STATEMENT BY
RT. HON. P. J. PATTERSON, Q.C.,M.P.
PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA
AT THE
ELEVENTH CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF STATE
OR GOVERNMENT OF NON-ALIGNED COUNTRIES
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CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
OCTOBER 1995
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MR. PRESIDENT,
LET ME AT THE OUTSET EXPRESS MY WARM CONGRATULATIONS TO
PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER AND TO COLOMBIA ON THE ASSUMPTION OF THE
CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
WE CAN REST ASSURED THAT THE MOVEMENT IS IN GOOD HANDS AND WILL
BENEFIT FROM ACTIVE AND RESOURCEFUL LEADERSHIP.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE FRIENDLY RELATIONS WHICH EXIST
BETWEEN COLOMBIA AND JAMAICA WILL BE FURTHER ENRICHED AS WE PLEDGE
OUR FULL SUPPORT IN HELPING TO FULFIL THE NOBLE PURPOSES WHICH
INSPIRED THE FORMATION OF THIS MOVEMENT.
WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF
COLOMBIA FOR THE EXCELLENT ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO HOST THIS
CONFERENCE AND FOR THE GENEROUS HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO US IN THIS
HISTORIC AND CHARMING CITY OF CARTAGENA DE INDIAS.
I JOIN OTHERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ME IN COMMENDING AND
THANKING PRESIDENT SOEHARTO OF INDONESIA WHO SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF
THE MOVEMENT OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. HE DISCHARGED HIS
RESPONSIBILITIES WITH SERIOUSNESS AND DEDICATION, COMMITTING
SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO THE TASK. HE PROVIDED DYNAMIC AND
ENERGETIC LEADERSHIP FOR THE NON-ALIGNED DURING A CRITICAL PHASE.
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LONG WAY.
SINCE THE BANDUNG DECLARATION, THE MOVEMENT HAS COME A
IT HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN PROTECTING THE
INTERESTS OF THE THIRD WORLD THROUGHOUT DECADES OF INTENSE SUPER-POWER
RIVALRY. ITS ABHORRENCE OF COLONIALISM AND OPPRESSION HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO ACHIEVING SOVEREIGNTY AND FREEDOM FOR MANY NATIONS
AND PEOPLE. ITS RESOLUTE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM IN ALL ITS
MANIFESTATIONS HAS BEEN VINDICATED AND PERMITS US TO EXTEND TODAY
A SPECIAL WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA, LED BY THE ELECT OF ITS PEOPLE,
PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA.
MR. PRESIDENT,
WITH THE ENDING OF THE COLD WAR, QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN
RAISED AS TO THE RAISON D'ETRE OF THE MOVEMENT AND ABOUT ITS
RELEVANCE IN A WORLD NO LONGER DOMINATED BY BITTER SUPER-POWER
RIVALRIES.
THESE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS MUST BE SQUARELY ADDRESSED.
EVEN AS WE REAFFIRM OUR PURPOSE, THE TIDE OF HISTORY REQUIRES THAT
WE CLEARLY RE-DEFINE OUR ROLE.
THE AXIS OF MILITARY POWER IS NO LONGER BIPOLAR. THIS
MAKES IT THE MORE NECESSARY FOR SOME COUNTERVAILING BALANCE, IF THE
HEGEMONY OF A SINGLE POWER OR GROUP IS TO BE AVOIDED. IT IS OUR
SOLEMN DUTY TO ENSURE THAT OUR MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION
TO PROMOTE THE COMMON GOOD.
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FOR THESE REASONS, THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT BECOMES EVEN
MORE PIVOTAL THAN BEFORE . IT IS NOW THE ONLY FORCE WHICH CAN
PROVIDE SOME BALANCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA. IF THE NON -
ALIGNED WAS BORN IN A DIFFERENT WORLD, IT HAS NOW COME OF AGE.
HERE AT CARTAGENA, IN THIS NEW WORLD, THE NON-ALIGNED MUST ASSUME
A NEW LEASE OF LIFE.
DISCARDED.
