III
United Nations Conference on LDCs
Statement
by H. E. Professor Celso Lafer, Minister for External Relations of Brazil
Brussels,
May 14th 2001
Mr. Chairman,
At this
Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries the international
community is again called upon to address the challenges of development.
Despite
the efforts made so far, in the framework of the two previous Conferences, LDCs
problems are still there, probably even more compelling now than they seemed a
decade ago. The future of the 50 Least Developed Countries, with over 600
million people, 10% of Humanity, depends on us all. To reverse this situation
much political resolve will be needed, and this will have to be translated into
concrete, substantial long-term measures. The Programme of Action, to be
adopted at this Conference, should play an important role in bringing focus on,
and attracting political attention to, the development issue. But for the
Programme to become effective, to stand as more than just a set of guidelines,
it will have to be construed by the international community as an urgent call
for partnership.
LCDs
development demands an effort to be shared by all of us. Each and everyone will
have to bear some measure of responsibility in this endeavour. But the
effectiveness of our action lies in a fair balance between the capacity to
contribute and the amount of contribution which will be made.
After a
decade of sound economic growth and prosperity, developed countries are today
in a better position to step up their co-operation with LDCs than they were a
few years ago. More is therefore expected from developed:: countries in terms
of official development assistance, investment, debt relief and market access.
It is a matter of concern that they have been unwilling to extend 0.7% of their
GDP as official development assistance. Contributions to United Nations
agencies, programmes and funds remain at low levels, with severe consequences
for UN activities and for all countries that depend on them.
Developing
countries, on their part, can and must also co-operate in accordance to the
best of their capacity. Some have been doing so and demonstrating by their acts
that South-South co-operation is possible and promising.
Mr. Chairman,
Brazil
is proud of its track record both as a country actively engaged in South-South
co-operation and in debt relief initiatives.
Together
with our partners we were able to develop and carry out a significant number of
projects in a variety of different fields.
As a
developing country, Brazil has an unmistakable commitment towards promoting
Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries (TCDC). Over the past few
years, Brazil has played an increasing role as partner of other developing
countries in the exchange of best practices and know-how, which, in many cases,
are best adapted to our common realities. The Brazilian TCDC Programme draws on
our own experience and is closely related to our partners' demands and
priorities.
Brazil
believes that TCDC is an important catalyst for development, especially in view
of its focus on human resources, as well as in the strengthening of the
technical and institutional infrastructure of our partners. This cooperation
model generates long-term social and economic impact, which is instrumental in
breaking the vicious circle of poverty.
Last
year, the Brazilian Horizontal Technical Co-operation Programme had 133
projects with more than 30 countries, in areas such as public health,
education, agriculture and cattle raising, industry, public administration,
environment, energy and mining. The focus was clearly on LDCs and, among these,
Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa. In Latin America and the Caribbean,
Haiti was one of the major beneficiaries.
Among
the ongoing initiatives that are supporting the Least Developed Countries, I
would like to stress the following:
§
The Angola-Brazil Professional Training Centre, which instructs
500 students per year in the areas of diesel mechanics, civil construction,
energy, clothing and information technology;
§
Support to the HIV/AIDS programs in Angola, Mozambique, Bissau Guinea
and Sao Tome and Principe;
§
A desalinisation project in Cape Verde serving a community of
2.000 inhabitants;
§
Establishment of a Regional Centre of Excellence in Public
Administration for Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa, to be located in
Mozambique. This project is estimated in US$ 4 million;
§
Establishment of a Regional Centre of Excellence in
Entrepreneurial Development, to be located in Angola, at an estimated cost of
US$ 5.7 million;
§
In Haiti, the co-operation focused on public health and project
preparation;
§
Diplomatic practice training for 120 officials from
Portuguese-speaking African countries and of East Timor.
Mr. Chairman,
Brazil
is prepared and willing to contribute more to technical, scientific and
educational co-operation programmes.
We
believe that, should an adequately sized institutional and financial mechanism
be set up by the United Nations, horizontal co-operation could be exploited to
its full potential and would certainly expand manifold, for the benefit of LDCs
and the international community as a whole. Triangular arrangements should also
be encouraged.
