Press Release
HAB/IST/21
Conference on Human Settlements
HAB/IST/21
14th Plenary Meeting (PM) 12 June
1996
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION CAN TURN COMMITMENTS INTO RESULTS,
SAY SPEAKERS IN HABITAT II HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT
The importance of international cooperation in
translating the Habitat Agenda, goals, principles and
commitments into concrete results was highlighted this
afternoon, as the Second United Nations Conference on Human
Settlements (Habitat II) continued its high-level segment.
The role of the international development and lending
institutions, the United Nations system, bilateral donors and
the developed countries in helping to attain those goals was
stressed by several speakers.
The Conference heard statements by the President of
Albania; the Prime Minister of Armenia; the Prime Minister of
Guinea Bissau; the Prime Minister of Djibouti; and the Prime
Minister of Burundi. The Vice-President of Sudan; the Deputy
Premier of the State Council of China; and the Deputy Prime
Minister of Uganda also spoke.
Statements were made by the Minister for Local Government
of Ghana; the Minister for Housing and Urban Development of
Colombia; the Minister for Public Works and Housing of the
United Arab Emirates; the State Minister for Public Housing of
Indonesia; the Minister for Housing and Human Settlements of
Costa Rica; the Minister for Public Works of Italy (on behalf
of the European Union); the Minister for the Environment of
Finland; the Minister for Construction Works of the Russian
Federation; and the Minister of the Interior of Sweden.
The following ministers also addressed the meeting: the
Minister for Housing and Local Government of Malaysia; the
Minister for Urban Development and Habitat of Ecuador; the
Minister for Housing of South Africa; the Minister for
Environment and Housing of Jamaica; the Minister of Equipment
and Habitat of Tunisia; the Minister for Infrastructure,
Habitat and Urbanism of Burkina Faso; the Minister for Public
Works and Energy of Rwanda; the Minister for Public Works,
Transport and Housing of Barbados; and the Minister for
Economy of Estonia.
Also speaking were the Minister for Local Government and
Lands of Gambia; the Minister for Human Development of
Bolivia; the Minister for Local Government and Housing of
Zambia; the Minister for Lands, Housing, Town and Country
Planning of Sierra Leone; and the Minister for Planning, Human
Resources and Environment of the Maldives.
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The meeting also heard the Parliamentary Vice-Minister
for the National Land Agency of Japan; the Secretary for
Social Development of Mexico; the Acting Permanent Secretary
for Housing of Fiji; and the Secretary of State for
Cooperation and Development of Belgium.
The representatives of Spain, Australia, Guatemala, Iraq,
Belize also spoke.
The Plenary will meet again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 13
June, to continue with the high-level segment.
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SALI BERISHA, President of Albania: After 50 years of
isolation, Albania has started a difficult transition towards
establishing a country based on the rule of law and a market-
oriented democracy. As a result, the country is facing
numerous social problems. As one of the poorest countries of
Europe, Albania has succeeded in achieving considerable
macro-economic stability within a short period of about four
years. The foreign aid given to Albania was the main factor
in overcoming the most difficult post-communist years. Today,
Albania wants to be integrated into Europe.
Albania is facing difficulties in providing adequate
shelter and achieving sustainable development of human
settlements. Over 30 per cent of the population is in need of
housing. Two problems that need urgent attention are housing
for the families of former political prisoners returning from
concentration camps, and housing for tenant families who lived
in homes that were expropriated 20 to 30 years ago. The
international community must support Albania in providing
housing for its citizens.
HRANT BAGRATIAN, Prime Minister of Armenia: The urban
development of Armenia depends on the gradual harmonization of
the uneven distribution of the population and production
means; the equalization of the differences in potential of
central and border areas; the rehabilitation of the earthquake
zone; and the relief of acute housing problem for refugees and
needy groups. The privatization of State and public housing,
which began in 1993, marks the beginning of a new housing
policies. By the end of 1995, 65 per cent of housing was
privatized. Armenia is cooperating with the many communities
and organizations in the sphere of urban development.
The Habitat II decisions on the sustainable development
of human settlements, land management and housing policy
should promote bilateral cooperation, as well as enhance the
efficiency of United Nations system's efforts. A regional
approach should be adopted and special attention paid to the
problems of countries in transition.
