Theme : UN
RENEWED EFFORTS NEEDED FOR SUCCESSFUL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, SECRETARY-GENERAL
SAYS AT CEREMONY MARKING MOROCCO’S CHAIRMANSHIP OF GROUP OF 77
Also Cites Need For Cooperation
Between Developed, Developing Countries on Issue of Migration
Following is the text of remarks, as delivered, by Secretary-General Kofi
Annan at the ceremony marking the turnover of the chairmanship of the
“Group
of 77” developing countries and China from Venezuela to Morocco
in New York today:
I am very happy to join you today for this ceremony. Venezuela presided
over the Group of 77 during a year of major global events in the economic
and social realms, including the International Conference on Financing
for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Second
World Assembly on Ageing, the World Food Summit, and the General Assembly
Special Session on Children.
These events have provided important opportunities to address the challenges
of globalization, achieve concrete progress towards the Millennium Development
Goals, and bring development issues back to the centre of the global agenda.
They have enhanced the credibility and visibility of the Organization’s
work in these areas. And they have seen very constructive participation
by the Group of 77. I would want to take this opportunity to thank President
Chavez and his team for their great dynamic and sustained leadership during
a busy and difficult period. I would also want to applaud the work of
his Ambassador here, Milos Alcalay, and his team, for the great skill
and determination they showed during this past year.
I would also like to congratulate you Foreign Minister Benaissa and Ambassador
[Mohamed] Bennouna on the assumption of Morocco's duties as Chairman of
the Group of 77 in the coming year.
Morocco assumes this responsibility at a challenging time.
First, the world economy is recovering very slowly from its largest setback
in a decade, and substantial risks remain, including geo-political tensions
and uncertainties with possibly grave effects on the economies of all
countries, especially the developing countries, and on efforts to achieve
the Millennium Development Goals. Overall, the prospects today look far
more troubling than they were a year ago.
Second, the optimism generated by the agreement at Doha needs to be sustained
through renewed efforts to make the multilateral trade negotiations a
success. These negotiations are the first in the history of GATT/WTO to
have embraced development as their principal objective. We now have a
commitment to reduce trade barriers and subsidies, and to set trade rules
in ways that will bring new benefits to the developing countries. At the
same time, the Doha negotiations have encountered difficulties, in particular
with regard to TRIPS [Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
of the WTO Agreement] and the question of developing-country access to
life-saving medicines. But this should not lead to pessimism. Major trade
negotiations have rarely concluded without moments of near despair, when
reasonable deals seem beyond reach. Indeed, with so much at stake, we
have no option but to persist. Poor countries should do their utmost to
defend their interests. And rich countries must recognize that it is in
their self-interest to open up trade.
Third, we continue to face the urgent need to improve the way conference
follow-up is carried out within the United Nations system, and I think
all the speakers have touched on this. This issue will be a major priority
in the months ahead. The recently established open-ended ad hoc working
group of the General Assembly will have to address an array of critical
issues, including how to ensure policy coherence; how best to integrate
the system’s wide-ranging efforts without duplicating them in different
intergovernmental bodies; and how to monitor progress. United Nations
departments, specialized agencies, programmes, funds and other entities
will likewise be focusing intently on this question, as a major part of
our effort to continue strengthening the Organization. Implementation
will be everyone’s job.
This year’s development calendar also offers a number of important
opportunities. The Economic and Social Council will examine the key question
of rural development, and look as well at how it can sharpen its contribution
to the implementation of what was agreed at global conferences. And in
December, the World Summit on the Information Society will try to find
new ways to place the great power of information technologies at the service
of economic and social development. I urge you to give these events your
full support.
I also encourage you to pay greater attention to emerging issues that
will have a profound effect on our efforts to meet the challenges of development
and globalization. One such issue is migration, which now involves hundreds
of millions of people and which requires political leaders from both developing
and developed countries to strengthen cooperation. The challenge is threefold:
to better protect the human rights of migrants; to fairly share the burdens
and responsibilities of providing assistance for refugees; and to fully
realize the positive potential of international migration -- for migrants,
for transit and receiving countries alike.
Morocco’s voice has contributed greatly to the development debate.
I am confident that the Moroccan delegation will lead with expertise and
determination in the coming months. I congratulate them and I wish you
all success.
Original address of this text :
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/SGSM8582.doc.htm
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