AFRICAN STATES WARN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROMISE OF DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP UNDERMINED BY UNDELIVERED AID, RESTRICTIVE TRADE, DEBT

Sixty-second General Assembly

Plenary

27^th & 28^th Meetings (AM & PM)

AFRICAN STATES WARN GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROMISE OF DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

UNDERMINED BY UNDELIVERED AID, RESTRICTIVE TRADE, DEBT

Officials from the African continent warned the General Assembly today that the success of a promising home-grown economic recovery and development plan was far from assured, because rich countries were failing to live up to their promises to open their markets to African goods and provide adequate resources, in a predictable way, so that African Governments could make the most of dwindling donor assistance.

During the Assembly’s annual review of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) -– the United Nations-backed strategy that pledges better governance in return for increased donor support –- African delegations also drew particular attention to the sub-Sahara, the only region in the world where poverty kept getting worse.  They insisted that, while more foreign aid would help, the best way to lift countries in that region out of poverty was to help develop trade and industry.  Today’s joint debate also covered the causes of conflict and promotion of peace and development in Africa, and efforts to halt malaria.

Speakers stressed that NEPAD’s key priorities -- promoting accelerated growth and sustainable development, eradicating widespread poverty, and halting Africa’s market marginalization –- were linked to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals .  Unfortunately, efforts to meet the 2015 deadline for those Goals were being hampered by some of the same obstacles and “business as usual” attitudes stifling NEPAD’s wider implementation:  the Group of Eight’s (G-8) undelivered aid commitments, the inability of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to negotiate development-friendly trade rules, and the crippling financial burdens borne by many African countries.

Benin’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Group of African States, said that with NEPAD African countries had committed themselves to mobilizing the African people, so that they could become the main stakeholders in development.  Indeed, key indicators had improved and progress under the Partnership programme had been noted in the key areas of infrastructure, energy, information technology, communication, transport, water and sanitation.  Also, NEPAD recently had done work in gender equality and undertaken efforts to harness the potential of women.

Still, challenges remained in the areas of HIV/AIDS, capacity-building, foreign direct investment, official development assistance, and a breakthrough in the WTO negotiations, he continued.  Most African countries were ready to accelerate economic and social reforms; however, they lacked resources and means.  Development partners should, therefore, translate their commitments into “true development assistance”.  Further, while welcoming debt relief for some indebted African countries, he called for genuine efforts to free Africa from the debt burden:   Africa needed 100 per cent simple debt cancellation, he declared.

Namibia’s representative said “business as usual” would mean many African countries would not achieve the Millennium Goals by 2015.  The recognition of the special needs of Africa by the United Nations system had not resulted in boosting resource mobilization for, or resource flow to, the continent.  Many resources which could be used for development were spent on conflict management and resolution instead.  African countries were taking the lead in resolving their own conflicts and creating institutions for economic integration and good governance. 

Touching on another of today’s recurring themes, he said that cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union helped to strengthen the continent’s capacity for conflict resolution.  There could be no development without peace, and sustainable peace was predicated on the existence of democratic institutions and a culture of democracy and tolerance.  At the same time, while the primary responsibility for the development of Africa lay with Africans themselves, outside resource flow to the continent was too slow, and the G-8 nations were off track on their commitments to “double ODA to Africa”.  Despite recent increases in foreign direct investment flows, the continent’s overall share remained too low and too concentrated in certain regions. 

Egypt’s representative echoed concerns that, even as States were trying to implement their obligations under NEPAD, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was reporting a drop in development assistance from Europe for the first time since 1997, while the G-8 countries were also behind in meeting their commitments.  He stressed the need for swift implementation of prior commitments, and urged increased foreign direct investment in a broader spectrum of African countries. 

He also said that any agreement resulting from multilateral trade negotiations must take Africa’s development needs into consideration.  He welcomed various programmes for debt relief, but said they were moving too slowly, noting that next week’s High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development was an opportunity to call on the international community to assist the continent in achieving its development goals.

On the activities undertaken and progress made in meeting the goals of the 2001-2010 Decade to Roll Back Malaria, Zambia’s representative said that strategy demonstrated a political will and financial commitment to control malaria and help the 500 million people who suffered from the disease every year.  The assistance of the international community to fight the disease was highly appreciated, since malaria was not only an immediate problem, but also had an adverse effect on long-term socio-economic and sustainable development.  His Government had identified malaria control as an urgent health priority and had been implementing the Roll Back Malaria strategy since 2001. 

Free distribution of bed nets and immunization campaigns had resulted in a decrease in the incidence of malaria, and development partners were now buying into the national malaria strategic plan, he continued.  However, Zambia continued to face a number of challenges including, among others, a weak and constrained health system, inadequate communication infrastructure, and a lack of highly-skilled personnel.  He called for greater technical and financial support to be made available in a timely and effective manner to help his country overcome those obstacles.

Opening the debate, Assembly President Srgjan Kerim, of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, said that stamping out poverty went hand in hand with achieving peace, and urged all States to step up their efforts in meeting the Millennium Goals.  “Durable peace and sustainable socio-economic development are inextricably linked”, he said, adding that eradicating poverty and promoting development not only saved lives that would have otherwise been lost to hunger and disease, it also strengthened the capacity of States to ensure durable peace.

Mr. Kerim noted that “commendable progress” had been made by NEPAD in crucial areas such as infrastructure development, agriculture, health and education, but “clearly there is still a long road ahead”, stressing that one fifth of Africa’s population lived in areas wracked by conflict.  Security on the continent could be bolstered through the readiness of the international community –- including African States –- to respond to conflicts.  “The issues before us in this debate call for the active involvement of all States, and illustrate the necessity for Member States to recommit themselves to implementing the Millennium Development Goals,” he stated.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who introduced the relevant reports before the Assembly, also pointed out that although many African nations had made great strides towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, “overall, the continent is not on track to reach these development targets by 2015”.  Extreme poverty -– exacerbated by the lack of access to a basic education, health care and adequate nutrition -– “continues to prevent millions of talented, promising young Africans from fulfilling their potential”, he said.

He said that coherent United Nations support, in areas such as governance and institutional capacity-building, was key to helping consolidate recent positive changes in Africa.  “We must ensure that the UN plays its role to the fullest extent possible along the peace continuum –- from conflict prevention to peace-making, peacekeeping and peacebuilding,” he said.