MANUEL SATURNINO DA COSTA, Prime Minister of Guinea-
Bissau: The Conference should find solutions to the problems
of sustainable development of human settlements. The problems
of rapid urbanization are well known to all. The effects of
the economic crisis on the developing nations and, African
countries in particular, should be taken into account in the
proposals that will be made for helping those States. The
international community should pay particular attention to the
question of the development of Africa. The Conference should
try to eradicate poverty, which is one of the main generators
of migratory flows of populations within countries and towards
the borders of the richer countries. The solutions and
recommendations of the Conference will contribute to the
alleviation of poverty and human suffering, which are at the
root of some of the problems the Conference was called to
address.
BARKAT GOURAD HAMADOU, Prime Minister of Djibouti: The
Conference should seek practical and effective solutions at
the global level, since the problems of urban development
affect many countries of the world. Action should be taken to
address the problems of rural
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and nomadic peoples in order to prevent them from moving into
the cities where they could only swell the ranks of the urban
poor. The United Nations and other organizations should be
given the financial resources necessary to implement the
programmes and recommendations that will come out of the
United Nations Conference on Human Settlements.
MAJOR-GENERAL ALZUBEIR M. SALIH, Vice President of Sudan:
Drought, desertification and the increase in refugees have
contributed to the present imbalances of Sudan's urban and
rural areas. The result is an increase in refugee camps and
precarious housing settlements. The rural-urban drift has
also led to a deterioration in the urban areas. The Sudanese
Government attaches great priority to solving these problems
and to restoring settlements to ensure that the house is "an
area of tranquillity for the family, a refuge for the soul"
and a place "to preserve the dignity of man". The Government
has tried to ensure citizens' participation in reconstructing
urban areas and regional zones and has made land available for
building.
Habitat II must stress that sustainable human settlements
require peace and security. Peace is of great importance to
Sudan, which is in a state of war. The country is trying to
reach a just, lasting and equitable solution for all involved.
Sudan seeks assistance from the international community for
its reconstruction efforts.
ANTOINE NDUWAYO, Prime Minister of Burundi: Before the
1993 crisis in Burundi, the Government had implemented a
national strategy for improving its urban and rural areas
which targeted at least 80 per cent of the population. Since
October 1993, Burundi has experienced an unprecedented crisis
in which there has been the systematic extermination of one
group of the population, the exile of about 300,000 people as
refugees and 500,000 displaced. Human settlements have been
adversely affected and accompanied by the loss of human lives.
Many now live in deplorable conditions.
Burundi needs the assistance of the international
community as soon as the security situation improves. The
situation remains alarming. The country is under the siege of
the militias who are killing children, women and the elderly.
They are pushing barbarism to the extreme. The Tutsi group is
being targeted as well as Hutus who are not supportive of the
genocidal ideology. The Burundi Government calls on the
international community to condemn the ideology of genocide
and not to consider military intervention in the country. The
international community should assist with the cost of
reconstruction of the country and provide humanitarian
assistance to displaced persons.
ZOU JIAHUA, Vice Premier of China: Adequate shelter for
all is a fundamental human right. New approaches must be
explored to ensure sustainable human settlements. They
include the need for a peaceful international environment and
for sustainable development. Developing countries' failure to
find effective solutions to human settlement issues lies in
their economic underdevelopment and deteriorating poverty.
Favorable external conditions for their economic and social
development should be created, which would also be of benefit
to the
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developed countries and the world at large. It is also
imperative to respect all States' independence and sovereignty
and give due regard to their policies, strategies and planning
for human settlements development.
Numerous socio-economic difficulties place tremendous
pressure on China in the long and arduous task of finding
solutions to settlements development. To address the
problems, the Chinese Government has made sustainable
development a major strategy.
KWABENA AHWOI, Minister for Local Government and Rural
Development of Ghana: Ghana affirms the policies and
objectives in the Habitat Agenda, especially the importance of
strengthening partnerships at the international and national
levels. The concepts of equality and partnership, which have
found expression in the documents of this Conference, are
linked to the rights of peoples. The right of access to
facilities, services and opportunities must be addressed. The
international community must confront the issue of war and
threats of war and pay as much attention to Africa's little
wars as it does to those in other parts of the world. The
negative impacts of structural adjustment on developing
countries, the debt burden, and the low prices paid for our
primary commodities must also be discussed. New and
additional resources must be provided to demonstrate
commitment to the effective implementation of the Habitat
Agenda.
The Government's role has shifted from that of a
provider of housing to that of a facilitator, enhancing the
efforts of the private sector, community groups and
individuals. It has established mortgage finance firms and
provided incentives to investors in the construction sector.