I wish
to single out a number of areas in which Brazil feels it has the necessary
'expertise and the know-how drawn from recent experience that can be made available
to interested LDCs partners, if the appropriate financial support can be
provided.
One
such area is HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. This disease is causing a
severe social and economic impact on some countries. A Declaration issued at
the end of the Organisation of African Unity's summit, recently held in Abuja,
Nigeria, names HIV/AIDS the "greatest global threat to the survival and
life expectancy of African peoples". Brazil's programme is internationally
acknowledged as one of the best - if not the best - in the world, because of
its two-fold format, namely prevention and treatment. The HIV/AIDS combating
programmes which Brazil has developed with some LDCs can be extended to other
LDCs and include not only assistance in preventing the disease, but also the
transfer of technology for drug production.
In a
different but no less important field, Brazil is well placed to cooperate in
capacity-building in areas related to education and professional training. In
many cases, Brazil faces problems which are similar to those of the LDCs.
Technical professional training, technological education and distance learning
programmes, consisting of the application of new technologies in education,
have deserved increased attention in my country. As universal education proves
essential in any sustainable development endeavour, so does the need to resort
to the full range of possibilities that modern technology provides for the
acceleration and expansion of learning. In looking for ways to make up for our
own backlog and shortcomings in Brazil, we have gathered valuable experience
which we will be willing to share.
Both
internal and external good will are the corner-stone to the success of this Programme
of Action, so that, unlike to the two former ones, this new Programme leads
effectively to the LDC's development, enabling those countries to reap all the
expected benefits.
Mr. Chairman,
Let me
turn, briefly, to another major area of concern. I wish to refer to the huge
problem of indebtedness and emphasise that, despite its own limitations, Brazil
has played a prominent role in debt relief measures.
As we
know, the Paris Club offers creditors some debt relief options. Brazil has
already granted or is finalising negotiations on debt relief, in the form of
either debt service reduction or debt reduction, with eleven countries.
Countries that have already received discounts in their debts to Brazil include
Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. The total
debt relief (debt reduction and debt service reduction) granted to those
countries amounted to US$ 327 million. Negotiations are being held in the Paris
Club and bilateral agreements are to be signed to reduce the debt of Bolivia, Guinea-Bissau,
Mozambique, Senegal and Tanzania in the total amount of US$ 119 million. In
some cases, Brazil has granted discounts that exceed the Paris Club decisions.
Thus, we agreed to pardon 95% of the debt stock of El Salvador, Nicaragua and
Mozambique. Such debt reductions are now to be implemented and will reach a
total of US$ 495 million.
Mr. Chairman,
Governments
alone cannot provide the answer to the challenges of development confronting Laces.
Like an increasing number of issues that humanity is becoming aware of, this is
an enterprise calling for joint efforts.
International
organizations such as UNCTAD, United Nations agencies in general, the IMF and
the World Bank, all must be involved to some extent.
But
there are also other stakeholders and I refer in particular to the private
sector and the NGOs. The sheer size of the task, which encompasses not only
heath and education but also infrastructure in a large scale and the
strengthening of the productive capacity which will enable Laces to take a more
active part in the world trade flows, call on all partners to make their
respective--contribution. Only by means of a collective endeavor and a true
sense of partnership, with the use of all possible synergies and exploring new
paths and modalities of co-operation, can we overcome the present difficulties.
International
organisations have a particularly important role to play not only by extending their
assistance and providing the appropriate channels for co-operation' but also by
helping to build an international order which is fairer and more humane.
Globalisation - it has been said by many - is here to stay, with its
opportunities and challenges. It brings hope but also the threat of wider gaps
between countries and regions. A safer and more stable international financial
system and a more open trade environment will help us all to weather the storm
but will prove essential particularly to the LDCs. Neither financial
instability nor trade protection favour international cooperation.
Although the
international community's support is decisive in this process, the LDCs
themselves are expected to play the main role. This means, above all,
"ownership". Co-operation programmes can be useless if the LDCs
themselves are not the ones responsible for the choices made, the objectives
pursued and do not remain in full control of the human involvement required.
This has been our experience both as recipient and as a partner in TCDC. And it
is on that basis the Brazil is prepared to share what it has learned.
Thank you