SELF-HELP EFFORTS OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES PRAISED IN ASSEMBLY DEBATE; RESPONSE OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SAID TO FALL SHORT

Press Release
GA/9156

SELF-HELP EFFORTS OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES PRAISED IN ASSEMBLY DEBATE; RESPONSE OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SAID TO FALL SHORT

Mid-term Review of United Nations Agenda for Development Of Africa in 1990s Said To Be Timely Stock-taking, More Progress Urged

Many speakers this morning praised the efforts of African countries to achieve the goals set five years ago by the United Nations New Agenda for Development in Africa in the 1990s, as the General Assembly discussed what had been achieved mid-way through the decade.

At the same time, many described as inadequate the efforts of the international community, in particular the developed countries, to fulfil their obligations under the New Agenda. Representatives from Asia and from Latin America and the Caribbean, among others, joined African speakers in calling upon the international community to redouble its efforts in support of Africa's sustainable development.

The representative of Namibia said that five years after the international community had entered into a new partnership with Africa, the situation in some African countries had worsened and the targets of the New Agenda remained distant. While struggling with debt and dealing with declining revenues and trade, Africa had succeeded in democratizing, reforming and restructuring, but it remained unable to penetrate protected international markets.

Despite fiscal reforms undertaken by African nations, said the representative of Senegal, investment in Africa remained low. While Africa had done everything to meet its obligations under the New Agenda, the international community had not fulfilled its obligations. African nations expected real opportunities to be opened to them; to be allowed a place in the world economy; and for trade barriers to be eliminated and debt burdens eased.

General Assembly Plenary - 1a - Press Release GA/9156 52nd Meeting (AM) 5 November 1996

The representative of the Republic of Korea highlighted the economic improvements in Africa by noting that the number of African countries with 6 per cent annual growth in gross domestic product (GDP) had increased from three to 12, and the countries with negative growth rates had dropped from 19 to three. He urged the international community to target the most needy in Africa and to focus on such areas as health, education, and agriculture. The representative of Jamaica said aid to Africa should be re-channelled to key development priorities. Resources should be allocated to conflict prevention and reconstruction in post-conflict countries.

Statements were also made by the representatives of Uganda, Andorra, United Republic of Tanzania, Guyana, India, Nigeria, Malawi, Egypt, Zambia, Viet Nam, Slovenia, Kuwait, Lesotho and Panama.

At the outset of this morning's meeting, the General Assembly accepted the names of candidates for election to the International Law Commission which had been received after the deadline of 1 June. The Assembly requested that the Secretary-General issue a consolidated list of candidates including those new nominees. Those elections are scheduled for Monday, 11 November.

The Assembly meets again at 3 p.m. today to continue it discussion on implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to review documentation relating to the election of members of the International Law Commission, scheduled for Monday, 11 November; and to continue to discuss the mid-term review of implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s.

In connection with the New Agenda for Africa, the Assembly had before it the report of its Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole which, from 16 to 29 September, conducted the mid-term review. The review included an assessment of the responses and measures to accelerate the implementation of the Agenda, as set forth in an annex to the resolution. The Assembly would also request governments and organizations to take appropriate measures to implement fully the recommendations contained in the annex. In addition, it could decide that in 2002 an ad hoc committee of the whole of the Assembly's fifty-sixth session would conduct a final review and appraisal of the implementations of the New Agenda. (For further details, see Press Release GA/9152, issued 4 November.)

Documentation on International Law Commission Elections

The Assembly President RAZALI ISMAIL (Malaysia) told the Assembly that documentation had been issued listing the names of candidates in the forthcoming International Law Commission election which had been submitted by 1 June, or within the required time for the submission of nominations. Subsequent to that date, the Secretary-General had received additional information concerning candidates and submitting names of new nominees which had been presented in additional documents. Under those circumstance, it was necessary for the Assembly to decide whether those new candidates should be accepted in spite of submission of their names after the deadline, and whether they should be incorporated into a consolidated list. The past practice of the Assembly had been to incorporate such late submissions into a consolidated list of candidates.

The Assembly decided to request the Secretary-General to issue a consolidated list of candidates.