Ghana endorses the principle of the right to shelter, which
should mean that central and local governments must create the
appropriate framework to enable everyone to have shelter.
FABIO GIRALDO ISAZA, Minister for Housing and Urban
Development of Colombia: In implementing its urban policy in
consultation with local authorities, the Government tries to
define its national development plans and define the local
administration of development. The objective is partly to
develop urban space. State intervention is necessary for the
development of urban areas and to deter inequities that might
arise. Land is the basis for the generation of added value
and should be used judiciously. Colombia's land law is an
innovative and a powerful instrument for public intervention
in a free-market economy. Land must be used productively to
allow the cities to prosper. The rights of the city should be
recognized and ethics should be applied in the use of land and
the construction of public spaces. Cities should have open
areas that could be shared by all.
What is to be done with cities, how can social and
economic injustice be dealt with, and what is to be done for
those who lack employment? The cities should help develop
full citizenship where individual and collective rights will
be respected and access to material resources granted to allow
everyone to exercise his or her citizenship fully. The
Conference should generate attitudes that will lead to the
development of the kinds of new cities that are so far unknown
to man.
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HIDEFUMI MINORIKAWA, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for the
National Land Agency of Japan: Japan is formulating a
nationwide development plan that targets the year 2010. The
plan will address the issues of general welfare, culture and
the environment; coexistence with other members of the
international community; decentralization; and land-use
administration. As a way of reforming its entire government
structure with its concentration of activities in Tokyo and to
improve the nation's ability to provide against natural
disasters, Japan is making efforts to relocate the capital's
functions.
Japan has recognized the importance of the activities of
non-governmental organizations and welcomes their
participation at the Conference. Non-governmental
organizations played important relief roles after last
January's great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, which devastated
areas around Kobe, Japan. It is addressing development
problems as part of its international cooperation. It has
offered various forms of support for comprehensive regional
development plans and the development of housing and urban
infrastructure. Japan will support the leading role it
expects United Nations bodies, such as Habitat, to play in
improving human settlements.
RAKAD BIN SALEM HAMAD BIN RAKAD, Minister for Works and
Housing of the United Arab Emirates: The United Nations
system has a crucial role to play in the development of human
settlements. The United Arab Emirates has tried to develop
viable human settlements and has given priority to them at
each stage of its development planning. Developing countries
must implement national plans for improving their human
settlements while developed countries must supply more
financial aid and ensure the transfer of technology to help
people around the world to attain a stable life. Poverty
eradication is important in achieving sustainable human
settlements as is the acknowledgment of the specific culture
of each State.
International cooperation in peace and security is an
important prerequisite to the development of sustainable human
settlements. All weapons, including nuclear arms should be
eradicated and all conflicts resolved to ensure the peaceful
co-existence of all States.
INGENIERO CARLOS ROJAS, Secretary for Social Development
of Mexico: Mexico has experienced an imbalance in its urban
development. Four major metropolitan concentrations exist and
the rural population is very dispersed. Priority has been
given to a more equitable distribution of resources and the
strengthening of local authorities to improve the way in which
those problems are addressed. There has been an attempt to
consolidate a network of urban centres to ensure a better
distribution of services in 116 medium-sized and small cities
in which more than 34 million people live. The objective is
to reverse the trend of urban concentrations and ensure urban
development planning for each city.
Housing is recognized as a social right and is enshrined
in programmes designed for the five-year period of 1995 to
2000. The priorities are funding, marketing of land and
housing as well as the titling of land. The Mexican
Government has made a political commitment to eradicate
poverty. To achieve that goal, international cooperation is
required. Multilateral organizations have an important role
to play in this respect.
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AKBAR TANDJUNG, State Minister for Housing of Indonesia:
The mobilization of financial resources is increasingly being
ignored in the need for implementing plans for improving human
settlements. Conference participants should not allow the
Conference's recommendations to become empty words to be added
to the long list of unfulfilled international commitments to
development. The efforts of all partners must focus on the
disadvantaged and the under-privileged. National government
efforts must be supported by international cooperation.
Sustainable human settlements and social progress cannot
be accomplished without being solidly anchored in sustained
economic growth and development. Economic growth is "the main
engine that generates other dimensions of sustainable
development, including human settlements. The Indonesian
Government has always encouraged private- sector involvement
in human settlements and welcomes the fact that the
partnership concept has become the cornerstone of the global
plan of action.