In other business today, the Assembly adopted a draft decision on the accreditation of six non-governmental organization s to next week’s High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development.  By that decision, the following civil society groups would be allowed to participate in the Assembly’s work from 22 to 24 October:  New Rules for Global Finance; Tax Justice Network; Children’s International Summer Villages; Terre de la jeunesse culturel; Centre African d’echange culturel; Bangladesh Support Group; and Association de lutte pour la sante et le developpement.

The Assembly began its day on a sombre note, holding a moment of silence to commemorate Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win, who died Friday after a long illness.   Myanmar’s representative thanked the Assembly on behalf of the country’s Government and people.

Speaking today were the representatives of Pakistan (on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China), Portugal (on behalf of the European Union and affiliated countries) and Singapore (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

Also participating were the representatives of Viet Nam, Japan, Kuwait, India, Peru, Tunisia, Cuba, Togo, Morocco, United States, Russian Federation, South Africa, Canada, Bangladesh, Sudan, Uganda, Senegal, Kenya, Malawi, China, Republic of Korea, Israel, Brazil, Libya, Ghana and Burkina Faso.

The Assembly will reconvene at 3:00 p.m. Friday, 19 October, to continue their joint debate.

Background

The General Assembly met today to hold a joint debate on progress in implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, and the 2001-2010 Decade to Roll Back Malaria.

Before the General Assembly is the NEPAD fifth consolidated report on progress in implementation and international support [A/62/203], which states that it is an unfortunate reality that most African countries are off track in meeting many -– if not all -– of the Millennium Development Goals.  By adopting NEPAD, African countries put the Goals at the centre of their development agenda.  Though international aid and debt relief are having a positive effect on implementing the NEPAD agenda and improving overall living standards in Africa, the availability of this aid is declining.  Fulfilment of the historic commitment of the Group of Eight to double assistance to Africa by 2010 now looks increasingly unlikely.

Africa’s development partners have made progress in delivering on their promise to cancel the multilateral debt of qualified countries, the report continues.  However, lack of progress in the Doha Round of multilateral trade talks remains a major problem, and business as usual is not an option.  It is now time for developed countries to deliver on their pledges and give Africa the opportunity to carry the NEPAD vision forward.  African countries need to establish prudent borrowing policies, strengthen their capacity to manage debt, and ensure that freed-up resources are used to effectively implement NEPAD and to attain the Millennium Goals.

The second report before the Assembly addresses the progress made in implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa [A/62/204].  The report draws attention to many positive developments in the past decade, among them:  a significant reduction in the number of armed conflicts in the region, a greater engagement by development partners, and the establishment of the African Union, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Human Rights Council, NEPAD and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

The report notes that African countries are now playing a leading role in resolving their own peace, security and development challenges, but stresses that this should not prevent the international community from providing the necessary support for these efforts.  Indeed, more action is needed to tackle the global sources of armed conflict and sustained attention, and investment from the United Nations and the international community should support African institutions in anticipating, preventing and responding to crises.

The report adds that it is now time to undertake a systematic, comprehensive and joint review of the commitments made, action taken, progress achieved and lessons learned in preventing conflict and promoting peace and development in Africa.  The review will consider the continued relevance of the Secretary-General’s 1998 recommendations and the array of mandates and resolutions on Africa.  It will also consider the usefulness of more systematic arrangements for coordinating action, monitoring progress and sharing lessons learned while revamping efforts to establish greater institutional coherence.

The Assembly also has before it the report on progress made in the 2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly Africa [A/62/321], which highlights progress in the elimination of malaria, specifically through better case management and prevention.  It adds, however, that due to a lack of capacity in many developing countries, there is a critical ongoing shortage of reliable and accurate malaria data which is preventing countries from monitoring programme performance, coverage, and impact.  Although malaria-specific funding has been increasing, it is often ear-marked for funding commodities and not the overarching needs of health systems to build country capacity.  This leads to a vicious cycle:  without capacity, countries cannot absorb the available funding, and without funding, they cannot develop capacity.  The international community should increase funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which helps develop country capacity, while it builds consensus on appropriate levels and sources of subsidies for key commodities, such as nets and drugs.  Malaria-endemic countries should consider waiving taxes and tariffs on those same commodities to reduce their price and stimulate free trade.

The report recommends better understanding and application of World Health Organization (WHO) policies and strategies.  Malaria-endemic countries need to use the strategies to strengthen their health and drug resistance surveillance systems, and to help establish evidence-based national policies, operational plans and performance-based monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.  Meanwhile, funding partners should ensure that their funding supports only projects that are in accord with WHO policies, and that their evaluation methods are in line with those policies as well.  Nevertheless, many countries will need to undergo extensive and fundamental changes in their malaria control programmes if they are to reach their malaria controls and targets.

Also before the General Assembly is a letter to the Secretary-General from the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations.  The letter transmits the ministerial declaration adopted at the first African Conference on Human Development, held in Rabat in April 2007.  The declaration includes, among other things, a commitment by the 45 participating African countries to build a genuine process of cooperation in the field of human development, to promote gender equality and good governance, and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

General Assembly President Statement

General Assembly President SRGJAN KERIM said the three issues under consideration today were central to the overall work of the United Nations, and the link among them was self-evident.  NEPAD, an Africa-owned vision for the continent’s renewal, aimed to address issues of governance and socio-economic development, which were at the heart of conflict on the continent.  As the Secretary-General’s panel on threats, challenges and change had recognized, development was the “first line of defence” in a collective security system.  Indeed, eradicating poverty and promoting development strengthened States’ capacity to ensure durable peace.

Disease impeded development, he continued, noting that an estimated 350 million to 500 million cases of malaria were reported annually, resulting in over 1 million deaths, over 90 per cent of which were in Africa and mostly among children under age 5.  The estimated annual economic cost due to malaria in Africa was estimated at $12 billion.

Turning to the Secretary-General’s fifth report on progressing the implementation of international support to NEPAD, he said the report had highlighted policy measures taken by African countries and organizations in such areas as infrastructure, development, agriculture, health and education.  Indeed, commendable progress had been made, particularly in advancing the African Union/NEPAD health strategy.  At the same time, there was still a long road ahead.  African leadership was critical and must continue to guide responses to challenges.

NEPAD principles also recognized the imperative for strong international partnership, he said.  During the reporting period covered in the fifth report, there had been progress in the international community’s response, particularly in the extension of debt relief through the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative and other initiatives.  The report also acknowledged the need for measures to accelerate further implementation of official development assistance commitments.

