Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum
30 March 2006
1. The Minister of State for External Affairs of India, HE Mr Anand Sharma,
the Minister of External Relations of Brazil, HE Mr Celso Amorim, and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, HE Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, met
in Rio de Janeiro on 30 March 2006 for the Third Meeting of the Trilateral
Commission of the IBSA Dialogue Forum.
2. The Ministers discussed a wide range of critical global issues and
reconfirmed their shared vision and determination to play a constructive role
in international affairs and to maintain friendly relations with all countries.
They reaffirmed the IBSA Dialogue Forum as an important mechanism for political
consultation and co-ordination as well as for strengthening co-operation in
sectoral areas and to improve economic relations among India, Brazil and South
Africa.
3. They confirmed their support for a strong multilateral system as a means
towards addressing issues of global concern, in particular the pre-eminent role
of the United Nations (UN) in the maintenance of international peace and
security and the promotion of sustainable development.
Millenium review summit
4. The Ministers recognised the successful conclusion of the Millennium
Review Summit, which took place in September 2005. The Ministers expressed
their hope that the UN reform processes continue to reflect a balance between
development and security concerns and, in this regard, reiterated their
perception that development matters remain an indispensable foundation for a
new collective security system.
5. They reaffirmed their commitment to the goal of developing countries
successfully achieving, at the minimum, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
as a core strategy in the international fight against underdevelopment, hunger
and poverty. They reiterated their support for the Action against Hunger and
Poverty initiative and, in particular, the Declaration issued by the promoters
of the initiative on the occasion of the UN Millennium Review Summit. They
reconfirmed the importance of obtaining new and additional financial and other
resources for fighting poverty and financing development.
6. Within the framework of the Monterrey consensus, the Ministers
acknowledged that the MDGs will not be achieved without also resorting to
additional and innovative sources of financing for development. The Ministers
confirmed their willingness to support and promote innovative financing
mechanisms and in this regard reiterated their intention to take active part in
the work by the Leading Group on Solidarity Levies, created at the Ministerial
Conference on Innovative Financing, held in Paris in February/March 2006.
United Nations institutional reform
7. The Ministers reiterated their continued support for the reform of the
United Nations to make it more democratic and responsive to the priorities of
its Member States, particularly those of developing countries that constitute
the vast majority of its membership. In that regard, they welcomed the
decisions taken in the September Summit in New York in 2005 and expressed their
full support for the implementation of those decisions as contained in the
âSummit Outcome Documentâ.
8. The Ministers emphasised that the Security Council must, in its
composition, represent contemporary realities and not those of 1945. Keeping in
view that the decisions of the Security Council should serve the interests of
the larger United Nations Membership, they emphasised the need for the urgent
reform of the Security Council that would include its expansion in both
categories of membership, permanent and non-permanent, in order to render it
more democratic, legitimate, representative and responsive. Towards this end,
the representation of developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America,
as permanent members of the Security Council, is essential. The IBSA countries
agreed to continue to exchange views on this issue, which they feel is central
to the process of the reform of the United Nations, and work towards this
common purpose in the coming months, with the view to achieving concrete
results by the end of the 60th General Assembly.
9. They welcomed the creation of the Peace-building Commission as an
important intergovernmental advisory body through which international community
could provide long term support to countries emerging from conflict, including
capacity-building efforts. IBSA countries reiterated their commitment towards
working for an early operationalisation of the Peace-building Commission.
10. They voiced their full support for the capable manner in which the
United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, has been conducting the work
of the organisation, and expressed confidence in his efforts to enhance the
UNâs role in international relations.
11. They recommitted their respective delegations to the UN and its
specialised agencies, as well as other multilateral bodies, to remain in close
contact with each other and to consult on all issues of significance.
South-South co-operation
12. The Ministers reaffirmed that South-South co-operation is an essential
and fundamental component of international co-operation for development, and
stressed their support for mainstreaming of South-South co-operation and of the
pursuit of the development of Technical Co-operation amongst Developing
Countries (TCDC) to its full potential. In this regard, they recommitted
themselves to work together for the enhancement of South-South co-operation and
emphasised the establishment of the IBSA Fund as an example of co-operation
among three developing countries for the benefit of the neediest nations of the
South.