WITHOUT IT, WE WILL BE EASILY OVERWHELMED AND READILY
IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR
COLLECTIVE STRENGTH AND PROTECT THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM FROM BEING
MANAGED TO BENEFIT NARROW SECTIONAL INTERESTS.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN CONFRONTATION. RATHER, IT IS OUR
ONLY WEAPON TO PROTECT THE WEAK AGAINST THE POWERFUL. THE
MOVEMENT HAS ALWAYS SOUGHT ACCOMMODATION AND CONSENSUS IN A SPIRIT
OF GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP. THE VIGILANCE OF THE NON-ALIGNED HAS TO BE
CONSTANT IN ENSURING RESPECT FOR THOSE INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLES
WHICH PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE SMALLER AND WEAKER STATES.
MR. PRESIDENT,
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO THE CREDIBILITY OF THE MOVEMENT
AND ESSENTIAL TO WORLD PEACE THAT WE PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN
PROMOTING SOLUTIONS TO DISPUTES BETWEEN NON-ALIGNED MEMBERS.
WE HAVE IN PLACE MECHANISMS FOR MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION. WHEN
WE FAIL TO ACTIVATE THEM, IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION OF WEAKNESS AND
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INSINCERITY. INACTION ALSO INVITES THE INTERVENTION OF OTHER
EXTERNAL FORCES, WHICH CAN EITHER PROLONG THE DIFFERENCES AMONG US
OR RESULT IN BROKERED AGREEMENTS THAT FRACTURE OUR COHESIVENESS.
MR. PRESIDENT,
AS WE REVIEW THE INTERNATIONAL LANDSCAPE, WE ARE FORCED
TO ADMIT THAT WHILE THERE HAS BEEN THE REMOVAL OF EAST /WEST
TENSION, THERE ARE STILL TROUBLING ELEMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY AND
INSTABILITY IN THE WORLD. THE SEARCH FOR STABILITY IN CURRENT
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CANNOT BE ABANDONED. WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN
THE FABRIC OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY. THE TIME IS RIPE. THE NONALIGNED
MOVEMENT HAS THE CAPACITY TO MAKE A DISTINCTIVE
CONTRIBUTION TO THESE ENDS.
WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN
MULTILATERALISM PARITCULARLY THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE
UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM. THIS PROCESS OF STRENGTHENING WILL INVOLVE
PROMOTING REFORM IN THE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO THE
COMPOSITION OF DECISION-MAKING ORGANS. IT SHOULD REFLECT THE
CURRENT POLITICAL REALITIES OF UN MEMBERSHIP. IT HAS TO TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT THE DESIRE FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION BY EVERY MEMBER
STATE, BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF SOVEREIGN EQUALITY.
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MR. PRESIDENT,
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION GIVE
CAUSE FOR DEEP CONCERN. OTHERS PROVIDE A SOURCE OF HOPE.
WE REGRET THAT SOME NATIONS HAVE SEEN IT FIT TO RESUME
NUCLEAR TESTING. COMING SO SOON AFTER THE INDEFINITE EXTENSION OF
THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY, AND AFTER ASSURANCES OF RESTRAINT,
SUCH ACTS OF DEFIANCE UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF THE NONPROLIFERATION
REGIME AND GLOBAL EFFORTS FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT.
THE MOVEMENT ONCE AGAIN DEMANDS THAT THE MORATORIUM ON
NUCLEAR TESTING BE RESPECTED. WE CALL FOR THE EARLY CONCLUSION OF
A COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.
WE WELCOME THE ADVANCES MADE IN TRADITIONAL AREAS OF
CONFLICT, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WHICH FOR SO LONG HAS
BEEN A SOURCE OF ANXIETY AND FRUSTRATION. WE HOPE THAT THE NEW
SPIRIT OF ACCOMMODATION WILL BE REFLECTED IN FRUITFUL NEGOTIATIONS
ON ALL OUTSTANDING CONFLICTS IN THE REGION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
POVERTY AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE ANYWHERE, THREATEN PEACE AND
STABILITY EVERYWHERE. GREED AND HUMAN MISERY PROVIDE FERTILE
BREEDING GROUNDS FOR BLOODSHED AND WANTON DESTRUCTION WHEREVER THEY
EXIST.
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INTRACTABLE ETHNIC ANIMOSITIES CANNOT FOREVER BE STIFLED
BY BRUTE FORCE - THEY CAN ONLY BE RESOLVED BY DESTROYING ALL
BARRIERS OF RACE, COLOUR, GENDER, AGE AND RELIGION.