Statements on New Agenda for Africa

MATIA SEMAKULA KIWANUKA (Uganda) said that at the mid-term review the New Agenda remained unimplemented. The socio-economic conditions that had prompted the launching of the Programme in 1986 persisted. While economic growth rates of up to 6 per cent had been achieved in a handful of countries in the region, overall poverty and unemployment would increase while official development assistance (ODA) continued to decline in real terms and the debt burden remained unsustainable.

General Assembly Plenary - 4 - Press Release GA/9156 52nd Meeting (AM) 5 November 1996

The New Agenda would expire in the year 2001; the commitments undertaken by Africa and the international community would not be achieved. Uganda applauded the commitment undertaken at the mid-term review to accelerate implementation of the New Agenda. To translate that commitment into programmes, follow-up arrangements must necessarily be reinvigorated. Governments must work hand in hand with the United Nations system and with the donor community.

MARC FORNE MOLNE (Andorra) said that in 1960 the future seemed to belong to Africa. By the 1970s a lack of investment, poverty, debt and the withdrawal of democracy had hindered development. But the end of apartheid in the region had been an inspiration and his Government had been honoured to welcome South Africa back to the General Assembly. Andorra was attempting to help with the development of Africa through the United Nations. Non-governmental organizations in Andorra were also involved.

He said more employment was urgently needed in Africa so that its young population could contribute to the development of their countries. Schools and universities should emphasize the universal human rights of men and women, and promote the democratic spirit. At the Copenhagen conference the need for partnership had been stressed so that Africa could move ahead to the 21st century.

DAUDI N. MWAKAWAGO (United Republic of Tanzania) said that African governments had embarked on wide-ranging reforms bearing in mind that primary responsibility for development in Africa lay with Africa. Increased resources would be critical to stimulate reform and restructuring, he said. Progress in Africa would not only be good for Africa; the whole of mankind stood to benefit. For African development to be meaningful, the international community should review its commitment to the goals of the New Agenda.

He said Africa's external indebtedness had risen from $300 billion in 1992 to $322 billion in 1995 -- an increase of 8 per cent in only four years. That level of foreign indebtedness made clear that further measures were necessary to address the heavy debt loads of the least-developed African States. Commodities were still the primary source of income for most African countries. While the completion of the Uruguay Round had been considered a landmark in world trade, its effects regarding market access, agriculture, and erosion of the special treatment of Africa's commodity exports remained ambiguous.

PAULETTE CORNETTE (Guyana) said both African countries and the international community had worked hard to implement the New Agenda. While the results were less than would have been hoped, the review provided a solid basis for acceleration of implementation. However, many critical social and economic problems still existed. Guyana called on the international community to respond to issues such as food insecurity in a manner commensurate with the

General Assembly Plenary - 5 - Press Release GA/9156 52nd Meeting (AM) 5 November 1996

problems. At the same time, the international community must renew its commitment to areas of the Agenda, including resource flow, external debt and integration of the African countries into the world economies.

The international community should listen to the views of African countries on the implementation of the New Agenda, she said. With that approach, a frank and constructive review could be completed, one which recognized achievements and admitted failures. Recommendations on how to overcome existing obstacles must be quickly implemented.

ALIOUNE DIAGNE (Senegal) said that everything on the development of Africa had already been said. Analysis had been made, the agenda set, and needed resources identified. Now was the time for real action.

African countries had made remarkable progress towards establishing a climate which would support sustainable development, he said. Africa had done everything possible to meet its commitments, but the international community had not fulfilled its obligations under the New Agenda. Despite fiscal reforms undertaken by African nations, investment in those countries remained low. Africa was the only region in which poverty was expected to worsen during the next 10 years. It was not the time for promises, but one of achievement and realization.

He said Africa expected real opportunities to be opened to it. The nations of the continent expected to be allowed to take their place in the world economic system, for trade barriers to be eliminated and for the debt burden to be relieved. The recovery and growth of Africa would stimulate the world economy. It was only through true partnership that the goals of the New Agenda for Africa would be achieved.