13. They noted with satisfaction the adoption of the Doha Plan of Action at
the South Summit, held in Doha, between 12 and 16 June 2005. They emphasised
the importance of strengthening South-African cooperation in order to promote
growth and development.
The New Partnership for Africaâs Development (NEPAD)
14. The Ministers reaffirmed their support for the socio-economic
development programme of the African Union and committed the IBSA partnership
to seeking practical and concrete measures to be pursued in support of the
implementation of NEPAD. The three countries share a common experience in the
struggle against poverty and underdevelopment, as well as complementary levels
of development. There was therefore much to gain from sharing information and
best practices in dealing with common challenges and in identifying areas of
common concern, need and benefit.
South American Integration
15. The Ministers welcomed the consolidation of the South American Community
of Nations, which held its first Presidential Meeting in Brasilia, on 30
September, 2005, and recognised it as a major achievement in the process of
strengthening the political co-ordination and economic, commercial and
infrastructural integration among South American countries.
Terrorism
16. The Ministers reaffirmed that international terrorism constitutes one of
the most serious threats to peace and security and that acts of terrorism were
criminal and unjustifiable whatever the considerations or factors that might be
invoked to justify them. The Ministers emphasised the need for concerted and
co-ordinated action by the international community, with the ultimate objective
of eradicating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
17. They reaffirmed their full support for the implementation of all the
measures to combat terrorism outlined in relevant UN Security Council
Resolutions. They welcomed the Councilâs efforts to increase cooperation and
coordination in the fight against terrorism and called on the international
community to work together in a spirit of cooperation and tolerance to
eliminate terrorism. Recalling that the Outcome Document of the World Summit
2005 had called upon the member states to conclude a comprehensive convention
on international terrorism during the current Session of the UN General
Assembly, the Ministers stressed the importance of finalising the convention on
international terrorism and called upon all States to co-operate in resolving
the outstanding issues with the objective of an expeditious conclusion of
negotiations and the adoption of this Convention.
18. They emphasised that international cooperation to combat terrorism
should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the United Nations
Charter, international law and relevant international conventions, including
international human rights, humanitarian and refugee instruments.
Disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control
19. The Ministers reaffirmed the view that the primary focus on human
development, the fight against poverty, and measures to promote a better
quality of life, should underpin and provide for greater guarantees for
international peace and stability. The three Ministers took stock of the global
security situation concerning disarmament and non-proliferation, and expressed
their concern over the lack of progress in multilateral fora related to the
field, and voiced their hope that the international community will show the
necessary resolve and political will to reinforce the international disarmament
and non-proliferation regime by means of multilaterally-negotiated,
transparent, balanced and effective measures.
20. The Ministers expressed their conviction that multilateral institutions
set up under multilateral disarmament agreements should remain the primary
institutions and mechanisms, in the international communityâs endeavour to
achieve common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation.
21. They took note of the positive continuing cooperation among their
countries at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other fora, with
a view to ensuring the unimpeded growth and development of the peaceful use of
atomic energy, through the supply of technology, equipment and material, under
appropriate safeguards, and reaffirmed their will to intensify such
cooperation. In this regard, the Ministers called for a peaceful resolution of
the Iranian nuclear programme within the context of the IAEA.
22. They highlighted that nuclear energy can play an important role in
meeting growing global energy requirements while at the same time addressing
concerns related to global warming. In this regard they agreed to consider
further enhancing international civilian nuclear cooperation, with countries
that share the objectives of non-proliferation and have contributed to them, as
well as having concluded appropriate safeguard agreements with IAEA.
23. The Ministers expressed concern over the continuing impasse in the
Conference on Disarmament and called upon member states to intensify efforts to
reach an agreement on a programme of work. In this context, they reiterated
that the Five Ambassadors proposal as revised in 2003 still remained a viable
basis for a programme of work.
