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Declaration of
the Group of 77 South Summit held in
Havana from 10 to 14 April 2000
We, the Heads of State and Government of the
member countries of the Group of 77 and China, fully convinced of the imperative need to
act in close unity for the primary purpose of working for a peaceful and prosperous world,
have gathered here in Havana, for the first-ever South Summit, from 12 to 14 April 2000.
We remain fully committed to the spirit of
the Group of 77 and China, which has helped our countries since the inception of the Group
in the early 1960s to pursue a common and constructive course of action for the protection
and promotion of our collective interests and genuine international cooperation for
development. At this historic event, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles and
objectives that have guided the Group from the start. We also rededicate ourselves to
strengthening the unity and solidarity of the Group in pursuit of its declared objectives
and to reinforcing the role it is called-upon to play in international economic relations.
We are fully convinced that it is indeed
imperative to gather here at the start of the new millennium, a critical juncture in
contemporary human history, to reflect on the rapidly changing world economic situation
and to discuss the emerging challenges facing the South in the economic and social spheres
and seek a solution to them. We have also been brought together fully convinced that at
the dawn of the 21st century, we need to act decisively to map out a better
future for our countries and peoples and to work towards the establishment of an
international economic system which will be just and democratic.
We reaffirm that in our endeavours we are
guided by all the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and by full
respect for the principles of international law. To this end we uphold the principles of
sovereignty and sovereign equality of States, territorial integrity and non intervention
in the internal affairs of any State; take effective measures for the suppression of acts
of aggression or other breaches of peace and encourage the settlement of international
disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and
justice, are not endangered; refrain in international relations from the threat or use of
force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State or in any
other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations; develop friendly
relations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self determination of
peoples; achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an
economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race,
sex, language or religion.
We emphasize that the process of
globalization and interdependence must not be used to weaken or re-interpret the
above-mentioned principles, which continue to be the foundation for friendly and peaceful
relations among States and for the solution of disputes and conflicts by peaceful means.
Furthermore, we stress that those principles inspire us to be fully committed to creating
a more just and equitable international economic system that offers security for all
people and growing opportunities to raise their standard of living.
We are committed to a global system based on
the rule of law, democracy in decision-making and full respect for the principles of
international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The new global system must
reflect these principles.
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We emphasize that development is the best
contribution to peace, and that both are built together. Development is a continuing
process, without arbitrary limits, through which we work for the prosperity and well-being
of our peoples. Our highest priority is to overcome underdevelopment, which implies the
eradication of hunger, illiteracy, disease and poverty. Although this is primarily our
responsibility, we urge the international community to adopt urgent and resolute actions,
with a comprehensive and multidimensional approach, to assist in overcoming these
scourges, and to establish international economic relations based on justice and
equity. Development for the well-being of our peoples will always remain the focus
of action of the Group of 77, and in this respect we rededicate ourselves to that
goal. We recognize the right of developing countries, in exercise of their
sovereignty and without any interference in their internal affairs, to choose the path of
development in accordance with their national priorities and objectives. We are,
however, deeply concerned that international cooperation for development has been
downplayed on the agenda of the international community, including the United Nations
system. In view of our declared goal, we therefore call on the international
community at the dawn of the new millennium to give priority to the development agenda of
developing countries and adopt urgent and resolute actions which will help them to
overcome the obstacles to their development objectives.
In this context, and noting the
interdependence of nations and the varying levels of human development worldwide, we
stress the need for a new global human order aimed at reversing the growing disparities
between rich and poor, both among and within countries, through the promotion of growth
with equity, the eradication of poverty, the expansion of productive employment and the
promotion of gender equality and social integration. We therefore, pledge to work together
to confront these challenges for the benefits of all our people.
We note that in recent decades, external
factors have constrained the realization of the economic potential of the South.
This has adversely affected external trade and the flow of foreign direct investments
(FDI) and other forms of investments. It is thus, imperative to promote a North-South
dialogue based on a spirit of partnership, mutual benefit and genuine interdependence in
order to expedite the removal of these constraints.
