PRESS CONFERENCE BY ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT MINISTER OF GERMANY

International cooperation for development was the most effective security policy, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, told correspondents during a press conference at United Nations Headquarters this afternoon.

Addressing Germany’s contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, Ms. Wieczorek-Zeul said development was critical to prevent future conflicts and was in the interest of developing and industrialized countries alike.

“We must give a human face, a more just face, to globalization.  This is important for all our countries, for the future of this planet, for the future of this world”, she said.

“The way globalization has worked so far is not sustainable.  You cannot leave out huge parts of the world”, she added, noting that there were ongoing discussions to create a better framework for debt sustainability for developing countries.  She emphasized the importance of supporting the creation of a more just trade structure and cutting agricultural subsidies in developed countries to improve access to markets for developing countries.  Continuing debt-relief efforts, she added, was critical in allowing developing countries to increase investments in health and education.

She further stressed increasing the marketing possibilities for renewable energy in developing countries as one of the most important tasks, as development was not possible without sufficient access to energy.  Because of growing concerns regarding climate change, this was an issue of mutual interest to developing and industrialized countries.

Answering a correspondent’s question regarding the role of sustainability in development, she said “Sustainability, together with the fight against poverty, is the overarching aim of development cooperation.”

She said the Doha round meeting in Hong Kong later this year and the high-level plenary meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly were critical windows of opportunity for ensuring the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals.  The immense task of achieving the Goals could only be tackled if all actors took responsibility for meeting their obligations.

“This is a decisive year”, she said.  “In a few years’ time, there will be 8 billion people in the world, with 98 per cent living in developing countries.  And the question is whether this will be a world where we have peace, cooperation, and tolerance, or whether this will be a world with more violence and more conflict.  I hope we will go decisively to the right side.”

* *** *