmed his position of rejecting the war and foreign interventions.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is undoubtedly reprehensible. I take this opportunity to endorse that we Mexicans do not accept any foreign intervention because we have been victims of five of these great calamities: one, with several attempts to reconquer Spain; two from France and two from the United States of America; those invasions have cost us blood, martyrdom and territory”, he argued.

The president was accompanied by Dr. Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller and the head of the Government of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

On behalf of the federal government, the Secretaries of National Defense, Luis Cresencio Sandoval González; from the Navy, José Rafael Ojeda Durán; of the Interior, Adán Augusto López Hernández; of Foreign Relations, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon; of Finance and Public Credit, Rogelio Ramírez de la O; of the Public Function, Roberto Salcedo Aquino; of Health, Jorge Alcocer Varela; of Public Education, Leticia Ramírez Amaya; of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marqués; Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez; of Welfare, Ariadna Montiel Reyes; of Energy, Rocío Nahle García; of Labor and Social Welfare, Luisa María Alcalde Luján and of Culture, Alejandra Frausto Guerrero.

In addition, the undersecretaries of National Defense, Agustín Radilla Suastegui; of the Navy, José Luis Arellano Ruiz and of Infrastructure of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport, Jorge Nuño Lara; the legal adviser of the Federal Executive, María Estela Ríos González; the general coordinator of Social Communication and spokesman for the Government of the Republic, Jesús Ramírez Cuevas; the senior official of the Ministry of National Defense, Gabriel García Rincón; the senior officer of the Secretary of the Navy, César Carlos Preciado Velázquez; the chief of the National Defense General Staff, Ricardo Trevilla Trejo; the commander of the Mexican Army, Celestino Ávila Astudillo; the inspector and comptroller general of the Secretary of the Navy, José Tomás Jorge Tress Zilly; the General Chief of Police Coordination of the National Guard, From the Judicial Power, the President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, Arturo Zaldívar Lelo de Larrea, and from the Legislative Power, the presidents of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Deputies, Santiago Creel Miranda, and of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Deputies, attended.

UN Secretary Guterres and Pope Francis call for peace.

Mexican President Previews
Ukraine Peace Plan after Criticizing UN
Reuters

MEXICO CITY (September 12, 2022) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday said his government would present a plan to the United Nations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, moments after criticizing the world body and calling for it to be reformed.

Lopez Obrador, who expounds on the virtues of a non-interventionist foreign policy, said his plan involves the creation of a “mediation committee” that includes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Pope Francis.

Modi in May called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and peace talks between the Kyiv government and Russia, which invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24.

Under Lopez Obrador’s plan, the mediators would immediately start talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to achieve “a truce of at least five years.”

The plan was scant on other details, but Lopez Obrador told a regular news conference he will discuss it further in a speech celebrating Mexico’s independence on Friday.

“I’m going to talk about world peace and I’m going to talk about Mexico’s position on the war in Russia and Ukraine, and I am going to present a proposal to the United Nations to achieve peace,” Lopez Obrador said.

The war has displaced millions, killed thousands of civilians and left cities, towns and villages in ruins.

The Mexican leader presented his idea of including UN chief Guterres in his peace plan days after he defiantly dismissed criticism of his security policy by domestic adversaries and the UN following a vote in Congress to give the Army control over the civilian-led National Guard.

On Monday, Lopez Obrador described the United Nations, along with the Washington-based Organization of American States, as “supposed defenders” of human rights, saying they cost too much, provided no results and needed to be reformed.
“And when I say they cost a lot: it’s that they earn in dollars and barely break a sweat, they don’t work and you have to pay them and it’s as if they are untouchable, they feel like members of the world government.”

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard is expected to present the peace plan at the UN’s annual General Assembly next week in New York.

Reporting by Anthony Esposito, Raul Cortes and Brendan O’Boyle; Grant McCool.

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