SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES PARLIAMENTARIANS TO CONTINUE IMPRESSIVE COMMITMENT, ADVOCACY, IN MESSAGE TO SEOUL CONFERENCE
Press Release
SG/SM/6200
SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES PARLIAMENTARIANS TO CONTINUE IMPRESSIVE COMMITMENT, ADVOCACY, IN MESSAGE TO SEOUL CONFERENCE
19970409 Following is the message of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to be delivered on his behalf by the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Adrianus Mooy, to the ninety-seventh Inter-Parliamentary Conference in Seoul, Republic of Korea, on 10 April 1997:It gives me great pleasure to convey a message to the parliamentarians who have come from around the world for this ninety-seventh Inter- Parliamentary Conference.
I would like, first of all, to express sincere gratitude to President Kim Young Sam and the people of the Republic of Korea for hosting this important meeting. In doing so, President Kim upholds a long and honourable tradition of strong Korean support for cooperation, dialogue and forward- thinking at the international level.
Ties between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations are growing ever stronger, as we build on the cooperation agreement our two organizations signed last year.
Just two months ago, my Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women participated in the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in New Delhi on partnership between men and women in politics. That conference made a significant contribution towards a goal we all share: the equality of men and women in politics, in decision-making and in all other realms of human endeavour. I am confident that this conference in Seoul will have a similarly positive impact on another issue of great global consequence: our quest for sustainable development.
As we gather here, the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development is holding its fifth session in New York, at which it is paying special attention to preparations for the special session of the General Assembly to be held in June to review progress achieved since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
Agenda 21 makes clear that sustainable development cannot be delivered by governments alone, and stresses the essential role to be played by international institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, members of civil society and representatives of major groups.
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Experience since 1992 has reinforced the need for such an approach. Indeed, strengthening partnerships among "stakeholders" is one of the main goals of the upcoming special session of the General Assembly.
Parliamentarians constitute one such central actor. Parliaments in many countries have been actively involved in implementation of the agreements reached in Rio. The Inter-Parliamentary Union has reported annually to the Commission on Sustainable Development on the range of parliamentary activity, based on the outcome of an annual survey. The Inter-Parliamentary Union has also adopted declarations relevant to sustainable development, for example, on finance, technology transfer and conservation of world fish stocks.
I encourage you to continue this impressive level of commitment, engagement and advocacy. Sustainable development has been more widely accepted since 1992, but much remains to be done to ensure that it is understood by decision makers, as well as by the public. Even more than understanding, political will is needed in order to grapple with many difficult decisions on priorities and budget allocation.
Among the issues facing us is that of changing consumption and production patterns, which encompasses a broad range of issues, including new concepts of economic growth and prosperity, efficient use of natural resources, reducing waste, environmentally sound pricing and technology transfer.
Policy-making in this area since UNCED has made noticeable progress, in particular, through cooperation with major groups such as business and industry, trade unions, local authorities, consumer organizations and the research community. The issue is now prominently placed on the international agenda.
I believe that, as parliamentarians, your forum is especially well placed to influence governmental decisions and public awareness in such a crucial area. The issue of life-style choices is a fundamental one, and needs to be addressed in a way which does not challenge, but demonstrates that a changed life-style can also improve the standard and quality of life.
I look forward to your contributions -- here in Seoul, in New York as the Commission on Sustainable Development continues its deliberations, and most importantly in June when the General Assembly undertakes its five-year review and appraisal. In that constructive spirit, I wish you the best for a most successful conference.
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