24. They also expressed their commitment to the universalisation of the
Convention for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Biological Weapons
Convention (BWC), as well as to the goal of ensuring its balanced, transparent
and effective implementation.
25. They also agreed on the pressing need to adopt measures aimed at
strengthening the Convention for the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin
Weapons, in order to consolidate its role as a key disarmament instrument of
the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and expressed their
will to intensify the cooperation and consultations in relation to the
Convention, in particular in the context of its sixth Review Conference,
scheduled for November-December 2006.
26. They recalled the importance of cooperative and effective international
action against the illicit trade in small arms, light weapons and ammunition,
and the need for the 2006 Review Conference of the United Nations Programme of
Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and
Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN-PoA), adopted at the Conference on the
Illicit Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.
Situation in the Middle East
27. The Ministers welcomed the holding of transparent and free parliamentary
elections in the Palestinian territories on 25 January 2006 and of general
elections in Israel this very week. They welcomed the strengthening of the
democratic process in Palestine and the peaceful nature of the polling. They
expressed the hope that the newly formed government in Palestine and the newly
formed government in Israel will continue to pursue peaceful negotiations as
laid down by the Road Map for Peace and to abstain from taking any action or
measure which might put in jeopardy the peace process in the region leading to
the establishment of a viable, sovereign, independent State of Palestine living
side by side in peaceful co-existence with the State of Israel.
International trade
28. Considering the results of the sixth World Trade Organisation (WTO)
Ministerial Conference, held in Hong Kong, in December 2005, the Ministers
emphasised the necessity of renewed political commitment to advance
negotiations so that the Hong Kong deadlines are met.
29. As agriculture is central to development and the Doha Round, the
Ministers expressed their conviction that Hong Kong consolidated the G-20 as an
element of systemic relevance in WTO Agriculture negotiations.
30. The Ministers emphasised the need to consolidate unity on the
development content of the Round. This is supported by increased activity, in
the form of consultations, held in Geneva by Indian, Brazilian and South
African delegations, in order to co-ordinate positions and strengthen
Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA), as well as the establishment of the
NAMA-11 whose two main principles are supporting flexibilities for developing
countries and balance between NAMA and other areas under negotiation.
31. They recognised the importance of incorporating the development
dimension in international discussions concerning intellectual property, as a
means to preserve the policy space that countries enjoy in ensuring access to
knowledge, health, culture and a sustainable environment. In this context, they
welcomed the launching of a âDevelopment Agenda in the World Intellectual
Property Organisationâ and reaffirmed their hope that the aforementioned
Organisation incorporates effectively the development dimension in all its
bodies.
32. The Ministers took note of the broader objectives of the European Union
proposed Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH)
Legislation, in respect of the protection of human health and the environment.
The Ministers reiterated their support for the commitments made on chemical
safety at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002.
33. The ministers expressed their concern for the unintended consequences
that REACH will have on developing economies exporting to the EU. Such
consequences will negatively affect the attainment of development goals in the
South, including the MDGs. The Ministers recognised the efforts, commitments
and determination of leaders of developing economies to effectively address the
challenges of poverty, underdevelopment, marginalisation social exclusion and
economic disparities.
34. The Ministers urged the EU to give due consideration to the grave
consequences for developing economies should REACH be adopted in its current
form. The Ministers urged the EU to ensure that REACH will not become a
Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT). The high costs for compliance, the
possibilities for substituting commodities and the lack of technological and
human resource capacity to comply may render the EU markets inaccessible for
exports from developing countries. The Ministers expressed their desire that
REACH should be consistent with the WTO laws and provide for adequate
flexibility to developing countries.
35. The Ministers undertook to work together and jointly to address the
challenges posed by REACH. The Ministers resolved to make all efforts to
cooperate in coordinated manner regarding REACH.
International financial system
36. The Ministers underlined the convergence of views regarding the need for
enhancing the governance of the international financial system and, in this
respect, reiterated their commitment to co-ordinate efforts on this issue. They
further stressed that progress in this field will lead to improvements in
crisis prevention and the increase of resources to finance development.
