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LEADERS INAUGURATE SECOND SOUTH
SUMMIT
OF THE GROUP OF 77 IN
DOHA
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His Highness the Emir of
Qatar announces a donation of $20
million
to a “South Fund for Development and
Human Circumstances ”
The strengthening of
South-South cooperation and the UN
reform at the centre stage of the
inaugural ceremony
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Doha, 15 June 2005 ---
The leaders of the 132 Member States
of the Group of 77 inaugurated this
morning in Doha, Qatar, the Second
South Summit of the Group of 77 at
the level of Heads of State and
Government.
In presence of the delegations of
the 132 Member States and the
Executive Secretary of the Group of
77, the following dignitaries
addressed the Summit this morning:
His Highness Sheikh Hamad Khalifa
Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar
and host of the Summit; the Most
Honorable P.J. Patterson, Prime
Minister of Jamaica and President of
the Group of 77; His Excellency
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
His Excellency Mr. Carlos Lage, Vice
President of the Council of State
and Secretary of the Executive
Committee of the Council of
Ministers of Cuba; His Excellency
Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi;
Prime Minister of Malaysia and
Chairman of the Non-Aligned
Movement.
The President of the General
Assembly of the United Nations, His
Excellency Mr. Jean Ping; the
Minister of Cooperation and
Humanitarian Action of Luxembourg,
on behalf of the European Union, His
Excellency Mr. Jean-Louis Schiltz;
and the representative of the
Secretary-General of the United
Nations, Her Excellency Ms. Louise
Fréchette, also made a statement.
Addressing the participants during
the inaugural ceremony, His Highness
Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir
of the State of Qatar and host of
the Summit indicated that “Qatar has
given special attention to the
question of aid because it believes
in the importance of supporting the
efforts and initiatives aimed at
economic and social development and
addressing famine and poverty in the
world”. In this context, His
Highness the Emir announced his
country’s “commitment to give the
prescribed percentage of its GDP as
development aid, with allocating 15%
of that percentage to the least
developed countries, effective from
the year 2006”. By doing so, Qatar
“urges the countries of the North
and the capable countries of the
South to raise the level of their
aid”.
Moreover, His Highness Sheik Hamad
Khalifa Al-Thani urged the Summit to
approve the establishment of a “Fund
for economic, social health and
educational development, and to
address the problems of hunger,
poverty, and human catastrophes that
may be called “The South Fund for
Development and Human
Circumstances”. The State of Qatar,
he added, “is pleased to announce
its willingness to donate 20 million
Dollars to this Fund”.
The Prime Minister of Jamaica and
President of the Group of 77, the
Most Honorable PJ Patterson, stated
that the “review of the millennium
development goals clearly
established that we are not on
target and a dramatic effort will be
needed if our expectations are to be
met”. Referring to South-South
cooperation, the Prime minister and
President of the Group of 77 noted
some successes, including a spread
and strengthening of regional
economic groupings and cooperation
arrangements, not only within
regions, but across continents; he
also pointed out to an increase of
the trade volume among developing
countries from 40% to 50%. Mr.
Patterson also stressed that
South-South bilateral projects are
beginning to make a positive
difference in crucial areas such as
health, education, energy, and
construction.
Prime Minister Patterson made it
clear however that “within our
Group, we have not adequately
exploited the potential for
cooperation. South-South cooperation
should not be an empty slogan.
Instead of more meetings, we need to
establish contacts and identify
avenues for greater cooperation and
develop mechanisms for promotion and
implementation of projects. The
Honorable P.J. Patterson insisted
that “the message from Doha must be
loud and clear: We must enlarge the
dialogue between North and South. We
gather in Doha as the G-8 prepares
to hold its Summit next month. We
always meet separately. What is the
reason why we can never meet
together for common dialogue?”, he
asked.
Referring to the reform of the
multilateral system, Mr.Patterson
said that the Doha Plan of Action
for 2005 outlines the critical need
to ensure that the in the reform of
the United Nations, development is
given high priority as it is a
fundamental underpinning to
achieving the overall goals and
objectives of the United Nations”.
According to Mr. Patterson, the
success of the reform will depend on
its concentration on the
fundamentals, namely the challenges
facing the majority of mankind: the
struggle for survival against its
most dangerous enemies, poverty,
ignorance, and the ravages of hunger
and disease.
The President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo expressed
his concern that “five years after
the First Summit in 2000, we have
achieved less than 5% in the
implementation of the Havana
Programme of Action. This second
meeting is therefore an opportunity
to take stock of our progress,
identify obstacles and challenges
that impede our effectiveness, and
consider the policy options that
will enable us to advance rapidly
with implementation”. Referring to
the upcoming Summit in the United
Nations, President Obasanjo said
that the Doha Summit “must pronounce
itself unequivocally on the issue of
development, peace and security. In
Nigeria’s view, underdevelopment is
the gravest threat to peace and
security…” he added. Talking about
NEPAD, the Nigerian President said
“it is imperative that developing
countries contribute meaningfully to
the implementation” of this
initiative, as success in this
regard would usher new hope in the
efficacy of South-South cooperation.
