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NEW ACTION PROGRAMME VOWS TO HALVE NUMBER OF LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
BY 2020, AS UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE CLOSES IN ISTANBUL
Consensus Text Sets Forth Decisive Steps to Transform
World’s Poorest Nations into ‘Future Developed Countries’
Slashing by half the list of 48 States with the most extreme poverty and
vulnerability to crises is the goal of a new 10-year action plan agreed by the
world’s Governments at the conclusion this evening in Istanbul, Turkey, of the
Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries.
Countries at the Conference, which opened on 9 May, reviewed progress in
implementing the foundational Brussels Programme of Action, launched by
Governments in 2001 in response to the profound challenges facing a stricken
population of some 880 million. The Brussels plan introduced good governance
principles, among others, into the relationship between the least developed
countries and their development partners and was widely seen as a resultsoriented comprehensive poverty reduction strategy for the decade.
But amid mixed reviews on progress towards its implementation — only three
countries graduated since its adoption from the United Nations-identified list
of least developed countries — Botswana in 1994, Cape Verde in 2007 and Maldives
in January 2011 — leaving still 48 countries behind. The aim this week was to
set policy priorities for the 10 years to significantly improve that record.
Indeed, Governments tonight committed to further strengthen their support
to the poorest countries by “creating a favourable environment for sustainable
development, increasing productive capacities, diversification of economies and
building the necessary infrastructure”, according to the political declaration
(document A/CONF.219/L.1).
The declaration underscores that the ownership, leadership and primary
responsibility for escaping poverty rests with the countries themselves, with
good governance, inclusiveness, transparency, respect for human rights, reduced
corruption and domestic resource mobilization central. It also emphasizes,
however, that those efforts must be given “concrete and substantial”
international support “in a spirit of shared responsibility and mutual
accountability through renewed and strengthened global partnership”.
The text serves as a sort of preamble to the new Programme of Action
(document A/CONF.219.3), which calls for, among other things, development
partners to “provide enhanced financial and technical support for infrastructure
development in line with least developed countries’ sectoral and development
needs and priorities” and use other funds to catalyze and leverage other sources
of funding including foreign direct investment and domestic resources.
Noting that official development assistance had risen from $12 billion to
$38 billion between 2001 and 2008 but still had fallen short of meeting the
needs of the least developed countries, Governments pledged to ensure the
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fulfilment of their commitments and further align aid with the priorities and
systems of their partners. They also vowed to further advance trade policy in
favour of the poorest countries in areas such as market entry and access,
tariffs, customs and regional integration.
To assist more States in making the complex transition to graduation from
the list of least developed countries, the new action plan specifies joint
action by those countries and their development partners, covering 27 priority
areas, from infrastructure building to provision of energy to disaster risk
reduction to enhancing human resources through health measures and empowerment
of women and youth — which formed a huge portion of the population in poor
countries.
Organs of the United Nations, including the General Assembly and the
Economic and Social Council, along with such agencies as the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), were tasked in the document with
overseeing follow-up activity, and the Assembly was invited to conduct a
comprehensive five-year review. The United Nations Secretary-General was also
asked to report on implementation at the sixty-seventh General Assembly.
“We have a goal oriented, substantive Programme of Action for the next
decade,” said Cheick Sidi Diarra, United Nations Under-Secretary-General,
Special Adviser on Africa and High Representative for the Least Developed
Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
and Conference Secretary-General.
Now, he asserted, the more challenging phase was starting: ensuring that
our actions make a difference in the lives of the 880 million people in the LDCs
(least developed countries)”. He pledged that the United Nations would work
with all stakeholders to assure that the results of this Conference would be
something in which all could take pride.
While the agreement did not entirely reflect the aspirations of the “Group
of 77” developing countries and China, or of the least developed countries, said
Argentina’s representative on the Group’s behalf, he said he was nevertheless
pleased it had maintained commitments that had proven feasible in the Brussels
plan. In implementing the new Programme, it would be important to recognize
developed countries as associates.
The representative of the European Union expressed satisfaction with the
proceedings and their “ambitious and realistic” outcome, saying that the
Conference had marked the beginning of a new era, with States entering a new and
strengthened partnership for mutual accountability. He pledged that the Union
would continue its lead role in support of the work ahead.