On the Secretary-General’s report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, he said that, while the Assembly welcomed the decreased number of conflicts from a decade ago, the Assembly also recognized that one-fifth of the population on the continent lived in areas affected by conflict.  The readiness of the international community to respond to conflict was a major factor in the improvement of security on the continent.  African Union initiatives, such as the creation of an African peace and security architecture, should be encouraged.  Continued United Nations support was also critical, and he welcomed the Secretary-General’s plans to revamp efforts, including through strengthened capacity-building.

Turning to the World Health Organization report, he said it was encouraging that some interventions, such as long-lasting insecticidal nets, had begun to yield progress.  Yesterday’s announcement that tests on a malaria vaccine conducted in Mozambique were safe was very promising.  However, the challenges were significant and included a lack of funding and capacity, which had fallen dramatically short of what was needed to combat the disease.  A shortage of reliable data had also been noted and he, therefore, encouraged the General Assembly to work with the United Nations system in combating the disease.

The issues before the Assembly called for active involvement of all States, he said in conclusion.  He looked forward to the Assembly’s continued support for his plan to convene a leaders meeting on the Millennium Development Goals during the sixty-second session.

Opening Remarks by Secretary-General

Introducing his reports on peace and development in Africa, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that since he had taken office, Africa and its special needs had topped his agenda.  Indeed, his first overseas mission had been to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, followed by visits to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya.  He had since been to the Sudan to underscore the United Nations commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement as the cornerstone for peace throughout the country, as well as to advance efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur.

“As I have said on many occasions, peace in Darfur remains my most urgent priority,” he said, calling on Member States to work together to ensure success of the Darfur peace negotiations set to begin in Libya later this month.  “For my part, I intend to do everything I can to bring an end to the intense suffering in Darfur,” he added.

The Secretary-General had also made it a priority to advance the Organization’s development agenda in Africa, especially the Millennium Development Goals.  Many African countries had made good progress towards the Goals.  But overall, he said the continent was not on track to reach these development targets by 2015.  “Just past the midpoint of our marathon, the challenges remain daunting,” he said, stressing that extreme poverty, reinforced by a lack of access to basic education, health care and adequate nutrition, continued to prevent millions of talented, promising young Africans from fulfilling their potential.

“This status quo is unconscionable, for Africa and for the world,” he declared, adding that changing it required a strengthened global partnership.  It demanded shared responsibility.  And, it needed the implementation of all existing commitments.  “That is why I have established the Millennium Development Goals Africa Steering Group to bring together all major multilateral and inter-governmental development organizations.”  His aim was to galvanize international action towards attaining the Goals in full, on time and across Africa.

“We know that peace, development and human rights go hand-in-hand.  Fighting extreme poverty is key to preventing conflict,” he said, noting that his progress report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of peace and development in Africa clearly acknowledged this reality.  It was, therefore, heartening that over the past decade, Africa had made significant progress towards ending armed conflicts.  It had also progressed in building its own architecture in support of conflict prevention, mediation and conflict resolution, particularly through the African Union.

He went on to underline that conflicts in Angola, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Burundi had ended.  Fragile peace processes were being reinforced, largely through African efforts strongly supported by the international community.  In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, successful democratic elections had at last taken place.  The United Nations was supporting the Government's efforts to consolidate State authority in eastern DRC.  “We are also helping to address the serious humanitarian challenges in the Kivus,” he added.

As outlined in his report, the international community must now help consolidate the positive changes in Africa through stronger, more coherent United Nations support, including in the areas of governance and institutional capacity-building.  “We must ensure that the UN plays its role to the fullest extent possible along the peace continuum -- from conflict prevention to peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding,” he said, adding that global partners must use all possible resources to support Africa's development and empower women to strengthen their essential role in the process.  Everyone must also do more to help Africa deal with the increasing threat posed by climate change, “because we know that poor countries stand to bear the brunt of it”, he added.

Much had changed since 1998 when former Secretary-General Kofi Annan prepared the initial report on the causes of conflict in Africa.  The time had come to take stock of progress and lessons learned to build on the results attained thus far, which was why a comprehensive review of the recommendations contained in the 1998 report was being proposed.  “As requested by this Assembly, my report also includes proposals for UN action in support of the goal of achieving a conflict-free Africa by 2010,” he added.

Turning to his report on “Progress in Implementation and International Support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development”, he said that he had provided an overview of the progress being made in implementing the NEPAD blueprint.  He had also provided Member States with a picture of the multifaceted ways in which the United Nations system was working closely with Africa and African institutions in the implementation of NEPAD.

The Partnership was a good example of the resolve demonstrated by Africans to take full responsibility for their continent's future, he said.  A growing number of African countries were participating in the African Peer Review Mechanism.  Improvements in governance had been accompanied by sustained economic growth and better management of the economies of many African countries.  Those developments underscored the importance of international support for NEPAD as an African-owned and Africa-driven framework for the region's future.

“In spite of many positive developments, the special needs of Africa remain immense.  And today, there is no more pressing need than addressing the fight against the pandemics that continue to ravage the continent,” he said, noting that malaria, AIDS, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases were taking their worst social and economic toll on countries that could least afford it.  Those diseases also posed threats to peace and stability.

Malaria alone killed more than 1 million people every year, mostly infants, young children and pregnant women -- and most of them in Africa.  In its report on the Decade to Roll Back Malaria, the WHO outlined the significant progress made in the international campaign against this ancient enemy of humanity.  “We now have the tools and increased resources to control malaria.  But there is no time to waste.  Every minute we deliberate, another two children die needlessly.  Let us keep pushing to reverse the incidence of this killer disease,” he said.

African countries were the first to acknowledge their primary responsibility to tackle Africa's problems, he said.  They accepted the urgent need to continue to fight corruption, improve governance, empower women and create jobs.  Further, they recognized that tens of millions of young people needed education; that essential infrastructure must be built; and that Africa must be able to compete effectively in the world economy.  “ Africa's courageous efforts at reform must continue -- but the international community must also rise to the challenge,” he said.

The United Nations had a crucial role to play in helping Africa meet its challenges and realize its full potential.  “That is why I will do my utmost to further enhance the Secretariat's capacity to support our Africa-related programmes and efforts,” he said.

Statements

MUNIR AKRAM ( Pakistan), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said there was much that had been achieved since the launch of NEPAD.  Through NEPAD, African leaders had been able to take ownership and leadership of their own agenda, and were able to place their countries on the road to economic and social development success.  NEPAD had helped African leaders fundamentally change the development paradigm and had created a comprehensive approach to development through African ownership.  It was regrettable that, at the halfway point to the Millennium Development Goals target date of 2015, Africa was the sole region not on track to meet those goals.  African countries alone were not to blame, however.  To achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to eradicate poverty in Africa, urgent and concerted action by the entire international community was imperative.  Despite sincere efforts by African countries to implement NEPAD and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the region had not received the proper support or funding to do so.

