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Press Release
Delhi Declaration India-Africa Forum Summit 2008
(New Delhi; April 9, 2008)
INDIA-AFRICA
FORUM SUMMIT 2008
New Delhi,
8-9 April 2008
Final
DELHI DECLARATION
1.
We, the Heads of State and Government and Heads of Delegation of Africa,
representing the Continent, the African Union and its Institutions along
with the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, have met today in New
Delhi, India, to consolidate the process of deliberations and
discussions with a view to redefining and re-invigorating the
decades-old partnership and historical and civilizational links between
the African continent and India.
2. We recognize that Africa and India have undergone enormous positive
changes, in particular over the last two and half decades, and that
Africa and India have historically been close allies in the struggle for
independence, equality, human rights, freedom and democracy. We are
neighbours across the Indian Ocean. We note that there has been
significant positive transformation of the political, economic and
social environment in Africa and the strengthening of democracy,
particularly with the adoption of the Constitutive Act and the
establishment of the African Union with its institutions, such as the
Pan-African Parliament, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, the
African Court on Human and People’s Rights as well as its programme the
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer
Review Mechanism (APRM) and the Peace and Security Council. During this
period, the Indian economy has evolved into a more mature and fast
growing economic mode and Indian democracy has further strengthened. We
have, therefore, decided to build upon these positive achievements with
a view to helping each other to become more self-reliant, economically
vibrant, at peace with ourselves and the world and to work together to
strengthen our close partnership.
3. Bearing in mind that
African countries and India have enjoyed close, cooperative and multi-sectoral
partnership encompassing political, security related, economic, science
and technology, human resource development, social, cultural and other
areas of mutual interest, we have adopted today a Framework for
Cooperation which will further strengthen our partnership in all these
and other areas for our mutual benefit.
4. This partnership will be based on the fundamental principles of
equality, mutual respect, and understanding between our peoples for our
mutual benefit.
It will also be guided by
the following principles: respect for the independence, sovereignty,
territorial integrity of state and commitment to deepen the process of
African integration; collective action and cooperation for the common
good of our states and peoples; dialogue among our civilizations to
promote a culture of peace, tolerance and respect for religious,
cultural, linguistic and racial diversities as well as gender equality
with the view to strengthening the trust and understanding between our
peoples; the positive development of intra-regional/sub-regional
integration by complementing and building upon existing/sub-regional
initiatives in Africa; recognition of diversity between and within
regions, including different social and economic systems and levels of
development; and further consolidation and development of plural
democracy.
5. The international community is today addressing a series of critical
issues such as environmental degradation, including climate change and
desertification, multilateral trade negotiations, reform and
democratization of international institutions, particularly the United
Nations and the Bretton Woods Institutions, respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms, the fight against terrorism, combating illicit
trafficking in small arms and light weapons, non-proliferation of
nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, the fight against drugs
and most importantly, promotion of pluralism and democracy, the pursuit
of sustainable development underpinned by social justice, eradication of
hunger, poverty as well as combating diseases. Africa and India
reiterate their intention to ensure that in all these matters, the
interests of developing countries are kept uppermost and the
socio-economic developmental requirements of our countries are
guaranteed.
6. We recognize that
climate change is a global challenge but one that will be particularly
severe for developing countries given their vulnerabilities, inadequate
means and limited capacities to adapt to its effects. We reaffirm that
development is the best form of adaptation and that the foremost
priority for developing countries is to ensure accelerated social and
economic development. We note that sustainable development is essential
to enable effective adaptation. We stress the importance for adaptation
to be adequately financed through additional resources and not from
funds meant for development.
7. We note with regret the lack of demonstrable progress by developed
countries on Green House Gas (GHG) reduction commitments in the first
commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. We emphasize the need for
equitable and fair burden sharing in mitigation which must take into
account historical emissions. In this regard, we take note of the
proposal of the Prime Minister of India on convergence of per - capita
emissions of developing and developed countries.
8. We urge the international community to give real and immediate effect
to commitments on climate change, especially in the areas of technology
transfer, financing and capacity building. There is also need for a
closer look at the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime to ensure
cost-effective transfer of appropriate and advanced clean technologies
to developing countries.
9. We are determined to
participate effectively in the negotiations under the Bali Action Plan
towards comprehensively addressing climate change in accordance with the
provisions and principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), in particular the key principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
10. We take note of the state of play in the World Trade Organization (
WTO) -Doha round of trade negotiations. We reiterate the importance of
the development dimension of the Round and welcome the strengthened
engagement, solidarity and cooperation among developing countries in
that process. Agriculture remains the key to the conclusion of this
round. We are convinced that any acceptable agreement must adequately
protect the livelihood, food security and rural development concerns of
developing countries. Any outcome must also bring about significant and
effective reductions in trade-distorting domestic support and subsidies
provided by the developed countries. There are equally important issues
also to be addressed on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) services
and rules. We are convinced that the process to be adopted to reach
convergence in the WTO negotiations requires focus on content and not
artificial timelines. The promise of a development round must be fully
realized.
