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XII
Ministerial Conference, New Delhi, April 1997
<< Index >>
A. The
Movement and International Economic Issues
B. Agenda for Development
C. International Trade and Commodities
D. Development Finance, Monetary and Financial
Issues
E. Science and Technology
F. Industrial
Development Cooperation
G. Environment and Development
H. South-South Cooperation
I. Information and Communication
J. Follow-up of Major Conferences and Summits
K. Critical Situation in Africa
L. Situation of Least Developed Countries
M. Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
- The Ministers reviewed the evolving international economic situation,
particularly since the Cartagena Summit in 1995. They observed that:
- the high growth of some developing countries was
contributing significantly to the locomotive forces of world economic growth and stressed
that the process of global integration of developing countries was thus paying dividends
to the industrialized countries as well. The growth of developing countries as a whole had
continued to outpace that of developed countries in the last two years and this trend was
likely to continue;
- however, the world economy has demonstrated moderate growth
rates that have fallen far short of expectations while the developing countries continued
to assume the high costs derived from economic reform policies, the lack of coordinated
policies in the developed countries to increase demand, stabilize markets and liberalize
trade so as to provide a favorable international economic environment for the developing
countries has been disappointing. Even the most strenuous efforts by many developing
countries to capitalize on opportunities flounder in the face of structural global
economic constraints, which include persistent debt burdens, declining ODA flows, currency
fluctuations, uneven investment flows and overly cautious deflationary policies of
developed countries;
- signs of growth notwithstanding, large number of developing
countries continue to face serious economic difficulties as the process of globalization
has put severe strain on their development prospects. Poverty has continued to increase
causing immense human suffering in these countries;
- global economic growth was driven by rapidly growing
international trade and investment flows compared to world output, underlining that
prospects of spreading growth across countries and regions largely depended upon greater
participation of developing countries in these flows;
- the extent and spread of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
inflows into developing countries, though demonstrating an increase, remained uneven. Some
developing countries recorded substantial increases in their share of FDI outflows and
greater integration in the global industrial economy;
- some developing countries achieved substantial and positive
changes in their production and infrastructure capacities, international competitiveness
and investment attractiveness, thereby creating new complementarities and strengths to
promote South-South cooperation;
- increased trade, investment and technology flows between
developed and some developing countries were a positive sum equation for growth,
development, employment creation and enhanced prosperity for all. Nonetheless, this
process still eludes a number of developing countries, particularly within the LDCs and
African countries. In spite of signs of economic progress in some African countries, a
large number of countries in the region, continue to face serious economic and social
difficulties, The debt burden, the decreasing flow of financial resources and the low
commodity prices remain the principal obstacles of economic development in some of these
countries.
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- The Ministers stressed that current trends of globalization and
liberalization have had a variable impact on developing economies. While some signs of
progress in some countries have been noticed, a large number of NAM Member States continue
to suffer from economic stagnation and marginalisation. The Ministers noted that the gap
between rich and poor countries continued to widen. The uneven impact is compounded by new
challenges relating to issues of access to markets, to capital and to new technologies.
They underlined that the development dimension and the needs, priorities, capacities and
potential of developing countries should be at the center of any global vision for the
coming decades. This will ensure that processes of globalization and liberalization as
well as the prosperity, stability and security generated by them, materialize and are
sustained. At the same time, it will ensure that the developing countries would avoid the
risks arising from the process of globalization, including the risk of marginalisation.
- The Ministers reiterated that the developing countries have not only
impacted on world economic growth and input demand in a significant way, but constitute a
dynamic and integral part of the international economic order. The Ministers, however,
regretted the fact that the voice of developing countries in decision making still did not
realistically reflect their emergence as important actors in the world economy. They urged
developed countries to give this cumulative contribution and role, meaningful and
commensurate recognition. Therefore, the participation of developing countries in global
economic decision making, including in the economic, trade and financial institutions
should be enhanced.
- The Ministers urged the developed countries to ensure that economic
agreements and mechanisms fully take into account the concerns of all parties specially
developing countries and incorporate a balance of interest and benefit. In particular, the
special importance of supporting development policies and objectives of sustained economic
growth of developing countries should be recognised. They called on the developed
countries to ensure the fulfillment of their obligation to meet the UN target of 0.7% of
their GNP for overall Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the development of
developing countries, and also to ensure that within that target 0.15 to 0.20% of GNP is
earmarked for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
- The Ministers reaffirmed the need to establish an open, rule based,
accountable, predictable, just, equitable, comprehensive and non-discriminatory global
system of economic relations, specially at a time when developing countries were actively
engaged in the constructive process of liberalization and integration into the global
economy. They urged the developed countries to undertake necessary structural adjustments
and refrain from protectionist tendencies, emerging out of unfounded fears, against
competitive imports from developing countries and against FDI outflows to them, in the
interest of new growth opportunities.
- The Ministers called on developed countries to refrain from the use
of trade and investment to achieve non-economic and/or domestic objectives, such as those
relating to labor standards, intellectual property rights, human rights, and environment.
The Movement while subscribing to the values inherent in these issues, stressed that such
conditionalities and restrictive measures on trade and investment pose a danger for the
multilateral economic system and the trade and investment prospects of developing
countries.
