13 September 2006
The Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, the President of Brazil Luiz
Inio Lula da Silva and the President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki, met in Brasia
on 13 September 2006, for the first Summit meeting of the India-Brazil-South
Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA).
Created in 2003, the IBSA Dialogue Forum plays an increasingly important
role in the foreign policies of India, Brazil and South Africa. It has become
instrumental for promoting ever closer co-ordination on global issues between
three large multicultural and multiracial democracies of Asia, South America
and Africa and contributed to enhancing trilateral India-Brazil-South Africa
co-operation in sectoral areas.
The importance of the IBSA Dialogue Forum goes beyond its positive impact on
India-Brazil-South Africa relations. The forum consisting of three large
developing countries provides a framework that will give additional impetus to
further contacts between Asian, South American and African developing
countries, thus contributing to strengthening south-south co-operation.
The Heads of State and Government had already met under the IBSA format in
previous opportunities such as the meetings in 2003 and 2005, in New York.
Ministerial meetings of the Trilateral Commission were held in New Delhi, in
2004, Cape Town, in 2005 and Rio de Janeiro in March 2006. Trilateral working
groups were created in the areas of agriculture, culture, defence, education,
energy, health, information society, trade and investment, social issues,
science and technology, tourism and transportation.
The Heads of State and Government of India, Brazil and South Africa
expressed their deep appreciation with the consolidation of the IBSA Dialogue
Forum. The first IBSA Summit, held today in Brasilia, re-affirms that the three
countries are committed to further strengthening this innovative initiative.
The Heads of State and Government decided to give utmost priority to achieving
further progress in the IBSA Dialogue Forum, building on the work of previous
Ministerial meetings of the Trilateral Commission and working group
meetings.
The Heads of State and Government highlighted their shared vision that
participation of their societies in this diplomatic initiative must play a key
role in the future of IBSA. Therefore, they noted with deep satisfaction the
Business and Academic Seminars held in Brasilia on 12 September 2006. Prime
Minister Singh, President Lula and President Mbeki urged civil societies in
India, Brazil and South Africa to enhance mutual contact and co-operation. They
instructed their governments to support initiatives with that purpose. In this
regard, they also welcomed the launching of the IBSA website, as an additional
and useful tool for further promoting the IBSA Dialogue Forum with stakeholders
in India, Brazil and South Africa.
Political consultation and co-ordination on global issues
The Prime Minister of India, the President of Brazil and the President of
South Africa re-affirmed their commitment to the promotion of peace, security
and sustainable economic and social development in the world and in their
respective regions. They re-affirmed their commitment to multilateralism and
the pre-eminent role of the United Nations (UN). India, Brazil and South Africa
will continue to work together to strengthen the multilateral system
particularly through institutions such as the UN and the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) in order to further promote this goal. In that spirit, the
Heads of State and Government of India, Brazil and South Africa discussed
relevant global challenges before the international community particularly the
reform of the UN and of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the
successful conclusion of the Doha Round in the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
with the development dimension at the core of its outcome, environmental issues
in particular improved access to renewable energy technologies and the
effective implementation of the convention on biological diversity especially
the rights of countries of origin over their own genetic resources as well as
the protection of associated traditional knowledge.
The Heads of State and Government re-affirmed the pragmatic approach shared
by India, Brazil and South Africa in the discussion of global issues. They also
noted that a common approach by India, Brazil and South Africa strengthens the
voice of developing countries and their capacity to contribute to global
decisions that impact on their populations. The IBSA Forum contributes,
therefore, to the goal of a fair and equitable world order.
In this regard, the Heads of State and Government re-affirmed their support
for the joint proposals made by Brazil, China, India, Mexico, the Democratic
Republic of Congo and South Africa in the Position Paper released on the
occasion of the recent Group of Eight (G8) Summit meeting in Russia. This
Position Paper addressed a number of challenges in the areas of energy,
education and infectious diseases, among other topics.