“The Programme of Action provides a clear road map for the future of
almost 1 billion people living in LDCs,” said Upendra Yadav, Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal and Chair of the Global Coordination
Bureau of the Least Developed Countries, following the text’s adoption. Noting
the intensity of negotiations during the past five days and the compromises
made, he said the strategic focus of the Programme towards economic development
intended to address the key challenges of all the poorest countries, related to
high rates of poverty, deep structural constraints and vulnerabilities, in a
coherent and sustained manner.
Closing the proceedings, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, said
the Istanbul Programme had drawn the parameters for renewed partnership during
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the next decade. As a developing country, Turkey had many experiences to share
with least developed countries, and it was ready and willing to do its part.
In fact, he announced that his country would make available $200 million
annually starting in 2012 for technological cooperation and scholarships,
building on its history of support for development projects. It also hoped to
up its total investments in least developed countries to a total $5 billion by
2015 and to $10 billion by 2020.
“Let us be part of a process that builds hope and aspirations,” he
asserted, suggesting that least developed countries instead be called “future
developed countries”. Turkey believed a brighter future was possible and it
would do its utmost to make that happen.
Earlier today, the Conference heard the views of senior officials of
United Nations organizations, as well as regional multilateral finance and
development institutions, as its week-long general debate concluded. Some
speakers argued for a significant scale-up of agricultural investments and
speedy conclusion of the long-stalled Doha Development Round of World Trade
Organization negotiations.
Others said that smart nutrition and security policies should revolve
around investing in people. Social protection programmes were essential,
including safety nets, which should be scaled up or down as needed, in times of
life-threatening events, many added. Investing in nutrition was also key, as
malnourished children tended to have lower adult earnings, which robbed
countries of 2 to 3 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP).
A key question posed by some revolved around what young people would do in
the coming decade. The labour force in least developed countries was growing by
10.2 million annually and jobs must be created simply to maintain poverty
levels. The challenge hinged on creating activities both within and outside of
the agriculture sector, as urbanization trends would only accelerate in the
coming decade.
In the meantime, expanded access to information and communications
technologies was already opening new avenues for growth in the poorest nations.
At the end of 2010, 3 per cent of their populations was connected to the
internet, 10 times higher than in 2001, said Cosmas Zavazava, Chief of the
Projects and Knowledge Management Department of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU). “This is a big deal.” The Internet could
“massively” expand delivery of such vital services as health care and education
over the next decade.
Round-up
The Conference, launched by General Assembly resolution 63/227 of 2008,
opened on Monday with an appeal by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon: “Let us
recognize these 48 countries as vast reservoirs of untapped potential.” He
called for a new vision to reverse the profound poverty of the people living in
the world’s least developed nations — 33 of which are in Africa, 14 in Asia and
one, Haiti, in the Western hemisphere. He said that investing in those
countries was an opportunity for all. “I am not arguing for charity, but
investment,” he said, stressing that “the returns can be profound — not just for
people living in the LDCs, but for the global economy”.
Among the other high-level speakers who addressed the opening were General
Assembly President Joseph Deiss, who stressed that the international community
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must ensure a global environment that facilitated trade, investment and
technology transfers conducive to diversifying the economies of the least
developed countries. In addition, Abdullah Gül, President of Turkey, insisted
upon a new vision that reflected the parameters of the global development agenda
and the development priorities of those countries themselves.
During the Conference’s general debate, which stretched over eight
meetings, 150 statements were made by 36 Heads of State and Government and 96
Ministers, civil society organizations, private-sector actors and chiefs of
international agencies. A common theme was the need to preserve the range of
pledges by all parties under the Brussels action plan, but to give greater
weight to investment in productive sectors, chiefly agriculture and
infrastructure. Calls were also made for women’s empowerment, investment in
youth job creation, and tearing down trade barriers that seriously hampered the
efforts of the least developed countries to jump-start development.
The Conference also featured a series of high-level interactive thematic
debates, seen by the participants as an innovative mechanism for renewing
partnerships, identifying challenges and providing solutions. Those expert-led
discussions focused on: enhancing productive capacities and the role of the
private sector in least developed countries; resource mobilization and global
partnership; harnessing trade for development and transformation; good
governance at all levels; reducing vulnerabilities, responding to emerging
challenges, and enhancing food security; and human and social development,
gender equality and empowerment of women.