He said the overall decline in official development assistance, despite promises by the Group of Eight to double aid to Africa, was particularly regrettable.  African countries would be unable to achieve the Millennium Goals if funding remained at its current levels.  Along with an increase in financial support, the international community should also ensure that all multilateral trade agreements prioritized Africa’s needs and incorporated appropriate development provisions.  The Aid for Trade Initiative should be effectively and efficiently managed and implemented as soon as possible.  Africa’s share of global foreign direct investment remained too low, and conscious and concerted efforts were needed to reverse that trend.  More resources should be mobilized for African States, regional economic communities, and the African Union to help the continent as a whole achieve the Millennium Development Goals and fully implement the NEPAD programme.

In closing, he welcomed new, innovative approaches to funding and the reorganization of United Nations bodies into clusters aligned with NEPAD priorities.  There was much more work that needed to be done, however, and an ongoing commitment by all States throughout this session of the General Assembly and future sessions was absolutely necessary for success.

JEAN-MARIE EHOUZOU ( Benin), speaking on behalf of the Group of African States, expressed his satisfaction at the Secretary-General’s reports.  Noting that NEPAD had been adopted in 2001 to renew the continent, he said African countries had committed themselves to mobilizing the African people so that they could become the main stakeholders in development.  Indeed, key indicators had improved and progress under the NEPAD programme had been noted in the key areas of infrastructure, energy, information technology, communication, transport, water and sanitation.  Also, NEPAD recently had done work in gender equality and undertaken efforts to harness the potential of women.

Still, he added, challenges remained in the areas of HIV/AIDS, capacity-building, foreign direct investment, official development assistance, and a breakthrough in the World Trade Organization negotiations.  Most African countries were ready to accelerate economic and social reforms; however, they lacked resources and means.

Developed countries’ subsidies to their agricultural sectors were a major concern for African countries, he said, adding that developed countries were reluctant to take the necessary measures and lacked the political courage to act appropriately.  Africa must improve intra-African exchanges, which would be fundamental to helping them achieve sustainable development.  He welcomed the Secretary-General’s call for development partners to honour their commitments to African countries.  Indeed, development partners should translate their commitments into true development assistance.  He welcomed progress in debt relief for indebted African countries, however, progress was needed to free Africa from the debt burden.  He stressed that Africa needed 100 per cent simple debt cancellation, and he welcomed recent South-South cooperation, which was mobilizing essential resources.

Stressing that African countries had been at the forefront of deciding their destiny, he said the African Group had assumed a key role in settling conflicts.  Serious new leadership was emerging, which was supported by a more efficiently organized civil society.  Although problems such as extreme poverty, weak institutions and insufficient protection of human rights persisted, Africa placed great importance on peace and security.  He hoped the continent would end all its conflicts by 2010.  In that context, the African Union continued to play an important role in preventing conflicts, particularly through its Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development programme, which provided a tool to deal with post-conflict situations.  The Union had also worked to identify States in which there was a risk of conflict.

On malaria, he said major strides had been made by African Governments and the international community, and partnerships had expanded.  Maternal morbidity had also decreased.  Africa was still concerned, however, that mosquito nets were not available for all households, and he called for adequate funds to efficiently combat the disease.  In closing, he said Africa had worked to establish institutions and subregional groups to ensure optimal use of resources.  Africa was awaiting the appointment of a new Special Advisor for Africa, as that was essential to promoting development on the continent.

LEMOS GODINHO (Portugal), speaking on behalf of the European Union and affiliated countries, said the partnership between the European Union and Africa was strong and lasting, and the Union’s support for NEPAD provided an apt basis of the partnership between the entire international community and that continent.  Thanks to NEPAD, democratic and accountable governance was gaining ground on the African continent, in particular through the African Peer Review Mechanism which was an “African way to good governance”, accountability and transparency.  The challenge that remained now was the implementation of the projects and programmes identified in the National Programmes of Action.  It was also important to have a stronger involvement of civil society in the Peer Review process, in order for the mechanism to gain weight and legitimacy.

Poverty was not a concept in Africa, he said, it was a reality.  He reiterated the European Union’s commitment to intensify its official development assistance.  The resolution of Africa’s external debt problem was critical for sustainable development in the region and, as such, the European Union was also committed to the extended HIPC Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative.  Both creditor and debtor countries had a responsibility to ensure long term debt sustainability, and the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) provided important guidance in that regard.

Africa was afflicted by far fewer armed conflicts now than it was a decade ago, he said.  Still, one-fifth of the population lived in areas affected by conflict, and Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Darfur, Sudan were still areas of concern.  As such, the European Union had provided financial and political support to help build peace and security in those regions.  The United Nations should continue to help in preventive diplomacy, but the countries themselves still had the primary responsibility in building peace.  External efforts were useless without the internal will to address the situation.  The disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and security sector reform programmes should be strengthened, and prevention and reconstruction efforts should go hand-in-hand with building durable peace and promoting economic growth.  The Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund were both important new tools that should play a primary role in post-conflict reconstruction in Africa.

Finally, turning to the Roll Back Malaria report, he said health was a fundamental element to reducing poverty and promoting human security.  After many years of impressive gains in human health worldwide, some countries were now unable to cope with the burden of disease imposed on their health systems due to an inherent weakness in national health systems, ineffective funding, and a lack of skilled human resources.  Malaria disproportionately affected poor people and exacerbated the poverty of poor countries and communities.  To build on recent positive signs in the fight against malaria, the Union was committed to ensuring access to effective anti-malaria drugs, including ongoing funding for The Global Fund on Malaria.  Overall, Africa needed peace and stability and the Union would help it achieve that goal in a spirit of equal partnership, with a shared commitment to democracy, human rights, good governance and mutual respect.

KEVIN CHEOK (Singapore), speaking on behalf of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), said that six years had passed since the adoption of NEPAD, which had since become the key mechanism through which multilateral financial institutions and development partners sought to engage Africa.  While the Secretary-General’s reports highlight some of the good work being done through the implementation of various NEPAD initiatives, Africa’s challenges overall remained daunting.  With many African countries behind schedule to meet the 2015 deadline for worldwide achievement of the Millennium Goals, only concerted international effort would help put the continent back on track.

