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Address by EAM at the 6th IBSA Trilateral Commission Meeting
01/09/2009
Your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane,
of South Africa
Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, I would like to thank our hosts, the Government and
people of the Federative Republic of Brazil, for their warm hospitality
extended to me and the members of my delegation and for the excellent
arrangements made for sixth Trilateral Commission Meeting. I would like
to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency Mr. Celso Amorim, who
has been with IBSA since its inception, for his welcoming and exhaustive
remarks. His experience and vision will, I am confident, guide us
through our deliberations today. At this point of time, I would like to
put on record the efforts and guidance provided by our predecessors,
both in India and South Africa as well, in making this Forum so unique
and full of promise.
2. I would like to take this opportunity to convey our sincere thanks to
Brazil and South Africa for their unambiguous sympathy and support in
the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks last November.
3. IBSA brings together on one platform our three dynamic developing
country democracies with common principles and values which in itself is
exemplary. We are committed to draw upon these commonalities and
experiences for the betterment of the lives of our peoples.
4. The global financial and economic crisis was the result of failure of
global regulatory and supervisory mechanism; excessive speculation and
greed; and ideological preconceptions. The developing countries,
including the emerging market economies, are also impacted and the worst
affected victims as it would push millions of people, back into poverty
for one full generation. The global financial and economic crisis has
made it imperative to develop a better system of surveillance and
regulation so as to detect early signs of systemic financial and
economic imbalances and instability to address them effectively in a
timely manner. There should be better and transparent regulatory
mechanism for capital markets as well as a stronger voice for developing
countries. In this connection, I would like to recall that at the
instance of our leaders at the 3rd IBSA Summit held in New Delhi in
October 2008, the IBSA Finance Ministers met on the sidelines of G-20
Finance Ministers' Meeting in November last year. At the G-20 Summit of
Washington in November 2008, a blue print for action was produced which
constituted a good first-step. The G-20 London Summit held in April 2009
built on that in concrete form. The most important challenge now is to
implement the agreed elements in the Washington Action Plan and the
London Communique. The G-20 Summit in September 2009 in Pittsburg, USA
will review progress. Our collaboration in the G-20 process should be
sustained.
5. This crisis has thus brought us closer. This is but emblematic of the
promise of our cooperation on pressing global challenges of today.
Cooperation amongst us in these current challenges, as three influential
but developing countries, can be a game-changer in today's
circumstances.
6. Allow me to congratulate and thank our colleagues the Focal Points
and members of the Working Groups for the untiring efforts they have
made in preparing for this meeting. I am confident, their
recommendations put forward for our consideration would assist in
reviewing the status of our cooperation.
7. IBSA has so far made considerable progress. Cooperation has been
initiated in 16 key areas with Agreements signed in 14 of these. We have
invited participation from a wide range of stakeholders, namely,
businessmen, academics, civil society, media and women. We have the IBSA
Ocean alliance and the IBSA Local Governance Forum, a Conference of
Supreme Courts of IBSA Member Countries is to be established. We have
initiated joint participation in Antarctic activities, IBSA countries
contribution to the Fund for common cause of alleviation of poverty and
hunger. We have exchanged views on regional and international issues of
mutual interest and concern. The Working Group on Parliamentarians is
expected to meet shortly for the early formation of IBSA Parliamentary
Forum, which would of course, be an independent Forum.
8. A good plan of today makes every yesterday a dream of a good future,
and every morning is a vision of hope. So there are lots of dreams and a
bright future for us as IBSA to get nearer to our goals and dreams.
9. In conclusion, I would like to say that we are determined to make
this Forum an effective example of successful and meaningful South-South
Cooperation.
Thank You.
BRASILIA
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 |