We are deeply convinced of the need to
create a new spirit of international cooperation based on the principle of achieving
shared benefits, but also based on common but differentiated responsibilities, between the
developing and industrialized countries. We concur that in order to do this, it is
imperative to develop collective and peaceful solutions for the global problems affecting
the world today, and this demands a search for concrete mechanisms that will guarantee
full and effective participation by the South in international decision-making, on an
equal basis. In this regard, the international machinery through which global norms are
developed and actions taken must therefore ensure that the countries of the South can
participate on an equal footing in decisions which affect them most of all. In particular,
the international economic governance institutions must promote broad based
decision-making which is essential if we are to have a more equitable global political
economy. In the context of interdependence we underline the need for expeditions measures
to make the existing mechanisms more transparent, inclusive, participatory, interactive
and broad based. Similarly at the national level, we also note that the efforts to
promote development require a true partnership that is more inclusive and participatory
and which involves all stakeholders, including the private sector and NGOs.
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We note with concern that the countries of
the South have not been able to share in the benefits of globalization on an equal footing
with the developed countries and have been excluded from the benefits of this
process. Asymmetries and imbalances have intensified in international economic
relations, particularly with regard to international cooperation, even further widening
the gap between the developing countries and the industrialized countries. We are also
concerned that, in the context of widening North-South gap, the social and economic
conditions of the least developed countries (LDCs) have been deteriorating. Furthermore,
the income gap within countries remains wide; social exclusion and inequalities are
widespread; and the number of people living in poverty has increased. Urgent measures
should be taken to address the needs of the large majorities of the population, in
particular women and children, who are forced to live in extreme poverty, if this is not
done, globalization will provide no lasting solutions to the essential problems of
developing countries. For most of us, agriculture remains the mainstay of our economies,
and the majority of our population still lives in rural areas; globalization has passed
them by, but must address their needs.
We are concerned by the serious financial
problems faced by many of our countries, with the systemic aspect of financial
instability, the problems associated with excessive volatility in short-term capital
flows, and the absence of an appropriate mechanism to regulate and monitor such flows, as
well as hedge funds, and highly leveraged financial institutions. This situation urgently
requires a fundamental reform of the international financial architecture, making it more
democratic, more transparent and better attuned to solving the problems of development. It
also requires the establishment of a clear programme that goes beyond the mere prevention
of crises and includes actions addressing the interrelated problems of finance, trade,
technology and development at the international level. The return to apparent
normalcy of capital markets after the last crises should not lull us into complacency.
Even developing countries with limited or no
financial markets suffer badly from financial volatility and contagion through lower
commodity prices brought about by declining commodity demand,
cross-instability in financial and commodity markets, and the postponement of
investment, which seriously weaken their overall economic situation and growth
potential. Although financial contagion in these countries does not have systemic
consequences, their economies are severely affected, and we therefore call on the
multilateral financial institutions to take appropriate and timely supportive action to
assist them.
As the focal point within the United Nations
for the integrated treatment of trade and development and the interrelated issues in the
areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development, UNCTAD should
continue to examine these issues and to build a consensus for the reformulation of
policies and options on globalization from a development perspective. We
strongly reaffirm our commitment to the mandate given to UNCTAD at
Bangkok to contribute to the ongoing process of reforms of the international
financial institutions.
We recognize the need for our countries to
continue with their efforts towards economic reforms to enhance sustained economic growth
and sustainable development. We also urge the developed countries to take into
account the possible negative impact of their domestic economic, monetary and fiscal
policies on developing countries and to apply measures that are sensitive to the needs and
interests of the South.
The world has become more interdependent
than ever before. The persistence of endemic poverty and deprivation in the South
constitutes a potential threat to the security and prosperity of the world. In
this context we welcome the initiative launched for the creation of the World Solidarity
Fund and encourage efforts by member States for its establishment. We underline the
importance of this Fund in contributing to the efforts in the eradication of poverty.