EDGAR ARROYO-CORDERO, Minister for Housing and Human
Settlements of Costa Rica: Costa Rica pledges to increase
available support for housing because it sees housing as a
human right. The Government places special emphasis on
overcoming poverty by implementing an integrated programme
that places people at the center of development, in attempts
to achieve a society with opportunities for everyone. The
programme will be implemented with active citizen
participation. Even though it lacks resources Costa Rica will
create suitable political, legal and administrative mechanisms
that will make cities pleasant to live in.
Habitat II has provided an opportunity for the country to
approach human settlement and shelter issues with a range of
social stakeholders and public and private entities. It has
given Latin America and the Caribbean the opportunity to
propose a joint action plan to address their common problems.
Costa Rica, as President of the "Group of 77" developing
countries and China, is satisfied with the preparatory process
and coordination achieved. The 132 developing countries of
Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have advocated
well-founded arguments on the core positions of the developing
world within the Agenda. The Istanbul Declaration will be
noted as a crucial United Nations document.
ANTONIO DI PIETRO, Minister for Public Works of Italy,
also speaking for the European Union: The Union has supported
the formulation of the Habitat Agenda and the Istanbul
Declaration, which will indicate political commitment. The
Conference has reaffirmed the right of adequate housing as a
right of everyone to have a place to live in security and
peace. Governments have agreed to take the steps necessary to
ensure affordable and accessible housing for all. It has
involved new actors in decision-making. Such partnerships and
networks will help mobilize financial resources and strengthen
human resources.
The European Union confirms its political will to
implement the Habitat Agenda. The main responsibility for
implementation will lie within each country, though, with
concerted efforts at all levels, especially the local level.
National and local economic and financial
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bases should be strengthened. Existing resources available to
developing countries, -- public, private, multilateral and
bilateral
-- should be enhanced.
PEKKA HAAVISTO, Minister for the Environment of Finland:
Finland has made progress in energy efficiency of heating
systems and in the treatment of municipal wastewater. Its
national Habitat II report identified three priorities of
action: urban development which conserves the environment;
consolidation of urban regions; and improving the living
environment.
The development of sustainable human settlements and
shelter for all requires efficient national policies and
resource
mobilization. Priorities should be decided nationally and
locally, in democratic and participatory processes. Finland
will promote democratic values and institutions in development
cooperation as prerequisites for sustainable development. It
is striving to alleviate poverty, mitigate environmental
threats, advance human rights and prevent conflicts, all of
which are linked to human settlements development. There
should be an integrated implementation, monitoring and
follow-up of United Nations conferences. While the
implementation must be system-wide, the division of duties
should be defined in the light of current United Nations
reforms.
EFIM VLADIMIROVICH BASIN, Minister for Construction Works
of the Russian Federation: A special message from the
President of the Russian Federation, Boris Yeltsin, says that
the issue of the state of settlements is of concern to the
Russian Federation. Housing reform is an important component
of the reform process being pursued in the Russian Federation.
The Conference should attempt to resolve the fundamental
issues before it as it draws to a close.
The Minister for Construction: A national meeting of
construction professionals in March has contributed the
foundation for a national housing policy to the year 2000.
That policy will ensure housing for low income groups and seek
to mobilize extrabudgetary resources for housing. The
concerns of the countries in transition regarding sustainable
human settlements should be given priority within the Habitat
II framework.
JORGEN ANDERSSON, Minister of the Interior of Sweden:
After three years of preparations, the outcome of the
conference is impressive. In ensuring access to shelter,
childrens' needs, in particular, must not be overlooked and
the full participation of women must be promoted. Swedish
development cooperation will support efforts to strengthen
local democracy in urban management. Sustainable development
should lead to, among other things, the eradication of poverty
and education for all. Partnerships and participation is a
key message in the Habitat II agenda.
Finland will continue to pursue general housing policies
which safeguard adequate shelter for all and which will focus
on children and young people living in troubled urban areas,
and on the integration of immigrants into Swedish society.
Serious attention must be given to the United Nations in the
integrated follow-up to Habitat II, as well as other global
conferences. However the strain - even crisis - under
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which the Organization is working must be acknowledged.
Member States must ensure that they fulfill their financial
obligations and that the Organization is reformed to make it
more efficient. Political will is essential if sustainable
human settlements are to be achieved.
TING CHEW PEH, Minister for Housing and Local Government
of Malaysia: Malaysia supports the Habitat Agenda and has a
long-term plan to create a better life for its citizens. The
country's goal, as developed in its "Vision 2020", is to
become a fully developed society by the year 2020. Its
housing policy is designed to ensure that all citizens have
access to decent housing, particularly the low-income groups.