11. We also reaffirm our
commitment to providing meaningful market access to the Least Developed
Countries (LDCs). We call upon the members of WTO to implement duty-free
and quota-free market access for all products originating from the LDCs
and to take additional measures to provide effective market access to
them through simplified and transparent Rules of Origin.
12. We attach priority to providing trade related technical assistance
and capacity building to LDCs to help mitigate the effect of their
marginalization in the present globalised trade structure and enable
them to maximize the benefits resulting from the multilateral trade
liberalization process. We are committed to helping LDCs achieve the
goal of securing effective market access through transparent and
predictable rules of the multilateral trading system.
13. We agree on the urgent need to reform the international financial
architecture, especially the International Financial Institutions (IFIs),
to reflect the changing global situation. In this context, we emphasize
the need for the effective voice and participation of developing
countries, including in the quotas and voting rights in the IFIs. This
would enhance the IFIs' accountability, legitimacy, credibility and
effectiveness.
14. We are committed to multilateralism and to strengthening the
democratic structure of the United Nations.
15. We reaffirm our
commitment to further strengthen Africa-India cooperation at the United
Nations, the G77 and in other multilateral fora with a view to
addressing issues of common concern. There is need for urgent and
comprehensive reform of the United Nations to enable it to more
effectively deal with the challenges of today's world. We share the view
that the United Nations should function in a more transparent, efficient
and effective manner, and that the composition of its central organs
must reflect contemporary realities. In particular, the expansion of the
UN Security Council, in both permanent and non-permanent categories of
membership, is central to the process of UN reform.
16. India notes the common African position and the aspirations of the
African countries to get their rightful place in an expanded UN Security
Council as new permanent members with full rights as contained in the
Ezulwini Consensus. Africa takes note of India’s position and its
aspirations to become a permanent member with full rights in an expanded
UN Security Council. We note the active and constructive engagement of
both sides in the process of the reform of the United Nations. We agree
to further strengthen cooperation between our two sides towards early
realization of a genuine reform of the United Nations and its working
methods, particularly revitalizing and enhancing the role of the General
Assembly and reform and expansion of the Security Council.
17. We believe that the
security of all nations would be enhanced by the global,
non-discriminatory and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons and
other weapons of mass destruction. We renew our commitment to the
consensus attained in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of
the General Assembly of the United Nations devoted to Disarmament
whereby it was agreed that the first priority in disarmament
negotiations is to be accorded to nuclear disarmament. We call for the
negotiation of specific steps that would reduce and finally eliminate
nuclear weapons, thereby leading to a world free from all weapons of
mass destruction as envisaged in the Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan of 1988
and the Africa Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (the Pelindaba Treaty) of
1995, as well as other relevant African and Indian regional initiatives.
18. We unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations. An act of terrorism anywhere is a threat to the entire
international community. We recognize the need to further strengthen
international cooperation to combat global terrorism and for compliance
of member states with all international terrorism conventions and
related protocols, and the Security Council resolutions on
counter-terrorism. We also agree to make concerted efforts towards
expeditious finalization of a Comprehensive Convention on International
Terrorism at the UN.
19. We affirm that
cooperation between Africa and India has been, from its inception, a
useful example of South-South cooperation. It has been our endeavour at
this Summit to devise ways and means of enhancing this South-South
partnership, taking into account the new capabilities that have emerged
in Africa and India. Bearing this in mind, we have drawn up and adopted
a Framework for Cooperation that would provide the avenue for further
and dynamic development of the Africa-India partnership. African Leaders
deeply appreciate the initiatives that have been announced at this
Summit by the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, H.E. Dr. Manmohan
Singh, that would provide an input for the implementation of this
Framework for Cooperation. We have agreed that Africa and India will
strengthen not only their bilateral linkages, but that India will also
progressively strengthen its partnership with the African Union and the
Regional Economic Communities of Africa.
20. We have also agreed that in addition to high level political
exchanges between us in the bilateral, regional and multilateral
contexts, Africa and India should meet every three years. We have
accordingly, agreed that the next Africa-India Summit will be held in
2011 in Africa.
21.
Without prejudice to India’s on-going and future programmes at the
bilateral, REC and other levels, we agree to develop jointly, within a
period of one year, a joint plan of action at a continental level and an
appropriate follow-up mechanism to implement our Framework for
Cooperation.
22. We, the Heads of State and Government and Heads of Delegation that
are representing Africa at this Summit would like to take this
opportunity to thank the Government and people of India and, in
particular, their Excellencies the President and Prime Minister of India
for hosting this Forum Summit and for the warm reception and hospitality
extended to us. This Forum Summit has further cemented the age old
relationship between Africa and India, a relationship that has been of
mutual benefit and is based on mutual trust, equality and solidarity.
23. The Prime Minister of India, on behalf of the Government and people
of India, takes this opportunity to thank the participating Heads of
State and Government and other Heads of Delegation from Africa for
accepting the invitation to attend this Africa-India Forum Summit and
for their most productive and useful suggestions to strengthen and
re-invigorate the Africa-India partnership.
Issued at New Delhi on 9th April, 2008 |