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We advocate the restoration of confidence in
the multilateral trading system, which should contribute to the economic growth and
development of the countries of the South. We insist on the need for the developed
countries to fulfil their commitments fully and immediately to implement the provisions
for special and differential treatment for the products and services exported by the
developing countries, and for the strengthening of the system of trade preferences, which
should also address the needs of LDCs and the specificities of a number of
small developing countries, while taking into consideration their problems of
vulnerability and the risk of marginalization in the global economy. We urge that
priority should be given to the liberalization of those service sectors where developing
countries have the comparative advantage. In this respect, the key issue of the free
movement of natural persons should be adequately addressed.
We note with concern that the liberalization
of international trade has not provided benefits for all developing countries. There
is a need to restore confidence in the multilateral trading system through full
participation of developing countries, full and faithful implementation of the Uruguay
Round Agreements in their true spirit, and effective attention to the implementation
concerns of developing countries. We stress the principle of universal membership of
the WTO and call for acceleration of the accession process without political
conditionalities.. We urge all WTO members to refrain from placing excessive demands
on developing countries seeking accession to WTO. We recognize that there is a need
for consultations among developing countries to promote effective participation in the
WTO.
We welcome the invitation extended by the
State of Qatar to host the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the WTO, and we call for an
effective participation in this conference so as to achieve the goals and promote the
interests of the countries of the South.
We underline the urgent need to redress the
imbalances in the present WTO Agreements, and in particular, with regard to the right of
developing countries to promote their exports, which have been curtailed by the abuse of
such protectionist measures as anti-dumping actions and countervailing duties, as well as
tariff peaks and escalation. Meaningful and expedited liberalization of the textiles
sector, which is of particular interest to developing countries, is another important
market access issue which should be addressed by the multilateral trading system as a
matter of priority. We also call for the mandated negotiations on agriculture in
accordance with the provisions of article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture. In
agriculture the objectives should be to incorporate the sector within normal WTO
rules. We also call for the full and prompt implementation of the WTO
Marrakech decision on measures related to the possible negative effects of the
reform programme on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and net food importing developing
countries. The WTO Agreements should be implemented taking into consideration the need to
extend the implementation period of particular Agreements that pose problems to developing
countries. The review of Trade-related Aspect of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement
(TRIPS) as mandated in articles 27 and 71 should make them more responsive to the needs of
the South and to ensure access of developing countries to knowledge and technology on
preferential terms. We will work towards harmonizing the TRIPS Agreement with the
provisions of the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in the Convention on
Biological Diversity.
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We also call upon developed countries fully
to implement special and differential treatment (SDT) for developing countries, to
strengthen the system of preferences and to give the products and services of special
export interest to developing countries free and fair access to their markets. In
this connection, we urge all WTO members to grant the request of the European Union and
the ACP Group for a waiver for the provisions of article 1, paragraph 1, of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). We call upon the developed partners also to
recognize the need to formulate appropriate measures to address the concerns of other
eligible countries through strengthening the Generalized System of Preferences
(GSP). Future multilateral trade negotiations should be based on a positive agenda
and should take full consideration of the development dimension of trade and of the
specific needs and concerns of developing countries. We call on all countries to
support the mandate of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to
assist developing countries in multilateral trade negotiations by providing sufficient
resources. While recognizing the value of environmental protection, labour
standards, intellectual property protection, indigenous innovation and local community,
sound macroeconomic management and promotion and protection of all universally recognized
human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, and the
treatment of each issue in its competent international organization, we reject all
attempts to use these issues as conditionalities for restricting market access or aid and
technology flows to developing countries.
We have assessed the successful results of
the recently held UNCTAD X Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, and request all countries duly
to support the organization in its efforts to contribute to the promotion of the
development dimensions of trade in the context of globalization and of the liberalization
of the world economy.
We further believe that the member countries
of the Group of 77 should coordinate their priorities and negotiating strategies
effectively to promote their common interests by shaping and directing multilateral trade
negotiations to take into account the needs of developing countries so that trade policies
serve the objectives of development, and also provide enhanced market access to developing
countries.