The Government has achieved about 70 percent of the housing
targets it had set.
All illegal squatters in Malaysia are either compensated
or relocated even though the law is on the side of the
landowners. "There are no homeless people on the streets of
Malaysia." Malaysia is ready to share its experience in
planning low cost housing. The country's Vision 2020 and the
Habitat II global plan of action should go hand in hand to
move Malaysia forward.
FRANCISCO ALBORNOZ, Minister for Urban Development and
Habitat of Ecuador: The State must guarantee the right to
shelter. Its role will be that of a facilitator who will
intervene in support of private initiatives. The roles of
some agencies will be redefined to give greater
responsibilities to the private sector, non-governmental
organizations, local authorities and community-based groups.
Communication at the local, national and regional levels will
be emphasized. The role of the private sector will be
encouraged, the issue of land regulated and basic services
increased. Housing deficits will be decreased and access to
homes broadened. Housing finance and State support for low-
income segments of the society will be enhanced in Ecuador's
plan.
Technical and financial contributions from various
sectors will be recognized. International cooperation should
ensure technology transfer to strengthen local capacity and
help various countries and communities. Ecuador is ready to
share its own experiences in the field of the sustainable
development of human settlements. Ecuador has transferred to
the private sector the responsibility of implementing
programmes in social housing and decided to give poor families
subsidies. Habitat should establish measures to mitigate the
effects of disasters that might affect some nations.
SANKIE DALLY MTHEMBI-NKONDO, Minister for Housing of
South Africa: South Africa has tackled many of the issues
before the Conference by implementing its Reconstruction and
Development Programme (RDP). The RDP is based on seven
principles: integration and sustainability; people-driven
development; peace and security; nation-building; meeting
basic needs and building the infrastructure; democratization;
and accountability. Its plan of action revolves around five
programmes: meeting basic needs; developing human resources;
building the economy; democratizing the State; and
implementing the RDP. The country will build 1 million houses
in five years.
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The international community should assist in creating an
economic environment that will ensure better-quality
settlements. Substantial technical and financial support
should be provided to help the developing countries implement
their plans. An international facility should be created to
elicit voluntary contributions to address the problems of
human settlements in Africa. South Africa backs the
Johannesburg Declaration's recommendation that the Centre for
Human Settlements should be entrusted with the follow-up on
the Conference's decisions, under an expanded Commission on
Human Settlements.
EASTON DOUGLAS, Minister for Environment and Housing of
Jamaica: While recognizing the role of the international
community, it must be realized that resources and capacities
exist within many communities and countries. Jamaica strongly
supports the process to ensure an effective follow-up
programme after this Conference. It is essential to enhance
the capacity of the United Nations Centre for Human
Settlements in research, information exchange and technical
assistance. Jamaica is ready to help by offering its own
experience in settlement upgrading and the provision of low-
income shelter.
Nations must redouble efforts to pursue additional
resources for shelter solutions and promote self-help and
enabling strategies to increase the capacity of individuals
who can build their own homes. At the international levels,
all sides must strengthen institutions by increasing the
technical and financial resources earmarked for human
settlements programmes in developing countries. All of us --
large and small, rich and poor, developing or developed
countries, non-governmental organizations, community-based
organizations, and local authorities -- whether we live in
megacities, cities, towns, villages or countryside, must
commit ourselves to play our part in this tremendous task.
ALI CHAOUCH, Minister of Equipment and Habitat of
Tunisia: Eighty percent of Tunisia's citizens own their own
dwellings. Improvements have been made in the provision of
amenities in dwellings. Rural-urban migration has been
treated as a priority to ensure balanced rural-urban
development. Human settlements have been endowed with
services and facilities for health, education and sports. The
Tunisian Government has taken a gradual approach to improving
human settlements which takes account of the specific nature
of the society.
Affluent countries should assist developing countries and
strengthen cooperation and solidarity in international
relations. The developing and poor countries' debt or, at
least the service on that debt, should be cancelled. Those
monies should be recycled into environmentally beneficial
projects and investment in infrastructure projects.
JOSEPH KABORE, Minister for Infrastructure, Habitat and
Urbanism of Burkino Faso: Burkino Faso's experience in
improving sustainable human settlements involves eradicating
poverty, easing regional disparities and improving social
integration. The urban population is ready to contribute to
improving their living conditions if the State and local
authorities play their part. The major problem, however, is
generating the financial resources to meet the needs of the
urban population. Development partners hesitate to contribute
resources
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because they perceive urban problems as social problems. They
should support the efforts of national governments and local
authorities efforts to ensure real development.
