CLOSING REMARKS BY
THE MOST HONOURABLE P. J. PATTERSON,
PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA AND CHAIRMAN OF THE
GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA,
AT THE SECOND SOUTH SUMMIT OF THE G77 AND CHINA,
DOHA, QATAR,
16 JUNE 2005
Your Highness
Heads of State and Government
Honourable Ministers
Your Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen
We have just completed the Second South Summit - A
Summit which any dispassionate analysis can only
describe as highly successful.
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The Summit has already taken note and recorded its
gratitude to the Presentation of your Highness Emir Sheikh
Hamad Bin Khalifa AI-Thani, for the commitment you
made at the opening of our meeting to provide 0.7
percent of Qatar's GNP to development assistance from
2006, and to contribute 20 million US dollars to the South
Fund for Development & Humanitarian Assistance.
Your Highness
We have analyzed the state of development in the South;
the rapidly evolving global environment shaping our
future; and our responses to date. More importantly, we
have determined a course of action to ensure that the
countries and peoples of the South participate
meaningfully and equitably in the opportunities for
development. This we have set out in the Doha
Declaration and the Doha Plan of Action which we have
just adopted by acclamation.
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We have reaffirmed the conclusion of our Havana
Summit that a more intense, broad-based, purposeful
and mutually beneficial system of cooperation and interchange
among our countries at the levels of government,
peoples, businesses and institutions is vital.
We now recognize from experience that we just cannot
hope for this but we must be prepared to identify
opportunities and to take the appropriate action to
implement the programmes and undertakings if they are
to become reality.
Urgent Priorities
Among the urgent priorities which we have identified are:
• Establishment of a common strategy for securing
national policy space for developing countries,
particularly in trade, investment, financial and
industrial policies;
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• Enhancement of full and effective participation of
developing countries 1n international economic
decision-making and norm setting, and the
promotion within the WTO of a fair and equitable
rules-based trading system.
• Addressing those trade related issues which are
required for the full integration of small and
vulnerable economies within the multilateral trading
system;
• In pursuance of the initiative of the President of Brazil
- the intensification of efforts towards identifying
innovative sources of financing for social
development so as to assist developing countries in
the promotion of economic development, and the
eradication of hunger and poverty.
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• Ensuring that in the context of any reform of the
United Nations, the issue of development is given the
highest priority and that the entire UN system is
appropriately strengthened and empowered to
support this priority;
• Strengthening of South-South Cooperation in the field
of science and technology, in particular, in the areas
of medicine, pharmaceutical and bio-technology.
• Undertaking of a comprehensive study on new and
dynamic sectors with a view to enhancing the
participation of developing countries in world trade
in areas where they have potential comparative
advantage;
• Special attention to the situation of Africa, support for
NEPAD and the need for a substantial transfer of
resources for their development needs so as to
eradicate the scourge of infectious diseases.
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• Full and effective implementation of the Mauritius
Strategy for the Further Implementation of the
Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of the Small Island Developing States,
the Almaty Programme of Action for addressing the
special needs of Landlocked Developing Countries
and the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least
Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-201 O;
• Increased international assistance in the creation
and strengthening of national, regional and
international mechanisms for the prevention,
preparedness and mitigation of natural disasters,
including the establishment of early warning systems;
• Increased ODA flows to meet the internationally
agreed targets for ODA of 0.7 per cent of GNP to
developing countries and 0. 15 to 0.20 per cent to
LDCs.
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Identification of Mechanisms
The Summit has identified a number of mechanisms and
arrangements through which action can be taken at
manageable costs. These include:
• Establishing and strengthening of networks and
building of centers of excellence in various areas
to take advantage of the strength, expertise,
facilities and experience of our various countries.
• The further encouragement of economic and
trade cooperation arrangements among our
countries, including the Generalized System of
Trade Preferences (GSTP) among developing
countries.
• The encouragement of our business sectors to
organize themselves to take advantage of
opportunities across our countries;
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• The encouragement of cultural exchanges and
other activities.
Proposed Initiatives
We have taken note of a range of bilateral initiatives and
proposals by members of our group. We have also
encouraged member states and groups of member
states to develop and promote other cooperation
initiatives in the early future.
Fundamental change in global relations and the
arrangements for their management are imperative. The
South cannot remain passive. We must work collectively
to drive the change we seek.
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In this regard we have targeted the high level plenary
meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in
September 2005, the trade ministerial meeting of the
World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2005 in
Hong Kong and the second phase of the World Summit
on the Information Society in Tunis in November 2005 as
important occasions to press for the change which will
advance our development.
We have also determined that we must seek change in
the pattern of, North-South relations and the approach to
improving them. We agreed to strengthen our dialogue.
I have been directed as Chairman of our Group to bring
the relevant conclusions of our meeting to the attention
of our development partners, and immediately to the G-
8. by the time of their meeting in Gleneagles in Scotland.
We recognize the vital importance of timely
implementation and we have therefore provided in the
Plan of Action for systematic monitoring of our efforts.
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We have urged contributions to the G-77 Fund which was
established pursuant to the decision of our first Summit to
facilitate implementation and follow-up.
We have also agreed to make our annual contribution to
this G-77 Secretariat.
We have decided to make full use of the resources and
facilities of the United Nations system to help us achieve
our objectives.
As Chairman of the G77 and China, I take this opportunity
to renew assurances of my intention to work closely with
my colleague Heads of State and Government as we
seek to advance South-South cooperation and at the
same time bridge the North-South divide.
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In so doing, I would urge that we all remain resolute and
firm in our overarching commitment, resolve and solidarity
as we move forward in the launch of our new platform for
cooperation, partnership and for change 1n the
international system.
I look forward to the opportunity which we will have in the
coming months for further consultations and
collaboration, particularly during the High-level Plenary
Session of the upcoming UN General Assembly as well as
when we undertake the mid-term review of the
implementation of the outcomes of the Second South
Summit.
In closing, I wish to convey to you, your Highness and the
Government and People of the State of Qatar, our thanks
and deep appreciation for all the kind courtesies which
have been extended to all our delegations during our
extremely pleasant but short sojourn in this lovely country.
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I specially wish to thank and congratulate Minister
Rumahai and his Organizing Committee for the work
done to make this Summit a success.
Sincere thanks are due also to the Executive Secretary of
the G77 and China and his hardworking staff for their
contribution to the preparation and conduct of the
Summit proceedings. They all deserve our praise for a
commendable performance.
Finally, I must also thank the management and staff of the
Hotels, this Conference Centre, the volunteers and
countless other persons who have contributed in one way
or another to the success of the Second Summit.
We leave Doha with pleasant memories but convinced
that we have built on the sound foundations laid when
our Group was created 40 years ago and that the G77
and China is now imbued with the vision, the impetus and
the unity that will enable us to overcome the formidable
challenges which still remain and ensure that we will grow
even more vibrant and strong in the decades ahead.
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