- The Ministers called on the developed countries to assist the efforts
of developing countries through the creation of a favorable global economic environment,
in particular through domestic actions in their countries for purposes of accelerating FDI
flows to developing countries so that they have a positive impact on the development
efforts of developing countries and their integration into the multilateral trading
system.
- They also called on the developed countries to substantially reduce
tariff and non-tariff barriers to imports from developing countries and desist from
frequent and unjustified resort to safeguard action, countervailing duties, anti-dumping
duties, and restrictive business practices, which deny or negate the inherent comparative
advantage of developing countries and the competitive advantage of their enterprises, and
which distort and disrupt trade and adversely impact on development of developing
countries, and the multilateral trading system as well.
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- The Ministers stressed the importance of promoting global partnership
so as to effectively overcome the formidable constraints on development. They also
stressed that the dialogue between the developed and the developing countries should be
based on the mutuality of interests and benefits, shared responsibilities and genuine
interdependence. They welcomed the efforts of the Movement to continuously engage with the
Group of 7 as well as with other parties in a meaningful and productive dialogue so as to
reach better understanding and to respond more positively to the development aspirations
of the developing countries, taking into account the concerns and interests of the Member
States, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and African countries. The Foreign
Ministers appreciated the efforts of H.E. President Ernesto Samper of Colombia, Chairman
of the Non Aligned Movement, to institutionalise the mechanism for consultation with the
Chairman of the Group of 7 in order to promote dialogue and foster greater understanding
of the aspirations, views and positions of the developing countries on important issues.
They agreed that the Coordinating Bureau should recommend a format, the frequency and the
agenda of meetings with the Group of 7 and other leaders of the world. They also requested
the Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau of the NAM in cooperation with the Chairman of the
Group of 77, to initiate preparations for such meetings in particular in the context of
the forthcoming 6-7 Summit to be held this year in Denver, US.
- The Ministers emphasised the considerable importance of Foreign
Direct Investment for development of their countries, promotion of transfer of technology
including environmentally sound and safe technologies, building up of indigenous
capacities and generation of employment. They attached particular importance to FDI
inflows in the infrastructure sector and manufacturing sectors. FDI must not only
contribute to the acquisition of the required financial resources and the opening of
markets to trade, but also to the training of personnel in the recipient country and seek
an adequate social impact through the regulations that may be established. To that end,
agreements between countries including national treatment, the most favored nation clause
and just and equitable contractual relations in the context of FDI should be respected.
They noted that NAM countries had taken several steps to create a climate conducive to FDI
inflows. They called upon the major industrial countries to take complementary steps so
that the actions undertaken by the developing countries could have maximum development
impact and prevent their marginalisation in the global economy.
- The Ministers reiterated the need to enhance the development impact
of the UN and other multilateral institutions, including regional organizations. This
would require enhancing the availability of resources, democratization of decision making
in the multilateral financial institutions and enhancing the role of developing countries
in international economic decision making, with a view to satisfying the priorities and
needs of developing countries for which necessary means should be adopted as well as a
propititious climate should be fostered.
- The Ministers decided to set up an ad-hoc Panel of Economists from
Non-Aligned countries to assess the current international economic situation from the
perspective of developing countries and to identify and analyze major issues of concern to
them and to assist in developing a positive agenda of the South. The Chairman of the
Movement, in association with the host country of the Conference, would consult with
member States on the establishment of the panel and on its work programme to enable it to
report to the XII Summit which will be held in South Africa in 1998.
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- The Ministers reaffirmed that the Agenda for Development must be
responsive to the needs of the developing countries and called for its timely adoption by
United Nations General Assembly. It should provide an opportunity for placing development
at the forefront of the international agenda. The implementation of this Agenda should be
reflected in the reduction of existing fundamental imbalances and inequities. This Agenda
must lead to a strengthening of the role of the United Nations in development and should
intensify the positive evolution of the relationship between the UN, the Bretton Woods
institutions, the World Trade Organization and other multilateral institutions connected
with development matters and also climate in the increase of developing countries' role in
the decision making process of these institutions.
- The Ministers noted with concern that much of the ongoing discussion
in the international fora on the issue of development merely attempts at diverting
attention away from the real development issues, such as those relating to economic
growth, stimulating private financial flows, building equitable regimes covering all areas
of trade, and effecting technology transfers.
- In the context of ongoing discussions in the Working Group on Agenda
for Development, the Ministers stressed the need for adequate resources to implement the
Agenda for Development. They, therefore, emphasised that the question of adequate funding
for ensuring accelerated and sustained economic growth in developing countries
particularly in the LDCs and African countries must be addressed and provided for in all
seriousness and urgency. They called upon the developed countries to guarantee new and
additional resources for the implementation of the Agenda for Development.
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- The Ministers recalled that in the area of trade, their countries had
welcomed the results of the Uruguay Round and the creation of the World Trade Organization
in Marrakesh as milestones towards liberalization and reinforcing of multilateralism. The
Ministers further noted that in a number of crucial areas the negotiated results of the
Uruguay Round fell short of the expectations of the developing countries and that they had
yet to realize the expected benefits, welfare increases and better market access. They
regretted that the implementation of the Uruguay Round results in areas of export interest
to developing countries, particularly to LDCs, has been inadequate and tardy. Trading
opportunities of developing countries were sought to be neutralized by the use of
protectionist measures, including those taken unilaterally and in the guise of technical
standards, environmental, social, or human-rights-related concerns.