MARTIN ANDJABA (Namibia) said that five years after the international community had entered into a new partnership with Africa, the road to be travelled to implement the New Agenda for Africa had lengthened. On the whole, Africa had democratized, reformed and restructured. However, the mid- term review had determined that the situation in some countries, instead of improving, had deteriorated. The targets which had been set were far from being achieved and resources were lacking.

The review had identified some factors which impeded Africa's achievement of development objectives; it had been noted, for example, that exports from Africa could not penetrate projected markets due to obstacles created. The agricultural policies of the industrialized countries tended to depress the market prices of food production. The need for increased mobilization of resources to support the successful implementation of the New Agenda could not be over-emphasized. He asked how Africa could be expected to mobilize domestic financial resources while public savings fell, trade declined and the need to borrow outweighed the capacity to repay.

General Assembly Plenary - 6 - Press Release GA/9156 52nd Meeting (AM) 5 November 1996

It had been said that the political instability in Africa was to blame for Africa's underdevelopment, he said. He agreed, recognizing the link between peace and development. However, he continued, foreign direct investment had been selectively concentrated on industries which had the highest returns, despite the prevailing political instability. While some countries, including Namibia, had managed to attract some degree of foreign- direct investment, decline was the overall trend. Lasting development- oriented solutions were needed to address such problems as the debt burden. The international community must fulfil its commitment of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP) to ODA. An innovative implementation plan was needed at all levels.

SURJIT SINGH BARNALA (India) said that while the New Agenda had made a realistic assessment of the situation in Africa as it now existed, it had not progressed as far as had been hoped, in terms of international cooperation. Further efforts would be required on financial flows, trade access and technology transfers.

Citing India's long historical ties to Africa, he recalled that it was India which had inscribed the issue of apartheid on the agenda of the United Nations in 1946. After the liberation of African nations from colonial rule, India had supported the efforts of those countries to achieve economic development, most tangibly through its Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, which had trained more than 20,000 nominees, most of them from Africa.

He said there was little doubt that Africa would need considerable support from the international community in order to achieve its basic development goals. The measures agreed to so far in the mid-term review needed to be considerably enhanced. What was lacking was not a vision of what needed to be done, but a "ready will" to translate it into realities.

DAVID RUBADIRI (Malawi) said there was still a long way to go in the implementation of the New Agenda for Africa. Despite modest achievements, the general trend and outlook remained bleak. There were declining trends in all the major social indicators, especially the increase in poverty. During the period under review, the African share of world trade had declined to 2.2 per cent, despite the preferential access to major world markets which African products had. In addition, the impact on African countries of the outcome of the Uruguay Round agreement on multilateral trade was not fully clear. It was recognized, however, that the least developed countries, in particular those in Africa, might experience transitional costs arising from the loss of preferences in the European Community. The Naples terms adopted by the Paris Club were important in evolving an international debt strategy, but Malawi

General Assembly Plenary - 7 - Press Release GA/9156 52nd Meeting (AM) 5 November 1996

called on the donor community for far-reaching measures going beyond the 67 per cent debt-stock reduction, towards a durable solution required for Africa's debt problem.

He said Malawi, whose first democratically-elected government took power in 1994 on the premise of power to the people, justice for all and respect for human rights, hoped that the present mid-term review would reignite the enthusiasm and political will of all cooperating partners.

ISAAC E. AYEWAH (Nigeria) recalled that the New Agenda was founded on the principle of cooperation and shared responsibility between Africa and the international community. It was a framework of consensus and partnership. In Nigeria's view, the objectives of the Agenda were yet to be achieved, even minimally, five years after its adoption, due to a lack of political will by the international community. The international community, he added, went beyond Western Europe and the donor community to include other regions, the Bretton Woods institutions and non-governmental organizations.

Africa's economy was essentially monocultural and agrarian. Its external debt burden was estimated today at over $322 billion, the servicing of which consumed more than 30 per cent of the continent's export earnings. The continent confronted the challenges of infrastructural and institutional capacity-building, human resources development and the promotion of science and technology for agricultural and industrial development. There was an urgent need for the international community to respond concretely to Africa's mobilization for development. It was necessary to create a fund to help African economies diversify. New and additional resources were needed.

