Press Release
HAB/IST/20
Conference on Human Settlements
HAB/IST/20
13th Plenary Meeting (AM) 12 June
1996
WORLD LEADERS MUST SHOW POLITICAL WILL TO CONFRONT CHALLENGES
OF
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS 'CITY SUMMIT'
Habitat II's High-Level Segment Begins
Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali this morning
called on world leaders to demonstrate the vision, leadership
and political will to confront the challenges of sustainable
human settlement as he addressed the opening of the high-level
segment of the Second United Nations Conference on Human
Settlements (Habitat II). The segment will last for three
days.
The Secretary-General told Heads of State and Government
that they are the facilitators to set in motion the process of
responding to urbanization and globalization. The decisions
of Istanbul must be translated into concrete measures,
national policy, new forms of international cooperation, and
greater cooperation between government and civil society.
Addressing the Conference, the President of Turkey,
Suleyman Demirel, stressed the importance of the international
community's political will in efforts to solve the problems of
providing "adequate shelter for all" and ensuring "sustainable
human settlements". That political will should be reflected
in the effective implementation of adequate policies. The
Istanbul Declaration, the Habitat Agenda and their monitoring
within existing United Nations structures will be a guiding
light.
Other speakers this morning stressed the importance of
national efforts in improving their human settlements.
However, several others called for assistance for the
developing States and countries in transition to realize
economic growth and achieve sustainable human settlements.
The Conference was addresssed by the Presidents of Kenya;
Romania; Poland and Israel. A statement was also made by the
Vice- President of United Republic of Tanzania. The Prime
Minister of Pakistan and the Acting Prime Minister of
Afghanistan also spoke.
The Plenary will continue its high-level segment at 3
p.m.
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Statement by Conference President
SULEYMAN DEMIREL, President of Turkey: The general
exchange of views has shown that the issues related to human
settlements lie at the core of economic growth and sustainable
development. It revealed that the problems associated with
"adequate shelter for all" and "sustainable human settlements
development in an urbanizing world" are faced by all countries
and that there is much ground to be covered at all levels. It
is essential to review existing policies, formulate new ones,
enhance cooperation at the international level and mobilize
all resources. Some general concurrence has emerged on those
observations.
The question at hand is to show the international
community's political will to solve the problems faced in the
fields of "adequate shelter for all" and "sustainable human
settlements." That political will should be reflected in the
effective implementation of adequate policies. The adoption
and implementation of the Istanbul Declaration and the Habitat
Agenda and their monitoring within existing United Nations
structures will be a guiding light. The Declaration will not
only manifest the international community's determination and
political will but also send a clear political message to the
world. The Agenda will consist of a set of political
commitments, recommendations and suggestions on the approach
to be used in seeking solutions and encouraging wide
participation in their implementation. The two documents will
guide efforts to render all human settlements more healthy,
equitable and safe.
Global cooperation is necessary to tackle common
problems. Turkey, for its part, will translate the
conclusions of Habitat II into effective national policies and
practices, work with zeal at the national level and contribute
to international cooperation.
Statement by Secretary-General
Secretary-General BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI: The
international community must respond to the processes of
urbanization and globalization, sooner rather than later, in
all countries. Economic and social change casts a shadow over
cities in both the South and the industrialized North,
demanding a common global agenda to address them.
Conference participants have taken bold steps and
launched a new process for world-wide partnership for
sustainable human settlements in an urbanizing world. By
doing so, they also advance the commitments made by the
international community throughout the cycle of landmark
United Nations conferences.
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Habitat II has emphasized alliance building, innovative
ideas and involved the contributions of many specialized
constituencies of stakeholders. It is the first United
Nations conference to have given, as part of its official
machinery, a platform to representatives of civil society. It
has also been a truly United Nations system-wide endeavour.
The strong spirit of inter-agency teamwork and interaction
will be maintained in the next crucial phase of translating
decisions into concrete action. Follow-up must be integrated
with the ongoing actions to implement the outcomes of other
global conferences through the thematic task forces
established by the United Nations system.