It re-affirmed the outreach partners, commitment to work with G8 member
states to address matters of mutual concern. It highlighted the importance of
mobilising financial resources for development, through innovative mechanisms
supplementing the commitments made at the United Nations International
Conference on financing for development; emphasised the need to follow up on
the work program on Africa launched at the G8 Summit meeting at Gleneagles,
United Kingdom (UK) in 2005; reiterated the significance of technological
co-operation in energy research and development called for improved access to
renewable energy technologies and underscored the pledge to work with developed
and developing countries in sharing knowledge and expertise for development of
such technologies; called upon the international community to strengthen
co-operation towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG),
in particular G8 to develop global partnerships for development and further the
realisation of the right to development and the Dakar goals in the field of
education; reiterated the need to reduce major trade barriers to facilitate
access to new affordable quality vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and
technology aimed at preventing and controlling infectious diseases and
underscored that the flexibilities contained in the WTO agreement on trade
related aspects of intellectual property rights, recognised by the Doha
Ministerial Declaration on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
and Public Health, should be fully used to protect public health.
Reform of the UN and of the UNSC
The Heads of State and Government reiterated their support for the
comprehensive reform of the UN and welcomed the creation of the Peace Building
Commission and the Human Rights Council (HRC) as well as the progress made in
the areas of development and management. They reaffirmed the need for a
decision regarding the expansion of the Security Council, without which no
reform of the UN will be complete. They reiterated their conviction that the
Security Council must be expanded to include developing countries from Africa,
Asia and Latin America in both its permanent and non-permanent categories, so
as to reflect contemporary realities and make it more democratic, legitimate,
representative and responsive. They re-affirmed their commitment to continue to
jointly pursue a decision on Security Council expansion. This commitment will
be pursued on an urgent basis.
International terrorism
The Heads of State and Government unequivocally condemned terrorism in all
its forms and manifestations. They stressed that there can be no justification,
whatsoever, for any act of terrorism. They shared the view that the
international community must further intensify efforts and co-operation to
fight this scourge.
The Heads of State and Government recalled that the World Summit 2005 had
called upon the UN member states to conclude a comprehensive convention on
international terrorism during the 60th UN General Assembly. They called upon
all member states to seriously work towards an expeditious finalisation of the
text for the convention.
The Presidents of Brazil and South Africa expressed their outrage at the
barbaric terrorist attacks, carried out on 11 July 2006 in Mumbai and other
parts of India. While expressing their condemnation for these acts in the
strongest terms, they reiterated their deepest condolences to the victims and
their families and expressed their solidarity with the government and people of
India. They called upon the international community to undertake all necessary
measures to bring to justice perpetrators, collaborators and sponsors of these
and other acts of terrorism as well as those who incite the perpetrators to
commit them. They re-affirmed their resolve to further intensify measures to
combat the scourge of terrorism which constitutes a most serious threat to
mankind and international peace and security.
MDGs action against hunger and poverty initiative
Progress in achieving the MDG has been exceptionally slow and this can
primarily be attributed to the fact that current international support for
developing countries in their efforts is inadequate to meet their needs.
Increasing the levels of official development assistance, supporting the
liberalisation of trade and the elimination by the developed countries of
subsidies for products that are of interest to developing countries continue to
be essential goals in promoting development and fighting hunger and poverty.
However, the magnitude of the challenge makes it necessary to seek additional
ways for the poorest countries to achieve the MDG, in particular MDG1 to halve
by 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. In this regard, the
Heads of State and Government reiterated their strong commitment to the action
against hunger and poverty initiative and, in particular, the Millennium
Declaration and the 2005 World Summit outcome. They reaffirmed the importance
of seeking innovative financial mechanisms in order to generate supplementary
income flows that are consistent and reliable. The ongoing search for
innovative new sources of financing for development is critical to overcoming
the financing constraints that limit progress towards the international
development objectives.
The Presidents of South Africa and Brazil and the Prime Minister of India
noted with satisfaction that progress has been made with a pilot project based
on small solidarity contributions made on the purchase of air tickets, the
income from which will be channelled towards creating an international drug
purchasing facility to respond to the challenges of AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis (TB).
In a meeting held in Brasilia, on 6 and 7 July 2006, important advances were
achieved in designing the project which is expected to be formally launched on
the occasion of the 61st United Nations General Assembly.
Human rights
India, Brazil and South Africa elected to the newly formed Human Rights
Council, share common visions regarding the promotion and protection of human
rights. This new forum allows human rights issues to be dealt at an
appropriately high level as is the case with international peace and security
and development issues. This council will benefit from co-ordinated
contributions from India, Brazil and South Africa with their common
understanding regarding the council's agenda and structure. The three countries
share a common vision to reaffirm the universality, indivisibility,
interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental
freedoms including the realisation and operationalisation of the right to
development and the special protection of rights of vulnerable groups.
