> >from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: G77: South African President speaks. Final Declaration > [MORE THAN A WEEKLY] > [BIENVENIDOS A GRANMA INTERNACIONAL] > April 17, 2000 > > Thabo Mbeki: The South has a more coherent voice > >* Inequality and poverty the key problems >* Normalizing North-South dialogue >* Havana Summit has strengthened Group of 77 >* Expanded relations with Cuba > > BY MIREYA CASTANEDA (Granma International staff writer) > >THE central challenge of the modern economy is to achieve an >agreement with the rich nations and international agencies in regard > >to the poverty and inequality stifling the countries of the South, >according to South African President Thabo Mbeki. > >In his double position as South African head of state and president > >of the Non-Aligned Movement, Mbeki, attending the South Summit of >the Group of 77 (G-77)-held April 10-14-stated at a press conference > >in Havana that in his opinion, various essential issues have to be >solved. > >In his view, the first of them is to put an end to poverty and >inequality, the scourge of the developing nations, noting that the >way to achieve that is to reach an agreement with the rich nations >and international agencies. > > The South African statesman noted that this is not a recent >"discovery," as it has been on the table since the 9th meeting of >the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), was a central >aspect of the World Trade Organization meeting, and came up with >great clarity during the Asian financial crisis. > >So much so, Mbeki stressed, that international agencies like the >International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank perceived the >need to discuss that situation. > >For its part, the South has always been aware of that need, and has > >raised the issue at the meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement, held >in South Africa; of the G-77; and more recently, between the >European Union (EU) and Africa, held in Cairo. > >Fortunately, the issue of poverty and inequality was central to the > >Havana Summit, for it is not just a challenge for the poor >countries, but also involves the rich nations, given the current >integration of the world economy. > >Why does Mbeki expect a change of thinking in the North over >questions like poverty, inequality, debt cancellation, and the >strengthening of development funds? > >The statesman reflected that the electors of those governments are >aware of the problem and, in this context, referred to the street >demonstrations in Seattle during the WTO meeting and those that took > >place during the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in > >Bangkok. > >In his opinion, the current mentality has changed, and this was >appreciable in the meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which focused on >technology transfer, and where it was stated that practical measures > >had to be taken in order to achieve this. > >Mbeki went on to say that he could see the beginnings of advancement > >and that the opinions of ordinary people in the developed countries > >do exert an influence. Moreover, he noted, the South has a more >coherent voice and that also signifies a change. > > THE SOUTH'S COMMON AGENDA > >In addition to its declaration and program, Mbeki stated that the >significance of the South Summit is the realization that the nations > >represented have a common agenda, which will aid advances. > >In this context, he spoke of two agreements taken by the heads of >the 122 delegations participating. The first is to strengthen the >Group of 77's structures and mechanisms so as to give pursuance to >decisions adopted, now and in the future. > >The other important decision is interaction with the so-called G-8 >(made up of richest nations in the world) and to show them that it >is not correct to meet by themselves and pass resolutions that >affect all countries without the others having a voice. > >He noted that this is not an impossibility, referring once more to >the EU-Africa meeting, where it was agreed to follow up contacts on > >the African external debt (some $350 billion USD) and negotiate in >detail. > >The South African president stated that the African countries >decided to send a letter to Japan requesting that the next G-8, >scheduled for Japan, should likewise analyze the situation and try >to find a solution. > > COOPERATIVE RELATIONS WITH CUBA > > Given his presence in South Africa, it was an appropriate moment to > >ask Mbeki about cooperative bilateral relations, which he assessed >as very good and with possibilities of expansion. > >The principal theme of that cooperation is in the health field, he >said, with the presence of a large number of Cuban doctors in South > >Africa and of students from his country studying in Cuba. > >He added that on the commercial front, there has been an increase in > >sales of Cuban cigars; and other sectors such as the pharmaceutical > >industry and nickel were being considered. One example of existing >trade relations is that South Africa is selling high-quality engines > >to the island, to improve energy consumption. > >Mbeki confirmed his certainty that there would be greater movement >in other spheres of bilateral cooperation. > >The recognition of the importance of South-South cooperation and the > >adoption of measures to implement it is a further magnificent result > >of the Group of 77 Summit, Thabo Mbeki concluded. > > ABOUT GRANMA INTERNATIONAL ONLINE � Copyright. >1996-1999. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. GRANMA INTERNATIONAL/ ONLINE EDITION > > ************** >sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >subject: The Final Declaration > [MORE THAN A WEEKLY] > [BIENVENIDOS A GRANMA INTERNACIONAL] > April 12, 2000, Group of 77 oppose extraterritorial sanctions > BY ALDO MADRUGA (Granma International staff writer) > >THE final declaration of the South Summit, a document that was >discussed by foreign ministers on April 11 and will be signed by the >heads of state and government and other representatives of more than >100 countries, contains a firm rejection of extraterritorial laws >and regulations, and any other type of coercive measure against >developing countries, including unilateral sanctions, and calls for >their immediate repeal. > >After emphasizing that the nations of the South are dedicated to >promoting and strengthening the rule of law, the document expresses >their concern over how economic sanctions affect the civilian >population and on the development capacity of the countries against >which they are directed. It reiterates the continuing validity of >the basic right of all peoples to self-determination and rejects the >so-called right of humanitarian intervention. In reference to the >latter, the document confirms that it lacks any legal basis in the UN >Charter and the general principles of international law. > >The declaration calls for the establishment of a democratic >international economic system which would respond to the needs of >the developing countries. In that context, it reaffirms the >principles and propositions of the of the UN Charter and unlimited >respect for international law, particularly the sovereignty of >states, independence, territorial integrity, self-determination and >non-interference in internal affairs; alongside a commitment to >solving controversies and conflicts by peaceful means and the right >of every nation to choose its own political, economic and social >order. > >It insists that the process of globalization and interdependence >should not be utilized to debilitate or reinterpret the above- >mentioned principles, while stressing that development is the >greatest contribution to peace. It likewise highlights the need for >a new human world order aimed at reversing the growing disparities >between the rich and poor, within nations and among them, through >the promotion of growth with equity, the eradication of poverty, the >expansion of productive employment and a fostering of social >integration. > > COLLECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO UNIVERSAL PROBLEMS > >The fostering of a new spirit of international cooperation based on >the principle of obtaining shared benefits and responsibilities, >with a differentiation between the less developed and the >industrialized countries, is a further concept included in the final >declaration. In that context, it is seen as imperative to promote a >North-South dialogue based on a spirit of association, mutual benefit >and genuine interdependence. The concern over the disparities between >the North and the South and the deterioration of the least developed >nations' economic conditions is a recurrent theme in the document, >which proposes the adoption of urgent measures to confront the needs >of the overwhelming majority of Third World populations, a >considerable number of which live in village communities and are >depend on agriculture for their subsistence. > > DEMOCRATIC AND TRANSPARENT FINANCIAL STRUCTURE > >Examining the grave financial problems confronting many countries, >the final declaration calls for a fundamental reform of the >financial structure, one that would make it more democratic and >transparent. At the same time, it notes that this would require the >establishment of a clear program, not limited to the mere prevention >of crises, but including actions aimed at tackling the interrelated >problems of international finance, trade, technology and development. >The capital markets' return to an apparent normality after the last >crisis should not lead to complacency, it warns. > >Acknowledging that the world has never been so interdependent, the >document affirms that the security and prosperity of the North will >disappear if poverty and destitution become endemic in the South. >Therefore, it insists on seeking a North-South dialogue with >innovative focuses to define new measures allowing the South to >adjust to the challenges of globalization and liberalization under >more just and jointly shared conditions. > >It advocates restoring confidence in the multilateral trade system, >which should contribute to economic growth and development in the >nations of the South, and urges the avoidance of excessive >liberalization of services, which would only benefit the developed >countries. > >Given the effects of the liberalization of international trade and >the actions of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the final >declaration proposes the need for a transparent, simplified and >accelerated process of adhesion, to be reconciled with the WTO�s >standards and discipline. It urges members of the WTO to abstain from >proposing excessive and onerous demands in response to petitions from >the developing countries. In this context, it stresses the need for >the WTO to undertake a profound review of the agreement on >intellectual property in relation to trade. > >It recommends that the member countries of the Group of 77 >coordinate their priorities to promote their common interests in a >more effective manner in future multilateral trade negotiations. > >The external debt is another outstanding concern and, in that >context, the document holds that debt relief or its cancellation must >not take place at the expense of official development aid. On the >other hand, it notes with concern recent the unilateral actions by >certain developed countries to call into question the use of fiscal >policy as an instrument of development. > >Turning to South-South cooperation, it endorses the initiatives >adopted to promote cooperation between Africa and Latin America and >the Caribbean, as well as between Africa and Asia. > >On the other hand, it recognizes that the predominant modes of >production and consumption in the industrialized countries are >unsustainable and should not be duplicated, given that they threaten >the very survival of the planet. > > ABOUT GRANMA INTERNATIONAL ONLINE >� Copyright. 1996-1999. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. GRANMA INTERNATIONAL > ONLINE EDITION " JC > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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