"It is time to demonstrate the vision, leadership and
political will to confront the challenges that this Conference
has addressed. You, as Heads of State and Government,
individually and collectively, are the facilitators to set
that process in motion". The decisions of Istanbul must be
translated into concrete measures, national policy, new forms
of international cooperation and greater cooperation between
government and civil society.
Other Statements
MOHTARMA BENAZIR BHUTTO, Prime minister of Pakistan:
World leaders are gathered in Istanbul to chart a course which
promotes urbanization without its deleterious consequences.
That means that, while cities must be managed better, the
countryside must not be neglected. It is a defining moment in
human history. The wheel of time has placed the
responsibility on today's leaders to establish parameters and
realistic goals for the quality of life they envisage for the
next century. In addressing the problems of urbanization, the
complex issues of income generation and poverty alleviation,
balanced urban and rural development, the cancer of the slums,
and the sustainability of urban areas must be dealt with.
"Let Istanbul be the clarion call for a new beginning. A
new beginning to come together as a global community to define
our future". Excessive urbanization is full of untold
horrors. "It is time the world said 'enough'. There is a
solution."
DANIEL TOROITICH ARAP MOI, President of Kenya: The
international community should help Africa and other
developing countries realize economic growth and improve their
human settlements. African nations have asked the developed
world to take seriously African pleas for debt relief and
improve trade terms to enable their economies to advance.
Most African countries are liberalizing their economies to
attract foreign investors and guarantee maximum return with
minimum risks. Efforts to ensure peace and stability should
form the core of policies towards Africa, which should be
guided by the views of Africans themselves.
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The Conference should help ensure more concerted actions
to improve the quality of human settlements. Kenya has
outlined its economic reforms in 1988, making it clear that
poverty and unemployment are its two major challenges. The
private sector has been made the engine of growth while the
Government will try to strengthen social services. The State
will also intervene to protect vulnerable sectors from the
short-term effects of economic reforms. Kenya has a programme
called the "Jua Kali" -- which in Swahili means working under
the hot sun -- or the informal sector. It should be energized
to reduce poverty. The "Jua Kali" programme addresses issues
of working sites, improvement of skills, access to power and
water, roads, land and marketing.
The status of women has been improved to such an extent
that they compete with men on a level playing field for
leading positions in government and commerce. The Government
and non-governmental organizations should work together to
bring street children into youth programmes and save them from
dealers in sex and drugs. Kenya is committed to turning back
the trends of homelessness and poor housing conditions and to
creating urban conditions that will engender productive lives.
It is proud to be hosting the United Nations Centre for Human
Settlements (Habitat) in Nairobi. The Centre should be
strengthened, entrusted with monitoring and the follow-up of
the Conference's outcomes and its leadership elevated.
OMAR ALI JUMA, Vice-President of the United Republic of
Tanzania: In order to support sustainable human settlements,
Tanzania's weak local authorities need financial and capacity-
building support. To address the country's chronic lack of
means, resource mobilization programmes are underway to reduce
overdependency on donor support. The debt burden continues to
be a significant constraint.
The effect of wars and conflicts on the human habitat
cannot be ignored. As a result of such conflicts, Tanzania
has received more than 1.3 million refugees. The improvement
of the habitat and conflict prevention and resolution must go
hand in hand. The only durable solution to the constant
displacement of populations, especially on the African
continent, is to create a congenial political atmosphere with
democratic institutions, good governance, respect for human
rights, transparency and accountability. It is important for
developing countries to make their own decisions based on
their actual situations. "It is the wearer who knows where
the shoe pinches".
ION ILIESCU, President of Romania: In the 20 years since
the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, in
Vancouver, Canada, Habitat has been addressing the crucial
subjects of "adequate shelter for all" and "sustainable human
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settlements development in an urbanizing world." Since that
Conference, more people have been living in cities, where the
production of goods and services and the creation of cultural
values take place. The sustainable development of human
settlements and urbanization offer some opportunities. The
conditions for improving urban life are more favourable today
and several efforts have been made to do so.