India, Brazil and South Africa welcome the recent successful conclusion of
negotiations and the adoption of the draft Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities, by the 8th Session of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Draft
Integral International Convention on the protection and promotion of the rights
and dignity of persons with disabilities, in New York, on 25 August 2006. The
three countries look forward to the entry into force of this convention and
will work toward the speedy signature thereof and the ratification thereto.
Sustainable development
India, Brazil and South Africa share similar views regarding the importance
of achieving sustainable development particularly through the eradication of
poverty, the promotion of economic growth and the protection of the
environment. In this context, the IBSA countries wish to reiterate their common
commitment in working together towards the goal of ensuring that sustainable
development be achieved on a global scale particularly in the developing
world.
The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed that the principles in the Rio
Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Action, particularly the principle of
common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities should
continue to guide multilateral negotiations on environmental issues. In this
context, they underscored the importance of addressing the challenges of
climate change in an urgent manner under the United Nations Framework
Convention on climate change and its Kyoto Protocol. They called upon countries
that have not yet done so to ratify the protocol and encouraged all countries
that have reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol to meet their commitments
and to provide support to developing countries affected by climate change,
including in the area of capacity building.
India, Brazil and South Africa stress that a critical step in achieving the
MDG and sustainable development on a global scale is the adequate provision of
financial resources and transfer of technologies at fair and affordable prices,
particularly by the donor countries. In this regard, the IBSA countries urge
the donor countries to meet their official development assistance targets and
to mobilise new and additional financial resources as well as to foster the
transfer of environmentally-sound technologies in order to fully implement the
outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in
Johannesburg. In this sense they stressed that international co-operation is a
major tool for achieving the objectives set in Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg
Plan of Action as well as in specific fora, such as the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Disarmament and non-proliferation
The Prime Minister of India and the Presidents of Brazil and South Africa
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. They took stock of the global security situation concerning
disarmament and non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
The leaders reiterated their commitment to the goal of complete elimination
of nuclear weapons and expressed concern over the lack of progress in
realisation of that goal. They emphasised that nuclear disarmament and nuclear
non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes requiring continuous
irreversible progress on both fronts and reaffirmed in this regard that the
objective of non-proliferation would be best served by systematic and
progressive elimination of nuclear weapons in a comprehensive, universal,
non-discriminatory and verifiable manner. They recalled that similar approaches
have led to the establishment of international legally binding instruments that
have banned chemical and biological weapons and are contributing towards the
total elimination of such weapons and reaffirmed their commitment to make
efforts in the relevant multilateral fora for a universal instrument to ban
nuclear weapons and to achieve their complete elimination. They emphasised the
necessity to start negotiations on a phased programme for the complete
elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time to eliminate
nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition,
testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use and to provide for their
destruction.
In this context, they also expressed concern over the lack of progress in
the Conference on Disarmament (CD), the sole multilateral disarmament
negotiating forum. They noted that several proposals had been made in the CD
with regard to a program of work and reiterated their commitment to work
together with all the member states to reach a consensus taking into account
the concerns of all the member states. In this context, they reiterated that
the five ambassadors' proposal as revised in 2003 still remained a viable basis
for reaching a consensus.
The Heads of State and Government underlined the need for reducing the role
of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and expressed their support for
effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear weapon States
against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.
The leaders discussed the threat posed by non-state actors or terrorists
acquiring nuclear weapons or their related materials and technologies. They
reaffirmed their commitment to contribute to multilateral efforts to counter
such threats and promote co-operation in this regard. They welcomed in this
regard the adoption of the international convention for the suppression of Acts
of nuclear terrorism. They expressed their conviction that the best way to
prevent non-state actors or terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons is the
total elimination of such weapons.
Peaceful uses of nuclear energy
The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the inalienable right of all
States to the peaceful application of nuclear energy, consistent with their
international legal obligations. They called for a diplomatic resolution of the
Iranian nuclear issue within the context of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA).
They took note with satisfaction of the positive continuing co-operation
among their countries at the IAEA and other fora with a view to ensuring the
unimpeded growth and development of peaceful uses of atomic energy, through the
supply of technology, equipment and material, under appropriate safeguards and
reaffirmed their will to intensify such co-operation.
The Presidents of South Africa and Brazil and the Prime Minister of India
reiterated the importance of ensuring that any multilateral decisions related
to the nuclear fuel cycle do not undermine the inalienable right of States to
pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in conformity with their
international legal obligations.
