Introduction

Global challenges today in the areas of energy security, education and infectious diseases can only be adequately dealt with through intensified international coordination and cooperation. In this regard we reiterate our proposal, made last year in Gleneagles, for a new paradigm for international cooperation, focused on the achievement of concrete and properly assessed results, taking fully into account the perspective and needs of developing countries. The increased participation of developing countries in the decision-making processes of the United Nations system and other international organizations, is essential to ensure more balanced and legitimate results.

2. In addition to the three topics to be examined at the Summit (energy security, education and infectious diseases), we also wish to call attention to the importance of mobilising financial resources for development, through innovative mechanisms supplementing the commitments made at the United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development. ODA We reaffirm the importance of concluding negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda in 2006, as an important outcome in enabling developing countries to benefit more fully from international trade.

3. In addressing the issues brought to the attention of the G-8, we emphasize the need to follow-up on the work programme on Africa launched at Gleneagles. As we focus on the issues before the Summit, we agree on the need to look carefully at the special needs of Africa.

4. We recognize that Africa is going through a period of renewed hope, based on its leaders's vision of promoting further regional integration with the goal of ensuring the socio-economic development of the continent. The resolution of violent conflicts which for decades have thwarted African potential is crucial. We stress the need to address the root causes of instability which are closely linked to poverty, social inequality and exclusion.

5. The international community should continue to co-operate with the African countries in their quest for peace, development and social justice. A true partnership must be established bearing in mind the views and needs of African countries and people. South-South co-operation is of particular value in that regard.

Energy Security

6. Energy security constitutes a vital and strategic issue for producing and consuming countries alike. Affordable and reliable energy resources are basic requirements for sound economic and social development as well as world peace and stability. The international community must endeavor to put in place fair and equitable conditions for the long-term sustainability and predictability of energy supplies, at reasonable, competitive prices. Energy security can be enhanced by exploiting locally available resources in a sustainable manner. Development of all feasible hydropower potential in an optimal manner needs to be accelerated.

7. We express concern at the negative impact of soaring energy prices on our development efforts in recent years. We favour the establishment of an international energy order that is fair, equitable, secure and stable, to the benefit of the entire international community. We support an inclusive dialogue on energy, capable of creating a political environment conducive to the peaceful settlement of disputes through consultation. This dialogue should involve exporters and consumers and the International Energy Forum. In this regard we welcome the initiative taken to hold two Round Tables in New Delhi, in January and November last year, which brought together principal Asian consumers with important regional producers.

8. Global and regional integration is a fundamental dimension of the debate on energy security. We stress the importance of more compatible and balanced regulatory frameworks both at the regional and global levels. Expanding regional cooperation can facilitate faster development of energy resources by sharing best practices and promoting regional trade in energy.

9. We emphasize the significance of technological cooperation in energy research and development to augment and diversify the energy supply by developing more efficient, affordable and cost effective energy technologies, including fossil fuel technologies and renewable energy technologies aiming at energy production and consumption, and thereby leading to greater efficiency. We call for improved access to these technologies and pledge to work with developed and developing countries in sharing knowledge and expertise for development of such technologies. In this context we also emphasize the need to develop new forms of cooperation in nuclear energy.

10. Diversification is a central element in any definition of energy security. We encourage the development and use of alternative sources of energy to enhance sustainability. New forms of energy that are clean, safe and economically efficient should be fully explored. In this regard, ethanol, biodiesel and other bio-fuels - can play a greater role in the diversification of the global energy mix, as well as in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from anthropogenic sources.

11. Energy security is not an end in itself. We must look beyond energy security towards broader development objectives in order to ensure successful synergies among energy security, development and the environment. As our economies develop, our energy consumption will inevitably grow, which in turn will require individual and collective efforts to ensure economic and environmental sustainability.

Education

12. We call upon the international community and G-8 members, as well as UNESCO and all International agencies to strengthen cooperation towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the Dakar Goals. In this context we welcome and support the development of UNESCO Global Action Plan to achieve core “Education for All” goals and recognise the importance of the Monterrey Declaration of the E-9 countries.