In further business, Jarmo Viianen of Finland, Chairman of the Committee
of the Whole, introduced that Committee’s work to the Conference, which was then
adopted. Jean-Francis Zinsou of Benin, Conference Rapporteur, introduced the
draft Conference Report, contained in document A/CONF.219/L.2, which was also
adopted.
Also, the representative of Argentina, on behalf of the Group of 77
developing countries and China, introduced a draft resolution, entitled
“Expression of thanks to the people and Government of Turkey”. It was adopted
by the Conference.
Statements in the general debate were made today by representatives of the
International Organization of Migration (IOM), African Development Bank (AfDB),
World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Preparatory
Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO),
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), International Maritime
Organization (IMO), and United Nations Commission on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD).
The President of the Economic and Social Council also spoke.
Explaining their position on the outcome documents were the
representatives of the Delegation of the European Union, and Australia (on
behalf of Canada and New Zealand-CANZ).
Background
The Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries this
morning continued its week-long meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. (For background,
see Press Release DEV/2877 of 5 May).
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Statements
WILLIAM LACY SWING, Director General of the International Organization of
Migration (IOM), said “our world is on the move”, due, not just to population
growth, but to the information and communications revolution. Ten years ago,
300 million people were connected to the Internet; today, that figure was at
2 billion. Labour market requirements, economic and social disparities between
the North and South and the increasing effects of climate change were also
driving migration.
The issue of migration, which 10 years ago would have received very little
notice, was today front and centre for every Government, he said, noting that it
was a principal determinant of whether societies prospered or development
opportunities bore fruit. The Istanbul outcome must reflect the relationship
between migration and development, and the need to identify strategies for a
smooth partnership.
At least $350 billion circulated from host to home countries, and
attention must be paid to how best to use remittances, he said. The nexus
between migration and climate change also deserved more attention, as migration
was a survival strategy for some and an adaptation strategy for others. SouthSouth migration — which was much larger than South-North migration — as well as
women and family migration were also important. Those issues must be included
in national development plans and donor strategies.
KAMAL EL-KHESHEN, Vice-President of the African Development Bank (AfDB),
said the Bank continued to target its activities towards infrastructure, private
sector development, governance and skills development to the least developed
countries. It also supported efforts to build capable Government institutions,
particularly through sound public financial management to effectively generate,
manage and expand public resources and create an enabling environment for
private-sector development. Through its unique “fragile States” facility, which
had helped mitigate persistent vulnerabilities, the Bank worked to bolster
development in the African least developed countries, particularly the 17 most
fragile and post-conflict States.
He said that growth must become inclusive and sustained, and the Bank was
working to ensure that, even as many African countries continued to struggle
with weak capacities and economies that were built around single or few
commodities. The Bank also supported the movement towards scaling up investment
in the continent’s agriculture sector. At the same time, African countries must
begin to seek out innovative solutions, such as public-private partnerships,
remittances and diaspora networks.
The Bank, he noted, was supporting that effort by, among other ways,
reducing risks of doing business on the continent by building institutions and
promoting good governance and economic stability. He remained highly optimistic
about the future of African least developed countries and hoped the Istanbul
programme of action would help them achieve their development goals. For that
to happen, it was imperative that an effective and participatory monitoring
mechanism be established to guide the programme’s implementations.
MUSTAPHA SINACEUR, representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), expressed support for the proposal put forward by Turkey to review the
term “least developed country”, so the potential of those countries was
recognized. The rapid rise in food and commodity prices was troubling. For
example, the prices of cereals — the food staple for most people worldwide — had
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jumped by 68 per cent in the past 18 months. That trend was exacerbated by the
increase on natural disasters and the inexorable effects of climate change.
He said that eradicating hunger and meeting food and nutrition demands by
2050 required increasing production by 70 per cent globally and nearly
100 per cent in the developing world. Accomplishing that required, among other
things, a significant scale-up of investment in agriculture and the speedy
conclusion of the long-stalled Doha Development Round of World Trade
Organization negotiations. The Food and Agriculture Organization, for its part,
had launched a series of food security initiatives, totaling some $3.7 billion.