THE NON ALIGNED MUST SPARE NO EFFORT IN SUPPORTING THOSE
MEASURES WHICH FOSTER RECONCILIATION BETWEEN NEIGHBOURING PEOPLE
AND PROMOTE COOPERATION IN THE INTERESTS OF UNIVERSAL PEACE AND
STABILITY.
TO ACHIEVE THIS, WILL REQUIRE ECONOMIC GROWTH. IT WILL
ALSO REQUIRE ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
AS THE THREAT OF A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST RECEDES, OUR
OBLIGATION TO SATISFY THE ESSENTIAL NEEDS OF EVERY HUMAN BEING ON
THIS PLANET BECOMES EVEN MORE COMPELLING.
THE ARSENALS OF WAR MUST GIVE WAY TO THE PLANTING FIELDS,
SO THAT HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION ARE NO MORE. THE TECHNOLOGY THAT
CREATED WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION CAN BE DEPLOYED INSTEAD TO
CONQUER IGNORANCE AND BANISH DISEASE.
THE NON-ALIGNED MUST TAKE THE LEAD. IT IS WITHIN OUR
GRASP. IN EVERY FORUM TO WHICH WE BELONG, OUR VOICE MUST BE LOUD
AND UNRELENTING. WE MUST SET THE EXAMPLE BY CONCRETE ACTION.
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OUR PREVIOUS EMPHASIS ON GLOBAL DISARMAMENT MUST BE
MATCHED BY OUR INSISTENCE HENCEFORTH ON THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY TO SECURE GROWTH WITH EQUITY.
MR. PRESIDENT,
IT HAS BECOME IMPERATIVE FOR THE NON-ALIGNED TO ADVANCE
THE ISSUE OF DEVELOPMENT AS A PRIORITY AREA OF CONCERN ON THE
INTERNATIONAL AGENDA. THE EVER GROWING PROBLEM OF POVERTY AND THE
DETERIORATING ECONOMIC SITUATION FACING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES MUST
BE MADE A CENTRAL ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM.
THE GLOBALIZATION OF PRODUCTION AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS
CARRIES WITH IT THE CONCEPT OF A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP AND GLOBAL
RESPONSIBILITY. DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN MAKING RAPID
ADJUSTMENTS TOWARD ECONOMIC LIBERALISATION AND FREE MARKET REFORMS.
THESE HAVE BROUGHT CONSIDERABLE STRESS AND INNUMERABLE STRAINS.
BUT THE BENEFITS FLOWING FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM
HA VE, OVERALL, BEEN LESS THAN EXPECTED IN THE AREAS OF TRADE,
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS, AND INVESTMENT FLOWS.
ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN IS THE MATTER OF CAPITAL FLOWS.
DESPITE LIBERALIZATION MEASURES AND DEREGULATION REFORMS, MANY
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE YET TO SEE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE
DIRECTION OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL FLOW OF
RESOURCES TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
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INDEED, FOR MANY, CAPITAL FLOWS REMAIN NEGATIVE, BECAUSE OF THE
CONTINUED DRAIN OF DEBT AND INTEREST PAYMENTS. THIS IMPOSES A
SEVERE BURDEN ON THE PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT. THE NON-ALIGNED
COUNTRIES MUST NOT WAVER IN THEIR DETERMINATION TO PRESS THE NEED
FOR MEASURES TO EASE THIS BURDEN. IN PARTICULAR, WE NEED TO FIND
INNOVATIVE MEASURES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL
FINANCIAL SYSTEM WHICH WILL PROVIDE SOME MEASURE OF RELIEF. LOANS
FROM THE MULTILATERAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CANNOT BE EXCLUDED
FROM ANY ARRANGEMENTS FOR RESCHEDULING WHEN THEY CONSTITUTE SUCH A
SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE DEBT PORTFOLIO FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES.
MR. PRESIDENT,
MANY OF OUR OWN ECONOMIES HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO THE HARSH
CONDITIONALITIES OF STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT. AS THE INTERNATIONAL
ECONOMIC SYSTEM UNDERGOES ITS OWN PHASE OF RESTRUCTURING, IT IS FOR
US TO ENSURE THAT SUCH A PROCESS TAKES INTO FULL ACCOUNT OUR
COLLECTIVE INTERESTS.
