'CITY SUMMIT' CONCLUDES GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS
Press Release
HAB/131
'CITY SUMMIT' CONCLUDES GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS
19960611 (Received from a UN Information Officer.)ISTANBUL, 11 June -- The second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) this afternoon concluded its general exchange of views on the state of human settlements, including strategies for their improvement, after hearing about 180 statements. The Conference will convene tomorrow for a three-day, high-level segment to give world leaders a platform to declare their commitment to improving settlements.
Statements in the general exchange of views dwelt primarily on the Conference's two themes -- "adequate shelter for all" and "sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world". They discussed national reports and experiences; the right to adequate shelter for all; the need for international cooperation to mobilize resources; and the requirement for broad partnerships and participation for local authorities and communities in decision-making. The relationship between rural dwellers' needs and urban problems and the plight of women, children, migrants and indigenous people were also highlighted.
This afternoon's meeting heard statements from the Minister for Public Works and Equipment of Burundi; the Secretary of State for Public Labour, Habitat and Transport of Chad; the Minister for Urbanization and Habitat of the Congo; the Under-Secretary, Ministry for Housing, Municipality and Environment of Bahrain; the Minister for Housing of Malawi; the Secretary of State for Housing and Country Planning and Urbanization of Equatorial Guinea; and the Minister for Industry, Energy and Minerals of Djibouti.
Statements were also made by the representatives of Israel, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mauritius and Cambodia.
The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also addressed the meeting.
The Conference heard from the Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality of Bursa, Turkey, speaking for the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.
Also speaking were the representatives of the following non-governmental organizations: International Islamic Relief Organization; Rainbow Istanbul Women's Platform; Right to Housing and Land Now Coalition; Health and Environment Caucus; Carter Center; and the Gaia Trust.
The representatives of Turkey and Cyprus spoke in exercise of the right of reply.
The meeting decided to allow an observer for Palestine, the Youth Caucus, and a local authority to take part in the high-level segment.
General Exchange of Views
URSULA OELSNER (Israel): Israel is committed to making housing available to every family. It supports extensive mortgage programmes, such as long-term, low-interest loans and favourable loans for new immigrants and vulnerable groups. Israel's housing purchase assistance programme has enabled about 65 per cent of all new households to become homeowners within three years of marriage. Over 70 per cent of the more than 500,000 migrants to Israel between 1989 and 1994 own their housing. The country also rehabilitates many of its settlements and deteriorating neighbourhoods.
It is regrettable that some speakers have raised regional and political issues that do not belong in the Conference discussions. The issue of human settlements cannot thrive under conditions of conflict, terror and insecurity. All sides should embrace the Habitat Agenda's perspective globally and regionally and strive to fulfil its vision.
YIANNOS PAPADOPOULOS, Director of the Town Planning and Housing Department, Ministry for the Interior of Cyprus: The displacement in 1974 of almost 200,000 Cypriots from their ancestral homes had devastating planning and socio-economic consequences for the population of Cyprus. The major urban areas also experienced an influx of refugees. Most of the serious planning problems faced today by the four major urban centres have been caused by their unprecedented growth. The Government has given high priority to improving the depressed rural areas. Great efforts have been made during the last 20 years to accommodate displaced families and implement an effective housing policy for low- and middle-income groups.
Today, housing in Cyprus is satisfactory in terms of quantity and quality. Between 1982 and 1992, the stock of dwellings increased by 37 per cent, while the population increased by 18 per cent. About 58,000 displaced families have been provided with shelter or assisted in acquiring a new home.
JAMES GUSTAVE SPETH, UNDP Administrator: The United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions have been organized around five thrusts in concerted effort to follow up on major conferences. They provide basic
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services; encourage jobs and sustainable livelihoods for all; sustain the natural resource bases on which the poor depend; try to empower women; and create the "enabling environment" of macroeconomic policies and good governance. In each area, the United Nations has formed interagency task forces at the Headquarters level to support its country teams. At the country level, United Nations resident coordinators are organizing United Nations agencies around these themes in support of country plans. An integrated approach is essential, and UNDP programmes must focus on selected areas and work in cooperation with a broad range of partners. It will work with local authorities, city associations, non-governmental organizations and the public and private sectors in urban development. Adequate resources should be made available.