We note with deep concern the continuing
decline of official development assistance, (ODA) which has adversely affected development
activities in the developing countries, in particular the LDCs, and we therefore urge
developed countries that have not yet done so to act immediately to honour their
commitment of directing 0.7 per cent of their Gross National Product (GNP) to ODA, and
within that target, to earmark 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent for the LDCs. We also urge
that the provision of official aid should respect the national development priorities of
developing countries, and that conditions attached to ODA should be brought to an end.
We support the holding of a high-level
United Nations conference on financing for development in the year 2001, which should
address national, international and systemic issues relating to financing for development
in a holistic manner. We call on all countries and relevant stakeholders,
particularly the World Bank, IMF and WTO, to attach the greatest urgency and importance
and to participate actively in the preparatory process and in the conference itself.
We also welcome the offers by Indonesia and Colombia to holding regional intergovernmental
meetings in order to provide inputs for the preparatory process for the event. In
this regard, we invite the member States of the Group of 77 to consider offering to host
the conference.
We note with concern the persistence of the
external debt problem and its unfortunate consequences in the South, where the vicious
cycle of debt and underdevelopment has become even further entrenched. We are alarmed at
the fact that debt servicing has grown at a much greater rate than the debt itself, and
that the burden of debt payments has become heavier in many countries of the South,
including countries with low and middle incomes. We therefore underline the need
collectively to pursue a durable solution for the external debt problem of developing
countries, including middle-income developing countries, which also addresses the
structural causes of indebtedness. We further call for debt reduction arrangements for
middle-income developing countries in order to expedite the release of resources for
development.
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We welcome the expanded initiative in favour
of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), but consider that it should be extended,
expedited and made more flexible, and that new and supplementary resources should be
contributed. Debt relief or cancellation should not be at the expense of official
development assistance. We advocate seeking renegotiation formulas applicable to
middle-income countries, and promote the design of a global strategy for external debt,
which addresses the interrelated problems of finance, the economy and development.
We note with grave concern the debt burden,
which has put the least developed countries in a more vulnerable position, and urge the
developed countries to write off their debt so as to relieve the LDCs of the burden and
thereby strengthen their capacity to develop and to escape from the vicious circle of
poverty.
We view with alarm the recent unilateral
moves by some developed countries to question the use of fiscal policy as a development
tool and to impose their own definition of so-called harmful tax competition. We reiterate
the fundamental right of each State to determine its own fiscal policies and in this
regard sovereignty of States must be respected. We subscribe to the view that the
legitimate struggle against money laundering should not be used as a pretext to discredit
genuine offshore financial centres because of their fiscal policies and incentives.
The contribution of the transnational
corporations (TNCs) to sustained economic growth and sustainable development is determined
by their global strategies, characterized by the search for increased competitiveness and
ever-higher profits. Such a situation is not necessarily consistent with job
creation and the realization of development objectives in many developing countries.
Hence, we invite the relevant international institutions to address this dilemma with a
view to attaining the proper balance between both objectives. In this context, we
request UNCTAD and ILO, within their respective mandates, to study the merger trend among
the TNCs and its impact on unemployment as well as its competitiveness impact on Small and
Medium-sized (SMEs) in developing countries. We also call on the TNCs to integrate
development objectives of the host developing countries into their business strategies.
We recognize that within the South, there
are a group of countries, categorized as LDCs, which are at a particular disadvantage in
the current phase of globalization and liberalization. Despite the efforts they are
making and the attempts being made to help them, they continue to be marginalized
in the world economy. We urge the international community to take special
initiatives for them, particularly in regard to the eradication of poverty, equitable
implementation of the WTO Agreements, free access to their exports in the world markets,
debt cancellation, increased ODA, and incentives for FDI flows to the LDCs.
We reiterate our support for the initiative
of the Group of 77 on the resolution entitled "Prevention of corrupt practices and
illegal transfer of funds", adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at
its 54th session. We support the demands in that resolution on the need
for increasing cooperation at various levels, including the United Nations system, to
devise ways and means of preventing and addressing the illegal transfer of funds and
repatriation of illegally transferred funds to countries of origin. We also endorse
the decision of the African and European leaders who, at the end of their recent summit in
Cairo, resolved to take the necessary measures to combat corruption at both the national
and international levels and to ensure that illegally acquired and transferred monies
deposited in foreign banks are investigated and returned to countries of origin. We
call on all countries and entities concerned to cooperate in this regard. We also
call on the United Nations to commence preparatory work for the elaboration of a
convention on this matter, to be submitted to the Millennium Assembly for adoption.