The leaders emphasised the need to ensure the supply of safe, sustainable
and non-polluting sources of energy to meet the rising global demand for
energy, particularly in developing countries. In this context they agreed that
nuclear energy could play an important role. They agreed to explore approaches
to co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under appropriate IAEA
safeguards. They further agreed that international civilian nuclear
co-operation, under appropriate IAEA safeguards, amongst countries committed to
nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives could be enhanced through
acceptable forward looking approaches, consistent with their respective
national and international obligations.
Lebanon
India, Brazil and South Africa welcomed the adoption on 11 August of UNSC
Resolution 1701 by unanimous vote. They expressed their hope that the approval
of Resolution 1701 by the Lebanese Council of Ministers on 12 August and by the
Israeli Cabinet on 13 August may open a promising gateway to the negotiation of
a lasting, permanent and sustainable solution to the conflict. Nonetheless,
they affirmed their profound consternation and deepening concern about the
impact produced by the escalation of violence in the Middle East. They
condemned in the most vehement terms, the excessive and sometimes
indiscriminate use of force that resulted in the death of a large number of
civilians including women and children and in the destruction of infrastructure
in Lebanon in flagrant violation of the principles of International
Humanitarian Law.
They also expressed their willingness to work in partnership with the
international community to provide immediate humanitarian relief to the people
of Lebanon and to undertake joint efforts in order to support the
reconstruction of the Lebanese infrastructure. They called for the full
implementation of all relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. They stressed
that the international community must act decisively to prevent the renewal of
hostilities and underlined the need for a quick resumption of dialogue for
resolution of all outstanding issues. They underlined that enduring regional
security and stability will only be achieved through a just, lasting and
comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in all its dimensions as
early as possible.
Israel-Palestine
The Heads of State and Government expressed serious concern about the spiral
of violence which is taking place in the Palestinian occupied territories and
reaffirmed the hope that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the
Israeli Government may hold direct talks with a view to resuming, as soon as
possible, the peace negotiations as laid down by the Road Map for Peace. They
reaffirmed that all efforts should be made towards the goal of an immediate end
to the current violence, a resumption of security co-operation and a political
engagement both among Palestinians and with Israel.
They urged both parties to abstain from taking any action or measure that
might put in jeopardy the peace process in the region aimed at achieving a
two-State solution under the road map, providing for the establishment of a
viable, sovereign and independent State of Palestine living side by side in
peaceful co-existence with the State of Israel. The participants affirmed that
both parties must have as a main objective the protection of civil society and
the need to refrain, in any situation, from resorting to collective punishment
and attacks against civilians. Deeply concerned with the increasing
deterioration of the living conditions of the Palestinian population they
stressed, in particular, the importance of an immediate expansion of the
temporary international mechanism for donors established under the direction of
the quartet, the Israeli compliance with the agreement on movement and access
of November 2005 and action on other steps to ease the humanitarian plight of
the people of Gaza and the West Bank. In this context, the participants pledged
their readiness to examine the launching of technical co-operation projects in
Gaza and the West Bank, possibly with the use of resources from the IBSA
Facility Fund.
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The Heads of State and Government expressed the view that the legitimacy of
the IMF depends on a fundamental reform of quotas and voice that is more
representative of developing countries. The reform must effectively reduce the
serious imbalance between the ample majority of voting power now held by
advanced economies and the unsatisfactory participation of developing
countries.
Doha round
The Heads of State and Government deeply regretted that the WTO Doha
Development Agenda negotiations have been suspended. This is a serious setback
to the development promises of the round and a disappointment for developing
countries. Failure to conclude the negotiations in accordance with the mandate
will deprive developing countries of fair and equitable conditions for fully
realising their right to development and their comparative advantages across
agriculture, industry and services.
Agricultural trade and production continue to be hindered particularly on
products of export interest to developing countries by all sorts of barriers
and distortions, through a combination of non-tariff measures and high tariffs,
domestic support and export subsidies that export poverty and hunger. Such
distortions should be expeditiously eliminated and agriculture should be fully
incorporated into the rules of the multilateral trading system.
The Prime Minister of India and the Presidents of Brazil and South Africa
called upon countries that have not yet done so to substantially and
effectively reduce their expenditures on agricultural subsidies. It is
essential that the main subsidisers improve their proposals on domestic support
and their current offers on market access to provide an adequate and equitable
basis for achieving the results that our countries have all agreed to strive
for.
