THIRD UNITED
NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
BRUSSELS, 14-20 MAY, 2001
Statement by Finland
Ms. Satu Hassi, Minister of the Environment and Development Cooperation
May 15 – PM Session
(Check Against Delivery)
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished
Participants and Viewers on the Internet,
Let me begin by saying that I associate myself fully to the statement made
earlier by the distinguished minister Maj-Inger Klingvall of Sweden on behalf
of the European Union.
1. Ten years ago in Paris a Programme of Action for Least
Developed Countries for 1990s was approved. Generally taken one could say that
positive developments and improvement in the LDCs have occurred but this has
certainly not been adequate. In many ways the situation with the overall
development of the LDCs is worse than ten years ago. This is indeed worrying,
and should not be accepted.
2. An American writer Lionel Trilling (1905-1975), who in
his writings was often concerned about the development of moral and political
values, stated already decades ago that "We
[who are liberal and progressive] know that the poor are our equals in every
sense except that of being equal to us ". I think this fairly well captures
the reason why this very conference this week is important: Wealth and
prosperity in the world is not equally or evenly spread, inequality in the
world has been on the increase. This conference should pay close attention to the
voices of the LDCs and, based on that, bring forward progressive ideas and
policies as well as practical solutions in order to foster and support the
sustainable development in LDCs in the era of ever more present globalization.
Mr. Chairman,
3. In the Millennium Declaration the world leaders
addressed the special needs of the least developed countries and endorsed the
International Development Targets. These goals form an overall framework also
for this conference. The challenge is the implementation of Millennium
Goals, to turn them into a reality. Reaching the most challenging goal of
halving by the year 2015 the proportion of people living in extreme poverty
requires firm and immediate action.
4. The interlinkages between poverty and environmental
problems are evident in the LDCs and they must be clearly reflected in the
outcome of this conference. LDCs are among the most vulnerable to the adverse
effects of climate change and other global environmental problems. For example,
health problems and decline in food production resulting from climatic changes
have direct consequences to development in LDCs. Compared to other countries;
LDCs also have the least capacity to adapt or to protect themselves. In other
words, those who are already worst off will be hit first and worst. It is
important to understand that getting climate change in control is especially
important to the world's poor. This must also be taken into consideration when
formulating the development cooperation policy of the donor countries: we must
promote, for example, sustainable energy policy with our aid. New resources for
developing countries, especially for LDCs, are also needed for capacity
building in climate policy, and for technology transfer. But the primary
question is, of course, cutting emissions in the industrialized countries and
working towards more sustainable production and consumption patterns. It is not
fair to demand a country that emits 1 to of COZ per year per person to cut
emissions as much as a country that emits 20 to per person.
5. The spread of HIV/AIDS epidemic has exceeded all estimations and its
devastating impact destroys not only individuals, but entire societies. It
ravages especially in the poorest countries. For example, Africa south of
Sahara has 10 % of the world population, 70 % of the world's HIV infected and
95 % of the world's AIDS orphans. HIV/AIDS is therefore not only a health
problem, but a fundamental development issue, which has far-reaching social and
political as well as economic implications. The most important challenge to
control the epidemic is to reach the largest vulnerable population with
prevention programmes. Primary health care systems are the basis in the fight
against HIV/AIDS. Also important is education, which can, for example, help
decrease sexual exploitation of women, and also raise the educational level of
especially girls and women thereby contributing to better health in societies.
6. The unsustainable debt burden of least developed countries is also one of
the major obstacles to their sustainable development. The need for effective,
equitable, development-oriented and sustainable solutions to debt of these
countries is urgent. The debt relief for the poorest countries should be
financed with additional resources, not at the expense of overall concessional
funding.
7. A major challenge before us is to ensure that globalization does not
marginalize LDCs further, but instead promotes the full integration of them
into the global economy and the world trading system. This demands coherence in
trade and development policies by both developed and developing countries, as
well as by a number of international organizations. The EU has decided to grant
duty-free and quota-free access to exports originating in LDC~s. This initiative
is a step forward. Improved market access should be complemented by trade
related technical assistance to enhance both the export capacity of LDCs as
well as their capacity to take part and defend their interests in international
trade negotiations. In the Finnish development cooperation we have increased
contributions channeled to issues related to trade and development and capacity
building in LDC's, mainly through WTO, ITC and UNCTAD, and international
non-governmental organizations.
Mr. Chairman,
8. The so called `deliverables' will be a way to measure
the success of the Conference, showing the will and commitment of the
international community to support the efforts of the LDC's. I -have already
pointed to some concrete Finnish contributions, but would like to mention some
other commitments by Finland.
9. The need for official development assistance is particularly strong in
LDC's. Finland reaffirms the goal of targeting 0,15 % of GNP to LDC's. To be
quite frank, Finland like many other countries has not succeeded in reaching
this targets during the past few years. We have, however, significantly
increased the share of our support that is directed to social sector, to
purposes most directly linked with poverty reduction. This will be further strengthened
after the recent decision-in-principle by the Finnish Government to concentrate
our development cooperation to fewer countries and especially to LDCs and other
countries of low income. Finland seeks to support developing countries' own
efforts to develop environmentally sustainable policies to reduce poverty,
increase security and democracy and improve human rights and gender equality.
Furthermore, with regard to multilateral development cooperation, we will study
possibilities for our so called thematic contributions to the UN Funds and
Programmes to be earmarked to support LDC's development efforts, among them
especially UNDP's governance trust fund. Also the quality and effectiveness of
ODA and other sources of funding should be emphasized. In this regard Finland
welcomes the recommendation made in the OECD/DAC High Level meeting on untying
of aid to LDCs.
Mr. Chairman,
10. The assessment of the implementation of the previous Programme of Action
showed, that one of the major shortcomings was the lack of an effective
follow-up mechanism. I would like to emphasize the crucial importance of an
effective implementation to mainstream LDC-issues in the whole UN system and to
involve all relevant actors, including WTO, the Bretton Woods Institutions, regional
development organizations and -the civil society in the implementation and
follow-up.
11. In order to make this event a "conference with a difference"
political will and firm commitment from all stakeholders is needed:
governments, donors, international organizations, civil society, both at home
and abroad, and the private sector, and - last but certainly not least - the
LDC's and their people themselves. Real development is possible and sustainable
only through the ownership of the LDC's of their development process.
Development assistance cannot and should not be a substitute for both domestic
and foreign private sources of funding that are essential to finance
development in any country. Providing stable and secure conditions, the so-called
enabling environment, to attract foreign investments is actually a way of
showing ownership, which, in turn, is a pre-requisite for sustainable
development. In their efforts, LDCs should feel secure that they have external
help and the commitment from their partners for equal cooperation.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
*******