We recognize the special problems of small
and vulnerable economies and encourage the relevant international institutions to take
into account differences in the level of development and size of the economies of
developing countries in order to create opportunities for full participation of the small
economies and to increase their level of development. We insist that SDT for all
developing countries, including small and vulnerable economies, should be recognized as a
fundamental principle of the multilateral trading system.
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We have recognized the handicaps faced by
landlocked developing countries due to unfavorable geographic circumstances, and the
concerns of transit developing countries. In the global economy the landlocked developing
countries are being increasingly marginalized despite efforts on their part to devise
appropriate national strategies. This is resulting in the further deterioration of
their economies and already low living standards. We urge bilateral and multilateral
donors to grant preferential treatment to landlocked and transit developing countries.
We are concerned by the special problems and
vulnerabilities of small island developing states (SIDS), in particular the lack of market
access and absence of special and differential treatment, which continue to create
barriers for these countries to participate effectively in a rapidly globalizing world
economy. We express concern that, although great efforts have been undertaken by the SIDS
at the national level, there has not been commensurate support at the international level.
We call for the strengthening of efforts at the international level in the implementation
and follow-up of the Barbados Programme of Action. We emphasize the urgent need to
maximize international support through, inter alia, strengthening the existing
institutional agreements, mobilizing new, additional and external resources, and improving
coordination mechanisms so as to focus and harmonize support for SIDS priorities. We note
the regular incidence of natural disasters and their deleterious effects on the
development of small and vulnerable economies and call for increasing international
assistance for setting up and strengthening national, subregional, regional and
international disaster prevention, preparedness and management mechanisms, including early
warning systems, taking into account particularly the work accomplished during the
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction.
We express our deep concern over the
unprecedented floods in Southern Africa, and Mozambique in particular, that have caused
loss of life, extensive destruction of infrastructures, deterioration of the socioeconomic
situation and dislodgment and scattering of landmines. The unfolding humanitarian
disaster is a further cause of concern. We commend the efforts of the Southern
African Development Community (SADC) countries to address the devastating effects of the
floods and thank the international community for the support, solidarity and humanitarian
assistance rendered to Mozambique. We urge the international community to
participate in the International Donors Conference to be held in Rome on 3-4 May 2000,
aimed at mobilizing financial resources for the reconstruction of socioeconomic
infrastructures and rehabilitation of the victims in Mozambique. We also urge the
developed countries to write off the external debt of Mozambique in the light of its
current critical socioeconomic situation. We further urge the international
community to increase its assistance to mine clearance programmes, taking into account the
far-reaching effects of the floods.
We are deeply alarmed about the persistent
critical economic situation in Africa, exacerbated inter alia by a heavy debt
burden, low levels of savings and investment, depressed commodity prices, declining levels
of ODA, and insufficient levels of FDI. In particular we note with dismay that poverty in
Africa has now reached intolerable levels, with negative consequences for the stability of
most countries and regions of the continent. In order to reach internationally
agreed targets of reducing poverty by half by the year 2015, African economies must grow
at a rate of 7 per cent per annum. Present trends must therefore be reversed,
starting with the writing off of bilateral and multilateral debts and a substantial
increase in financial flows, including ODA. This would enable African countries to resume
much-needed investment in human and physical infrastructure, a sine qua non for
putting the continent back on the road to growth and development. In this context,
we welcome the initiatives taken by some developed countries to write off the debts of
LDCs and also welcome the Declaration and Plan of Action which emanated from the first
Africa-Europe Summit, held in Cairo from 3 to 4 April 2000, and which examined ways and
means to increase the integration of Africa into the world economy by elaborating a
comprehensive solution to its debt problem, improving its productive and financial
capacities, removing market access and supply-side obstacles to the flow of its exports to
the international markets, and assisting its efforts to attract a larger share of world
investment. We therefore urge the speedy implementation of measures supporting the
development efforts of African countries.