As members of the Group of 20 (G20), a grouping whose identity is deeply
linked to the development dimension of the Doha Round, India, Brazil and South
Africa are united around the goal of putting an end to trade distorting
policies. The IBSA countries, which are also Members of the Non Agricultural
Market Access (NAMA) 11, are fully committed to strengthening the multilateral
trading system in a more development-friendly fashion, aimed at promoting
economic growth and employment and reduction of poverty.
India, Brazil and South Africa recalled the outcome of the G20 high level
meeting held in Rio de Janeiro on 9 and 10 September 2006 and reiterated that
they shall spare no effort to resume the negotiations sooner rather than later.
On the road ahead, the progress achieved so far must be fully preserved. We
cannot retreat. The level of ambition of the Doha Development Agenda must be
maintained. The needs and aspirations of developing countries will only be met
with an ambitious outcome to the round that will reduce protectionism and end
distortions.
Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP)
The Heads of State and Government reiterated their commitment towards a
fairer global trading system, to the benefit of developing countries. In this
respect and taking into account the spirit of the Brasilia Declaration, they
welcomed the progress achieved so far in the Sao Paulo Round of the Global
System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP). The GSTP has a
crucial role to play in the new geography of trade in which South-South trade
is recognised as an important dynamic force. The GSTP can contribute decisively
to foster new trade flows, supplement the current regional arrangements and
promote the diversification of export products and markets.
The GSTP can be particularly effective in involving Least Developed
Countries (LDCs) in the global trading system, providing them preferential
access and devising other possible measures in their support. Those countries
are encouraged to join the negotiations, in order to benefit to the largest
extent possible from preferential access to other developing country
markets.
The system has been strengthened by the recent application for accession by
eight new participants and by the accession of Mercosur, which is about to
finalise the corresponding ratification procedures and become a player in the S
Paulo Round. The IBSA Forum gives its full support to the S Paulo Round,
stressing the importance of the GSTP as an important tool to expand south-south
trade flows, making world trade more inclusive and equitable.
Intellectual property
The Heads of State and Government underscored the importance of
incorporating a development dimension in international discussions concerning
intellectual property, as a means to make a meaningful contribution to the
economic and social aspects within developing countries and to preserve policy
spaces necessary for ensuring access to knowledge, promoting public goals in
the fields of health and culture and a sustainable environment. In this
context, they welcomed the continued discussions on the establishment of a
"Development agenda in the World Intellectual Property Organisation and
reaffirmed the importance of the continuation of these discussions to ensure
the effective incorporation of the development dimension in all its
bodies".
They also reaffirmed the need to reach a solution for the problem raised by
the granting of intellectual property rights on biological resources and/or
associated traditional knowledge, without due compliance with relevant
provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. In this regard, they
highlighted with great appreciation the presentation in the WTO of the proposal
co-sponsored, among others, by the three IBSA countries to amend the TRIPS
Agreement by introducing a mandatory requirement for the disclosure of origin
of biological resources and/or associated traditional knowledge used in
inventions for which applications for intellectual property rights are
filed.
The Heads of State and Government noted with deep concern the increase in
cases of misappropriation of biological resources through the granting of
erroneous patents or the registration of irregular trademarks and, therefore,
agreed on establishing an informal trilateral consultative mechanism for the
exchange of information on these issues.
India-Brazil-South Africa Trilateral Co-operation
The Prime Minister of India, the President of Brazil and the President of
South Africa reviewed initiatives for Trilateral Sectoral Co-operation.
South-south co-operation is a key element for promoting economic and social
development. In this context, the IBSA Dialogue Forum provides an invaluable
framework to further trilateral co-operation among three of the most important
developing countries in the world. The Heads of State and Government expressed
deep satisfaction with new, concrete results achieved during the 1st IBSA
Summit in the areas of energy, agriculture, transportation, trade, science and
technology and information society. They decided to further explore additional
opportunities for trilateral co-operation. In this regard, they took note and
supported the launching of a Working Group on Public Administration.
Trade
The Heads of State and Government expressed their deep satisfaction with the
signing, during the first IBSA Summit, of the IBSA action plan on trade
facilitation for standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment.
They noted that the action plan which is one element of broader goals on
business facilitation is an important element to create a concrete basis for
the increase of trade flows between IBSA countries. They also reiterated the
commitment to enhancing trilateral trade through the envisaged conclusion of
bilateral customs co-operation agreements.