Habitat II must be an opportunity for all the
stakeholders to achieve genuine progress in sustainable human
settlements. There must be better coordination of the
development process and of North-South solidarity.
BHASKARAN NAIR, Acting Permanent Secretary for Housing of
Fiji: National implementation of the Habitat II global plan
of action is of critical importance. With rapidly rising
costs for
shelter and urban services, a small island developing state
like Fiji faces many difficulties in mobilizing adequate
financial resources or ensuring a transfer of sound
sustainable human settlements.
It is regrettable that there has not been an agreement on
the target of 0.7 percent of GNP for official development
assistance (ODA). Without positive and concrete steps towards
this aim, the goals of the Habitat Agenda will be beyond the
reach of many small developing countries. Those countries
hope that the promise of adequate and additional resources to
assist them in strengthening their sustainable development
efforts will materialize. They renew their appeal to the
international community, particularly to developed country
partners, to honour the commitments they made in Rio and
Barbados.
VICTOR CALVO-SOTELO IBANEZ-MARTIN, of Spain: Spain's
constitution states that all Spaniards have the right to enjoy
decent and adequate housing and that public authorities should
promote the enjoyment of that right. The constitution assigns
such a responsibility to all levels of public authorities,
such as autonomous administrations and local authorities.
Spain affirms that, subject to final drafting, it will ratify
the Habitat Agenda and the Istanbul Declaration. It will
enact policies to ensure that the right to housing is
effective and will carry out legislative reforms to facilitate
that right.
Spain last week approved some measures as a first step in
relation to the sustainable development of human settlements.
It will develop a Habitat Agenda for Spain which will focus on
the issues highlighted in its national report and include
concrete measures for sustainable development of settlements.
Spain will cooperate with its neighbours and countries in
Latin America and the Mediterranean basin in the development
of settlements.
REGINALD MOREELS, Secretary of State for Cooperation and
Development of Belgium: Belgium is a major Habitat donor and
has contributed more than $200 million to relevant programmes
in a particular period. It will not hesitate to join the
calls for a guarantee of the right to decent and adequate
housing and is pleased that a consensus has been reached on
the issue. Governments should therefore help facilitate the
enjoyment of that right by introducing appropriate incentives
to the private sector to provide housing. Rural living
conditions must be improved substantially by guaranteeing
health care and access to other facilities and services.
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Since big cities in both the developed and developing
countries face many common problems, the concept of "best
practices" is an appropriate innovation that will enhance the
exchange of relevant information and experience. Public
authorities should apply the enabling approach so as to
provide civil societies and grass-roots organizations the
means to develop fully and take part in decision-making in the
sustainable development of human settlements. Rapid urban
growth has led to social problems, which public authorities
must address. Refugee camps should not be allowed to become
permanent settlements. Necessary resources should be provided
to help implement the programmes adopted at the Conference.
ERIC ADRIKO, Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda: The Habitat
Agenda will enjoin governments, the international community,
local authorities, non-governmental and community-based
organizations and the private sector to play greater roles in
the sustainable development of human settlements. While
governments should formally recognize the continued
contribution of non-State actors, they should remain the
central facilitators of the implementation of the Habitat
Agenda. Uganda welcomes the Conference's recognition that the
implementation of the Agenda will require new and additional
resources. The United Nations system will continue to play a
central role in implementation. Since an effective
implementation can best be ensured within a strengthened
Centre for Human Settlements, the Conference should enhance
the mandate of the Centre .
Land ownership has been entrusted to the people by
Uganda's new constitution. The national shelter strategy and
the national plan of action prescribe that Government will
largely enable individual households to generate incomes and
the private sector should be the major actor in developing
settlements. All partners and stakeholders in the human
settlements sector should support Uganda's efforts to provide
adequate housing for its people.
CHARLES NTAKIRUTINKA, Minister for Public Works and
Energy of Rwanda: The task of rebuilding Rwanda after the
1994 genocide is gigantic. The problems relating to
sustainable human settlements are of particular concern in
Rwanda. Housing costs have tripled and although the return of
refugees is a Government priority, the necessary structures to
receive them are not in place. The lack of housing could
become a dangerous source of social tension, particularly in
the capital city. The Government's new policy for sustainable
human settlements aims to restructure settlements by bringing
traditionally dispersed settlements into more concentrated
ones. The programme will require enormous resources which
could be provided by the international community.