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We are deeply concerned about the spread of
HIV/AIDS and of parasitic diseases in developing countries in general and sub-Saharan
Africa in particular. The scourge threatens to undermine great advances achieved in
the social and economic fields in developing countries over the past decade. We urge
the international community to adopt concrete measures to mitigate the disastrous effects
of HIV/AIDS, including by encouraging local production and ensuring access to drugs at
affordable costs. Urgent assistance is needed, particularly to intensify information
and awareness campaigns to make the causes of the disease and preventive measures well
known to the masses. We call for the support of the international community to
assist in addressing the challenge posed by HIV/AIDS in particular, but by all diseases in
general, such as lack of adequate access to care and treatment for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis
and malaria epidemics. Policies to realize gender equality must be implemented with
greater urgency in order to help combat one of the root causes of the spread of the
disease. We also call for international cooperation, including South-South
cooperation, and the establishment of multi-disciplinary mechanisms at regional and
subregional levels to address these challenges.
We call for the design of investment
promotion policies that correspond to national priorities for development, including
capacity-building, technology transfer, infrastructure, the expansion of production
facilities, job creation, and the diversification of exports and markets. The
international community should support the efforts of developing countries to define FDI
strategies for the creation of a favourable climate for investment.
We are convinced that South-South
cooperation is an effective instrument for optimizing our potential to promote development
through, among other things, mobilization and sharing of existing resources and expertise
in our countries, as well as complementing cooperation programme with donor countries. We
therefore commit ourselves to overcoming whatever factors that have limited this
cooperation. We believe such cooperation is imperative in the context of
globalization and that it should therefore it should be pursued with determination and
political will. We also believe that South-South cooperation is an essential
mechanism for promoting sustained economic growth and sustainable development and that it
constitutes a vital element in promoting constructive South-South relations and in
achieving self-reliance. In view of the foregoing we reiterate our determination to
take necessary measures, including the identification of resources and the design of
appropriate follow-up mechanisms to exploit its potential fully.
In this regard, we commend and support
recent initiatives taken by our countries to promote cooperation between Africa and Latin
America and the Caribbean, as well as between Africa and Asia, as contained in cooperation
agreements, to address issues of desertification, drought and land degradation in joint
efforts to implement the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, particularly
in Africa. We reaffirm our commitment for the full implementation of all the
provisions of the Convention and call on developed countries and the international
community to fulfil their financial commitments in this regard. We also support the
decisions adopted at the African Ministerial Conference on Environment, held in Abuja,
Nigeria, on 4-6 April 2000, and welcome the recent establishment in Tunisia of the
observatory of the Sahel and Sahara.
We recognize that regional cooperation and
integration is the most meaningful approach for the South to face the challenges of
globalization and take full advantage of its opportunities. We also commend and
support the work of the regional and subregional groupings established among developing
countries to promote the sustainable socioeconomic development of their respective member
States through regional integration and the harmonization of their economic and social
policies. We further welcome and encourage the establishment of appropriate
structures at the regional and subregional levels in the developing countries aimed at
removing barriers to the free movement of goods, services and capital.
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We note that the prevailing gap between the
North and South in the scientific and technological field is still growing, and that the
process of rapid accumulation of knowledge and technologies has not reached the hundreds
of millions of people who continue to live in absolute poverty. It is essential to adopt
appropriate measures to overcome the technological gap between the developing and
industrialized countries and to work towards arrangements that facilitate the processes of
technology transfer. While we are committed to promoting the development of science and
technology by strengthening our political will, increasing the allocation of resources to
that end, developing an appropriate institutional framework, and promoting technology and
innovation through advanced, quality education, we urge developed countries to facilitate
the transfer of technology, easing the costs and collateral conditions that presently
stand in its way.