THIS MUST ENTAIL A REALIGNMENT OF THE BRETTON WOODS
INSTITUTIONS WITH THE U. N. SYSTEM SO THAT THEIR APPROACHES AND
POLICIES ARE EXPOSED TO WIDER OPINIONS AND ANALYSES AND ARE SUBJECT
TO BROADER CONSIDERATIONS.
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WE MUST ALSO EXPRESS CONCERN ON THE MARKED REDUCTION OF
RESOURCES FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT. INSTEAD OF THE EXPECTED PEACE
DIVIDEND, THERE HAS BEEN A DETECTABLE FALL OF OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
ASSISTANCE, EVEN FOR THE LDC'S. INTERESTS AND RESOURCES ARE BEING
DIVERTED FROM THE POTENTIAL OF THE SOUTH TO THE OPENING MARKETS OF
EASTERN EUROPE.
DONOR FATIGUE IS NOW CLEARLY APPARENT. IT CANNOT BE A
GOOD SIGN. IN THE LIGHT OF PREVAILING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
CONDITIONS, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE DEVELOPING
WORLD ARE NOW MORE URGENTLY NEEDED THAN AT ANY PREVIOUS TIME.
MR. PRESIDENT,
PEACE, SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT ARE INDIVISIBLE AND
MUTUALLY REINFORCING. THE FURTHER IMPOVERISHMENT OF THE
DEVELOPING WORLD WILL THWART THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PEACEFUL AND
SECURE ORDER IN THE WORLD. IF POVERTY STALKS THE LAND, ITS IMPACT
WILL BE FELT EVERYWHERE, BRINGING DISORDER, SOCIAL FRAGMENTATION
AND CONFLICT.
WE IN THE NON-ALIGNED COUNTRIES WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE
STARK PAIN OF POVERTY SHOULD SOUND A LOUD ALARM THAT ITS
ERADICATION FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE EARTH DEMANDS URGENT AND
CONCENTRATED ACTION BY THE ENTIRE GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
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BUT JUST AS WE SEEK TO ENGAGE THE REST OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COUMMUNITY IN FORGING A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SOCIAL
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE MUST ALSO LOOK INWARDS TO OUR OWN
CAPACITY AND POSSIBILITIES. WE HAVE PROCLAIMED NATIONAL SELFRELIANCE
AS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES. WE
MUST STRENGTHEN THIS CONCEPT OF SELF-RELIANCE TO EMBRACE
PARTNERSHIPS AMONG OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. WE MUST GIVE
GREATER SUBSTANCE TO SOUTH/SOUTH RELATIONS BY PLACING GREATER
EMPHASIS ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND TRADE AMONG OURSELVES. UP TO
NOW, IT REMAINS FAR TOO SMALL.
COOPERATION AMONG OUR COUNTRIES
MECHANISMS FOR DEVELOPMENT
AND WITHIN REGIONS SHOULD
COMPLEMENT EFFORTS AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL.
IT IS FITTING THAT WE GATHER HERE IN CARTAGENA, WHERE TWO
YEARS AGO WE WITNESSED THE BIRTH OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN
STATES . THE A. C. S . BRINGS TOGETHER COUNTRIES OF VARYING SIZES AND
LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT INTO CLOSER COLLABORATION FOR THEIR MUTUAL
BENEFIT.
MR. PRESIDENT,
FINALLY, IN THIS ELEVENTH CONFERENCE OF HEADS, LET US AS
A MOVEMENT PROCLAIM OUR DETERMINATION AND PREPAREDNESS NOT SIMPLY
TO RESPOND TO THE RAPIDLY CHANGING INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC SITUATION BUT MORESO TO FASHION THE MOULD ON WHICH WE
BUILD LASTING PEACE AND UNIVERSAL PROSPERITY.
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WE ARE ON THE DAWN OF A NEW MILLENNIUM. THE DECISIONS
WE TAKE HERE AT THIS SUMMIT WILL SHAPE THE WAY FORWARD TO THE NEXT
CENTURY. WE MUST CHART THE COURSE. LET US ADOPT AN AGENDA FOR
ACTION WHICH FULFILS THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS AND MEETS THE
CHALLENGE FOR THIS GENERATION AND OUR CHILDREN WHO WILL FOLLOW.
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