He said that leadership and accountability were key factors for sustainable development and, to that end, the ASEAN saw the NEPAD African Peer Review Mechanism as an instrument for promoting good governance.  That mechanism was not about recrimination.  Rather, it was about assistance and support, and ASEAN had been encouraged by the growing enthusiasm among NEPAD countries for that initiative.  He went on to say that, even though NEPAD was a home-grown, African-led initiative, the international community should nevertheless lend its support.  For instance, several ASEAN member countries had contributed to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa.

He went on to say that there was a long history between Africa and Asia, with the first inter-regional summit held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955.  The fiftieth anniversary of that summit had been celebrated two years ago with leaders from Africa and Asia agreeing on a declaration on cooperation in political, economic, social and cultural relations.  Activities to that end were being taken up within the framework of the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership (NAASP), in areas like capacity-building, environmental law and the development of small and medium enterprises.  Individually, ASEAN members had also strengthened their relationship with NEPAD countries, and trade between the regions had grown in volume and now encompassed an ever-growing list of products and services.  He added that both African and Asian countries sought an early and successful conclusion to the Doha trade talks, especially since it was clear that trade barriers imposed on developing country products were a huge handicap to economic development.

NGUYEN TAT THANH ( Viet Nam) agreed with other delegations that, although Africa had made some encouraging progress in its struggle for lasting peace, prosperity and sustainable development, enormous challenges remained for some African countries in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.  Viet Nam believed that to enable better and wider use of trade opportunities and facilitating trade flows, the “aid for trade” initiative had great potential for spurring growth in Africa, which was often marginalized in the international trade arena.  At the same time, that initiative should be considered just one element in the international community’s ongoing efforts to build a global partnership for development, in which South-South and North-South cooperation were of paramount importance.  

He said that, over the past few years, Viet Nam and its African partners had been expanding their relationships both bilaterally and through the South-South Cooperation Framework, in such areas as agriculture, science and technology, health care, education and environmental protection.   Viet Nam had signed numerous cooperation agreements with African countries, including an agriculture cooperation project with Mozambique, and the Tripartite Cooperation Project, which included Viet Nam, France and Mali.  Finally, he stressed that Viet Nam’s two-way trade volume with African had grown significantly since the early 1990s, from just $15 million to some $1 billion today.

MIKIO MORI ( Japan) said that the international community must stand behind African countries and support their efforts to take charge of their own development.   Japan, for its part, was committed to helping African countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and to that end, planned next year to co-organize the fourth Tokyo International Conference for African development (TICAD) with the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.   Japan was also set to host the next summit of the Group of Eight world’s most industrialized countries next July.  “We are determined to utilize the momentum generated by these two events to mobilize international support for African development and African countries’ efforts to achieve the MDGs,” he said.

Turning to the NEPAD, he said that Japan had cooperated with African countries on that commendable home-grown initiative since 2001.  Through regular consultations with the NEPAD Secretariat, several areas had been designated as priorities for cooperation in the foreseeable future, including infrastructure, agriculture, and trade, as well as private sector and human resources development.  Recently, Japan and NEPAD officials had agreed that tackling climate change was another area for priority action.  Meanwhile, Japan was moving steadily towards doubling its official development assistance to Africa by the end of 2007, while at the same time mobilizing the expertise and resources of the wider international community to help Africa boost its economic growth, ensure human security and address climate change issues. 

He said Japan agreed that free trade and debt relief were crucial for sustainable development in Africa and, to that end, the Japanese Government had contributed to the global “aid for trade” initiative aimed at helping developing countries reap the benefits of free trade by building their capacities to export goods.  On the Decade to Roll Back Malaria, he said that his delegation was encouraged that there had been a change for the better in so many countries as a result of that partnership initiative.  At the same time, serious challenges still persisted, and Japan for its part had, among other things, committed to distributing 10 million long-lasting insecticide treated nets throughout Africa.  It had also contributed some $600 million to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

JASEM AL NAJEM ( Kuwait) said that NEPAD validated Kuwait’s long-held belief in the close relationship between development and political stability.  He commended African States for including NEPAD’s priorities in their national policies and development plans.  He hoped that the many resolutions adopted at numerous international conferences aimed at achieving sustainable development would help establish the basis for partnership between the developed and developing countries and lead to fair and balanced grounds for international trade.  When each party assumed its own responsibilities, Africa’s special needs could be met.  He supported the statement in the Secretary-General’s report that African Governments needed to continue prudent borrowing policies and strengthen their capacity to manage their debt.

The effort by African States to eliminate debt, while ensuring sufficient financial resources for development, was one of the major challenges facing the African continent, he said.  He said that multilateral debt relief from the Group of Eight and the International Monetary Fund had drawn Kuwait’s attention, as Kuwait had offered debt relief to African countries even prior to NEPAD.  Debt cancellation would not be helpful unless funds were provided for development assistance.  The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development had contributed to debt alleviation in Africa and supported economic development in over 100 countries worldwide, 40 per cent of which were in Africa.  The Fund contributed to many rehabilitation programmes, he said, noting its $100 million contribution to 11 African countries for the prevention of river blindness, and contributions to the Foundation for Tropical Diseases.

He said that Kuwait worked to stabilize world oil markets in order to maintain the pace of economic development and growth for the entire international community.  Through the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund, Kuwait had contributed to many development projects, including projects in 46 African countries.  Further, he noted that African countries had exerted significant efforts to satisfy the demands of the international community to assume the major role in achieving stability in Africa.  It was now time for the international community to increase its technical, political and financial support to those countries to create the peaceful environment necessary to development.

SUSHMA SWARAJ ( India) said it was regrettable that malaria continued to plague many parts of Africa, unnecessarily exacerbating poverty and incapacitating the workforce, therefore decreasing economic productivity.  While mosquito nets and other items had proven necessary in eliminating malaria, Africa needed more access to affordable generic medicines, which the present intellectual property regime did not protect, as well as the economic development that historically eliminated malaria from the developed world.

She continued, saying the Secretary-General’s Report on the “Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace in Africa” stated the number of armed conflicts had been significantly reduced.  However, it was worth remembering that many African countries, where conflicts had broken out, were, during the preceding decade, under an IMF programme for 60 to 80 per cent of the time.  Economic advice given to them on trade, subsidies and agriculture made many reel back into conflict.  Therefore, the United Nations needed to play a central role in the reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions, including a much greater voice in making them more responsive to Africa’s needs.