President Obasanjo concluded by
calling for the strengthening of the
institutions of the Group of 77.
“The Secretariat of the Group of 77
as well as the South Center should
be adequately funded to position
themselves as our power houses for
service delivery, knowledge, and
information, professionalism and
excellence”.
Reading a message on behalf of His
Excellency Mr. Fidel Castro Ruz,
President of the Republic of Cuba to
the participants in the Second South
Summit, the Vice President of the
Council of State and Secretary of
the Executive Committee of the
Council of Ministers of Cuba, His
Excellency Mr. Carlos Lage said that
“ today’s economic order includes
our nations in exploitation schemes
and excludes them from development
plans…The future of Humanity cannot
be this unjustifiable and
unsustainable world…”However, said
Mr. Lage, “let us, who have always
been excluded, join efforts to
establish a just, equitable and
sustainable world order and preserve
the United Nations and make it serve
the people”.
The Prime Minister of Malaysia and
Chairman of the Non-Aligned
Movement, His Excellency Dato Seri
Abudllah Ahmad Badawi, said that the
“future for the developing countries
lies in a strong and robust
multilateral system, based upon the
principles of international law”.
Three objectives should therefore be
secured, he indicated:” to ensure
that the process of reform of the
United Nations results in a
strengthening of the multilateral
system; to ensure that development
remains at the top of the agenda of
international dialogue; and to
secure a restructuring of the
international economic system in
order to rectify the inherent
asymmetries of power in the system”.
The Heads of State and Government of
the Group of 77 will reconvene this
afternoon for their first working
session. They will hold a general
debate on development challenges
facing the South, with special
reference to the high-level plenary
meeting of the 60 th Session of the
General Assembly. |
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Doha, 14 June 2005 ---
The Executive Secretary of the
Group of 77, Mr. Mourad Ahmia, was honored
today with the 2005 Spirit of Excellence
Award-Emerging Leader for Global Public
Service by the Canada-based Institute for
Leadership Development, a specialized
institution of the World Trade University
Global Secretariat in Canada.
The Award ceremony took place as a side
event during the ongoing Second South Summit
of the Group of 77 which is taking place in
Doha, Qatar.
Mr. Ahmia was selected by a number of
distinguished citizens who themselves have
had highest international reputation in
global public service and their decision
acknowledges his longstanding contribution
in support of the work of the Group of 77
and promoting the interests of the
developing nations in the United Nations.
The President and CEO of the World Trade
University Global Secretariat, Mr. Sujit
Chowdhury, stated that "this event
celebrates hope and inspiration of an
emerging leader in the international public
service. More than ever, public service
requires commitment, dedication,
perseverance and performance. Mr. Ahmia
fulfills these qualities in his coordinating
role within the Group of 77".
Upon acceptance of the Award, Mr. Ahmia said
that he was particularly humbled to be the
recipient of such a prestigious Award
because “I strongly believe that this Award
goes beyond the recognition of my modest
commitment within the Group of 77 to the
best interests of our developing nations”. I
dedicate my own nomination to the millions
of young leaders who flourish throughout the
South at a time when our countries have to
face important political, economic and
social challenges”, he added.
The event was attended by a number of
personalities, including Ambassador
Anwarulkarim Chowdhury, United Nations
Under-Secretary General for the Least
Developed Countries and Landlocked
Countries; Mr. Yash tendon; Executive
Director of the South Centre; Mr. Luis
Fernando Jaramillo; Convener of the South
Centre Council of Representatives; Professor
M.H.A. Hassan, Executive Director of the
Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS); and
Mr. Zhou Yiping, Director of the Special
Unit on South-South cooperation. Several
delegations from the Member States of the
Group of 77 attending the Summit were also
represented.
Mr. Mourad Ahmia is an Algerian-born
diplomatic adviser and career diplomat who
joined the Foreign Service at age 20. He has
been serving as the Executive Secretary of
the Group of 77 in New York since April
2000. Since 1994, he was seconded formally
by the Algerian Government and served as
Coordinator of the Office of the Chairman of
the Group of 77 in New York. In that
capacity, he directed the preparatory
processes for a number of high-level G-77
conferences that led to the first ever G-77
South Summit in Havana, Cuba, in April 2000,
and during which he was appointed as the
First Executive Secretary of the G-77.
During his diplomatic career, Mr. Ahmia
served as Diplomatic adviser in the Algerian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attended
many international conferences and summits
in the South as an expert in international
economic, social and environment issues.
Mr. Ahmia has served as an active member on
the Board of many international foundations.
He is currently the President of the
International Secretariat of the Trieste
System for Science and Technology as well as
Honorary Member of the International
Foundation for Scientific Progress and
Freedom in Trieste. He was conferred with
many awards and decorations mostly by the
Governments of the Member States of the
G-77.
The World Trade University (WTU) was
launched in partnership with the United
Nations on the occasion of the 3 rd United
Nations Conference on Least Developed
Countries, held in Brussels, in May 2001.