- The Ministers called for:
- a universal membership of WTO and support for facilitating
an early admission of NAM and other developing countries to this body;
- urgent implementation of Uruguay Round Agreements, specially
in areas of export interest to developing countries, including the timely and meaningful
phasing out of restrictive quotas under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing;
- the full implementation of the provisions of the Uruguay
Round Agreements that provide for special and differential treatment for developing
countries, in particular net food importing countries and LDCs and for an examination of
measures that need to be taken to expand the scope of these provisions;
- need for improvement of the functioning of international
commodity markets through efficient, transparent, stable and adequate price formation.
They also called for international support to the developing countries efforts to
modernize and diversify their commodity activities, in order to increase their external
revenues and to improve their competitiveness in the face of persistent instability of
prices and the general deterioration in terms of trade;
- refraining from introducing into the WTO agenda extraneous
issues with no direct relevance to trade and which reprioritise the agenda of WTO. The
choice of new issues and the way rules are drawn up in the WTO should fully integrate the
development dimension and should not adversely effect the comparative advantage of
developing countries and competitive advantage of their firms participating in global
trade;
- safeguarding special arrangements in export markets for
products of strategic importance to developing countries, especially those with small
vulnerable economies;
- assistance to developing countries to take advantage of the
new trading opportunities and addressing difficulties faced by them in major markets and
trade in services, such as tariff peaks, preference erosion, tariff escalation and the
misuse of anti-dumping measures and countervailing duties;
- increased market access for exports of developing countries,
specially in respect of sectors and areas of trade in goods and services where they have a
comparative advantage;
- provision of liberalized and preferential market access by
developed countries for developing countries through improved and strengthened GSP and
other preferential schemes, and extension of their scope to cover new areas and sectors
now in the WTO actions to be taken to maximize the opportunities and to minimize the
difficulties of African countries in adjusting to the changes introduced by the Uruguay
Round. Decision on measures concerning the possible negative effects of the reform
programme shall be effectively applied;
- furthering the freer movement of all factors of production,
including movement of natural persons;
- ensuring that the international trading system fully
reflects the development perspective, both in terms of areas selected for rule-making as
well as in terms of the balance of rights and obligations and the benefits therefrom;
- an ongoing, systematic analysis of the Uruguay Round
Agreements to be carried out by UNCTAD. In this regard, they urged UNCTAD to undertake
impact analyses of existing agreements and to study the developmental implication of
proposed agreements;
- developing countries to consult closely while formulating
their positions on the issues being addressed by the World Trade Organization. In this
regard, they urged developing countries to work together to elaborate a forward looking
agenda for future trade negotiations which would incorporate issues of concern to the
developing countries, and would thereby enable them to take the initiative in any future
round of negotiations.
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- The Ministers condemned persistence by certain States in intensifying
unilateral coercive measures and exercise of domestic legislations with extra-territorial
effects against developing countries, such actions include blockades, embargoes and
freezing of assets with purpose of preventing these countries from exercising their right
to fully determine their political, economic and social systems and freely expand their
international trade. They confirmed that these measures are contrary to international law,
and international free trading system, and called for their immediate cessation. They also
upheld resolution 51/22 of UN General Assembly dated 6th December 1996, and called on all
States not to recognise the legislations adopted by a State whose effects go beyond its
territories through the imposition of sanctions on individuals and companies of third
countries.
- The Ministers noted that regional and sub-regional arrangements on
economic cooperation and integration are intensifying. They agreed that these can
contribute significantly to development and growth of world economy, inter alia through
the promotion and liberalization of trade, investment and technology transfers among NAM
and other developing countries, while noting the importance of the multilateral trading
system, the Ministers appreciated efforts by developing countries to strengthen
intra-regional trade. On the other hand, they cautioned against regional arrangements
raising new barriers.
- The Ministers appreciated the moves towards regional cooperation
through a South Asian Free Trade Area, an ASEAN Free Trade Area, and a Latin American Free
Trade Area, Action Plan for Arab Free Trade Area, and the activities of the Economic
Cooperation Organization (ECO), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Southern African
Development Community (SADC), COMESA, EAEC, ECOWAS, Economic and Monetary Community of
Central Africa (EMCCA), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAD), West African
Monetary Union, CARICOM, the Andean Pact, the Latin American Integration Association, the
Association of Caribbean States and the Central American Integration System to promote
inn-regional trade. They noted with satisfaction the work of the Arab Maghreb Union and
the establishment of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)
to promote regional cooperation. In this context, they also took note of the positive
efforts being made by the members of SAARC under SAPTA.