We believe that the prevailing modes of
production and consumption in the industrialized countries are unsustainable and should be
changed, for they threaten the very survival of the planet. We firmly believe that
technological innovations should be systematically evaluated in terms of their economic,
social and environmental impact, with the participation of all the social sectors
involved, including the business community, Governments, the scientific community, and
other groups that have not traditionally been part of this process. We call on the
developed countries to fulfil their commitment to provide developing countries with
financial resources and environmentally sound technologies on a preferential basis.
We advocate a solution for the serious
global, regional and local environmental problems facing humanity, based on the
recognition of the North’s ecological debt and the principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities of the developed and developing countries.
We recognize that information technology
constitutes one of the pillars of technological revolution and represents one of the most
powerful development tools of our time. We should take full advantage of this unique
opportunity to use information technology for development and to ensure that its benefits
reach our people, as the future of the South depends on the inclusion of information
technology in its economic and social development programmes. In this context, we
underline the need to establish global knowledge partnerships that include encourage to
developed countries to provide developing countries with the necessary assistance.
While we believe it is urgent to enhance our
access to global information networks and to improve the benefits derived therefrom, we
also emphasize the need to preserve our national and regional diversity of traditions,
identities and cultures which may be affected by the globalization process, and to achieve
a connection to contemporary international information and knowledge that does not entail
sacrificing our national and regional cultures and identities. It is thus, it is necessary
to pay special attention to the homogenizing tendencies that may threaten this diversity.
In this context, we welcome the proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly of the
year 2001 as the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations and stress the importance of this
initiative as a means of enhancing understanding of diverse cultures and promoting
North-South and South-South cooperation in a globalized world.
We firmly reject the imposition of laws and
regulations with extraterritorial impact and all other forms of coercive economic
measures, including unilateral sanctions against developing countries, and reiterate the
urgent need to eliminate them immediately. We emphasize that such actions not only
undermine the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international
law, but also severely threaten the freedom of trade and investment. We therefore, we call
on the international community neither to recognize these measures nor apply them.
We are committed to promoting democracy and
strengthening the rule of law. We will promote respect for all universally
recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to
development. We pledge ourselves to provide transparent, effective and accountable
governance, responsive to the needs of our peoples, which is necessary for economic
growth, peace and prosperity. We reaffirm that every State has the inalienable right
to choose political, economic, social and cultural systems of its own, without
interference in any form by other States.
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We express grave concern over the impact of
economic sanctions on the development capacity in the targeted countries, in this context
noting that Libya has now fulfilled all its obligations in terms of pertinent Security
Council resolutions, and we urge the Security Council to adopt a resolution completely
lifting the sanctions against Libya. We also call for the immediate lifting of all
unilateral sanctions imposed against Libya outside of the United Nations system.
We affirm that bringing an end to the
Israeli occupation and establishing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle
East is a prerequisite for economic and social development in the region. We reaffirm our
support for the Middle East peace process on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242
(1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978) and the principle of land for peace. Peace demands
complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,
and the achievement of a final settlement by the agreed-upon deadline of September 2000,
as well as the establishment of the State of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital. It
also demands complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan and the
demarcation of the 4 June 1967 line, as well as the unconditional withdrawal from South
Lebanon and Western Bekaa to the internationally recognized boundaries. We affirm that
measures taken by Israel aimed at changing the legal status and the demographic
composition of Jerusalem are null and void.
We call on all States in areas of conflict
to refrain from attacks against civilian infrastructures, and consider the attacks on such
targets as contrary to international law and detrimental to the pursuit of national
economic and social development and to international trade.
We also express our deep concern over the
air attack against the El-Shifa Pharmaceuticals Factory in the Sudan on 20 August 1998,
and its negative impact on that country’s economic and social development. We express
our support and solidarity with the Sudan for its demand for a just and fair consideration
of the matter by the United Nations on the basis of international law.