BERNARD BARANDEREKA, Minister for Public Works and Equipment of Burundi: Burundi has a population of more than 6 million inhabitants and one of the highest population densities and growth rates in Africa. It is essentially a rural country with only 7 per cent urban growth. Since 1979, much progress has been made in the implementation of settlement and housing policies. However, since 1993, the national crisis in Burundi has adversely affected the results attained. The result has been a great loss of lives, refugees and displaced persons and the destruction of settlements.
That crisis continues, but Burundi is determined to restore the social fabric that has been torn apart by social and political cleavages and then to resettle the numerous displaced persons, rebuild social and infrastructural services and promote decent housing. The international community is urged to assist the Government and people of Burundi in this vast undertaking.
HERMAN LEONARD DE SILVA (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka's achievements in housing and human settlements are unique, in the sense that the country does not face the acute problems of pseudo-urbanization. The estimated rise of urban population to 50 per cent of the world's inhabitants by the year 2000 may not be correct for Sri Lanka. The cities are not yet developed as centres of growth. Rural housing needs can be addressed with traditional and local techniques, which are cost-effective and affordable. Since those techniques will be limited in urban settings, the country requires international cooperation in the form of increased investments and technology transfers.
DJIBRINE ALIFA, Secretary of State for Public Labour, Habitat and Transport of Chad: Ways and means should be found to enable countries to ensure decent housing for all. Villages should be developed in a balanced manner, and democracy established in relation to urban development. Chad is determined to deal with such urban problems as unplanned urbanization. Cities contribute to growth of economies, accounting for about two thirds of the economies of many sub-Saharan countries. The international community should provide Chad with technical and financial support to enable it to pursue its settlements policies and programmes.
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GEORGY I. ONYSHCHUK, Head of the State Committee for Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine: Ukraine is undergoing a difficult transitional process. It faces numerous problems, including poor infrastructure, an unsatisfactory environment and the need for the reconstruction and modernization of its housing stock. As a result of rapid urbanization, the country faces difficulties in providing housing. The Government has adopted a new housing policy to provide quality housing and to change the structure of the housing fund.
Ukraine is one of the most highly urbanized countries in Europe, with 68 per cent of the population living in urban areas. Despite its economic and political difficulties, the housing stock has increased as a result of heavy capital investment. The Government is developing the necessary instruments for financing housing construction and for the coordination and management of housing. The Conference must address the housing and settlement problems of the countries in transition.
AMRA HADZI MUHAMEDOU, President of the Executive Board of the National Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs to the group of Eastern European countries that is undergoing the complex process of transition in its economic and political systems. The aggression against the country has led to destruction in all cities and to their populations being killed or expelled. In addition, 475 villages were completely destroyed or burnt and 57 towns were occupied or besieged.
Although the country's problems are numerous, sheltering the homeless is a priority. Housing must be provided for persons who remained in the country and for refugees who are now in over 100 countries. Another priority must be the reconstruction of the country's cultural-historical heritage. However, it is not possible to rehabilitate everything destroyed by aggression without the help of the international community, and especially friendly countries.
TEMADUTH RAMDIN (Mauritius): Three quarters of Mauritian households are owner-occupiers. Habitat II will further strengthen the links of cooperation in the eastern and southern African region, which shows a keen interest in housing issues. Mauritius is ready to share its experience with its neighbours. Its five towns contain about 50 per cent of the population. Mauritius is seeking the cooperation and support of local authorities, non- governmental organizations and the private sector in addressing the issue of sustainable development of human settlements. Some of the country's non- governmental organizations are attending the "City Summit".
JULIEN BIKOU, Minister for Urbanization and Habitat of Congo: Congo has been developing its rural areas to curb the flow of migrants to the urban areas. It is also trying to involve all citizens in the process of social development. The Government has established a plan of action to modernize the rural areas and to lessen the role of the State to that of a regulator and
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facilitator. The State should reduce its intervention and give local authorities more say in the sustainable development of human settlements. A housing bank has been established to help finance shelter provision. Policies for the rehabilitation of displaced persons and the promotion of the use of local materials are being pursued. The Summit should borrow from Congo's experience.
The various actors in society must work together to build better settlements. The international community should help African and national institutions tackle urban problems. Housing should be seen as the inalienable right of all. The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development should be engaged in follow-up to the Conference.