It had also worked in recent years to combat rising food prices in the least
developed countries by, among other ways, securing through the European Union
Food Facility a programme to increase farmers’ access to credit and other funds
to enable them to increase production.
COSMAS ZAVAZAVA, Chief of the Projects and Knowledge Management Department
of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said information and
communications technology played a catalytic role in accelerating local
economies and meeting development goals. In 2001, combined “teledensity” in
least developed countries stood at 1.17 per cent, while in developing countries
— including powerhouses such as China — that was at 17 per cent.
At the start of 2011, however, mobile cellular “teledensity” in last
developed countries had reached 29 per cent, he said, adding that at the end of
2010, 3 per cent of their populations were connected to the Internet, which was
10 times higher than in 2001.
“This is a big deal,” he asserted, because the Internet could “massively”
expand delivery of vital services, such as health care and education, especially
in countries with large rural populations. There was tremendous cause to be
optimistic, as information and communications technologies would be pivotal to
the economic and social development of least developed countries over the next
decade.
MOHAMED EL-KOUHENE, Deputy Director, Division of Multilateral and NGO
Relations of the World Food Programme (WFP), said the Programme had transformed
from a food aid organization to a food assistance agency, with programmes
tailored to meet the needs of the most vulnerable countries. Smart food,
nutrition and security measures to be included in the Istanbul action plan
should be people-centred. A simple indicator of countries’ quality of life was
the percentage of its “stunted” children, with low height. Malnourished
children tended to start school late and had lower adult earnings, which robbed
countries of 2 to 3 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP).
Investing in social protection programmes was also essential, he said,
including safety nets, which should be scaled up or down as needed. Investing
in nutrition was also vital, as the first 1,000 days of a child’s life were the
window by which those investments would have the greatest impact. The effects
of undernutrition were largely irreversible. The resilience of vulnerable
communities to climate change also must be enhanced through community disaster
risk-reduction measures. “There can be no food security without climate
security,” he said, as there would be an estimated 25 million more malnourished
children because of climate change.
GUNILLA OLSSON, Director of Governance,
Affairs of the United Nations Children’s Fund
to keep strongly in mind the commitments made
home and to generate a real change for people
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United Nations and Multilateral
(UNICEF), appealed to participants
in Istanbul when they returned
in poor countries, particularly
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for those who represented both the present and the future, and who made up
around half the population of the least developed countries — children. Those
nations were lowest in terms of access to basic services and highest in terms of
malnutrition. That caused stunting, which, in turn, greatly reduced the ability
to build a nation. Poor nutrition was a “silent emergency” that received far
too little attention.
She said that while investing in productive capacity was fundamental, it
must also be recognized that investing in people, in the social sector, was the
foundation of any country’s development. A focus on the most disadvantaged was
also essential, to narrow the gap between rich and poor children, which had
actually widened recently in many least developed countries. That approach was
actually most cost-effective, as it could quickly reduce mortality under age 5.
Investing in the most vulnerable children, and providing them with the
opportunity to develop their potential, was one of the best investments a
country and the international community could make.
TIBOR TÓTH, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), said that in midMarch, Japan had been hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami. That
catastrophe had led to a nuclear emergency, owing to the release of radiation.
Those parallel events had revealed that it was difficult for even the most
developed of countries to cope with natural and manmade disasters. Yet, it
might soothe some to know that there was a global monitoring system, which, with
more than 300 stations, had detected the earthquake and contributed to tsunami
early warning, and which had monitored the spread of radioactive particles in
the wake of the nuclear incident.
He said that those stations were part of an international monitoring
system. That system was backed by a treaty — the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty (CTBT). And that Treaty was backed by an international organization, the
CTBTO. “This system is your system; this organization is your organization; and
this Treaty is your Treaty,” he said, asking delegations what they would do if
they had $1 billion and more than 1,000 top-notch scientists working at hundreds
of high-tech facilities worldwide at their disposal every hour of the day.
“Would you say no to that? I am here to tell you why you should say yes.”