- The Ministers expressed satisfaction with the results achieved in
UNCTAD IX held at Midrand, South Africa as well as the effective coordination and the
positions taken by the Movement at the Session. They emphasized the need to strengthen the
development agenda of the United Nations, and stressed UNCTAD's position as the primary
organization in the UN system which can comprehensively examine trade and development and
related issues in an integrated fashion. They reaffirmed the important consensus building
role of UNCTAD which had been recognised in UNCTAD IX. Welcoming the reforms in UNCTAD,
they called for ensuring that these reforms do not impair its ability to assist developing
countries. In the context of the reform of the UN it is therefore essential to preserve
the mandate and the independence of UNCTAD and its role in promoting development. They
welcomed the adoption of a detailed programme of work for UNCTAD for 1998-2001 in trade in
goods and services, investment, enterprise development, technology and finance. They
called on UNCTAD to continue offering support to developing countries, with special
attention to the African Countries and LDCs, with a view to facilitating their
participation in the world economy, in true partnership for development and on an equal
basis, and in this context called upon international community to contribute generously to
the UNCTAD Trust Fund for the LDCs.
- The Ministers emphasised the importance of the analytical work and
policy research conducted by UNCTAD to facilitate an integrated consideration of issues
related to trade, investment, technology, services and development. They welcomed the
decision at the recent Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization in Singapore in
December 1996 to draw upon the work in UNCTAD on investment and trade and competition
policy in any consideration of the matter. They called on UCTAD to fulfil its mandate of
identifying and analyzing implications for development of issues relevant to a possible
multilateral framework on investment, taking fully into account the interests of
developing countries.
- The Ministers recognizing the role of UNCTAD as the principal forum
of UN General Assembly for the integrated treatment of development and related issues in
the areas of trade, finance, technology, investment and sustainable development, were of
the opinion that the Tenth Session of UNCTAD, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, in the year
2000 would provide a good opportunity to advance global partnership for economic
cooperation for the next millennium. They also noted that there was a possibility that the
Session would be held at the Summit level.
- The commodity sector contributed significantly to the national
development and determined terms of trade of developing countries. The Ministers expressed
their concern on the deterioration of prices and disorganization in certain commodities
markets. The Ministers emphasized the importance of diversification, promotion,
improvement of marketing prices and development of commodity and called upon the
international community to support the efforts of developing countries to improve the
processing, marketing, distribution and transportation of commodities. They noted the
contribution of the Common Fund for Commodity through its programmes, to the achievement
of the above mentioned objectives. Therefore, the Common Fund for Commodity deserved to be
strengthened in order to serve for the best interest of developing countries.
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- The Ministers were concerned at the sharp decline in availability of
concessional finance for development. Aid from developed countries as a proportion of
their GNP has fallen to the lowest recorded level since the UN adopted the target of 0.7%
of GNP as ODA in 1970. They regretted that the current discussions on development were
increasingly sidelining its external dimensions. They reiterated that development could
only occur in a conducive and supportive international economic environment in which the
major developed countries shoulder a special responsibility. They called on the developed
countries to coordinate a strategy of economic expansion to raise demand, accelerate and
stabilize world growth, undertake significant policy adjustments and promote sustained and
substantial flow of Official Development Assistance. The Ministers stressed that FDI can
only supplement and complement concessional finance, which was a major requirement for
economic and social development of developing countries. The Ministers noted that most
developing countries were not in a position to attract sufficient Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI). They, therefore still depended to a major extent upon ODA to advance
their development purposes
- The Ministers emphasised the necessity for the reformation of the
Bretton Woods institutions in order to enable them to render a major contribution towards
international financial stabilization and capital flow towards developing countries and
assisting to develop financial risk-averse instruments in this respect. Requirements of
developing countries for concessional funding from all sources have increased and not
decreased and need to be adequately met, especially for investment in infrastructure and
other priority areas, strengthening the creditworthiness of developing countries, support
the implementation of economic reforms and eradication of poverty, allow the appropriate
management of their debt and increase financial resources so as to achieve sustained
economic growth and sustainable development.
- They stressed the urgent need to reach a satisfactory conclusion on
the Eleventh General Review of SDR Quotas so as to meet the liquidity needs of developing
countries and give impetus to global growth. The Ministers expressed satisfaction at the
11th Replenishment of IDA and stressed the need to ensure that the level of IDA
commitments in the next three years is maintained by the developed countries in nominal
terms at least at the same level, as was done during the 10th replenishment period.
- The Ministers stressed the importance of Enhanced Structural
Adjustment Facility (ESAF) as a source of concessional funding for poor countries. They
underlined the need to place ESAF on a self-financing basis through substantial
contributions from industrial countries and if required, supplemented by sale of a limited
quantity of gold, without prejudice to gold producing developing countries and other
developing countries.
- The Ministers recalled the decision taken at the Cartagena Summit and
declared that when the Structural Adjustment programmes (SAPs) are agreed to, they should
be fully funded by the developed countries and include social development goals, in
particular eradicating poverty, promoting full and productive employment and enhancing
social integration.
- The Ministers stressed that mounting external indebtedness continued
to cripple the development efforts of a large proportion of the developing countries. They
deplored the negative phenomenon of net reverse transfer of flow from developing to
developed countries economies. Despite numerous strategies, a final solution continued to
elude the developing countries. Thus, they advocated the importance of a "once and
for all" approach which would reduce the overall debt burden and service to the
levels necessary to restore development through meaningful reduction of all categories of
debt by major group of creditor developed countries, including multilateral creditors.