The Heads of State and Government expressed their full support and
commitment to the expeditious establishment of the Working Group to focus on
the modalities for the envisaged India-Mercosur- South African Customs Union
(SACU) Trilateral Free Trade Agreement (T-FTA). They expressed the view that
the T-FTA will have a significant impact with regard to the consolidation of
the IBSA Dialogue Forum as an effective mechanism to promote closer relations
between India, Brazil and South Africa, as well as between their respective
regions. They also registered that a growing co-operation between India,
Mercosur and SACU in the trade field can strongly contribute to a new scenario
in international trade, suitable to their respective development goals.
They reaffirmed, in parallel, the importance of ongoing India-Mercosur and
Mercosur-SACU negotiations with a view to broadening and deepening existing
Tariff Preference Agreements. They noted, as well, the forthcoming India-SACU
tariff preference negotiations, and underscored that all these efforts are an
important step towards the envisaged India-Mercosur-SACU free trade
agreement.
The three countries expressed their satisfaction with the fact that
important business delegations from India, South Africa and Brazil took part in
the fist IBSA Summit meeting. Leading businessmen from the three countries
attended the "India, Brazil and South Africa Business Summit organised by the
Brazilian Confederation of National Industry (CNI) with the support of
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Council of
Institutional Investors (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) from India, and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) from South
Africa. Furthermore, the Heads of State and Government held a meeting with
business delegations from the three countries and had a fruitful exchange of
views on perspectives and challenges for the expansion of trade among the IBSA
countries.
Energy
The Heads of State and Government addressed the issue of the dual and linked
challenge of meeting energy needs and achieving sustained economic growth and
sustainable development. They noted their satisfaction with the progress of the
trilateral dialogue on energy co-operation, and expressed deep appreciation for
the signature, during the present Summit, of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) on Biofuels with the decision to create a Trilateral Task Force on
Biofuels to work on concrete areas of common interest.
The Heads of State of India and South Africa praised the initiative launched
by Brazil the Biofuels Forum to articulate and consolidate common objectives
including the transformation of bio ethanol into an energy commodity. They
agreed on the need to work together to enhance and promote the use of ethanol
and bio diesel as a vehicular fuel so as to increase energy security, while
also bringing with it environmental, social and economic benefits.
Agriculture
The Heads of State and Government reiterated the relevance of agriculture to
the three countries and welcomed the meeting of IBSA Ministers of Agriculture
on the margins of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) conference in
November 2005, in Rome, as well as the meeting of senior officials in January
2006 in New Delhi. They agreed that the MoU on trilateral co-operation in
agriculture and allied fields, signed during the IBSA Summit, will be an
important instrument to promote socio-economic development and south-south
co-operation.
Transportation
The Heads of State and Government welcomed the conclusion of the IBSA
maritime transportation agreement, which marks a new and tangible phase in the
co-operation between relevant authorities and enterprises. They further noted
with satisfaction that this agreement will create the framework for improving
logistics, enhancing maritime skills base and fostering trilateral trade flows.
They expressed the need for the relevant authorities in their respective
countries to further identify other specific maritime related matters that can
support major trade initiatives.
They also emphasised the importance of implementing the Memorandum of
Understanding on Civil Aviation as soon as possible, through the establishment
of regular air services linking India, Brazil and South Africa. They encouraged
airlines from the three countries to continue working towards this goal. In
addition, they shared the belief that further discussions regarding
co-operation arrangements in other aviation-related areas would be of great
advantage for their countries.
In this connection, they also emphasised the need for the authorities
responsible for the transport sector to develop the Action Plan, with clear
deliverables and timeframes, as a way of accelerating implementation of the
commitments enshrined in the signed Agreements.
Science and technology
The Heads of State and Government recalled the role of Science and
Technology in shaping the future of societies in the three countries,
particularly by providing tools for reducing poverty, promoting social
inclusion and contributing to the attainment of the UN MDG. They noted with
satisfaction the opportunities for scientific and technological co-operation
between research and development institutions in the three countries in areas
such as health, biotechnology, nano-sciences and oceanography. They noted with
deep satisfaction as well the progress that has been made with the
implementation of the 2005/07 work program approved with the Rio Declaration on
Science and Technology, signed during the second Ministerial Meeting of
Ministers of Science and Technology, in June 2005. They reaffirmed their strong
support and commitment to the goal of continuing to co-operate in these and
other areas of common interest.