He said that the entire CTBTO architecture could help the least developed
countries, particularly because they were most affected by climate change and
natural disasters. The verification regime of the Treaty used cutting-edge
technologies and scientific methods to monitor the planet for nuclear
explosions. The resulting data offered a wide range of civil and scientific
applications, including possible uses in research on the Earth’s core,
monitoring of earthquakes and volcanoes, climate change research, atmospheric
monitoring and biological research. “So, this Treaty is your Treaty,” he
reiterated, and added: “The Treaty is about the future of your security and the
future of your environment”.
DEMBA DIARRA, Secretary, Office of the Executive Secretary of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said that African least developed
countries had significant growth rates over the past three years and had even
rebounded a bit in the wake of the global economic and financial crisis. Trade,
particularly between and among developing countries, had been essential in
driving that growth. Yet, that success had not led to job creation and had not
helped those countries expand or diversify their export bases. The rate of
African countries’ graduation from the least developed category had been
disappointing.
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The key to changing that trend was developing a critical mass of
productive capacity to enhance the economies of those countries and strengthen
human development. The potential of South-South cooperation in boosting
productive capacity should also be exploited. He also called for the speedy
conclusion of the Doha Development Round and more investment in Aid for Trade
initiatives. As for the African least developed countries themselves, he urged
those nations to, among other things, continue to integrate the aims of the New
Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), particularly the African Peer
Review Mechanism. Enhancing productive capacity was critical for resilience and
sustained growth, and, ultimately, for graduation from least developed status.
JUVENAL SHIUNDU, Deputy Director of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO), said the maritime transport sector was a primary service of
the global economy, as 90 per cent of global trade was carried by sea, by far
the most effective way to move food and raw materials. Many developing
countries could not implement IMO instruments, and for that reason, a technical
cooperation programme had been established to help build capacity and compliance
with the regulatory framework. It prioritized activities to promote
implementation of IMO instruments and attainment of the Millennium Development
Goals.
The IMO, since the mid-1990s, had placed Africa among its priorities, he
said, explaining in that context that high transport and logistics costs had
impacted least developed countries’ ability to compete in the global
marketplace, as many paid up to three times more for their shipping services
than developed nations. In response, a programme had been designed to support
small island developing States and least developed countries, aiming to address
poverty alleviation through capacity-building in the maritime sector.
He said that the East African and Indian regions were the most affected by
piracy, noting that between $7 and $12 billion were lost annually from the
disruption of shipping services. In February, the IMO had launched an action
plan to strengthen its anti-piracy efforts, aiming to increase awareness of the
situation off the coast of Somalia, motivate Governments, among others, to stem
piracy around the Horn of Africa and send a message that the plight of seafarers
was central to the IMO.
GUNTER FISCHER of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) said fiscal austerity and “doing more with less” was the order of the
day. There was a strong will to build on the Brussels action plan, because,
while least developed countries had achieved high growth, the pattern of that
growth had been based on mineral and oil extraction, on the one hand, and
“survivalist” informal activities, among others, on the other. Poverty reduction
had been painfully slow.
One key question revolved around what young people would do in the coming
decade, he said, noting that the labour force in least developed countries was
growing by 10.2 million annually. Jobs must be created in those nations simply
to ensure that poverty levels did not increase. The challenge centred on
activities created both within and outside the agriculture sector, as the trend
of moving to the cities would only accelerate in the coming decade. Indeed, it
was essential to harness the power of young people.
Welcoming that productive capacity had been placed at the heart of the
Istanbul programme, he also said it was a key to reducing poor nations’
marginalization in world trade, reducing their structural vulnerabilities and
providing a base for expanded resource mobilization in the medium- and longterm. UNCTAD had advanced that agenda for some time, arguing that productive
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capacity required a more active development role for the State. It was also
encouraging that the Istanbul programme prioritized science, technology and
innovation, and devoted attention to commodities.
LAZAROUS KAPAMBWE, President of the United Nations Economic and Social
Council, noting that some would leave Istanbul disappointed that they had not
achieved all of what they had wished, while others would be pleased their goals
had been met, said: “This is the nature of negotiations.” He viewed the
Conference not as a negotiation, but as a dialogue in which there were not
supposed to be winners or losers. The Conference had presented an opportunity
to build bridges among all stakeholders, and break down the many invisible walls
that prevented them from understanding each other, he said; walls intended to
protect those who least needed it, yet hurt the most vulnerable.