This would include adopting an integrated approach for all types of indebtedness including
multilateral bilateral or commercial, which could help to achieve a comprehensive,
effective, equitable, development oriented and durable solution to the debt and debt
servicing problem. They called for implementation of bold measures of debt cancellation
for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs). They further stressed that any solution should
be non- discriminatory and transparent and should lead to net transfer of new resources
from the developed to the developing countries. The Ministers underlined that the
assessment of contribution from developed country creditors should be based on the
provision of additional resources so as to prevent diversion of scarce development funds
for debt relief.
- In this context, the Ministers welcomed the initiative of the
international financial institutions to assist the HIPCs in seeking to resolve their debt
problems and stressed the need for speedy and full implementation. They also stressed
there was a number of elements that need to be strengthened. Developed countries are urged
to consider shortening of the adjustment period in keeping with the criticality of the
situation in the concerned HIPCs as also the eligibility of additional HIPCs for debt
burden relief. Furthermore, while welcoming the decision by the Paris Club, the Ministers
believed that the debt reduction would have been more substantive if the Paris Club had
considered to reduce debt by 90 percent as proposed recently by the Ministers of the Group
24. They also pointed out that it was important not to introduce new conditionality.
- The Ministers recalled the endorsement given by Heads of
State/Government during the Cartagena Summit to the idea of creating a Ministerial Group
with the participation of Ministers from Developing countries including from the LDCs and
developed countries to jointly review the operation of the international monetary and
financial system and formulate recommendations aimed at its reform. The reform should,
interalia, be geared towards supporting the requirements of the developing countries with
a special attention to the needs of the LDCs and should promote greater interaction with
United Nations system. They also endorsed the initiative to convene an international
conference on the financing of development to deal with issues of capital flows and
resource mobilization.
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- The Ministers underlined that the Progress of developing countries is
dependent both on access to technology and on their endogenous capacity to develop it.
They attached special importance to environmentally sound and safe technologies and
biotechnology. They expressed their concern at measures aimed at blocking, for political
and other ends, the transfer of technology to developing countries. The controls imposed
by highly industrialized countries on the export of dual-use technology and other types of
sensitive technology should not be used to prevent access of developing countries to
technology for peaceful, developmental purposes.
- The Ministers welcomed with satisfaction the implementation by the
Center for Science & Technology of Non-Aligned Countries of an expanded programme of
cooperation. They stressed, however, that the Center requires a sufficient level of
commitment and financial contribution in order to be able to serve the Movement
effectively. They called upon all Non-Aligned countries and other developing countries to
subscribe to the Statute of the Center and strengthen the Center financially.
- The Ministers welcomed the outcome of the Meeting of Experts on
Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned Countries held in Cartagena from 17 to 19 March
1997, and approved the Cooperation Plan on Science and Technology in the area of
biodiversity adopted by the Meeting of Experts contained in document NAC/FMl2/Inf.001.
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- The Ministers recalled the Declaration on UNIDO adopted at the XIth
Summit of the Movement and stressed the continuing importance and relevance of UNIDO as
the central coordinating agency in the UN system in the field of industrial development.
They welcomed the reform process undertaken successfully by UNIDO, enhancing its
effectiveness with a firm stand for supporting and promoting industrial development and
for providing specialized technical services. They re-affirmed their commitment to support
and strengthen UNIDO to enable it to fully exercise its mandate. The Ministers called upon
all Member States of UNIDO, in particular the industrialized countries, to renew their
commitment to industrial development co-operation and to a stronger and more viable UNIDO
in the spirit of global partnership and mutual benefit. They urged some developed
countries to reconsider their announced withdrawal from UNIDO. They underscored the need
to secure the future of UNIDO as a specialized agency vital to the promotion of industrial
development in developing countries in the context of the multilateral development
cooperation system.
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- The Ministers recalled the spirit of partnership and cooperation
invoked at the UN Conference on Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro in June
1992. They noted with satisfaction the importance given to the issue of environment and
development by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. The Ministers underlined the
effective actions undertaken by all Non-Aligned countries for the implementation of Agenda
21 under extremely difficult and unfavorable international circumstances. They noted the
progressive development of environmental law in several Non-Aligned countries. The
Ministers observed that while environmental problems of developed countries are associated
with unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, those afflicting developing
countries are, to a large extent, the result of poverty and underdevelopment and of their
technical and financial limitations. They stressed that the overriding priority of
developing countries was eradication of poverty and that sustainable development must
therefore be considered within the context of sustained economic growth, with eradication
of poverty as the primary objective.
- The Ministers noted with grave concern that five years after the
Earth Summit:
- the required new and additional resources for implementation
of Agenda 21 had not been forthcoming;
- transfers of environmentally sound technologies and
technical know-how on concessional and preferential terms had not materialized;
- the requirements of the pivotal concept of "common but
differentiated responsibilities" has not gained adequate attention and not received a
practical commitment by developed industrial countries; and
- the failure to maintain a balance between the social and
economic issues and the conservation and management of resources for development, with an
overemphasis on environmental protection has undermined development as the building block
of Agenda 21.