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Foreign
Ministers conclude review of the draft Doha
Declaration
and Plan of Action; stress importance of South-South
cooperation and the strengthening of the United
Nations in the field of development
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Doha,
13 June 2005 – The review of the Doha
Declaration and Plan of Action was at the centre of
the Ministerial Meeting held today in the context of
the Second South Summit of the Group of 77. The
meeting was inaugurated yesterday at the senior
officials level. Both documents are to be adopted by
the Heads of State and Government during their
Meeting, be held from 15-16 June 2005.
Following an address by the First Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Hamad Bin Jassim
Bin Jaber Al-Thani and of the Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs of Jamaica, His Excellency Mr.
Delano Franklin, in his capacity as Chairman of the
group of 77, the Ministers held an interactive
dialogue centering on the issues of South-South
cooperation and the implementation of the outcome of
the First South Summit; and the strengthening of the
United Nations in the field of development with
special reference to the proposed outcome document
for the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General
Assembly of the United Nations.
The
Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77 outlined the
importance of South-South cooperation as a tool for
developing and strengthening the economic
independence of developing countries and achieving
development as one of the means of ensuring the
equitable and effective participation of developing
countries in the merging global economy. In this
context, South-South cooperation is not being
considered as a substitute but rather a complement
to North-South cooperation.
The
Group of 77 decided in Havana in 2000 on an
ambitious programme to expand South-South
cooperation. The delegations pointed out that the
vast potential of such cooperation remains largely
untapped. The lack of effective arrangements was
identified as one constraint.
Speaking about the proposed reform of the United
Nations, the Foreign Ministers of the Group of 77
stressed the importance for developing countries
today that these efforts result in genuine
strengthening and revitalization of the United
Nations. For this to happen, it is essential that
development remains the priority and at the centre
of the Organization's work. In general, developing
countries must support genuine multilateralism and
democratization of global governance. In this
context, the reform of the United Nations should
also be extended to the Bretton Woods institutions
and the World Trade Organization (WTO) which have a
vital impact on development and on international
economic relations.
The
Second South Summit will open at the level of Heads
of State and Government on Thursday 15 June with a
general debate on the development challenges facing
the South, with special reference to the upcoming 60
th Session of the General Assembly. |
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Senior officials
to finalize today Doha Declaration
and Programme of Action to be adopted by South
leaders
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Doha, 12 June
2005---
The Second South
Summit of the Group of 77 opened its first working session
this morning at the Doha Sheraton Hotel at the
level of senior officials and in presence of His Excellency
Ambassador Stafford Neil, Chairman of the Group of 77 and
Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations,
Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Permanent
Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations,
and Mr. Mourad Ahmia, Executive Secretary of the Group of
77.
In
his opening remarks to the senior officials of the 132
Member States of the Group of 77, Ambassador Stafford Neil,
in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of 77, referred to
the meeting as an "opportunity for the Group to demonstrate
unity and solidarity in its pursuit to advance the
collective will of its membership”. In the context of the
reform proposal of the United Nations, Ambassador Neil added
that "as we prepare for the 60 th session of the General
Assembly and the impending consultations on the outcome
document of the President of the General Assembly, we have
to be firm, bold and clear in our articulation of the views
and concerns of developing countries”. He stressed that the
Group of 77 and China “must ensure that advancing the
development agenda remains at the forefront of the reform
and activities to be undertaken. While in Doha, we must
avail ourselves of the opportunity to advance this objective
and to ensure that the G-77 is fully equipped to take on the
challenges of the very critical year”, he concluded.
Welcoming delegations to Doha, the Permanent Representative
of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and former
Chairman of the Group of 77 and China, Ambassador Nassir
Abulaziz Al-Nasser, outlined “the need to establish a real
global development agenda in which the Millennium
Development Goals and the related role of the United Nations
are given considerable significance”, in the perspective of
the Millennium Summit, to be held in September, in New York.
Ambassador Al-Nasser stressed the need to make “South-South
cooperation the real instrument for our development, while
recognizing that it cannot be a substitute for the
North-South negotiations. With this understanding, we need
to enhance the role of the South-South cooperation while
seeking to improve our position in the international
community”, he added.
Delegations convened in working groups to finalize the draft
Doha Declaration and Programme of Action, to be submitted to
the review of the Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign
Affairs scheduled tomorrow, Monday 13 June, before their
final adoption by the Summit of Heads of State and
Government, scheduled from 14-16 June 2005.
The Group of 77 was established in 1964 by seventy-seven
developing countries signatories of the “Joint Declaration
of the Seventy-Seven Countries” issued at the end of the
first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva. Beginning with the first
Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 in Algiers in 1967
which adopted the Charter of Algiers, a permanent
institutional structure gradually developed which led to the
creation of Chapters of the Group of 77 in Rome (FAO);
Vienna (UNIDO); Paris (UNESCO); Nairobi (UNEP); and the
Group of 24 in Washington, DC (IMF and the World Bank).
Although the membership of the G-77 has increased to 132
countries, the original name was retained because of its
historical significance.
As
the largest coalition of developing countries in the United
Nations, the Group of 77 provides the means for the South to
articulate and promote its collective economic interests and
enhance its joint negotiating capacity on all major
international economic issues in the United Nations system,
including South-South cooperation. |
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