“We may not have built all the bridges we need, nor broken all the walls,”
he said, “but we have made a start,” by setting clear goals and concrete
measures to achieve them. It should be understood that the ultimate truth was
that real human progress could only be achieved if it brought prosperity to all
countries of the world. There would be no real peace “as long as we allow small
islands of wealth to float in the turbulent oceans of poverty”, he declared.
Action on Texts
The Conference then adopted by consensus its outcome documents, the
Istanbul Political Declaration and Programme of Action for the Least Developed
Countries (documents A/CONF.219/L.1 and A/CONF.219/3, respectively).
Speaking in explanation of position after action on behalf of the “Group
of 77” developing countries and China, the representative of Argentina said
that, at times, it had been a “very hard” negotiating process and delegates must
congratulate each other for having adopted the Programme of Action. While the
agreement did not entirely reflect the aspirations of the Group or of least
developed countries, it had maintained various commitments that had proven
feasible in the Brussels action plan, and he was pleased about that.
In implementing the Istanbul Programme, it would be important to recognize
developed countries as associates, he said, underlining their critical role in
investing in physical and human capital, reducing poverty and promoting both
growth and sustainable development. The United Nations system, including the
Bretton Woods institutions and regional development banks, was also called on to
support the least developed countries.
Developing countries, for their part, were proud that the Istanbul
Programme, through its inclusion of South-South cooperation, had kept a specific
identity and preserved a logic based on solidarity and respect for national
developing priorities. “We look forward to the promotion of South-South
cooperation within our own capacities,” and of bringing added value to the
Action Programme.
In that context, he said partnership was not a matter of charity, but
rather entered into with a view to improving the quality of life and remedying
the consequences of injustices that had pervaded the world for centuries. With
that, he thanked the representative of Nepal for his role as Chair of the Global
Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries.
The representative of the Delegation of the European Union expressed
satisfaction with the proceedings and their “ambitious and realistic” outcome,
saying that the Conference marked the beginning of a new era. Indeed, 2020
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should see half of the least developed countries meeting graduation criteria.
The Union’s support for their development had always been strong. It was the
largest donor to least developed countries, providing full market access to all
their products and encouraging others to do likewise.
Indeed, in Istanbul, States had entered into a new and strengthened
partnership for mutual accountability, he said, citing the involvement of
developing countries and emerging economies through South-South cooperation.
Expressing full confidence in the private sector’s support for the Programme of
Action, he said the document set out priorities for overcoming structural
challenges.
He also was satisfied that the global partnership had been made stronger,
which sent a great message to those most in need. For its part, the Union was
determined to continue its lead role in those endeavours, and he expressed
appreciation for the “spirit of cooperation and mutual trust” that had prevailed
among Member States.
The representative of Australia, speaking also on behalf of Canada and New
Zealand (CANZ), applauded the strong political commitment that had been shown in
Istanbul, and welcomed the documents just adopted. The outcomes contained
concrete goals and objectives, which spoke to the will of the international
community to comprehensively address the situation of the least developed
countries. “We will all need to work hard to achieve these goals, and CANZ will
do its part to see that we achieve them,” he said.
Closing Statements
UPENDRA YADAV, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal and
Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries, noted
the intense negotiations of the past five days and said that the Istanbul
Programme of Action was a significant step forward, even though, as was true of
any negotiations, middle ground had to be found between differing ambitions.
What had been achieved must be consolidated and built upon further in the days
ahead. “The Programme of Action provides a clear road map for the future of
almost 1 billion people living in LDCs (least developed countries). It also
reflects the firm commitments of LDCs and those of our development partners
based on the principle of shared responsibility,” he declared.
He said that following the Conference’s conclusion, all focus should be on
the timely fulfilment of those commitments, with a view to ensuring an effective
implementation of the Programme of Action. The strategic focus of the Programme
towards economic development intended to address the key challenges of all the
poorest countries, related to high rates of poverty, deep structural constraints
and vulnerabilities, in a coherent and sustained manner. The Conference had
rightly placed the issues high on the international agenda. In conclusion, he
expressed thanks to the Government and people of Turkey, Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon and all those involved with the organization and success of the
Conference.