13. We recognize the need for the education system to instill respect for diversity in terms of race, culture and religion. Governments have a primary role to play in ensuring a conducive environment and improving cooperation in this regard.

14. We encourage the sharing of good practices, both between countries of the North and the South and among developing countries, for accelerating progress towards EFA. The use of Information and Communication Technologies has proved essential towards improvement of educational systems. We urge developed countries to share their expertise and transfer technologies and resources, thereby enabling developing countries to employ more advanced technologies.

15. We welcome the development of mechanisms such as debt cancellation, debt reconstruction and debt swaps. International initiatives such as the Fast Track Initiative and the International Funding Facility have wide political support and have demonstrated their utility. However, donor countries need to step up their assistance with a view to consolidating long term and predictable financial support.

Infectious diseases

16. Infectious and chronic diseases are a common enemy of mankind. We stress the urgency of dealing with infectious diseases by addressing them as a strategic issue, affecting both economic growth and social stability worldwide. Through a global partnership, we must strive to make a decisive contribution to international efforts to prevent and treat infectious diseases.

17. While communicable diseases pose a particular challenge in developing countries, the increasing importance of chronic diseases needs to be recognized. Further attention is required to monitor and contain human influenza and other vaccine preventable diseases.

18. Infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and avian influenza, pose daunting challenges that must be tackled through more efficient cooperation and greater financial resources as mentioned in the Millenium Development Goals. No nation is invulnerable and no disease can be effectively controlled without international cooperation. A comprehensive response is necessary to end the unacceptable scale of mortality, which is particularly high in developing countries.

19. We reiterate the need to reduce major trade barriers to facilitate access to new affordable quality vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and technology aimed at preventing and controlling infectious diseases. The flexibilities contained in the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and recognised by the Doha Ministerial Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health should be fully used to protect public health.

20. An effective global response requires a global monitoring system that can help to prevent, identify and control the spread of infectious diseases. We encourage G-8 countries to help setting up a platform for sharing and exchanging information and best practices on the prevention and control of infectious diseases. We urge the Leaders of the G8 to collaborate with developing countries in improving capacity as regards health services, and access to treatment and research, with special focus on Africa.

21. We welcome the Political Declaration adopted by the 2006 High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS “Uniting the World Against AIDS”. We reaffirm our commitment towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support for persons affected by HIV/AIDS by 2010.

22. We express our support for and urge donor countries to maintain, and if possible increase, funding in a sustained and timely manner to benefit initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Global Fund to combat Polio and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network that are helping to fight, prevent and control other infectious diseases. We welcome the proposal for the establishment of an international drug purchase facility, to be known as UNITAID, which represents an effort to raise additional funds through innovative means. Efforts have to take into consideration that, while fighting infectious diseases, it is important to give special attention to vulnerable groups in order to target the disease through intensive actions, for example: TB with AIDS, TB/AIDS with Injecting Drug Users, TB/AIDS with Poverty.

23. We stress the need for adequate mechanisms through which developing countries, in particular least developinged countries, can receive support from international organizations and financing sources in order to: strengthen their epidemiologic surveillance systems; build human resources and provide training; produce vaccines, medicines and inputs necessary to control infectious diseases and guarantee their availability.

Trade and the Doha Agenda for Development

24. We are committed to strengthening the multilateral trading system and view with great concern trends towards raising protectionism in developing ed countries. The World Trade Organization is the sole forum for global trade rule-making and liberalization. The majority of WTO members are developing countries and their interests must be at the heart of the current round of trade negotiations. The Doha Round is the best chance we have to open world markets, level the playing field, share wealth and create jobs. This is a Development Round and it must create new opportunities for the developing world.

25. Poverty alleviation and development promotion are not only ethical and economic imperatives, they are also essential for a stable world economy. All nations, especially the poorest ones, must benefit from the opportunities created by international trade. A significant substantial reduction of agricultural subsidies and improved market access for agricultural and other products will increase the competitiveness and improve living standards of developing countries.