Regional cooperation is essential in the development of
sustainable human settlements, but it requires a stable
environment. The issue of refugees must be resolved as part of
the process of achieving sustainable human settlements in the
subregion. The Rwandese Government appeals to the
international community to prevent the extension of genocide
in the region by addressing the recent massacres of Rwandese
resident in Zaire.
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14th Plenary Meeting (PM) 12 June 1996
DAVID EVANS (Australia): Ninety per cent of Australians
live in urban areas mostly concentrated along an extended
coastline. The country has worked hard at developing cities,
towns and rural communities that operate efficiently and
equitably. Australia has a high rate of home ownership which
is backed up by land-titling systems. The Australian
Government is committed to improving the quality of life of
people in urban, regional and rural areas. Addressing the
housing problems of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people is also a priority.
In recent years Australia's overseas aid program has
supported the Asia-Pacific region, with special priority being
given to the needs of the poorest and most disadvantaged in
urban settlements in that region. Resources need to be
mobilized from a range of sources including private
enterprise, to meet the needs of developing countries.
GEORGE PAYNE, Minister for Public Works, Transport and
Housing of Barbados: Barbados is a small island developing
country with a population density of 312 persons per square
kilometre and 40 percent of its population in the urban
centre. Barbadians have always been determined to own their
own homes. Sixty per cent of the 3,500 housing units needed
over the past six years have been built. Ninety per cent of
that total has come from the private sector.
One of the reasons for poor housing in Barbados is the
tenant system which imposes constraints on tenants to improve
their homes. The impact of hurricanes has also had adverse
effects on housing. Several issues on housing still have to
be addressed and include financing, access to land for low
income families, the upgrading of old timber houses in the
urban areas and creating security of tenure.
ANDREAS LIPSTOK, Minister for Economy of Estonia: With
the re-establishment of Estonian independence and its
integration
into Europe, it has been developing a human settlement system
in an economically efficient and socially and ecologically
balanced manner. Its new housing laws introduced a number of
innovations to the housing field. State ownership of the
housing fund was abolished; the fund is mostly privatized.
Tenants of State-owned housing estates are allowed to buy
their homes.
Estonia supports the Declaration of the World Assembly
of Cities and Local Authorities. It agrees that sustainable
development must be conceived and enacted at the local level,
which is the best way to mobilize concrete initiatives from
bottom up. That is why the Estonian Parliament ratified the
European Charter of Local Government last year. Steps must be
taken to draw up a world-wide charter of local
self-government.
RICARDO GOUBAUD SOLOZARNO (Guatemala): Guatemala has
lived through armed conflicts, the end of which is in sight.
Part of the agreement between the two sides in the political
negotiations to end the Guatemalan conflict was that steps
should be taken to ensure the provision of housing to combat
the shortage of shelter. Even though the country is committed
to providing more houses, it will require the support and
assistance of its international friends and international
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14th Plenary Meeting (PM) 12 June 1996
institutions. The support will enable the country to create a
healthy environment in its human settlements. The Guatemalan
national plan defines policies and objectives in the
sustainable development of human settlements, which are broken
into eight components. In essence, it will include measures
to counter the effects of natural disaster and other problems
and its contents will be translated into concrete action. The
assistance of the international community will be needed.
YANKUBA TOURAY, Minister for Local Government and Lands
of Gambia: On assuming power two years ago, the Government
gave top priority to such rights as food, health care,
education and housing. The steps it took include the
implementation of a project to improve some areas within
Banjul and its surroundings and the amendment of legal
instruments to remove bottlenecks in the effective management
of land. The Government is negotiating with Shelter Afrique
and the African Housing Fund to set up a Habitat Bank in the
Gambia to provide housing finance for low-income citizens.
Gambia's plan of action has identified four major areas
for future intervention. They include: poverty alleviation
and job creation; sound environmental management and
improvement in nutrition and health; decentralization and
management capacity-building at local government and community
levels; and improved access to shelter, particularly for the
most vulnerable groups of society. Since its resources are
limited, Gambia will need the support of the international
community to implement its plans. It will cooperate not only
with its bilateral partners but also with the private sector
and non-governmental organizations in mobilizing the necessary
resources to achieve its objectives.
FREDDY TEODOVICH ORTIZ, Minister of Human Development of
Bolivia: To achieve sustainable human settlements at the
national level, there is need for constitutional reforms and
popular participatory processes, decentralization, and better
government action to meet the needs of the populations and
solve the critical problem of poverty. The United Nations
system and all international organizations need to focus on
human needs, such as housing and education. If that is
achieved, the Conference will have fulfilled its mission. If
it is not, those who vote and give national representatives
responsibilities will be critical of their actions.