Despite positive developments, she said the Secretary-General reminded Member States of serious challenges ahead.  While the international community had initiated several measures to support NEPAD, it could only succeed if a global partnership delivered on resources.  The Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative and the HIPC Initiative had helped African countries through savings in debt servicing.  However, the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative would not be successful unless donor countries adequately offset the lost debt repayments to the International Development Association and the African Development Fund.  Furthermore, the Doha round had to address the problem of tariff escalation to give Africa an incentive in processing, rather than in raw materials.

Finally, trade that helped development, reform of the international financial architecture and meeting official development assistance commitments were essential for the success of NEPAD’s objectives, she said.  Historically, the invasions of Africa took place in search of raw materials:  ivory, gold and diamonds.  Unless there was a complete break with that, NEPAD would not make a difference.  The most important problem in Africa was not governance, but foreign manipulation.

LUIS ENRIQUE CHÁVEZ ( Peru) said peace and security were linked to social and economic factors that engendered national fragmentation, such as poverty and lack of human rights.  That was particularly true in Africa.  In many countries, keeping the State mechanism operational still required international aid, and populations continued to grow beyond the ability of the labour markets to absorb them.  Further, the Millennium Development Goals would not be met in 2015 by most sub-Saharan countries.  For those reasons, NEPAD’s priority should be to help sub-Saharan countries join the global economy.  To achieve that, countries needed the cancellation of foreign debt and effective access to markets.  Indeed, economic disfunctionality had sunk countries into civil conflict.

Africa’s peace and security challenges required the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, to provide a strategic vision, he continued, noting the importance of addressing conflict prevention, cooperation, humanitarian and post-conflict management issues.  He supported the Secretary-General’s proposal to improve the United Nations mediation capability, and said the United Nations should provide comprehensive management of post-conflict situations.  Gains were also needed in such areas as social inclusion, respect for human rights and laying the foundations for viable economies, which must include security sector reform.  In that context, he supported the Peacebuilding Commission’s efforts.

Touching on various conflicts in Africa, he said Peru had supported the creation of a hybrid force in Darfur, and hoped for dialogue between rebel groups and the Government.  He reiterated the need for all parties to limit the use of violence.  On Somalia, he said international support should be aimed at creating a viable peace accord.  Parties on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea had a responsibility to redouble efforts to achieve peace.  In closing, he said there was an opportunity to rebuild the social fabric of African countries emerging from conflict.  He called on countries, the international community and local populations to play a part in that process.

HABIB MANSOUR (Tunisia), associating himself with Pakistan’s statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and Benin’s statement on behalf of the African Group of States, said the international community’s interest in Africa was based on two facts.  The first was that the continent had been most affected by poverty, conflicts and pandemics, which explained why it was lagging behind in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.  Second, Africa was a “continent in movement”, trying to assume its fate and take charge of its reality.

He said the Secretary-General’s report on international support for NEPAD had highlighted the need to strengthen national capacities and ensure coordination among national development plans, international support and NEPAD priorities.  The implementation and achievement of the Goals hinged on greater mobilization of international support.  In that context, he urged that material and human resources be stepped up for the United Nations Special Advisor on Africa.

Conflict situations in Africa called for targeted economic support, he continued, adding that the Peacebuilding Commission was an achievement that could benefit the continent.  He also spotlighted the African Union’s role in achieving stability, particularly through its Peace and Security Council.  The joint force for Darfur was a sign of how coordination between the African Union and the United Nations could strengthen conflict prevention efforts.

Turning to the impact of pandemics on Africa’s development prospects, he said global partnerships were not a choice, but rather an imperative.  Unless there was a more consistent level of global coordination, the goal of eradicating malaria would remain on paper only.  He reminded delegates that the disease had caused the deaths of 1 million people, and called for long-term efforts to strengthen national health structures.  In closing, he said the situation in Africa should incite the international community to redouble its efforts to accelerate development on the continent.  He hoped a high-level meeting on Africa’s needs would lead to concrete commitments that would consolidate peace, security and prosperity for the continent.

ILEANA NUNEZ MORDOCHE ( Cuba) said many developed countries continued to misconstrue Africa, and viewed it as a source of wealth for their own benefit, while “disregarding the catastrophic consequence that centuries-long plundering and exploitation” had caused.  The economic and financial policies those countries imposed on Africa in the past were the causes of the problems there today.  Africa remained marginalized and highly disadvantaged in international economic relations.  That, combined with ongoing poverty, unemployment, armed conflicts and disease, would prevent the region from achieving the Millennium Development Goals.  In addition, the imposition of trade liberalization over the past two decades had cost Africa more than $270 billion, and seriously weakened the terms of trade and increased capital flight.  Official development assistance to Africa had not changed since 2004, and remained far below the levels necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. 

She said her country had deep roots in Africa and, as such, her Government had always offered that continent its support and solidarity.  Although Cuba had few resources and was the subject of a “cruel and genocidal economic, commercial and financial blockade by the United States”, it had provided support to Africa through a vast array of technical, professional and medical initiatives.  Her Government’s cooperation with African countries proved that significant results could be achieved with serious political will.  She reiterated her “unbending solidarity” with Africa and her country’s determination to continue to support the continent through its main asset, “the human capital created by the Revolution”.  Africa did not need to be reminded of its problems or sufferings, nor did it need false commitments or “paltry initiatives”.  Africa needed the cancellation of its external debt, access to markets, fair prices for its exports, access to technologies and training, and assistance to fight diseases.  International cooperation and political will were necessary to provide all of that.

KATI O. KORGA ( Togo) said, decades ago, the international community promised to help Africa find its way on the path to economic and social development through programmes such as the United Nations Programme of Action for Economic Recovery and Development of Africa.  Despite the full commitment of African countries, the principal objectives of those programmes were never achieved, due to a lack of financial and technical support on the part of the international community.  Member States, reflecting on that situation, then created NEPAD, which claimed to be a new partnership between the international community and Africa.  African leaders launched NEPAD with a great deal of hope, and believed their appeals for help had finally been heard.  Currently, however, it seemed that NEPAD would suffer the same fate as the programmes that came before it. 

He said there was little optimism to be found in the Secretary-General’s report in regards to the support of the international community.  Official development assistance was on the decline, and the fulfilment of promises to double aid to Africa looked highly unlikely.  Small steps forward in debt relief and foreign direct investment were countered by a continued lack of progress in multilateral trade negotiations.  Without the international support to implement NEPAD, Africa would never be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.  He reiterated his call to Africa’s development partners to fulfil their commitments to Africa to give the region a chance to advance the NEPAD vision and to achieve the Millennium Goals.  Urgent action was needed to increase international aid, to cancel African debt, and to create multilateral trade agreements that benefit developing countries. 

