WORLD LEADERS MUST SHOW POLITICAL WILL TO CONFRONT CHALLENGES OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS 'CITY SUMMIT'
Press Release
HAB/133
WORLD LEADERS MUST SHOW POLITICAL WILL TO CONFRONT CHALLENGES OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS 'CITY SUMMIT'
19960612 Habitat II's High-Level Segment Begins(Received from a UN Information Officer.)
ISTANBUL, 12 June -- Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali this morning called on world leaders to demonstrate the vision, leadership and political will to confront the challenges of sustainable human settlement, as he addressed the opening of the three-day, high-level segment of the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II).
The Secretary-General told Heads of State and Government that they are the facilitators to set in motion the process of responding to urbanization and globalization. The decisions of Istanbul must be translated into concrete measures, national policy, new forms of international cooperation, and greater cooperation between government and civil society.
Addressing the Conference, the President of Turkey, Suleyman Demirel, stressed the importance of the international community's political will in efforts to solve the problems of providing "adequate shelter for all" and ensuring "sustainable human settlements". That political will should be reflected in the effective implementation of adequate policies. The Istanbul Declaration, the Habitat Agenda and their monitoring within existing United Nations structures will be a guiding light.
Some speakers this morning stressed the importance of national efforts in improving their human settlements. However, several others called for assistance for the developing States and countries in transition to realize economic growth and achieve sustainable human settlements.
The Conference was addresssed by the Presidents of Kenya, Romania, Poland and Israel. A statement was also made by the Vice-President of the United Republic of Tanzania. The Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Acting Prime Minister of Afghanistan also spoke.
Statement by Conference President
SULEYMAN DEMIREL, President of Turkey: The general exchange of views has shown that the issues related to human settlements lie at the core of economic growth and sustainable development. It revealed that the problems associated with "adequate shelter for all" and "sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world" are faced by all countries and that there is much ground to be covered at all levels. It is essential to review existing policies, formulate new ones, enhance cooperation at the international level and mobilize all resources. Some general concurrence has emerged on those observations.
The question at hand is to show the international community's political will to solve the problems faced in the fields of "adequate shelter for all" and "sustainable human settlements." That political will should be reflected in the effective implementation of adequate policies. The adoption and implementation of the Istanbul Declaration and the Habitat Agenda and their monitoring within existing United Nations structures will be a guiding light. The Declaration will not only manifest the international community's determination and political will but also send a clear political message to the world. The Agenda will consist of a set of political commitments, recommendations and suggestions on the approach to be used in seeking solutions and encouraging wide participation in their implementation. The two documents will guide efforts to render all human settlements more healthy, equitable and safe.
Global cooperation is necessary to tackle common problems. Turkey, for its part, will translate the conclusions of Habitat II into effective national policies and practices, work with zeal at the national level and contribute to international cooperation.
Statement by Secretary-General
Secretary-General BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI: The international community must respond to the processes of urbanization and globalization, sooner rather than later, in all countries. Economic and social change casts a shadow over cities in both the South and the industrialized North, demanding a common global agenda to address them.
Conference participants have taken bold steps and launched a new process for world-wide partnership for sustainable human settlements in an urbanizing world. By doing so, they also advance the commitments made by the international community throughout the cycle of landmark United Nations conferences.
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Habitat II has emphasized alliance building, innovative ideas and involved the contributions of many specialized constituencies of stakeholders. It is the first United Nations conference to have given, as part of its official machinery, a platform to representatives of civil society. It has also been a truly United Nations system-wide endeavour. The strong spirit of inter-agency teamwork and interaction will be maintained in the next crucial phase of translating decisions into concrete action. Follow-up must be integrated with the ongoing actions to implement the outcomes of other global conferences through the thematic task forces established by the United Nations system.
"It is time to demonstrate the vision, leadership and political will to confront the challenges that this Conference has addressed. You, as Heads of State and Government, individually and collectively, are the facilitators to set that process in motion". The decisions of Istanbul must be translated into concrete measures, national policy, new forms of international cooperation and greater cooperation between government and civil society.
Other Statements
MOHTARMA BENAZIR BHUTTO, Prime minister of Pakistan: World leaders are gathered in Istanbul to chart a course which promotes urbanization without its deleterious consequences. Such an approach means that, while cities must be managed better, the countryside must not be neglected. It is a defining moment in human history. The wheel of time has placed the responsibility on today's leaders to establish realistic goals for the quality of life they envisage for the next century. In addressing the problems of urbanization, the complex issues of income generation and poverty alleviation, balanced urban and rural development, the cancer of the slums, and the sustainability of urban areas must be dealt with.
"Let Istanbul be the clarion call for a new beginning. A new beginning to come together as a global community to define our future". Excessive urbanization is full of untold horrors. "It is time the world said 'enough'. There is a solution."
DANIEL TOROITICH ARAP MOI, President of Kenya: African nations have asked the developed world to take seriously African pleas for debt relief and improve trade terms to enable their economies to advance. Most African countries are liberalizing their economies to attract foreign investors and guarantee maximum return with minimum risks.