26. Subsidies, high tariffss, tariff peaks and tariff escalation in developed countries and other trade barriers in developed countries generate distortions in the world agricultural market that affect the lives livelihood and survival needs of millions of people around the world, particularly in poor countries heavily dependent on agriculture. The elimination of such practices must not be deferred indefinitely. The international community is increasingly aware of the fact that agricultural subsidies in developed countries are not only immoral but often illegal. By keeping these privileges for themselves, rich countries are exporting more poverty to already poor countries. In addition to the elimination of export subsidies, it is necessary urgent for developed members to undertake serious effective commitments in both domestic support and market access to unblock the round. In the negotiations, the issue of recently acceeded developing members should be addressed properly and effectively.

27. Deadlines have been set and repeatedly missed. Some offers on the table have fallen short of the level of ambition and of the principle of proportionality found in the Doha mandate. A consensus can be reached only if development is made the kernel of the negotiating Round and the principle of special and differential treatment incorporated integrally in all aspects.

28. Believing that concessions made by developing countries will magically unblock negotiations is an illusion. In order for the Round to live up to its development goals, developed countries must assume their responsibility in moving the process forward. The key to the end of distortions lies in the hands of those who distort. The world’s poor must stand as the main beneficiaries of a fair, balanced and comprehensive outcome. Our vision of a final deal is one where rich countries will make larger concessions, developing countries will also contribute with important efforts and the least developed will not be expected to make concessions. In addition, developed members should implement duty free and quota free treatment to least developed members as early as possible.

29. A number of pressing issues need to be addressed in the coming weeks. Time is running out. The engagement of world leaders is urgently required to break the deadlock. New impetus must be given to the negotiations. A fresh impetus needs to be given to the negotiations that are underway in all areas. All parties must show a readiness to look beyond their narrow interests. Parties must work together to ensure that international trade will be based on open, equitable and non-discriminatory rules. We urge leaders attending the summit to strive for a high level of ambition, with equitable results, and rise to the challenge of ensuring a speedy and successful conclusion of the Doha Round in 2006. We urge leaders attending the Summit to strive for a high level of ambition, with fair and equitable results of the Doha Round in 2006, which meet the development imperatives of the developing countries.

Mobilisation of Financial Resources

30. The Millennium Summit represents the culmination of a historical process seeking to locate the fight against poverty as a key priority in the international agenda. Building upon the spirit of the Millennium Declaration, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey in 2002, brought focus to the timely implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which is of paramount importance to achieve stability, security and world peace.

31. As a result of the commitments undertaken by the international community in the Monterrey Consensus, progress has been registered in moving towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in matters such as: i) debt elimination for a relevant number of highly indebted poor countries; ii) increase of ODA flows; and iii) a higher and better coordination among economic multilateral institutions in order to achieve the MDGs.

32. Additional efforts are necessary if we are to comply with the MDGs within the deadlines originally agreed upon in 2000. The Action against Hunger and Poverty initiative, launched by the Heads of State and Government of Brazil, Chile and France and supported by a significant number of countries, identified and agreed to develop possible innovative mechanisms to finance development. With the aim of advancing further, the Paris Conference on Innovative Financing for Development, held last March, examined different options for new and innovative financing mechanisms. These mechanisms should be geared to mobilise public, private, domestic and external sources in order to increase and supplement the ones identified in the Monterrey Consensus.

33. The timely and successful fulfilment of the MDGs constitutes the starting point for the definition of long-term development strategies capable of resulting in the permanent elimination of hunger and poverty. Reaching the goal of 0.7% of GNP for ODA is a real and urgent need.

34. Further steps towards international agreements on financing for development, should take into account criteria different from those related exclusively to total GDP, given that in the developing countries which do not belong to the HIPC initiative, poverty and hunger often continue to afflict large segments of the population. At the same time, it is understood that special efforts must be directed towards the least developed countries.

35. The need to intensify efforts to raise additional financial resources for development is relevant to the debate on the issues placed before the G-8 Saint Petersburg Summit. In order to win the fight against hunger and poverty, infectious diseases and inadequate education, we must assume our shared responsibility in the search for mechanisms capable of channelling the necessary resources to fulfil common development objectives.

 

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