- The Ministers therefore called for urgent implementation of the
commitments, recommendations and agreements reached at the UN Conference on Environment
and Development. They stressed the need for Non-Aligned countries to prepare and
effectively project coordinated NAM positions during the Special Session of the UN on the
Review of the Implementation of Agenda 21. The Special Session should assess the progress
made since 1992, analyze the reasons for the failures to implement the international
commitments made, and identify measures that need to be taken for the full and accelerated
implementation of Agenda 21, without reopening issues agreed in Rio de Janeiro.
- The Ministers reiterated their support to UNEP as the forum to deal,
in an integrated manner, with environmental matters, to its mandate in building consensus
on new and emerging issues in fields of environment and its role of coordination and
analysis.
- The Ministers recognised the critical issue of water in the world and
its strategic nature for humanity. They welcomed, in this regard, the Marrakesh
Declaration adopted by the first world water Forum held on 20 and 21 March 1997 in
Morocco, and recommended examination of the advantages of the conversion of this Forum
into a permanent institution in order to coordinate international cooperation and promote
the transfer of technology in this field. In this context, the Ministers welcomed the
appeal of His Majesty King of Morocco, for the creation of an international Fund to combat
the water pollution and to enhance the international cooperation in this area.
- The Ministers of the Non-Aligned Countries Parties to the Convention
on Conservation and sustainable Use of Biodiversity underlined the importance of the
biosafety protocol, in negotiations, and the need to provide financial and technical
assistance to developing countries and to assist their institutional capacity building to
allow them to manage rationally their needs and their capacities concerning safety in
biotechnology.
- The Ministers called for the strengthening of UN Environment
Programme (UNEP) and HABITAT and for ensuring that adequate funds are allocated for their
various mandates. They further urged for the full utilization of the facilities of the two
agencies on meetings on environment and human settlements.
- The Ministers expressed their concern that the developed countries,
either directly or through international institutions, resort to environmental pretexts to
increase obstacles to trade, intervene in the internal affairs of developing countries and
impose conditionalities on official assistance and the financing of development, while
their unsustainable production and consumption patterns continue to severely affect the
environment. They emphasized that in no case does the adoption of measures based on these
pretexts make any positive contribution to the conservation of the environment.
- The Ministers urged the international community for ensuring a full
and effective implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification in those
countries experiencing serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,
especially through the provision of new and additional financial resources.
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- The Ministers reiterated that South-South cooperation is an essential
mechanism for promoting accelerated economic growth and development and self reliance,
giving a greater dynamism to the world economy and promoting the restructuring of
international economic relations. They stressed that South-South cooperation should be
promoted through the sharing of development experiences, transfer of technology and
exploiting the latent synergies and complementarities between the Non-Aligned countries
and increasing the FDI flows and economic cooperation among them. They noted the
considerable development of capacities in the South, which should lend significant impetus
to South-South cooperation. The Ministers noted the bilateral cooperation programmes
promoting South-South cooperation undertaken by several Non-Aligned countries and called
for extension of such programmes with the LDCs. They at the same time reiterated their
conviction that evolutionary and tripartite approaches should be intensively explored and
implemented. The Ministers considered that institutions and mechanisms created in the
context of the Action Programmes on Economic Cooperation (APEC) of the Non-Aligned
Movement should be reactivated.
- The Ministers stressed that the scope offered by the Global System of
Trade Preferences (GSTP) in promoting South-South cooperation should be fully exploited
and called for a further strengthening of the GSTP. The Ministers called upon all Member
States of NAM to join the GSTP and contribute to make it a viable and strong instrument
for liberalizing and promoting South-South trade. The Third Round of the GSTP should be
launched and result in meaningful expansion of intra-South trade and investment.
- The Ministers noted the positive outcome of the South-South
Conference on Trade, Investment and Finance held in Costa Rica in January 1997, including
the San Jose Plan of Action.
- They also took note of the important and positive role played by the
Joint Coordination Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 (JCC) over
the past few years in advancing the common positions of the developing countries on
different global issues.
- The Ministers reaffirmed the commitment to harmonizing their efforts
to bring greater coherence and further consolidate the unity and to promote greater
interaction among the developing countries. In this regard, the Ministers noted the fact
that many areas of the NAM's Action Programme on Economic Cooperation (APEC) overlapped
with those of the Group of 77 Caracas Programme of Action (CPA) and considered also the
limited capacity of countries of both the Movement and the Group of 77 to provide
financial support for the implementation of South-South cooperation. Bearing in mind the
mandate of the JCC whose objective of establishment is to harmonize the NAM's APEC and the
G-77's CPA, they instructed the JCC to make appropriate recommendations to the next NAM
Summit through the Coordinating Bureau.
- The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of political will that must
underlie all South-South cooperation and in this regard they stressed that the proposal
for convening a South summit contained in the San Jose Declaration should be explored on
priority basis.
- The Ministers acknowledged that the full potential of South-South
cooperation is yet to be realized. They therefore committed themselves to strengthening
and expanding the present efforts, initiating new and concrete forms and priorities for
cooperation including projects by groups of developing countries, and devising realistic
and viable modalities for their implementation.
