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Ministers adopt Declaration on small island developing States
Culminating
a weeklong Interregional
Preparatory Meeting,
the Declaration constitutes
a common platform for
the International Conference
for the 10-year review
of the Barbados Programme
of Action for the Sustainable
Development of the
Small Island Developing
States, to be held
in Mauritius from 30
August to 4 September.
The
Declaration reaffirms
commitment to the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs),
a series of time-bound
targets adopted at
a 2000 UN Summit aimed
at eradicating a range
of social ills. It
also acknowledges that
small island development
States have made some
progress in implementing
the Programme of Action
"largely through domestic
measures, despite the
impediments posed by
their structural disadvantages
and vulnerabilities."
But
the Declaration voices
concern over the weakening
economic performance
of many of these countries
due in part to their
declining trade performance.
"We recognize that
international trade
is important for the
building of resilience
and sustainable development
of SIDS," the Ministers
state.
Concerned
that these nations
are unable to effectively
participate in multilateral
trade negotiations,
the Declaration calls
on the World Trade
Organization (WTO)
to "recognize the special
case of SIDS and take
appropriate action."
Voicing
appreciation for support
rendered so far, the
text notes, however,
that not all commitments
have been honoured,
while changing internal
circumstances are further
exacerbating the challenges
faced by SIDS. The
Declaration calls for
"greater support for
and improved coordination
among" development
partners for the effective
implementation of the
Programme of Action.
"We
emphasize the urgent
needs of small island
developing states for
new and additional
financial resources,
provided in adequate,
predictable and timely
flows, in order to
respond effectively
to these challenges,"
the Declaration says.
When
the forum opened on
Monday, Anwarul K.
Chowdhury, the Secretary-General
of the Mauritius, meeting
stressed that SIDS,
though facing a set
of specific challenges,
have a great contribution
to make to the global
community.
"For
the conference in Barbados,
our slogan was 'Small
Islands, Big Issues,'"
Mr. Chowdhury, who
is also Under-Secretary-General
and High Representative
for the Least Developed
Countries, Landlocked
Developing Countries
and Small Island Developing
States, had said. "For
Mauritius, reflecting
today's realities,
I would like to adjust
it to say: 'Small Islands,
Big Potential.'"