Statement by Ms. Donnette Critchlow,
Representative of Guyana, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China,
on agenda items:
99 (a):Implementation of the commitments and policies agreed upon in the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalisation of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade
(b): Preparations for the Special Session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II)
(d): Human resources development
(e): International migration and development, including the question of the convening of a United Nations Conference on International Migration and Development to address migration issues
(g): Renewal of the dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership
New York, 19 October 1999
Mr. Chairman,
I have the honour, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, to
speak on sub-items a, b, d, e, and g of agenda item 99: Sustainable
development and international economic cooperation.
Let me begin by thanking the Secretariat for the reports prepared
on these items, which provide useful insights into the issues
requiring attention by the world community in order to advance
international cooperation in the areas covered. In view of the
limited time available, I will address brief remarks on each of
the items in turn.
In respect of item 99 (a), the Group of 77 and China considers
that the commitments and policies agreed upon in the Declaration
on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalisation
of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries,
and in the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United
Nations Decade, remain valid and deserve continuing attention
by the international community.
Throughout the Decade the Assembly has reaffirmed the need to
strengthen the Declaration and Strategy, recognising that successful
implementation would contribute to the fulfilment of the goals
of the United Nations Charter. However, efforts to that end have
encountered many setbacks, not least of which have been the shocks
suffered by the global economy over the last decade, with particularly
adverse economic and social consequences for developing countries.
Reinforced by the negative ramifications of globalisation and
a manifest decline in official commitment to international cooperation,
it is not surprising that the aims of the Declaration and Strategy
have yet to materialise. The promise of the 1990s as the decade
of "accelerated development in the developing countries and
strengthened international cooperation" has thus largely
evaporated, leaving in its wake many countries afflicted by increasing
poverty and economic marginalisation, not to mention internecine
warfare, conflicts and the effects of natural disasters.
Mr. Chairman,
These realities impose on us the need to reassess our goals and
the timetables for their achievement. The consensus on development
reached during the United Nations conferences and summits of the
1990s has reaffirmed the necessity for an international environment
supportive of sustained economic growth in developing countries,
one that enables them to effectively address the challenges of
poverty eradication, employment generation, capacity-building
and human resources development among other imperatives. Developing
countries cannot keep pace with the industrialised, knowledge-based
societies of the developed North unless real progress is made
towards an equitable integration of all countries in the international
economy. Only then can international cooperation for development
yield the results envisaged in the fourth Development Decade.
Turning now to item 99 (b), Implementation of the Outcome of the
United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat 11), the
Group of 77 and China notes that limited progress has been made
with respect to human settlement development since the convening
of the 1997 Habitat Conference. This is by no means reflective
of a failure on the part of the Conference or the concerned parties
to implement appropriate measures. Rather it is indicative of
the rapidly increasing demand for adequate shelter and basic services,
particularly in urban centres and the inadequacy of the means
to effectively deal with this demand. According to statistics
available, at the start of this century 1 out of every 10 persons
lived in the city. Today, it is estimated that approximately 3
billion people, that is, half of the population of the world,
is now living in cities.
Developing countries, lacking the resources to cope, have been
particularly hardput to respond to the pressures occasioned by
rapid urbanisation. For many the problem has been exacerbated
by poor economic performance and the negative effects of globalisation
and trade liberalisation. The resources deficit at the national
level has been compounded by the steep reduction of ODA, and generally
unfulfilled conference commitments with regard to the means of
implementation. With urban poverty projected to increase at an
even faster rate, the prognosis for the next century is hardly
encouraging.
Against this background, the Group of 77 and China calls for immediate
and intensified action, particularly with respect to increased
funding for programmes related to human settlement development.
However, even as we resolve to tackle the problems associated
with rapid urbanisation and to strengthen campaigns for secure
tenure and urban governance, the Group wishes to underscore that
the rural dimension of the Habitat programme should not be neglected.
Mr. Chairman,
Looking ahead to the Special Session of the General Assembly aimed
at an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the
Habitat Agenda, the Group welcomes the progress made so far in
preparations. The Session would provide an opportunity for the
international community to examine its achievements and determine
future action in this area. To that end the Group considers that
it would benefit significantly from the presentation of a comprehensive
report on the state of the world's cities.
Let me say finally on this item that the Group of 77 and China
has noted the reforms proposed within the context of the UN system
with regard to enhancing the roles of UNEP and UNCHS. We are happy
to note that the Habitat Center is now fully organised to implement
the programmes necessary to ensure that people are provided with
adequate shelter and safe and healthy living conditions in this
increasingly urbanised world, in as short a time as possible.
Mr. Chairman,
On item 99 (d) the Group of 77 and China considers that human
resources development is of critical importance to the promotion
of economic and social development. This is especially so in the
current context of globalisation, where knowledge-based enterprise
assumes ever greater importance in the global economy.
It is the view of the Group of 77 and China, therefore, that more
focused attention needs to be given to this issue in the context
of the United Nations. In that spirit, we welcome the focus of
the Secretary-General's report on information and communications
technology as it relates to human resources development. The Group
would be ready to explore the possibility of a more thematic approach
to the consideration of human resources development, while preserving
guiding principles as well as attention to operational support
by the UN system in this area.
Mr. Chairman,
In regard to item 99 (e), International Migration and Development,
including the question of the convening of a United Nations Conference
on international migration and development to address migration
issues, this is an issue to which the Group of 77 and China attaches
much importance. We believe that population and development concerns
are inextricably linked and should be treated in an integrated
fashion in any dialogue on development. The Group recognises that
international migration is having a profound effect on all concerned
- the countries of origin, countries of destination and those
in transit. This situation is hardly likely to improve in light
of the challenges posed to developing countries by globalisation
and trade liberalisation as well as the increased incidence of
national and regional conflicts. The need to assess the impacts
of this phenomenon, share experiences and to explore ways and
means of making international migration work for the benefit of
all concerned, particularly developing countries, has gained added
urgency in recent times. The Group of 77 and China believes that
various modalities for addressing this issues will need to be
explored.
In this context, we commend the initiative of the Government of
Thailand, which in collaboration with the International Organisation
for Migration hosted last April the International Symposium to
promote international awareness and foster political will among
Asian countries to effectively address this issue. Similar action
should be encouraged in other regions. The sharing of experiences
between countries as well as the availability of data on migration
are critical elements in the development of long term strategies
aimed at making international migration work for developing countries.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, allow me to address some remarks to item
99 (g), renewal of the dialogue for the strengthening of international
economic cooperation through partnership. The need for a more
results-oriented dialogue has become all the more evident in the
current era of globalisation. The first such dialogue, held last
year, addressed the important theme of the economic and social
consequences of globalisation and their policy implications, has
contributed to a heightened engagement within the UN with the
profound implications of this phenomenon. The Group of 77 and
China is of the view that the dialogue on international economic
cooperation, to be credible, should enable the international community,
in particular developing countries, to deal in an effective manner
with this phenomenon, both with its promise as well as its perils.
We are convinced that the United Nations, given its broad mandate
to promote solutions to problems in the economic, social and related
fields, has a key role to play in international efforts to harness
the process of globalisation for long term development. Our Group
will therefore be considering how the Organisation might best
contribute to strengthening international economic cooperation
towards this end.
We look forward to working constructively with all our partners
on the issues I have outlined.
I thank you.