Since 1990, Romania has been trying to consolidate a
democratic society and the rule of law as well as to create a
market economy with appropriate social services. A new social
system is taking shape and the redefinition of the sustainable
development of human settlements is taking place. The public
and private sectors, local authorities, non-governmental
organizations and citizens are taking part in efforts to
ensure the sustainable development of human settlements.
Romania will welcome international help for its efforts. It
hopes that the documents to be adopted will show that the
sustainable development of human settlements can been achieved
in a climate of sustained economic growth and social justice.
AHMAD SHAH AHMADZAI, Acting Prime Minister of
Afghanistan: Afghanistan is a land-locked, least-developed
country of 16 million people. Its 2.5 million houses need
reconstruction as they have been totally or partially damaged.
Afghanistan has lost l9,000 of its 22,000 villages to war and
lost 1.5 million people. It has 2 million disabled, 1 million
widows, more than 3 million refugees living outside its
borders, and over 1 million displaced people inside its
territory. It is necessary to adopt measures to meet the
requirements for repatriating refugees, health control to
prevent communicable diseases, temporary shelter, housing and
food. Since many displaced persons comprise the rural
population, it would be proper to rehabilitate rural
infrastructure with the help of international organizations,
as envisaged by Habitat II. Afghanistan has established an
independent body in the Office of the Prime Minister to
publicize environmental issues and maintain relations with
international bodies.
The existence of 10 million mines in the country poses
dangers to residents. Afghanistan requests that, in addition
to current de-mining efforts, sufficient budgets are
needed to employ more mine-clearing personnel. Most hospitals
have been damaged, lack equipment and do not meet even 10 per
cent of basic medical needs. Telecommunications, education,
press and civic services in the capital and provinces have
been damaged by war. Since lack of financial resources and
credits are the main obstacles to rural development,
international assistance is necessary to rehabilitate and
reconstruct Afghan infrastructure. State policy is directed
towards peaceful solutions in order promote conditions for
development.
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Therefore, intra-Afghan dialogue must continue. To realize
that, President Burhanuddin Rabbani has announced his
readiness to go to the opposition centres for negotiations.
ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI, President of Poland: The
problems of urbanization are global and cannot be solved by
isolated initiatives. A cohesive, strategic plan, such as the
one to be adopted at Habitat II, is necessary to address them.
World leaders "must above all act with all vigour in our own
countries" to meet the housing needs of their citizens. They
must share their achievements, ideas and solutions.
Poland's experiences in defining housing, building and
land development policies are typical of the entire group of
countries now undergoing profound political and economic
transformation. These countries must now function in the
context of a market economy and the criterion of economic
efficiency. A regional centre should be created for housing
and land development, research and technical cooperation for
this group of countries. Poland will initiate the centre's
creation and host it. The Government is facing the task of
adjusting the country's legal regulations and programmes to
European Union and United Nations standards.
EZER WEIZMAN, President of Israel: Israel has been
successfully meeting the challenge absorbing immigrants in the
fields of housing and employment. In the attempts to achieve
regional peace, Israel is addressing the challenge of
redirecting its budgets from the procurement of weapons to
welfare programmes and investments in education.
Israel considers Turkey "an important, central,
stabilizing and positive factor." Israel values Turkey's role
in the Middle East, its wish to join the European Union, and
is aware of its special relations with Central Asia and the
Caucasus. Israel is confident of Turkey's staunch support in
the peace process with its neighbours. That process will
develop further under Israel's new government. Terrorism is
the most daunting obstacle to the peace process. Israel, like
Turkey, is struggling to eradicate terrorism with the same
resolve that it applies to the struggle for peace. However,
for Israel "the attainment of peace is unshakable."
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