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- The Ministers called for:
- the holding of a UN Conference on South-South cooperation;
- promotion and strengthening of TCDC programmes to encourage
systematic exchange of information and development experiences between NAM countries;
- strengthen TCDC programmes in the context of the agencies of
the UN systems, taking into account positive outcome of the FAO;
- cooperation in human resource development for economic
growth and social development;
- expansion of scholarships, fellowships, student exchange
programmes, short-term technical training programmes, and the creation of Centers of
Excellence in Non-Aligned countries;
- promoting, facilitating and enhancing the activities of all
sectors of their economies, in the area of South-South cooperation;
- cooperation from developed countries and international, and
regional financial institutions in promoting and facilitating South-South cooperation;
- greater interaction amongst Central Banks, Finance
Ministries, and financial institutions of Member countries to promote trade and other
South-South Cooperation activities;
- special and additional preferences be accorded to LDCs
during the next round of Ministerial level of the Generalized System of Trade Preferences,
with a view to enhancing their competitiveness and market access.
- promotion of direct investment flows among developing
countries, through bilateral and multilateral arrangements and free economic trade zones,
based on favorable and competitive term, which in turn would generate larger markets at
the bilateral, sub-regional, regional and inter-regional level.
- the reduction of both tariff and non-tariff barriers to
trade among the NAM countries.
- regional and sub-regional cooperation and integration as an
important aspect for the promotion of North-South and South-South cooperation.
- They welcomed the fact that many countries in the South had become
economically and technologically dynamic and acquired new global capabilities in industry,
agriculture, infrastructure and services. This made for unprecedented opportunities for
South-South cooperation based on these merging strengths and complementarities and through
intensified regional cooperation, trade expansion, joint ventures, technical collaboration
and the transfer of knowledge, experience and skills.
- The Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress made in the
establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement Center for South-South Technical Cooperation in
Indonesia with the cooperation of Brunei Darussalam. They reiterated the importance of the
Center as one of the vital and effective means for promoting and accelerating development
in the developing countries and as an integral part of the endeavors of the Movement to
further strengthen South-South Cooperation. The Ministers invited both developed and
developing countries as well as international organizations and institutions to join in
supporting the Center.
- The Ministers welcomed the decision to convene a Conference of
Ministers of Culture of the Non-Aligned Countries in September 1997, as called for at the
XI Conference of Heads of State or Government, with a view to further strengthening
cooperation in the field of culture among the Non-Aligned and other developing countries.
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- The Ministers welcomed the outcome of the Fifth Conference of
Ministers of Information of the Non-Aligned Countries (COMINAC V) held in Abuja in
September 1996, which, interalia, agreed on the need for intensive research efforts by
Non-Aligned countries in the development of communication technology and inter- and
intra-regional cooperation through NAM mechanisms geared to this end, as a means of
redressing the continued imbalances and inequalities between developed and developing
countries in the field of information and communication. In this context, the Ministers
stressed the importance to further enhance the function and network of the Non-Aligned
News Agencies Pool (NANAP) and Broadcasting Organizations of Non-Aligned Countries
(BONAC).
- The Ministers expressed their concern over the increasing use of
defamation and the distortion of information by some mass media of developed countries,
such as Voice of Free Asia, established in 1996 and Radio Marti to destabilize the
Governments of developing countries and called for an immediate end to such acts.
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- The Ministers expressed their satisfaction at the outcome of the
World Food Summit and the HABITAT II Conference, specially on matters relating to
international cooperation. They expressed their willingness to work constructively to
promote a firm political commitment for the full implementation of the Programme of Action
of the World Food Summit and the HABITAT II Agenda as agreed. The Ministers recalled that
the right to food is a fundamental human right and its promotion constitutes a moral
imperative of the international community. Therefore, they emphatically rejected the use
of food as an instrument of economic or political pressure. They also considered it
necessary to undertake studies on the impact of the new multilateral trading system on
food supply and its possible consequences on food security, particularly in net food
importing countries.
- The Ministers called for urgent and immediate generation of political
will in the international community to follow up and implement the recommendations of the
recent United Nations conferences as agreed, particularly those related to new and
additional resources for development, creation of an economic environment favorable to the
sustained economic growth of developing countries, and access to technology, technical
know-how, eradication of poverty, creation of productive employment and empowerment of
women. They stressed that strong political commitment was needed to implement strengthened
international cooperation for development. In this connection and as a first and essential
step, the developed countries must provide new and additional financial resources for the
implementation of the commitments made at these conferences and summits.
- The Ministers noted with satisfaction the outcome of the World Solar
Summit held in Harare in September 1995 with reference to new and renewable energy
resources which are environmentally friendly. Follow-up action would complement,
strengthen and integrate efforts on Environment and Development, Science and Technology,
Industrial Development and South-South & North-South Cooperation. Some NAM countries
and other developing countries have made considerable progress in developing solar energy
resources which could be the basis for cooperation among developing countries.
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- The Ministers observed that despite the efforts being undertaken by
many African countries and in spite of signs of progress in their economies, they are
still facing serious economic and social problems. They called upon the international
community to continue and also increase its support to African countries to enable them to
achieve sustained economic growth. They reaffirmed also the necessity to undertake
specific measures for Africa to attract more foreign investments and ODA, to reduce the
debt burden, to eradicate poverty, to increase access to markets, and to strengthen their
capacities to enable them to harmoniously integrate into the world economy.