In concluding remarks, CHEICK SIDI DIARRA, United Nations Under-SecretaryGeneral, Special Adviser on Africa and High Representative for the Least
Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing
States and Conference Secretary-General, thanked all participants for their hard
work on the intergovernmental, parliamentary, civil society and private sector
tracks.
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“We have a goal-oriented, substantive Programme of Action for the next
decade,” he said, pointing to items not contained in the Brussels Programme of
Action, such as issues of climate change and its mitigation and funding,
technology transfers, and transfers in investment and capital — issues that were
not high on the list of concerns in 2001 at the Brussels Conference.
He also welcomed the commitment to address the needs of countries that
graduated from the category, along with the intention to create comprehensive
follow-up mechanisms. He noted a host of side initiatives launched at the
Conference, in trade, agriculture, human development and many other areas.
Now, however, the more challenging phase was starting, namely, “ensuring
that our actions make a difference in the lives of the 880 million people in the
LDCs”, he said. The United Nations would work with all stakeholders to ensure
that the results of this Conference would be something in which all could take
pride.
Finally, he thanked the Government of Turkey for hosting the Conference
and working in many areas on behalf of the least developed countries. He also
thanked those countries, individuals and groups, and the United Nations
Secretariat, which had supported the organization of the Conference.
Wishing all a safe voyage home, he said it was now incumbent upon all to
deliver on their commitments.
AHMET DAVUTOĞLU, Minster of International Relations of Turkey, speaking
also on behalf of President Abdullah Gül, said it had been an honour to chair
the Conference, which constituted a significant step forward in confronting the
problems of least developed countries. The Istanbul Programme of Action had
drawn the parameters for renewed and strengthened partnerships during the next
decade.
From the outset, he said that Turkey had committed to hosting the
Conference and had contributed substantively by taking part in the preparatory
process. In the last two years, many regional and thematic meetings had been
held, which had paved the way for today’s outcome. He was delighted that 8,931
people had attended the Conference. “This is a very good number,” he said,
noting that, together with side activities, that figure would exceed 10,000.
Further, 36 Heads of State and Government, 96 ministers and 66 presidents of
international organizations had attended, which testified to the priority and
dedication given to the least developed countries.
Describing the Istanbul Programme, he said it contained actions to be
taken by 2020 by the least developed countries and their partners to achieve
sustained and equitable growth. Its primary aim was to eradicate poverty and
hunger. Quoting the Prophet Muhammad, he said: “He who sleeps on a full
stomach while his neighbour goes hungry is not one of the members of humanity.”
In that context, he said he was pleased that the Programme further
strengthened the international community’s partnership with the least developed
countries. It set out a cooperation framework with the United Nations and
international institutions within the context of South-South cooperation, and
highlighted the importance of women’s role in that effort. It also underscored
the need for more official development assistance, enhanced trade access,
increased production capacities and the promotion of investments to those ends.
Turkey was ready and willing to do its part, he said, announcing that his
country would make available $200 million annually starting in 2012 for
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technological cooperation and scholarships, building on its history of support
for development projects. Turkey also hoped to increase its total investments
in least developed countries to a total $5 billion by 2015 and to $10 billion by
2020.
While the Brussels action plan had been criticized for not delivering on
its promised results, he said the Istanbul Programme of Action would ensure
ownership of the post-Conference phase by all stakeholders, who must take
responsibility for implementation and monitoring. Turkey would allocate
$5 million for monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Programme and was
ready to host a midterm review in 2015.
As a developing country, Turkey had many experiences to share with least
developed countries, he said, adding that it sought no economic or political
gains. Bridging the East, West, North and South, it was determined to work for
economic justice for all, a duty bestowed on it by its geographic location.
Indeed, a world that tolerated extreme inequalities was not one built on shared
objectives; a more dignified future must be built for the least developed
countries.
“Let us be part of a process that builds hope and aspirations,” he
asserted, suggesting that least developed countries instead be called “future
developed countries”. Turkey believed a brighter future was possible and it
would do its utmost to make that happen. “We are a big family of humanity; we
need to have full solidarity and feel the suffering of 900 million brothers and
sisters all over the world,” he declared.
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