Sustainable development
37. The Ministers reaffirmed the validity of the principles contained in the
Rio Declaration, particularly on common but differentiated responsibilities,
the Programme of Action contained in Agenda 21, and the Plan of Implementation
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg.
IBSA would continue its efforts to mobilise new and additional financial
resources and the transfer of environmentally-sound technologies within an
agreed time-frame in order to implement the outcomes of these conferences.
38. They stressed that an international environment supportive of
development would be critical to this process. They also called for a specific
focus on capacity-building as well as on the transfer of financial resources
and technology to developing countries.
39. They noted with appreciation the stage of the TRIPS Council negotiations
on the relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on
Biological Diversity and reaffirmed the urgent need that members reach a prompt
solution for the problem raised by the granting of intellectual property rights
concerning or making use of genetic resources and /or associated traditional
knowledge without compliance of relevant provisions of the Convention on
Biological Diversity. In this respect, they underscored the wide support for
the proposal of amending TRIPS with a view to require intellectual property
applications to disclose the country of origin of the subject matter as well as
the compliance with the requirements of fair and equitable benefit-sharing and
prior informed consent, in accordance with the legislation of the country of
origin.
40. They expressed, in this context, their positive expectations about the
results of the VIII Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (COP-8/CBD), which is being held in Curitiba, Brazil (20 â 31 March).
They concurred on that COP-8 constitutes an opportunity to advance the
effective implementation of CBD.
41. They also called for expediting negotiation and conclusion of the
international regime on access and benefit sharing, as an instrument for
protecting intellectual property rights concerning traditional and indigenous
knowledge. India, Brazil and South Africa, as the founding members of the Group
of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries, agreed to strengthen cooperation and
co-ordination, with an emphasis on multilateral negotiations and in fostering
activities related to South-South Cooperation.
42. They recalled that Brazil, India and South Africa will jointly
participate in the Capacity Building Committee of the Group on Earth
Observation (GEO), an intergovernmental partnership entrusted with implementing
the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The participation in
the Capacity Building Committee provides a unique opportunity for the three
countries to cooperate in enhancing the capabilities of developing countries,
especially less developed ones, in the use, analysis, interpretation and
modelling of Earth Observation data, for applications in the nine societal
benefit areas of GEOSS, which comprise Agriculture, Health, Disasters, Water,
Ecosystems, Climate, Meteorology, Energy and Biodiversity.
Climate change
43. The Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the results of the
Montreal meetings (COP-11, COP/MOP-1); particularly with the adoption of the
Marrakech Accords and the establishment of the Ad-hoc Working Group on Further
Commitments for annex one Party under the Kyoto Protocol to consider such
commitments for the period beyond 2012. They further urged developed countries
to meet their own commitments and undertakings under the Protocol not only in
terms of complying with current targets for Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emission
reduction, but also in terms of their commitment in respect of technology
transfer, capacity building and financial support to developing countries. They
also welcomed the dialogue on long term co-operative action to address climate
change by enhancing implementation of the Convention.
44. They also agreed on the need for continued consultations within IBSA Forum
on the environment and climate change issues.
IBSA facility fund for alleviation of poverty and hunger
45. The Ministers reiterated the fundamental character of the IBSA Fund as a
means to disseminate the best practices in the alleviation of poverty and
hunger. They emphasised the importance of the participation of institutions of
IBSA countries (Governmental and Non-Governmental) in the projects financed by
the Fund and recommended that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
as administrator of the Fund, find means to make that participation
possible.
46. The Ministers received the report of the visit of the Technical
Monitoring Committee (TMC) to Guinea Bissau and accepted the recommendations
made by the TMC, especially concerning the management of the project, and urged
the UNDP Office in Bissau to work more closely with the UNDP Special Unit for
South-South Cooperation in New York, the Coordinator of the project and the
Guinean Bissau national authorities. They accepted the Committeeâs
recommendation that an additional agreement be signed with UNDP in order to
clarify rights and obligations of both parties.