Kenya has outlined its economic reforms in 1988, making it clear that poverty and unemployment are its two major challenges. The private sector has been made the engine of growth while the Government will try to strengthen social services. The State will also intervene to protect vulnerable sectors
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from the short-term effects of economic reforms. Kenya has a programme called the "Jua Kali" -- which in Swahili means working under the hot sun -- or the informal sector. The "Jua Kali" programme addresses issues of working sites, improvement of skills, access to power and water, roads, land and marketing. The status of women has been improved to such an extent that they compete with men on a level playing field for leading positions in government and commerce. The Government and non-governmental organizations should work together to bring street children into youth programmes and save them from dealers in sex and drugs. Kenya is proud to be hosting the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) in Nairobi. The Centre should be strengthened, entrusted with monitoring and the follow-up of the Conference's outcomes and its leadership elevated.
OMAR ALI JUMA, Vice-President of the United Republic of Tanzania: In order to support sustainable human settlements, Tanzania's weak local authorities need financial and capacity-building support. To address the country's chronic lack of means, resource mobilization programmes are underway to reduce overdependency on donor support. The debt burden continues to be a significant constraint.
The effect of wars and conflicts on the human habitat cannot be ignored. As a result of such conflicts, Tanzania has received more than 1.3 million refugees. The improvement of the habitat and conflict prevention and resolution must go hand in hand. The only durable solution to the constant displacement of populations, especially on the African continent, is to create a congenial political atmosphere with democratic institutions, good governance, respect for human rights, transparency and accountability. It is important for developing countries to make their own decisions based on their actual situations. "It is the wearer who knows where the shoe pinches".
ION ILIESCU, President of Romania: Since the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, in Vancouver, Canada, more people have been living in cities, where the production of goods and services and the creation of cultural values take place. The sustainable development of human settlements and urbanization offer some opportunities. The conditions for improving urban life are more favourable today and several efforts have been made to do so.
Since 1990, Romania has been trying to consolidate a democratic society and the rule of law as well as to create a market economy with appropriate social services. A new social system is taking shape and the redefinition of the sustainable development of human settlements is taking place. The public and private sectors, local authorities, non-governmental organizations and citizens are taking part in efforts to ensure the sustainable development of human settlements. Romania will welcome international help for its efforts. It hopes that the documents to be adopted will show that the sustainable
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development of human settlements can been achieved in a climate of sustained economic growth and social justice.
AHMAD SHAH AHMADZAI, Acting Prime Minister of Afghanistan: Afghanistan is a land-locked, least-developed country of 16 million people. Its 2.5 million houses need reconstruction as they have been totally or partially damaged. Afghanistan has lost l9,000 of its 22,000 villages to war and lost 1.5 million people. It has 2 million disabled, 1 million widows, more than 3 million refugees living outside its borders, and over 1 million displaced people inside its territory. It is necessary to adopt measures to meet the requirements for repatriating refugees, health control to prevent communicable diseases, temporary shelter, housing and food. Since many displaced persons comprise the rural population, it would be proper to rehabilitate rural infrastructure with the help of international organizations.
The existence of 10 million mines in the country poses dangers to residents. Afghanistan requests, in addition to current de-mining efforts, the employment of more mine-clearing personnel. Most hospitals have been damaged, lack equipment and do not meet even 10 per cent of basic medical needs. Telecommunications, education, press and civic services in the capital and provinces have been damaged by war. Since lack of financial resources and credits are the main obstacles to rural development, international assistance is necessary to rehabilitate and reconstruct Afghan infrastructure. Peaceful solutions are necesary therefore, intra-Afghan dialogue must continue. To realize that, President Burhanuddin Rabbani has announced his readiness to go to the opposition centres for negotiations.
ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI, President of Poland: The problems of urbanization are global and cannot be solved by isolated initiatives. A cohesive, strategic plan, such as the one to be adopted at Habitat II, is necessary to address them. World leaders "must above all act with all vigour in our own countries" to meet the housing needs of their citizens. They must share their achievements, ideas and solutions.
Poland's experiences in defining housing, building and land development policies are typical of the entire group of countries now undergoing profound political and economic transformation. These countries must now function in the context of a market economy and the criterion of economic efficiency. A regional centre should be created for housing and land development, research and technical cooperation for this group of countries. Poland will initiate the centre's creation and host it. The Government is facing the task of adjusting the country's legal regulations and programmes to European Union and United Nations standards.
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EZER WEIZMAN, President of Israel: Israel has been successfully meeting the challenge absorbing immigrants in the fields of housing and employment. In the attempts to achieve regional peace, Israel is addressing the challenge of redirecting its budgets from the procurement of weapons to welfare programmes and investments in education.
Israel considers Turkey "an important, central, stabilizing and positive factor." Israel values Turkey's role in the Middle East, its wish to join the European Union, and is aware of its special relations with Central Asia and the Caucasus. Israel is confident of Turkey's staunch support in the peace process with its neighbours. That process will develop further under Israel's new government. Terrorism is the most daunting obstacle to the peace process. Israel, like Turkey, is struggling to eradicate terrorism with the same resolve that it applies to the struggle for peace. However, for Israel "the attainment of peace is unshakable."
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