Yar'Adua, others seek fair deal for developing nations
From Madu Onuorah (Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt)
LEADERS of developing countries under the aegis of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) yesterday demanded a financial system that is fairer to poorer states, adjudged as worst hit by the current global economic crunch.
The leaders, who gathered in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt for the 15th Summit of NAM, said since the crisis was caused by rich countries, they should muster courage to reform the global financial system, with policies that fuel growth in developing nations.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, who arrived at the Sharm el- Sheikh International Airport yesterday morning, featured in the Summit of the Heads of State and Government.
The host, President Hosni Mubarak, his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, and others lamented that most nations of the 118-member NAM were bearing the brunt of failed economic policies of the West.
"And as usual, the wealthy countries were the source of the current crisis, which was affected by the ... illogic of the international economic order that depends on blind market principles and consumption, and wealth of the few," Castro said in an Arabic translation of his speech.
The summiteers also called for more solidarity among developing nations to tackle major international and regional issues, including the ongoing world economic recession.
Castro, who was the chairperson of the 14th NAM summit, declared the 15th edition opened. The participants observed a minute of silence in honour of the organisation's leaders, who had passed on since the last meeting.
He said NAM had the conviction that all countries in the world should search for effective and justified measures to tackle the current financial crisis, adding "the crisis originates from rich countries due to their unbalances and impartial international economic system. We call for the review of international financial system, based on the real participation of developing nations."
Mubarak, who was elected by acclamation as chairperson of the summit, also appealed for "the construction of a new international political, economic and trade system, which is more balanced and equitable".
He said that "this summit is a good opportunity for dialogue" and urged NAM leaders to use it to boost solidarity among their countries.
"We face the largest part of its repercussions and pressures and suffering," Mubarak added
"We call for a new international political, economic and trade order - a more just and balanced order that prevents discrimination and double standards, achieves the interests of all, takes into account concerns of developing countries and establishes democratic dealings between rich and poor states," Mubarak stated.
Omar Hassan al-Bashir, president of Sudan told the summit that the developing world was being hurt by the crisis with joblessness, hunger, and poverty.
"The issues confronting humanity are so grave that there is no time for rigid idealogies while the poor suffer," the President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said, adding NAM could respond better if it "speaks as one."
"The nations of the Group of Eight most industrialised countries (G-8) have committed $20 billion to address the issue of food security. This is not an adequate sum, much more needs to be done," Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez said.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who addressed the opening ceremony along with the chairman of the G-77 and China as well as representatives of some regional blocs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, charged NAM to rid the world of destructive weapons.
At the plenary session, the leaders or their representatives will focus on the summit theme of "International solidarity for peace and development."
The leaders are also expected to discuss climate change, the Middle East peace process, food security, energy and nuclear issues. They are scheduled to sign the summit's Final Document and a Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration, and approve the body's action plan for the next three years.
NAM was founded in September 1961 with 53 members from Africa, 38 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean and one from Europe. It has 16 observer nations and nine observer organisations. With this coverage, NAM represents nearly two-thirds of the UN members, particularly the developing countries, and comprises 55 per cent of the world population.
Ban challenged the participants "to strive in unison to rid the world of all weapons of mass destruction."
He told the leaders that there has been progress in addressing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Stating that NAM's commitment to peace naturally led it to place premium on a world free of weapons of mass destruction, the UN scribe said "all countries should recognise that disarmament contributes to development and that both are critical to peace."
Ban acknowledged the support of NAM members at the Conference on Disarmament and challenged them to ensure that the forthcoming 2010 review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was successful.
He said the world "cannot afford to repeat the failure of the 2005 Review Conference. We must achieve our vision of a nuclear weapon-free world."