47. The Ministers reiterated their commitment to move forward with other
projects in the scope of the Fund. They welcomed the finalisation of the
concept paper of the project on waste collection in Haiti (Carrefour Feuille)
and called upon speedy appointment of a project coordinator so that the project
can be implemented as soon as possible. They underlined the importance of
making progresses in the drawing up of the projects benefiting Palestine and
Laos.
48. The IBSA countries recommitted themselves to allocate at least US$ one
million a year to the Fund.
IBSA sectoral co-operation
49. The Ministers reviewed the work of the sectoral working groups and
adopted their reports.
50. Reference was made to the two workshops on Information Society and
E-Government, held in South Africa and India, and to the commitment of the
three delegations to actively participate in the last event of the series, to
take place in Brazil, in June 2006.
51. The Ministers welcomed the agreement reached by the Working Group on the
Information Society, on the content of the âIBSA Framework for Cooperation on
Information Societyâ, setting up the basis and defining modes of cooperation in
the fields of Information Society and Communication Technologies, and took note
with satisfaction of the Joint Action Program for 2006-2007, prescribing
specific initiatives in all fields of cooperation covered by the Framework. The
Ministers also welcomed the development of the IBSA website (http://www.ibsa-trilateral.org), maintained by South
Africa, and invite the various working groups of the IBSA Forum to provide
content and make full use of this channel of communication.
52. The Ministers recognised with pleasure the high level of coordination
between the three delegations during the second phase of the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS), held in Tunis, in November 2005, and its
preparatory works. In this regard, the three countries reiterated their
commitment to keep working together during the WSIS follow-up process, as well
as in other international fora related to the issue, to promote the use of
Information and Communication Technologies as a tool for development and to
build multilateral, democratic and transparent global Internet governance
mechanisms.
53. The Ministers decided to formalise the establishment of an additional
sectoral working group on Social Issues, as a follow-up to the International
Seminar on Economic Development and Social Equity, held in Rio de Janeiro, on 3
4 August, 2005. They also expressed their intention of establishing as soon as
possible a working group on Public Administration.
54. The member countries reiterated their commitment to further promote the
production and use of bio-fuels as environmentally friendly and sustainable
fuels which promote socio - economic development, taking into consideration
their global importance. Progress is being made, on exchange of information on
Renewable Energy and the -bio-fuels value chain.
55. More emphasis will be placed on exchange of information into the areas
of energy efficiency and conservation, and hydrogen energy. India will host the
second technical meeting of the Energy Working Group, to which other
stakeholders including private sector players may be invited for the
enhancement of implementation of IBSA initiatives.
56. The Ministers agreed on the importance of new initiatives aimed at
strengthening economic and trade relations among developing countries, as a
means to generate business opportunities and contribute to an international
trade scenario more suitable to their development projects. In that regard,
they took note with great satisfaction that Mercosur will be proposing to
Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and India the creation of a Working Group
to explore the modalities of a Trilateral Free Trade Agreement (T-FTA) among
them. They underlined the significance of this exercise and expressed their
full support to the initiative.
57. Further the Ministers supported the initiative of a renewable source of
energy seminar and the proposals to assist Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises
through the proposed study on how to make business in the IBSA countries, and
the proposals on sharing of experiences and training opportunities.
58. The Ministers also laid emphasis on the need to conclude the bilateral
customs co-operation agreements expeditiously.
59. The member countries decided that, in taking forward the renewed
approach to IBSA deliverables, South Africa should host a meeting on civil
aviation and maritime transport in April 2006. This meeting will focus on the
finalisation of the trilateral on maritime transport agreement and also review
implementation of air transport agreement. It should be noted, in addition,
that during the present meeting of the working group in Rio, which also
included the presence of representatives of Air India, VARIG and South African
Airways (SAA), tremendous progress has been made and concrete projects have
been identified for cooperation.