We stress the need to maintain a clear
distinction between humanitarian assistance and other activities of the United Nations. We
reject the so-called "right" of humanitarian intervention, which has no legal
basis in the United Nations Charter or in the general principles of international law. In
this context, we request the Chairman of the Group of 77, in conjunction with the Chairman
of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), through the Joint Coordinating Committee, (JCC), to
coordinate consideration of the concept of humanitarian intervention and other related
matters as contained in the 1999 Report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the
work of the Organization. We further stress the need for scrupulously respecting the
guiding principles of humanitarian assistance, adopted by the General Assembly in its
resolution 46/182, and emphasize that these principles are valid, time-tested and must
continue to be fully observed. Furthermore, we stress that humanitarian assistance should
be conducted in full respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political
independence of host countries, and should be initiated in response to a request or with
the approval of these States.
We call upon the international community to
provide the necessary assistance to landmine clearance operations, as well as to the
rehabilitation of the victims and their social and economic integration into the landmine
affected countries. We express concern over the residues of the Second World War, in
particular in the form of landmines which cause human and material damage and obstruct
development plans in some developing countries. We demand that the States responsible for
laying the mines outside of their territories assume responsibility for the
landmines, cooperate with the affected countries to get rid of them, and contribute
defraying the costs of clearance and provide compensation for any ensuing losses and for
reclaiming the affected areas for productive purposes.
We also express dismay at the increasing
number of children involved in and affected by armed conflict. We call upon the
international community to take concerted action to prevent and stop the use of children
in armed conflicts and to assist in the rehabilitation of those affected children, as they
are the future generation who would otherwise be able to contribute meaningfully to
development.
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We note with deep concern the increase of
all kinds of criminal activities, including illicit traffic of arms, drugs and other
products which are used to foster and finance organized crimes and all types of
transnational crimes which continue to be a major factor of instability and a threat to
development. In this context we are also deeply concerned by the trafficking of women and
children, which is not only an offense against human dignity, but also a violation of
International Law. We call upon all countries to join the multilateral effort of the
international community to develop mechanisms that will strengthen cooperation in terms of
prevention and elimination of these activities, so that the stability and prosperity of
all economies and societies can be guaranteed.
We have appraised the importance of the
Millennium Summit, and reaffirm the need for the Group of 77 and the NAM to duly
coordinate their positions. In this regard, we endorse the proposal of the Joint
Coordinating Committee that within the overall theme of the interactive debate being held
at the South Summit on the role of the United Nations in the 21st century,
there should be two subthemes, namely, "Peace, security and disarmament" and
" Development and poverty eradication", and emphasize the need for developing
countries to coordinate their positions to ensure, that their common interests and
positions on every aspect of the two subthemes are fully reflected in the outcome of the
Summit.
We welcome the decision to convene a special
session of the General Assembly in the year 2001 to review the implementation of the
Programme of Action of the World Children Summit, and express our commitment to
participate fully in the preparatory process for the special session with a view to
improving the lives of children in our countries. We are concerned that economic and
social marginalization of developing countries, especially the poorest nations, is having
a deleterious impact on children.
In this context, we express our deep concern
over the insufficient level of resources for development at the disposal of the United
Nations, thus hindering its capacity to fulfil its main economic and social objectives in
a manner commensurate with the needs and aspirations of the developing countries. We note
with concern the increasing erosion of the role and the contribution of the United Nations
to the promotion of genuine international cooperation for development. In this regard, we
reiterate that the United Nations has a central role to play in world economic matters by
promoting a vital boost to the development of the South and by transforming international
economic relations, making them more fair and equitably and pledge our full support and
determination to working towards its strengthening in this regard.
We believe that in order to realize the goal
of universal peace and prosperity, we will need to promote international cooperation that
is just and equitable, giving high priority to integrated and comprehensive development,
which can be achieved only by working together, both among ourselves and with the
developed countries. We can make ourselves heard as a single voice, with the courage,
perseverance, boldness and political will needed for the major and urgent transformations
of the international economic system to which we all aspire.
In adopting this Declaration, we recognize the need for an action-oriented programme of
practical solutions to be implemented within a specific timeframe. To guide us in
this process, we adopt the Havana Programme of Action. The Chairman of the Group of 77 is
requested to forward this Declaration and the Programme of Action to the President of
United Nations General Assembly in order to be circulated as official documents of the
Millennium Summit and the Millennium Assembly.
   
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