In asking for international support, he acknowledged the role of African leaders in their own developmental success.  The African Peer Review Mechanism was already proving itself as a powerful, African-owned tool to build good political and economic governance.  His country was not only implementing the Peer Review Mechanism, but was also conducting outreach activities to make the importance of NEPAD and its priorities known and understood nationwide.  In closing, he said the problems of development should be approached in a spirit of partnership and shared responsibility, in an effort to find appropriate and durable solutions.

MOSTAFA SAHEL ( Morocco) welcomed the decision to hold a High-level Dialogue on Development in Africa in the General Assembly in 2008.  That meeting would be an opportunity to identify what African countries would need to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and reach their full potential.  In the meantime, however, it was imperative for the international community to make good on the promises they had already made to provide aid and assistance to Africa.  Though some commitments had been fulfilled in terms of debt relief, much more needed to be done to ensure all African countries could share in that success.  Despite the implementation of political reforms, good governance and rule of law, most African countries were still unable to attract the necessary foreign investment needed for their development.  An increase in foreign direct investment and greater access to world markets would be necessary for any African country to truly succeed.  He added that the United Nations should play a leading role in mobilizing the necessary support for Africa.

On a national level, he said his Government had begun implementing a series of initiatives to produce short-term improvements in the lives of its citizens, and long-term sustainable development for the country as a whole.  Those initiatives included, among others, an opening of its markets to least developing countries in Africa, the preparation of regional trade agreements, and the strengthening of partnerships with the private sector.  His country had also developed educational and training opportunities for African countries, primarily through scholarships and grants.  Morocco’s efforts to promote South-South cooperation constituted an innovative approach to development that put social needs at the forefront and promoted the participation of all stakeholders.  Last April, his country hosted the first African Conference on Human Development.  The results of the conference demonstrated the desire of African leaders to consolidate efforts to improve the lives of all Africans.  It was now time to build upon that positive momentum to help Africa advance the NEPAD vision and achieve the Millennium Development Goals through a spirit of cooperation.

KELLY G. KNIGHT ( United States) congratulated African members of NEPAD on six years of accomplishments, noting that her Government had collaborated with Africa on programmes in agriculture, power infrastructure and trade development, among other areas.  She hoped that the Comprehensive African Development Programme (CAADP), which the United States supported in six countries, would reduce food insecurity by facilitating development of regional agricultural markets and trade.   United States support for NEPAD was one way of recognizing that Africa, more than ever, was taking advantage of the dynamism inherent in democracy, good governance and free markets.  Indeed, in 2007, 33 sub-Saharan countries had been designated as free or partly free by the Freedom House organization. The World Bank “Doing Business in 2007” report had ranked Africa third among world regions in introducing regulatory reform.

She firmly supported sub-Saharan countries in implementing policies and creating infrastructure necessary for economic growth, and highlighted the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s recent announcement of a $698 million grant to Tanzania for infrastructure improvements.

On malaria, she said her Government recognized the critical need for greater international efforts to reduce the burden of the disease in Africa, and highlighted United States President George W. Bush’s President’s Malaria Initiative, which represented an historic five-year expansion of Government resources to fight the disease.  The President had committed an additional $1.2 billion to that initiative, and set an ambitious goal of reducing malaria mortality by 50 per cent in the 15 focus countries by 2010.  A White House Summit on Malaria was also held in 2006.  Such new resources, combined with major contributions from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, were helping to ramp up comprehensive control efforts in African countries.

She said the President’s Malaria Initiative had moved quickly.  By the end of 2007, the Initiative was expected to reach 30 million people with lifesaving prevention and treatment measures, and by end-2008 was expected to make major gains in both net ownership and use of Artemisinin-based combination therapies.  Partnerships were at the heart of the strategy, particularly at the country level, which was why the Initiative closely coordinated activities with host country Governments, among other actors.  The United States was also working with the private sector to mobilize further financial support.  Citing a recent United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report that progress was being made, she said the world was poised to radically reduce the human and economic costs of malaria.

In closing, she emphasized that the United States supported NEPAD and African people in the achievement of peace, freedom from highly endemic disease and prosperity through trade and economic freedom.

MAGED ABDELAZIZ ( Egypt) expressed concern that African countries were far from reaching the Millennium Development Goals.  Those States were implementing their obligations under NEPAD, however, statistics from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reflected a drop in 2005 in development assistance from Europe for the first time since 1997, while the Group of Eight countries were also behind in meeting their commitments.  He stressed the need for swift implementation of prior commitments, and urged increased foreign direct investment in a broader spectrum of African countries.  He also said that any agreement resulting from multilateral trade negotiations must take Africa’s development needs into consideration.  He welcomed various programmes for debt relief, but said they were moving too slowly, noting that next week’s high-level dialogue on financing for development was an opportunity to call on the international community to assist the continent in achieving its development goals.

On climate change, he said Africa suffered disproportionately in relation to its contribution to the problem and must receive assistance.  The United Nations role must go hand-in-hand with regional and subregional efforts.  The Egyptian National fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa had provided support to African countries since 1981.  On political matters, he spoke of the African Union’s peace and security architecture, African Union cooperation with the United Nations, and said that Egypt shared the Secretary-General’s goal of making Africa free from conflicts by the year 2010.  He called upon him to establish a group of governmental experts to examine the feasibility, scope and draft parameters for reaching a binding instrument on the export, import and transfer of conventional weapons.

Despite the best efforts and some successes in the fight against malaria, the disease still took a million lives a year, he said.  He noted that, more than any other disease, malaria was associated with poverty.  That meant that its elimination was a major challenge to development.  Efforts to revamp economic, educational and health systems must be supported.  Technical knowledge must be transferred and qualified cadres trained.  Civil society and the private sector must be included in the effort.  Malaria’s ability to cross borders must be addressed.  The international community had a particular responsibility to provide the financial resources for these efforts, and also to solve the problems of intellectual  property rights for drugs and vaccines.  Also, recipients of assistance must use it in the most effective way.

KAIRE MUNIONGANDA MBUENDE ( Namibia) said “business as usual” would mean many African countries would not achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.  The recognition of the special needs of Africa by the United Nations system did not result in an increase in resource mobilization or resource flow to the continent.  Many resources which could be used for development were spent on conflict management and resolution instead.  African countries were taking the lead in resolving their own conflicts and creating institutions for economic integration and good governance.  Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union helped to strengthen the continent’s capacity for conflict resolution.  There could not be development without peace, and sustainable peace was predicated on the existence of democratic institutions and a culture of democracy and tolerance.