SISOWATH SIRIRATH (Cambodia): The millions of land-mines in Cambodia's countryside and the slow socio-economic advance in the villages pushes peasants into the cities. Despite growing foreign investments in the cities, most people live without safe drinking water or sanitation. Phnom Penh, the capital, was built for about half a million people before the war in 1970, but 25 years later, it has almost 2 million inhabitants. It is a deteriorating urban environment. The Government is working with non-governmental organizations to plan and mobilize resources and investments for all aspects of sustainable development of human settlements.
ABDUL LATIF JASSIM KANOO, Under-Secretary for Housing, Municipality and Environment of Bahrain: In Bahrain, urban development is a reflection of the Government's efforts during the past two decades. In the face of increased urbanization during that period, urban and housing development has been a priority of the State. A Ministry for Urbanization and Housing was set up and has been providing decent housing for poor families. Thousands of homes, numerous residential suburbs and a number of model cities have been constructed.
The Ministry's settlements planning has focused on the planning of all towns and villages and the carrying out of programmes to ensure future balanced urbanization. The Ministry's programmes to improve human settlements have included making housing loans available, providing credits for construction and the purchase of houses, distributing housing lots and preserving agricultural land. Loans have contributed to 23 per cent of housing units built in Bahrain.
T.S. MANGWAZU, Minister for Housing of Malawi: Although Malawi is one of the least urbanized countries in Africa, its urban population will more than double over the next 15 years, rising from 1.5 million people to over 3.8 million. Over this period, the national population will increase from 10.6 million to 16.8 million. Poverty has been the root cause of the country's human settlements problems. Malawi's priority areas of human
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settlements development include improved access to land, infrastructure and finance, especially for the poor; capacity building within human settlements institutions; community participation; and the development of an appropriate regulatory framework.
In addition, the participation of the public sector, non-governmental organizations, local governments and the private sector in human settlement development is being enhanced. Policies and programmes on decentralization are being prepared.
ALFONSO NSUE MOKUY, Secretary of State for Housing and Country Planning and Urbanization of Equatorial Guinea: Equatorial Guinea's most pressing problem is the growth of shanty towns around cities, which did not give the Government the time it needed to regulate their emergence. The problem of housing is compounded by the fact that many construction materials are imported. The international community and the non-governmental organizations should not leave the search for solutions to those problems to the Government alone. About 40 per cent of the population live in overcrowded areas, and the standards of many houses are low. Some 60 per cent of the people lack drinking water, 45 per cent share community toilets, while another 10 per cent entirely lack such facilities.
International corporations, financial institutions, the European Union, regional and subregional organizations and other donors should provide the $300 million Equatorial Guinea needs to build 1,000 housing units and provide water and other services.
ALI ABDI FARAH, Minister for Industry, Energy and Minerals of Djibouti: Land should be used rationally and the environment should be well protected. Djibouti's urban population has doubled since the 1976 Vancouver Conference, partly due to the inflow of a large number of refugees from neighbouring countries. The international community should aid the country to implement the programmes in its national plan of action. Habitat II should facilitate the provision of such assistance.
ERDEM SAKER, of the Metropolitan Municipality of Bursa, Turkey, and of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI): More than 200 local authorities are members of ICLEI. Last November, 192 local authorities of the organization, from 62 countries, signed the Kanagawa Declaration in Japan, committing themselves to implement sustainable development through the local Agenda 21 process. The Declaration was presented to Habitat II. The ICLEI has also asked local authorities to pass a formal resolution in their city councils, making specific commitments to the Habitat Agenda. Those resolutions are being passed.
The degree and breadth of the commitments of some urban centres around the world to implement the Conference's objectives include: participatory
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municipal decision-making in Bursa, since 1995; the management of natural areas in Lahti, Finland, to increase biodiversity within that city; and the resolve of Newcastle, Australia, to maintain strategic alliances internationally to improve its environment.
MEHLIKA MISIROGLU, of the International Islamic Relief Organization: Sustainable development cannot be implemented without a grass-roots foundation. That foundation is the family which has been in existence since the beginning of time. Forming a family and having children is a natural need of humankind. The differences in contemporary societies must be recognized and acknowledged or else there will be failure and frustration in the efforts to improve social conditions.