To this end cooperation will be fostered in areas of air-link expansions,
training and knowledge sharing in airports and airspace management, port
management, operational and infrastructural systems, including capacity
building in shipbuilding, environmental management and navigational
systems.
60. The development of trans-shipment facilities will also be made a
priority in order to support the IBSA trade strategy which advocates for the
creation of South-South shipping highway that integrate sub-regional connection
between MERCOSUR, SACU and Indian regions.
61. The Ministers noted progress on the establishment of a framework to
strengthen cooperation in the field of agriculture. Specific areas of
cooperation that have been identified are: research and capacity building,
agricultural trade, rural development and poverty alleviation, and other allied
areas as may be agreed.
62. Following the successful meeting of the health working group held in
Brazil from 6 - 10 February 2006 in which broad areas of cooperation were
discussed, the South African Minister of Health invited her counterparts for a
meeting in March 2006. However, this meeting will now take place on the margins
of the WHO meeting in Geneva, in May 2006.
IBSA trade and investment forum
63. The Ministers noted with satisfaction the results of the Trade and
Investment Forum. The forum was divided into four panels:
* Trilateral trade analysis;
* Implementation of the preferential trade agreements between Mercosur, India
and Southern African Customs Union (SACU);
* Challenges to the growth of the trilateral trade (barriers, logistics and
financing);
* Organisation of the trilateral business meeting on the occasion of the IBSA
Meeting of Heads of Government and State in September 2006.
The delegations of India, Brazil and South Africa presented data and facts
concerning trade issues that trusted fruitful discussions among the businessmen
attending the meeting.
64. It was presented an evaluation of the current aspects of the
negotiations involving Mercosur, SACU and India. All delegations concluded that
there must be an expansion on acting positions to fit the ever growing market
of the three countries. The importance of solid links between the three
countries was mentioned several times and also the necessity of a stronger
South-South union. The possible substitution of imports from northern countries
by imports from southern countries was considered a possible solution to
enforce this new commercial agreement.
65. Brazilian businessmen pointed out that among the main barriers to be
eliminated to foster trilateral trade are:
* Logistics;
* Customs procedures;
* Lack of information;
* Distances.
The logistic problem was tackled by the suggestion of a study (previously
discussed in the IBSA work group for trade and investment on March 28th) to
further address the issue. The private sector also emphasised the necessity of
creating flights uniting Brazil-South Africa-India. The measure would help to
narrow the distances both physical and cultural between IBSA partners.
66. In what concerns customs procedures, it was suggested more cooperation
in the area by the specific government institutions, in order to simplify many
of the regulations and turn the customs process into a more unified
process.
67. The study suggested in the work group of trade and investment, as well
as the magazine âBrazil Brand of Excellenceâ, the Brazilian website âBrazil
Trade Netâ and the creation of the IBSA site, were solutions proposed to help
ease the gap of information, and bring businessmen from the three countries
closer.
68. A great deal of possible solutions were suggested to help strengthen the
IBSA economic area: more aggressive free trade agreements, closer relations
between businesses and industries from the three countries, enhancing contact
between the automobile industries of IBSA.
69. Some sectors were also given special attention: the renewable energy
sector and ethanol industry. The WG on trade and investment decided to create a
seminar that will happen in South Africa before the Summit in September.
70. The meeting was praised and considered by the attendants as highly
productive. It is expected new steps towards a more united and stronger IBSA by
all.
71. The Ministers of India and South Africa confirmed the participation of
Prime Minister Singh and President Mbeki in the IBSA Summit to be convened by
Brazil on 13 September 2006.
72. The Ministers welcomed the announcement by Brazil of the II Conference
of Intellectuals from the Africa and the Diaspora, which will take place in
Salvador, on 12 - 14 July 2006. Representatives from India will also be
extended an invitation to attend this meeting as observers.
73. The Ministers of India and South Africa expressed their deep gratitude
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil for convening the Third Meeting of
the Trilateral Commission.
74. The Ministers agreed that the next meeting will be hosted by India in
the first quarter of 2007.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
31 March 2006