He said a "negative attitude" regarding Africa on the part of the international community had persisted. Such an attitude was not only dysfunctional and inaccurate but clearly negated the principles of cooperation and partnership. Nigeria encouraged the international media to be constructive in their reporting and to move away from subjective and tendentious reporting which "delighted in highlighting only the negative aspects of Africa's investment profile and environment while downplaying the positive aspects". In this respect, he added the Department of Public Information of the United Nations Secretariat had a leading role to play.

MYUNG-GHUL HAHM (Republic of Korea) said African countries had made substantial improvements in their overall economic performance. The number of them who had achieved the target of 6 per cent annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth had increased from three in 1992 to 12 in 1995. The number of countries with negative growth rates had dropped from 19 in 1992 to three in 1995. Many African countries had also engaged in institutional reform aimed at democratization and economic liberalization.

General Assembly Plenary - 8 - Press Release GA/9156 52nd Meeting (AM) 5 November 1996

The United Nations should play a greater role in achieving the goals of the New Agenda, he said. In that regard, the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa launched in March could provide practical support for implementation of the New Agenda. International organizations should play a greater role in supporting South-South cooperation. The focus of international cooperation should be on priority needs, targeting the most needy African people. The Republic of Korea believed efforts to support public health, agricultural development and the expansion of education for children should receive particular attention. His country would continue to provide various forms of assistance to developing countries, among African countries in Africa.

M. PATRICIA DURRANT (Jamaica) said most African countries had consistently taken appropriate actions to achieve development, including political and economic reforms. There had been substantial economic growth; improvements had been achieved in public finance and management, and efficiency and transparency in the tax system had also improved. Almost all African countries had taken measures to liberalize domestic prices and external trade. Some 35 countries had made monetary adjustments and some 21 had improved public finance management.

As a developing country, she said, Jamaica recognized the value of South-South cooperation. As one that had suffered under the heavy burden of external debt and the ensuring economic hardship, Jamaica was aware of the difficulties facing the African countries. To achieve the major objectives of the New Agenda and the target growth rate of 6 per cent, the international community should accelerate its support. There should be efforts to alleviate external debt burdens, to attract foreign private investment, to increase resource flow, to facilitate trade and market access, and to develop capacity- building.

The New Agenda had called for a full partnership between Africa and the international community, she said. The quality of international support to Africa must be improved. Aid to Africa should be re-channelled to key development priorities. Resources should be allocated to conflict prevention and reconstruction in affected countries. The United Nations system had a critical role to play in ensuring its success of the New Agenda. The Agenda must be continually promoted by the relevant United Nations bodies.

SOLIMAN AWAAD (Egypt) said efforts must be increased at the national and international levels to support development in Africa. Primary responsibility for development rested with the African countries, but the net success would depend on support for their efforts. Refugees, conflict, and an unfavourable economic climate were just some of the factors which had hindered development. At the same time, African countries had undertaken measures, including structural adjustment, to achieve development. Africa had assumed an

General Assembly Plenary - 9 - Press Release GA/9156 52nd Meeting (AM) 5 November 1996

extraordinary responsibility in ensuring security and stability, creating a mechanism for solving conflicts.

Despite the efforts of African countries to make better use of development assistance, and despite the effort of developed countries to support development, ODA had significantly dropped, he said. Obligations for the mobilization of resources to support African development had been only partly fulfilled. While some progress had been made during the last five years in Africa, that was primarily due to the national efforts of the African countries. The assistance provided by the international community had not been sufficient to support development. While African resources must be used to fuel development, budgetary restraints and the unfavourable economic environment hindered their work. Without more financial resources, many African countries would fail in their development efforts.

PETER L. KASANDA (Zambia) said Africa was still the region most in need of development assistance and was likely to remain so for many years to come, given the high incidence of poverty in the region. Africa's share in world trade had dropped from 5 per cent in 1990 to 2.3 per cent in 1995, and the results of the Uruguay Round were not expected to be positive for Africa. Net official development assistance declined from $25 billion in 1992 to $21.5 billion in 1995. External debt, estimated at $270 billion in 1990, reached $322 billion in 1995.

