South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma on Thursday reiterated the call for restrictive trade barriers to be removed and for the Doha development round on international trade to be finalised in time.
Speaking at the International Meeting on Small Island Developing States (Sids) in Port Louis, Mauritius, he also called for renewed commitment by developed countries to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and for assistance to help developing countries to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.
Zuma told the meeting that while progress has been made in some areas since the Barbados Conference a decade ago, a lot still needed to be done.
“The contract that the international community entered into with the Sids in Barbados has not yet been fully implemented. On their own, and despite limited resources, it is clear that the Sids have made some progress.
“The recent discussion in the United Nations on the issue of graduation by some Sids from the status of least-developed countries is a testimony to their efforts and their commitment to sustainable development.
“However, the efforts of the Sids continue to be frustrated by an unfavourable international environment,” Zuma stated.
He said many global development goals to provide assistance to developing countries, and in particular to the most vulnerable among them, are yet to be fulfilled.
“This is becoming evident as we start the preparations for the high-level review of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, to be held in September 2005.
“Studies by the UN and other international organisations show that without enhanced international cooperation, many countries will be unable to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
“We therefore urge the international community to increase its efforts to provide support to developing countries. It is critical that commitments to financial, technical assistance and technology transfer should be fulfilled,” Zuma asserted.
International trade
In the area of international trade, it is imperative that the Doha development round should be finalised in time and result in a balanced outcome, he said.
“We believe that the integrity of the international trading system will be called into question if it fails to benefit all its members. The provision of enhanced market-access opportunities and the removal of barriers to trade are some of the reforms that are urgently needed.
“Trade-distorting subsidies in developed countries should also be removed. Without these reforms, it will be difficult for many developing countries, such as Sids, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,” Zuma stated.
“The review of the Barbados Programme of Action has also highlighted the environmental vulnerabilities faced by Sids. Climate change, in particular, has become a key challenge for many countries. To help Sids deal with this challenge, we believe that there is a need for reinforced commitments by all developed countries to curtail greenhouse gas emissions.
“We also acknowledge that the adverse impacts of climate change are being felt by Sids today. In this regard, we therefore endorse the calls for urgent and increased capacity and support to assist Sids and other vulnerable developing countries to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change,” Zuma added. — I-Net Bridge