- The Ministers acknowledged the positive changes that are taking place
in the African region during the last few years as reflected by the midterm review of the
UN NADAF. Nevertheless, the socio-economic situation in Africa remained critical and to
consolidate the positive achievements, it is necessary for the international community to
continue to support Africa's efforts through a provision of new and additional resources
and by ensuring a favorable external economic environment.
- The Ministers urged the international community to reaffirm its
commitment to seek lasting solutions to the severe challenges facing the African continent
with special attention to, among others, regional and sub-regional cooperation and
integration, durable solutions to Africa's external debt problem, diversification of
Africa's economies, more access to trade and market opportunities, resource flows and
transfer of technology.
- The Ministers took note of the outcome of the mid-term review of the
UN NADAF and called upon the international community to implement the renewed commitment
to ensure that the targets of the UN NADAF will be reached within the time frame of the
programme.
- The Ministers urged the Movement to support the African countries in
their efforts to carry out the commitments they made in the UN NADAF as well as under the
Cairo Agenda for Action.
- The Ministers also urged that the new and additional funding must be
made available to enable the implementation of the United Nations System-wide special
initiative on Africa. The Ministers also welcomed the efforts of the different African
countries at development vis-à-vis the UN ten year $ 25 billion system-wide initiative to
assist Africa and called on members of the Movement to extend their support to that
special initiative and similar redemptive measures.
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- The Ministers reaffirmed their conviction that globalization and
liberalization should offer equal opportunities for all countries and enable developing
countries to play a more active role in the world economy. In order to overcome the
possible risk of instability and marginalisation, they called for special measures to be
taken to maximize the positive impact of these processes for all developing countries,
with particular attention to the interest of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
- The Ministers took note of the Singapore Ministerial Conference of
WTO and in view of the principle of special and differential measures accorded for the
developing countries, emphasized the need for full and expeditious implementation of the
Marrakesh Agreements, specially in areas of interest to developing countries, such as
textiles and agriculture particularly of relevance to LDCs and net food importing
developing countries.
- The Ministers agreed that in order to arrest and reverse the
marginalisation of the LDCs, special measures are required to be taken to ensure their
integration into the global economy and strengthen their capacity to compete effectively
in world trade along with full and effective implementation of the Paris Programme of
Action for LDCs, the outcome of its Mid-term Global Review as well as the LDCs Plan of
Action contained in the WTO Ministerial Declaration of Singapore. In this connection, the
Ministers stressed the importance of holding a high level meeting in June 1997 jointly by
WTO, UNCTAD and ITC with the participation of LDC governments, various aid agencies and
multilateral institutions to adopt an integral approach to assist these countries to
enhance their trade opportunities.
- The Ministers also noted that South-South cooperation would be a very
useful instrument to prepare the LDCs during the transitional period. For this purpose,
developing countries having capacity to share their experience should consider providing
technical and other relevant support including removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers
to create market opportunities for products from the LDCs to their markets.
- The Ministers recognised that investment was a key determinant of
economic development and creation of employment in developing countries. While the need
for increasing the flow of Foreign Direct Investment was a priority for jump-starting the
economies of the developing countries, in particular the LDCs, to prepare them for
integration into the emerging world economic order, intra-South investment was an equally
important element for this purpose. In this context, direct investment from advanced
developing countries as well as developed countries to other developing countries and the
LDCs.
- The Ministers noted that the flow of resources among countries
constituted a key input for growth. Therefore, developing and developed countries should
coordinate and implement strategies to accelerate world growth, promote sustained and
substantial flows of ODA and promote a system of financial cooperation capable of reducing
the level of financial volatility, taking into consideration the special vulnerability of
the LDCs.
- The Ministers noted with appreciation the recent initiative taken by
the Chairman of the NAM to hold regular consultations with the Chairman of the G-77 with a
view to exchanging views on various issues of mutual interest. In this connection, they
expressed their support to the efforts of the NAM Chairman to continue to reflect, in his
consultation with the Chairman of G-7, the concerns and interests of the LDCs in view of
the fact that these are the countries most adversely affected in the current process of
globalization.
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- The Ministers affirmed their full support for the system-wide
implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island
Developing States adopted by the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small
Island Developing States which was held in Bridgetown, Barbados from 25 April to 6 May
1994. They reaffirmed in particular the need for the provision of adequate, predictable,
new and additional financial resources, transfer of environmentally sound technologies,
including on concessional and preferential terms as mutually agreed, and the promotion of
fair and non-discriminatory trading arrangements. They also noted the need for appropriate
exchanges among small island developing states and between them and other States with
similar development experiences to be encouraged.
- The Ministers noted that a full review of the Programme of Action is
scheduled for 1999. In this context, they urged the Commission on Sustainable Development
(CSD) at its fifth session, as well as the special session of the General Assembly to be
held in June, 1997, to continue its support for, and provide new impetus to be Programme
of Action, including making recommendations on the specific modalities for examining all
its outstanding chapters.
- The Ministers again stressed the need for the international community
to pay special attention to, and to contribute actively to resolving, the critical
situations in Africa, and the special problems of the LDC's, Small Islands Developing
State and Land Locked and the Transit Developing Countries.
 
   
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