At regional level, he said, the most significant development was the signing of the treaty, in 1991, that resulted in the African Economic Community. This was of great significance because it would assist in harmonizing economic policies in the region, and was expected to lead to expanded trade within African countries.

He expressed Zambia's concern for the lack of clarity on how to implement the New Agenda and the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa. There was complementarity between the two, and synchronization was required at both the advocacy and operational levels.

NGO QUANG XUAN (Viet Nam) said the economic and social situation in Africa was still critical. There was no more critical challenge before the international community than the sustainable development of Africa.

There had been some achievements, which showed that Africa was finally on the right track: only three countries had showed negative growth in 1995, against 19 in 1993; only three countries had achieved the target of 6 per cent growth in 1992, but 12 countries achieved it in 1995.

The international community must take the necessary "giant step" to integrate Africa into the development process. The mid-term review should

General Assembly Plenary - 10 - Press Release GA/9156 52nd Meeting (AM) 5 November 1996

help make commitments become realities. Developed countries should honour their international agreements concerning Africa.

DANILO TURK (Slovenia) said his country fully endorsed Ireland's statement on behalf of the European Union. Global development, it was now recognized, could not be complete without the development of Africa. Aid was important, but sustained development and trade should not be overlooked.

There were some signs for hope, some improvement in the overall situation, including the 12 countries that achieved the 6 per cent growth target in 1995, and that evolution should not be overlooked. But the potential that existed in Africa required effective international action. The level and scope of cooperation should improve, and assistance should be channelled to meet Africa's development priorities and "switching to non-debt creating assistance". The debt burden was among the main obstacles to Africa's development; the initiative for the heavily indebted least developed countries was a step forward, but further action was needed to reduce Africa's debt.

He said Africa today had the largest concentration of refugees in the world. Security and political issues must be included in the equation, in considering development for Africa. The United Nations and the Security Council should give as much attention as possible to Africa, in particular the Great Lakes region. It was inappropriate to see political problems and military conflicts as being unrelated to development. It was not an exaggeration to say that success in implementation of the New Agenda for the 1990s would be an important contribution to the redefinition of the United Nations itself.

MOHAMMAD ABULHASAN (Kuwait) said he supported the various conclusions contained in the Secretary-General's report. Kuwait appreciated the growing interest in Africa. Many African countries had benefited from Kuwaiti programmes of assistance, including grants, scholarships and direct training. There were further technological programmes and programmes involving women.

Political will was needed to integrate the African continent, he said. Stability was also needed for the prosperity that all needed for the future.

PERCY MANGOAELA (Lesotho) said that without a vision, any development effort was likely to fail. In the implementation of the New Agenda, some progress had been made but clearly not enough. In some respects it could even be said that Africa had moved backwards. At one level, the mid-term review, had been a success in that Africa and her partners had achieved consensus. But the implementation left much to be desired.

General Assembly Plenary - 11 - Press Release GA/9156 52nd Meeting (AM) 5 November 1996

Africa was mired in poverty, political instability, a crushing debt burden, declining living standards and diminishing hope for meaningful lives for the majority of its people.

Speaking of the phenomenon of "globalization", he said that it required that African countries open their borders to the goods and services of others, "and in doing so give testimony of our oneness". It was time, he asserted, to give tangible meaning to the interdependence inherent in globalization by reviving the spirit which animated the founding fathers of the United Nations.

He said Africa was sometimes told its recovery could not be achieved by donor-led initiatives without greater involvement of the private sector. That was only part of the story. For most African countries, reliance on foreign direct investment was not realistic. The basic infrastructure was lacking in most of Africa. It was inevitable that ODA would continue to play a major role in Africa's development.

JORGE E. ILLUECA (Panama) said his country associated itself with the statement made by Costa Rica on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China. He referred to the substantial contribution Africa had made to Panamanian culture in all its aspects. He praised the global outlook of the Secretary-General's Special Initiative on Africa and the New Agenda for Africa. He said Africa needed a special mobilization of political wills and human, technological and financial resources, and it needed them urgently. Panama was committed to Africa's interests.

* *** *