African National Congress president Jacob Zuma on Monday called for greater cooperation between the Group of Eight (G8) and the five emerging economies of the South — China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.
Speaking in Berlin at a North-South dialogue on relations between the G8 and the five emerging powers, Zuma said that while the Heiligendamm Dialogue Process (HDP) is a ”significant development”, it is limited in terms of its mandate and time.
”We must all accept that the HDP is limited in mandate and time. It has been established for two years only — ending June 2009 with the summit in Italy — to dialogue on four issues of development, investment, energy and innovation,” he said.
”It is an important dialogue process that should help us demonstrate our ability to work together on global issues of mutual interest in a more focused and sustained way.
”Success in these processes can only result from an honest dialogue based on mutuality of interest in the subject matter, respect, partnership and, most importantly, equality.”
The HDP is ”one element” in fostering cooperation but beyond it the question of relations between the G8 and the five countries remains.
”This is to say that the HDP is a limited form of engagement between our countries, established by the German G8 presidency. Therefore it cannot replace the imperative of a wider relationship that reflects the interests and concerns of all parties,” Zuma said.
The reality is that emerging powers continue to engage with the G8 through post-summit outreach sessions ”while we remain convinced that the current format places artificial limits to a potentially powerful and real partnership among our countries”.
”This partnership will be founded on our conviction that our voices are being heard in both the preparatory meetings and at the main summit itself. As one will say, this will promote ‘ownership’ of the dialogue.”
Global issues
It is necessary to include other major players due to the range of global issues covered by the G8 — it no longer focuses solely on economic matters, but rather on global issues, from foreign and security policy to development.
”If anything, much work has yet to be done to match the global character of the issues with a more representative character in the deliberations.
”The changing geo-political dynamics have seen developing countries playing a greater role in shaping the new world order. Much of this takes place in the context of South-South cooperation where China, India and Brazil are forging closer links with Africa and are assuming greater responsibilities as economic locomotives for their respective regions,” Zuma said.
”More significantly, however, we have all learnt that the G8 alone cannot solve the many pressing global problems without the involvement of the emerging powers.
”South Africa has interacted with the G8 for several years now, starting from 2001, seeking to promote a better understanding of the challenges confronting Africa and to help find effective solutions thereto.
”It became clear that it is no longer possible for the G8 to deliberate and make progress on issues affecting the world without involving the major powers from the South. This is the one thing that [German] Chancellor [Angela] Merkel [G8 president], along with some other leaders in the G8, managed to grasp effectively.”
He added that the issue of a role for the G8 in global security governance requires debate and raised the question of whether it has the ”inclination and capacity” to deal with the threats experienced and perceived by the developing world.
”South Africa’s foreign policy recognises that in order to achieve a better life for all, development and security are best addressed through adequate attention to all global threats facing humanity. I believe that no organisation other than the United Nations has proven its ability to play this role effectively,” he said.
Security Council
Zuma said it is ”inconceivable” for him, as a South African, to discuss international security without considering the ”indispensable role” of the UN, including its Security Council.
”A key tenet of our foreign policy is the belief that the resolution of international conflicts should be peaceful and in accordance with the centrality of the UN charter and principle of international law. I am well aware of the debates in academic circles of whether the G8 can or should take over the role of the UNSC [Security Council].
”I think we need to look to strengthening the UNSC, through appropriate reforms, and identify those areas where the G8 — in whatever form — can effectively complement its efforts.”
The ANC president, possibly South Africa’s president-in-waiting, said cooperation between the G8 and emerging powers on global security governance can only be successful with ”trust and mutual confidence”.
”I conclude therefore that cooperation between the G8 and emerging powers on questions of global security governance can only be successful once we have established the requisite level of trust and mutual confidence. This can be attained through our continued dialogue on the current issues of economic development and governance,” he said.
”The HDP process is an opportunity to demonstrate our ability to work together. However, it is still too early to say how far the process will go with its limited agenda and mandate.” — Sapa