The Heads of State and Government also committed themselves to further
enhancing trilateral co-operation in the field of HIV/AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis and to explore the possibilities of concluding a trilateral
instrument for collaboration among all three countries for research and
development of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis diagnostic tools, drugs and
vaccines. This would pool the significant capabilities that exist in the IBSA
countries.
Health
The Heads of State and Government welcomed the meeting of the Working Group
on Health held in Brazil from 6 to 10 February 2006. At this meeting, the
working group developed an IBSA Implementation Plan on Health focusing on
public health laboratories, health surveillance, traditional medicine and
sanitary control regulation. It also identified modalities to exchange
experiences and explore solutions to meet health needs. In this regard, it was
agreed that the Health Ministers will meet soon to adopt the plan and to work
together on global issues for achieving sustainable socio-economic development
to end poverty, hunger and underdevelopment.
Information society
The Prime Minister of India and the Presidents of Brazil and South Africa
underscored the importance of working together towards a people-centered,
inclusive and development-oriented Information Society and renewed their
support for the results of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), held
in Geneva and Tunis, in 2003 and 2005, respectively. They agreed to continue to
co-ordinate positions for the WSIS follow-up mechanisms, as well as for the
other fora and organisations related to the Information Society and Information
and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
The Heads of State and Government emphasised the need to promote and enhance
close trilateral co-operation and capacity building between the three countries
in the areas of digital inclusion, ICTs for development, as well as
e-government and governance as a means of reducing the digital divide in their
societies. They noted with satisfaction the progress made towards achieving
this objective, particularly the signing of an IBSA Framework of Co-operation
on Information Society, which provides the basis for future trilateral work
aiming at reducing the digital divide in their societies.
Social development
The Heads of State and Government welcomed the creation of the working group
on Social Development. At its first meeting held in Rio de Janeiro, from 12 -
14 June 2006, the working group focused on the main challenges India, Brazil
and South Africa will have to overcome in this area. It also identified new
ways to exchange experiences and explore solutions to meet their social
development needs. The IBSA Facility Fund for alleviation of poverty and hunger
will work in close relation with the working group on social development in
order to identify new opportunities for south-south co-operation.
IBSA facility fund for alleviation of poverty and hunger
The Heads of State and Government emphasised the fact that the IBSA Facility
Fund constitutes a pioneer and unique initiative of South-South co-operation.
They took note of the accomplishments regarding the fund and welcomed the
renewed commitments of its board of directors to the achievement of its goals.
They were also very supportive of the role of the UNDP south-south co-operation
unit. They restated that the fund is intended to make available best practices
developed in IBSA countries to fight poverty and hunger, particularly to
provide an IBSA contribution to south-south co-operation modalities.
In this regard, they expressed their satisfaction with the initiatives in
Guinea-Bissau and Haiti and encouraged further work towards the identification
of new projects particularly the ones envisaged for Laos and Palestine. They
underscored that the successful implementation of these initial projects,
together with increased resources mobilisation are essential elements for the
consolidation of the IBSA Trust Fund as a viable and efficient mechanism for
south-south co-operation.
The Prime Minister of India and the Presidents of Brazil and South Africa
underscored their countries commitment to allocate at least US$1 million a year
to the IBSA Facility Fund, a pledge highlighted in the Rio de Janeiro
Ministerial Communiqué released on 30 March 2006, on the occasion of the third
meeting of the Trilateral Commission of the IBSA Dialogue Forum. India, Brazil
and South Africa will also engage in the search for other financing
sources.
IBSA members encourage developing countries, particularly the least
developing countries, to submit projects to the IBSA fund. India, Brazil and
South Africa will continue to reach out to potential beneficiaries of the
fund.
The Heads of State and Government expressed their satisfaction with the
decision by the Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Anand Sharma,
the Minister of External Relations of Brazil, Celso Amorim, and the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma at the third meeting of
the Trilateral Commission of the IBSA Dialogue Forum, held in Rio de Janeiro on
30 March 2006 to convene the fourth Meeting of the Trilateral Commission to be
hosted by India in the first quarter of 2007. In addition, they considered the
possibility of holding the second summit of the IBSA Dialogue Forum, in South
Africa, on a date to be set through diplomatic channels.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
13 September 2006
Chuma