BENNIE HIMAINZA WYCLIFF MWINGWA, Minister for Local
Government and Housing of Zambia: A major contributing factor
to Zambia's urbanization problems was a colonial process which
effectively marginalized the rural areas from mainstream
economic development and created instability, or insecurity,
for the majority of the people in the urban areas.
The enabling approach in the Habitat Agenda should be
fully supported. People at the community level should be
enabled if they are to effectively participate in the
development of their communities through empowerment. The
enabling strategy is equally applicable at the global level.
Empowerment, in this case, means creating an enabling
environment for all countries to mobilize their domestic
resources and remove obstacles, which hinder the realization
of initiatives and creativity, to effectively implement the
Habitat
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14th Plenary Meeting (PM) 12 June 1996
Agenda. The phenomenon of donor fatigue exists, particularly
for Africa. But it is also important to note that
donor-driven programmes in recipient countries can be
debilitating if they do not address the priority needs and
aspirations of the recipient countries.
RAFI DAHAM MEJOAL ELTIKRITI (Iraq): Urban settlements
are a priority of the modern Iraqi State. The role of local
communities in the management of cities is being promoted.
Measures have been taken to ensure the participation of the
private sector in the development of Iraqi cities in
accordance with the State's goals. However those efforts were
negated by the aggression against Iraq in 1991. Iraqi cities
were subjected to indiscriminate bombings, destroying
infrastructure and even places of worship. The blockade
against Iraq has also had a disastrous effect on large areas
of the cities and has increased the mortality of children at
an alarming rate. All social services have been adversely
affected. "The Iraqi civilization is threatened."
The Conference must play a positive role in alleviating
the sufferings of the Iraqi people. It should ensure
protection for the civilian population and call for a lifting
of the embargo on Iraq. Iraq needs the support of the
international community for its reconstruction and
rehabilitation and for the provision of humanitarian
assistance as well as the preservation of historical cities.
ABDUL RAHMAN KAMARA, Minister for Lands, Housing, Town
and Country Planning of Sierra Leone: Since March, 1991, the
country has been embroiled in a rebel war which has devastated
settlements in all areas of the country. Some towns and
villages were razed to the ground, forcing inhabitants to take
refuge in the more secure "garrison towns". The loss of
revenues by the Government has frustrated its efforts to
tackle its housing problems, with 50 per cent of its
population living in camps in the country and another 12 per
cent in refugee camps abroad.
Habitat II should help attract the international
community's attention to the rehabilitation, reconstruction
and resettlement needs of Sierra Leone, help in the exchange
of experience with countries that have succeeded with their
settlements practices; encourage international private sector
partnerships in housing and settlement development; and
collaborate with architects with expertise in low-income
housing and urban planning.
ISMAIL SHAFEEU, Minister for Planning, Human Resources
and Environment of Maldives: A major focus of the settlements
policy in the Maldives is the sustainable development of the
rapidly growing capital, Male, which houses a quarter of the
country's population. This indicates the growing demand for
housing, which are unmet due to the lack of land. The
Government has taken steps to address urbanization by
developing innovative schemes for garbage disposal and
providing safe water and environmentally sound building codes.
National policies should be complemented with external
support since the economic development of many developing
countries, including small island States such the Maldives,
depends on external conditions. The Conference should forge
partnerships of cooperation and encourage
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14th Plenary Meeting (PM) 12 June 1996
international development and lending institutions as well as
bilateral donors to provide new and additional financial
resources for the development of settlements.
DEREK AIKMAN (Belize): The private sector decides how
resources will be used in a market-driven economic system.
That arrangement presupposes that the private sector will be
mainly responsible for managing factors of production and that
the role of governments will be reduced to that of
facilitators of economic development. That scenario raises
some disquieting questions. Is it not the goal of the private
sector to maximize profits only, rather than to create a
sustainable economic system in any country or region? Will it
not create casualties such as retrenched public-sector
workers, bankrupted firms and countries? And will this not
lead to widespread disruptions and social upheavals? Will it
not create an ever-widening pool of unemployable persons?
There is a need for a mechanism to harmonize the goals of the
private and public sectors and ensure that their efforts lead
to sustainable economic enterprise. The United Nations
Commission on Human Settlements should help set up such a
mechanism.
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