Statement by H.E. Mr. Alyaksandr. SYCHOV,

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus

At the Third UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries

(Brussels, May 16, 2001)

(Check Against Delivery)

Mr. President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of Belarus delegation allow me to express our appreciation of the arrangements made for the conference by the European Union, the Government of Belgium and of assistance rendered by UNCTAD for preparing this conference.

The Republic of Belarus took an active part in the intergovernmental preparatory process for the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). In our opinion during the preparatory process an atmosphere of real partnership and cooperation between LDCs and the key acting development partners was created. Such atmosphere is essential for success of the Conference.

All countries recognize unacceptable the situation when in the epoch of scientific and technical progress about 2 billions of people on the planet live on less then 2 US dollars a day, when alongside the fantastic human achievements in medicine the level of children mortality in many countries continues to be at the same level as some centuries ago, when the fifth part of the world population does not receive sufficient food and near of 900 millions of people are completely illiterate. The failures of previous efforts of the international community in the implementation of programs for LDCs prove that the new approaches are required to solve the existing problems.

We hope the Conference will manage to elaborate an effective Program of Action for LDCs for the next decade which will be based on the accumulated negative and positive experiences, put before it realistic tasks, envisage practical instruments for their solution, be supported by clear and predictable financial sources. The very important moment is that this Conference is conducted in conjunction with the decisions of the Millennium Summit and other UN global conferences.

Mr. President,

The delegation of the Republic of Belarus considers the draft-Program of Action as a good basis for work of the Conference. The document is based on the integrated approach to the development, supposing coherence of economic and social tasks, as well as the principles of consistency and complementarily of the efforts at the national and the international levels.

The draft reflects a long-term strategy for LDCs' development within the internationally agreed targets and tasks such as redaction in extreme poverty, prevention of further degradation of environment, health and nutritious security, reduction of the infant, maternal and children death-rate and improvement in living conditions for vulnerable groups. An effective management and coordination of actions by all development partners - LDC Governments, international intergovernmental organizations, donors and government agencies - should ensure the effect of multiplication of the results of the common efforts. We welcome the formulation, alongside with the integrated approach to LDCs' development, of an individual program for each least developed country, which takes into account the specific concerns and national development priorities, and also bases on the concrete domestic financial sources. The program can be successfully implemented only on the principles of shared responsibility of national governments on the one hand and of international organizations, financial institutions and other donors on the other.

The acceleration of economic growth is the basic element of development. Though the least developed countries should count first of all on their own sources of economic growth, it is necessary to build a consensus daring the Conference on the commitments of their development partners in creating an adequate external conditions for LDCs, first of all in the international trade, official development assistance (ODA), debt relief by cutting off its essential part, as well as in the field of investment encouragement to LDCs.

The stronger development partners should undertake the precise commitments to maintain stability of global financial system, to shocks of which practically all countries, and, first of all, LDCs, are vulnerable and also to surmount macro-economic disproportions and stabilize global commodities markets. The international trade in the globalizing world economy is fairly considered as one of the prior factors of economic growth for LDCs. However the least developed countries will benefit from it only if their trade partners adopt the new concrete initiatives aimed at creating favorable conditions for access of export by LDCs to the markets of the developed countries.

We believe that in global economy only balanced consideration of the interests of all countries, including the weakest countries in economic terms, can prevent global economic shocks. The reform of world financial and trading systems needs to be focused on the preventing of marginalization, securing more balanced approach to the relations between wealthy and poor countries, averting the threat of economic crisis. The main principles of this reform must be the respect of economic and historical sensitivities and interests of all countries, including LDCs and economies in transition, as well as shared responsibility of the governments and the international organizations in the implementation of the commitments undertaken.

Mr. President,

The Republic of Belarus within its opportunities makes certain contribution to LDCs' development. Despite the considerable economic problems of the transition period aggravated by the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, Belarus provided under the UN humanitarian programmes financial assistance on the regulation of emergency situations in Congo and Ethiopia in year 2000. We made voluntary contributions in the main resources of UNDP and UN Children's Fund that proves our aspiration to contribute to the development process in the world, solving of the vital problems of LDCs. LDCs also enjoy preferential treatment in trade with the Republic of Belarus.

Now we consider the possibility of increasing in 2001 our voluntary payments in UN operational funds and programmes. We are convinced that this will facilitate the implementation of the objectives and tasks set by this Conference.

In conclusion, let me express a hope that the Conference and future Programme of Action for LDCs will become an effective tool for resolving the problems of socio-economical development in LDCs, getting over the disturbing tendencies of aggravation of their marginalization.

Thank you.

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