Mr.
Chairman,
His Excellency the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis,
Honourable Denzil Douglas,
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
Allow
me to begin by expressing my heart-felt sympathies to the
governments and peoples of the small island states in the
Caribbean, for the horrendous havoc brought by the recent
hurricanes. These deadly natural calamities are harsh reminders
of the uncontrollable forces of nature, and of the environmental
vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
In the
Caribbean, United Nations agencies did move quickly and
are carrying out a range of humanitarian work joining hands
with other national, regional and international efforts
of the post-hurricanes relief and reconstruction. The continued
and enhanced support of the international community for
these affected island nations to get back their normalcy
is critical --- and I continue to make urgent appeals to
all those who are in a position to help to come forward
with magnanimity.
Mr.
Chairman, Now let me turn my attention to today's Small
States Forum of the World Bank. I would like to begin by
thanking you and the World Bank for inviting me to take
part in your meeting. As the United Nations High Representative
for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries
and Small Island Developing States, the deliberations at
this Forum and the activities that result from your decisions
are of great significance to my Office. When I addressed
the Forum in 2002, I had welcomed and expressed appreciation
for the special focus given to small states at this Forum
following the annual meetings of the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund.
In the
course of its deliberations, this Forum has recognized that
small states share very similar characteristics that pose
challenges to their development. These challenges stem from
economic and environmental vulnerabilities and natural disasters
that plague many such states with little or no ability on
their part to take adequate protective measures. This recognition,
I believe, clearly highlights the need for the international
community and the World Bank to continue to undertake, and
add, to the special and differential measures to support
the development efforts of small states. At the same time,
the vital need to strengthen the capacities in small states
to build resilience and to enable them to manage and benefit
from globalization needs continued emphasis.
The
discussions in the Forum today focused on economic growth
and investment in small states. This issue has become a
matter of crucial importance to the Least Developed Countries,
Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing
States, the three most vulnerable groups of countries served
by my Office. The attainment of the targets of the Millennium
Development Goals and the Brussels, Almaty and Barbados
Programmes of Action are greatly dependent on a complex
set of actions, most meaningful of which is the active support
of the international community to these countries with special
needs. It is in this context that I continue to urge the
donor community to make all possible effort to fulfill the
commitments of the Monterrey Consensus.
Mr.
Chairman,
Now
allow me, in my capacity as the Secretary-General of the
upcoming International Meeting for the ten-year review of
the Barbados Programme of Action, to thank you for also
giving me this opportunity to brief the Forum on the preparations
for that Meeting.
As you
would be aware, the Government of Mauritius has graciously
offered to host the conference, that is now scheduled for
January, next year. The UN General Assembly approved the
new dates of the International Meeting from 10 to
14 January 2005. The last two days, that is, 13 and 14 January,
will be the high level segment during which a good number
of Heads of State and Government are expected to participate.
Two days of informal consultations are also proposed on
8 and 9 January. A Civil Society Forum will be organized
in Mauritius immediately prior to these dates. A number
of side events are also expected to mark the occasion.
A considerable
amount of work has already gone into the preparations
for the International Meeting -- both organizational
and substantive.
Negotiations
on the Mauritius outcome document had been going on in New
York with the third round of informal consultations coming
up in a few days' time - on 7, 8 and 11 October 2004.
While
it would be most opportune if member states can reach agreement
on the outcome document before they arrive in Mauritius,
I believe we need to be realistic as well. A few issues
would most likely have to be carried over to Mauritius where
it may be necessary for leaders to give a final political
guidance. Another accompanying outcome of the International
Meeting would be a Political Declaration --- an initial
draft of which, according to practice, is provided by the
host country. This initiative is being taken by Mauritius.
I am
of the belief that the global goodwill that SIDS enjoy in
general should find a manifestation in the Mauritius outcome
--- that is, through the whole-hearted and enthusiastic
support of development partners. Let me reiterate the point
that I have been emphasizing all along: An outcome document
of any major conference may be comprehensive in terms of
the issues covered, but if it does not have the real and
committed support of development partners --- when it comes
to implementation, it may lack the necessary international
support to move forward.
Mr.
Chairman, as the experience of the last decade has shown
us, it is difficult to implement all the fourteen priorities
outlined in Barbados all at the same time. Then there are
the additional new and emerging issues. It is, therefore,
important to prioritize immediate and pressing issues and
put them on top of the agenda for the next few years. To
emphasize my point, I refer to this as prioritization
of priorities. Bearing in mind the new realities, issues
like HIV/AIDS, climate change and renewable energy, security
concerns, information technology, trade opportunities and
market access, should receive specific attention, and the
international community should reach action-oriented decisions
on them.
I will
hasten and add that this approach will not compromise the
fourteen priorities of the Barbados Programme of Action.
My suggestion amounts to a strategy to achieve the maximum
possible international support to undertake what is urgently
needed to bring about an early positive impact in the lives
of the people in the small islands. This seems to be a good
way to also hasten the overall implementation process of
Barbados after Mauritius.
Mr.
Chairman, in view of its practical importance to the implementation
process, the Mauritius outcome needs to include an effective
workable monitoring and review process that was both proactive
and dynamic. To explain my point, monitoring should not
only be simply passive stocktaking of what is happening
or not happening in implementing a Programme of Action.
The process has to be able to continuously identify the
problems of implementation and come up with suitable adjustments
to rectify the situation.
At the
same time, I also propose that intergovernmental regional
organizations need to play a greater role in the post-Mauritius
period. Why is this? As all of us know, such organizations
like CARICOM, Pacific Islands Forum and the Indian Ocean
Commission, best know their own regional capacities, organizations
and personalities that can make a difference in implementing
programmes and projects. They can better assess the international
assistance and inputs that would be needed and how best
to access them. Of course, it would be essential for the
United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions
to support them whole-heartedly.
Mr.
Chairman, now I would like to briefly touch upon the issue
of the level and extent of participation at the International
Meeting. As the Secretary-General of the International Meeting
and in keeping with the resolution of the General Assembly,
I have been emphasizing the need for member-states to be
represented at the highest levels of government in Mauritius.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also written
to all Heads of State or Government requesting their participation
at the highest level. I request those country delegations
present here today to carry back a message requesting their
governments to participate at the highest level in the Mauritius
International Meeting.
When
it comes to the World Bank, I would again urge its representation
at a high level in Mauritius. The World Bank's participation
is very important as Small Island Developing States look
to the Bank and other Bretton Woods institutions as major
partners to help them move forward with the Barbados Programme
of Action. I thank the World Bank for their supportive collaboration
with SIDS and with the UN system as a whole.
In conclusion,
let me congratulate you, Mr. Prime Minister, for your successful
leadership at today's Forum, and thank the World Bank for
organizing it here in Washington D.C.
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