Ricardo Lagos Quotes

The law of nations is naturally founded on this principle, that different nations ought in time of peace to do one another all the good they can, and in time of war as little injury as possible, without prejudicing their real interests.

No country can be expected to make peace with a nation that denies its right to exist.

Nothing is more important in the preservation of peace than to secure among the great mass of the people living under constitutional government a just conception of the rights which their nation has against others and of the duties their nation owes to others.

So far as it depends on the course of this government, our relations of good will and friendship will be sedulously cultivated with all nations.

The theoretical postulate of all diplomatic discussion between nations is the assumed willingness of every nation to do justice.

Every government is in some respects a problem for every other government.

Whenever a foreign nation is conquered or has by their own will accepted the Great Peace their own system of internal government may continue, but they must cease all warfare against other nations

American foreign policy must uphold the sanctity of international treaties. That is the cornerstone on which all relations between nations must rest.

We do not believe that good relations with one country precludes good relations with another.

We are ready and open to a dialogue with all sides, all parties and all countries that respect the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Belarus.

Nations, like individuals in a state of nature, are equal and independent, possessing certain rights and owing certain duties to each other.

The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.

In terms of the espionage, this is something I have talked to President Obama about. We don't want it to mar the relationship between Mexico and the United States. But it is unacceptable for a country to practice such espionage, especially if there is a good relationship with the other country.

We can have a World War, I see absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have a World Party.

Several speeches were made by the chiefs during the council, all expressive in the highest degree of their friendly disposition towards our government, and their conduct in every particular manifested the sincerity of their declarations.

I think everyone must settle for what is in the parameter of their own rights. No one must have an evil intention toward the territorial benefit or integrity of other nations.

And Israel, being a tiny, small country, of course has interest to strengthen - we have interest to strengthen our relations with other countries, mostly countries that were hostile for many, many years.

Unilateral preemption should not in any way be the model for how we conduct international relations.

Our policy is to deepen the relations with all the countries in the world - monarchies, kingdoms, large powers - we want to respect all differences and have our relationships based on mutual respect.

The United States is a strong and ardent ally of Israel. The fact of the matter is that friends can disagree. I think what's important is that world leaders are able to sit down with one another, have frank conversations and move forward.

The Imperial German Government will not expect the Government of the United States to omit any word or any act necessary to the performance of its sacred duty of maintaining the rights of the United States and its citizens and of safeguarding their free exercise and enjoyment.

Additionally, borrowing a page from U.S. foreign policy, I decided to send a message to a government that was becoming increasingly hostile.

The links between the American government and the Iraqi government are so close that you cannot judge one without asking at least the other what he has done by this time.

Iraq will not allow any action on its soil that could harm the U.S. We don't want any action from our soil to target our neighbors.

The United States' administrations... must recognize that Iran is a big power. Having said that, we consider ourselves to be a human force and a cultural power and hence a friend of other nations. We have never sought to dominate others or to violate the rights of any other country.