Habitat II's global plan of action should respect this diversity and ensure a pluralistic approach. The document must avoid the error of making "the other" identical with the standard, hence, spoiling the multiculturalism and the diversity of people. An agenda claiming to take the world into the coming millennium must have a balanced perception, present a holistic approach, abandon marginal language and concentrate on urgent issues rather than controversial ones. Assisting women and children who suffer from hunger and natural disasters must be a priority.
SELIME SANCAR, of the Rainbow Istanbul Women's Platform: Urban problems are not caused only by lack of financial resources, but also by the "strong" claiming the majority of resources and preventing "the weak" from gaining from them. This struggle can be seen between economically developed northern States and economically less-developed southern countries. The international community must work in partnership to eradicate that problem. Everyone has the right to food, housing, clothing, education and health care. The need for moral, spiritual and religious values should be recognized.
DANIEL GALAND, of the Right to Housing and Land Now Coalition: The group organized a peaceful protest on 6 June in Istanbul in order to take action and move beyond rhetorics. Governments should stop forced evictions and enact laws to prevent it and give those threatened with eviction the right to legal redress. They should reaffirm the right to accessible housing and land as legally enforceable human rights to be enacted in the constitutions and/or relevant laws of all United Nations Member States. States should adopt and submit to the United Nations an international convention on the right to housing and land and enact laws to grant free access of women to inheritance, property and credit.
CHRISTINE DURBANK, of Health and Environment Caucus: Housing is a basic need that must be met. When individuals cannot feed or house themselves, governments should enact laws and programmes to grant public assistance since it is in their interest to do so. Governments should also protect the health of all by, for instance, recognizing the primacy of children's health needs.
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The cooperation of governments, businesses, the medical establishment, educators, religious leaders and non-governmental organizations is required to secure each child's right to housing and food.
LAURIE WEISBERG, of the Carter Center, speaking on behalf of former United States President Jimmy Carter: Human rights to adequate housing, food, education, and other economic, social, and cultural rights deserve greater attention than they receive. Numerous treaties and conventions have been signed in support of human rights, and the right to housing has been firmly upheld in international human rights mechanisms.
Each nation must make the right to housing concept a reality within its own borders. Through its government, non-governmental organizations, the United Nations and the private sector, each nation must develop specific, comprehensive strategies that will lead to acceptable living conditions for its citizens. As leaders, governments have the power to facilitate or hamper progress. Policies should be analysed, debated freely and improved. Action must follow in terms of creative and responsible investment strategies, strong legislation, and direct involvement by an unhindered civil society.
HELENA NORBERG-HODGE, of the Gaia Trust: One response to the human settlements crisis has been to build small communities or eco-villages providing a high quality of life. These eco-villages are being created without public support by people with few personal resources. A global eco-village network of communities in the North and South has been formed to exchange experiences and share its vision.
Gaia Trust and the network are calling for support for a $100 million project -- "The Earth Is Our Habitat" -- which will build about 50 small sustainable communities. If just a fraction of the funding used for infrastructure for megacities were used to support existing village communities, economic activity would be more sustainable. The international community has a rare opportunity now to take an unorthodox approach to the crisis facing human settlements by supporting this pioneering movement.
Right of Reply
The representative of Turkey: A representative had made statements that distort the Cyprus issue. The division of the island took place in 1963 when the Greek Cypriots expelled the Turkish Cypriots out of the island's administration and destroyed the 1960 partnership Republic of Cyprus. Between 1963 and 1974, Turkish Cypriots suffered when one fourth of them were driven from 103 villages and squeezed into 3 per cent of the island. Nearly four fifths of Turkish-Cypriots have become refugees. In 1974, Turkey intervened to prevent a bloody final takeover of the island through a coup organized by a third country. Turkey's action accorded with its right under the Treaty of Guarantee and was legitimate.
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The question of displaced persons was settled in a 1975 agreement the two sides reached in Vienna under the auspices of the United Nations, whereby they agreed to regroup populations in their own respective territory: Turkish Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south. That was meant to pave the way for a bizonal federal settlement. The earlier representative's statement abuses forums for political purposes and is a barrier to the Secretary-General' efforts to find common ground. The Turkish Cypriot side is committed to a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus question.
The representative of Cyprus: The provision of facts on housing problems warranted an unavoidable reference to the event of 1974, which is the main cause of the displacements that have taken place. The intention of the presentation was not to abuse forums for propaganda purposes. The previous speaker has made a statement of a political nature.
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