The primary responsibility for the development of Africa lay with Africans themselves, he said.  To this end, African Governments had invested substantial resources in infrastructure development, energy, transport, communication, health and education, among others.  They had also prioritized private sector development and domestic and foreign investments.  Africa did not need new initiatives, but rather the implementation of programmes that had already been approved.  Resource flow to the continent was too slow, and the Group of Eight nations were off track on their commitments to “double ODA [official development assistance] to Africa”.  Despite recent increases in foreign direct investment flows, the continent’s overall share remained too low and too concentrated in certain regions.  He said the enactment of liberal investment laws and macroeconomic stability by African countries had not resulted in foreign direct investment flows.

He said the current impasse in the Doha trade round was also of concern.  It had negatively impacted development, and had given rise to a multitude of bilateral, regional and subregional agreements that threatened to divert trade negotiations from the multilateral trading system and its rules and principles.

NIKOLAY V. CHULKOV (Russian Federation), said that despite progress in resolving conflicts in Africa, the situations in Darfur, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea were still of particular concern.  He urged strengthening the United Nations role in coordinating crisis resolution on the continent in conjunction with regional and subregional African entities.  He referred, in particular, to the practical cooperation between the Organization and the African Union in working towards a resolution of the crisis in Darfur.  He said he positively assessed African community efforts towards the consistent implementation of measures to strengthen good neighbour relations, to expand cooperation to ensure border security, disarmament, and demobilization, to prevent violations of international humanitarian law, and to fight impunity of crimes against humanity.

He said he welcomed the African Union’s activities to form African “stand-by forces”, noting that African peacekeepers were being trained in Russia, and that Russian forces were involved in practically all United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa.  He supported the work of the Peacebuilding Commission, and noted his country’s commitment to contributing $2 million annually to the Peacebuilding Fund.  He said an all-African “security architecture” was needed to prevent and resolve conflicts, and appealed to the international community to support African Union mechanisms to that end.

He said NEPAD was a major vehicle for African countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.  Debt alleviation was an essential part of that.  Russia had cancelled debt in the amount of $11.3 billion, and was negotiating a debt-for-development swap with the World Bank in the amount of $250 million to be used for priority development projects, including the fight against infectious diseases.  It was engaged in other debt relief activities.  Further, African States enjoyed trade preferences in Russia, which facilitated their efforts to diversify external economic ties and provided training and educational assistance.

BASO SANGQU ( South Africa) said that although the New Partnership for Africa’s Development was a partnership between African countries, the acceleration of sustainable development required partnerships with the North to fundamentally alter the unequal donor-recipient relationships that had existed over centuries within the continent.  He said South Africa was disappointed by some of the conclusions and recommendations in the Secretary-General’s report on the progress in the implementation of -- and international support for -- the NEPAD.  The statement that a “lack of progress in the Doha Development Round…remains a major problem” barely acknowledged that Doha had neither lived up to the spirit nor the letter of its lofty objective

Improving policy coherence for development remained of critical importance to NEPAD, he continued.  Increased aid and debt relief -– as well as other actions outlined in the report -– needed to be a part of a more coherent approach to supporting development in Africa.  Additionally, the United Nations must play an important role in promoting the realization of the “African Renaissance”.  South Africa agreed on the need for further strengthening regional consultation and the coordination of activities on a country level.

Under the Abuja Declaration, he added, South Africa had committed to decreasing the malaria morbidity and mortality rate 50 per cent by 2010.  Because of the residual spraying of DDT, especially in the North, the country had experienced a massive reduction of malaria cases.   South Africa believed the fight against malaria could be won by all nations through destroying the mosquitoes carrying the disease.

JOHN MCNEE ( Canada) said Africa remained a continent of great promise and formidable challenge, across the spectrum of political and economic issues.  While Africa had made solid progress in recent years, especially in the area of peace and security –- a prerequisite to any lasting development and economic growth –- successes remained fragile in many regions.  The international community must help consolidate the gains made in order to ensure a safer environment for all Africans, as well to ensure the achievement of internationally agreed development goals.  The Secretary-General’s report on implementation of the NEPAD initiative had been a sober reminder that midway to 2015, many African countries would not achieve their Millennium Development Goals.

He said Canada was pleased to be doing its part to help Africa achieve the Millennium Goals and address peace and security challenges.  At the recent Group of Eight Summit in Germany, Canada had confirmed its commitment to double its international aid to Africa from $1.05 billion in 2003-2004 to $2.1 billion by 2008-2009.  It was also working to support NEPAD’s Peer Review Mechanism, an initiative that Canada believed was key to achieving security, promotion of democracy, sustainable development and good governance on the continent.

On the issue of conflict, he said that this past August, his delegation had urged the Security Council to address fighting at an early stage.  Canada was increasingly concerned with recent developments in the Great Lakes region, the Sudan and Zimbabwe, which underscored the fragility of the gains made in the area of peace and security.  In addition to the serious effects on the people living in those individual countries, those troubling situations endangered regional stability.  Specifically, Canada remained deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Sudan, and called on all parties to the Darfur conflict to participate in the renewed peace talks set for the end of the month.

On the Great Lakes situation, he said that while the countries of that long-troubled region had held their second joint conference last December –- capped by the respective leaders’ “bold decision” to sign a peace, security and development pact –- recent developments in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were raising serious concerns.  Regional Governments should do everything possible to preserve the peace that their citizens longed for.  He said Canada was also deeply concerned by the deteriorating political, economic and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.  Canada supported mediation efforts being led by South African President Thabo Mbeki.  It recognized the progress to date, and looked forward to Zimbabwe securing the necessary conditions for holding free and fair elections in 2008.

MASUD BIN MOMEN, Director General (United Nations), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, noting Africa’s daunting challenges of poverty, hunger, malnutrition and deadly disease, said African countries, by adopting NEPAD, had placed the internationally agreed Development Goals at the centre of their development agendas.  The Peer Review Mechanism was a concrete sign of African countries’ commitment to good governance.  By adopting two currency unions and nominal exchange-rate stabilization in the South African Common Monetary Area, Africa had taken the lead in regional monetary integration.  Progress had also been made in conflict resolution in several countries.

At the same time, he said international cooperation in the form of aid, trade, debt relief and investment, among other efforts, was crucial.  He called on States to correct the distortion in today’s trading system, as it was no doubt biased against developing countries.  Commodity-dependent economies suffered from the erosion of preferences and losses in export revenue as a result of the most-favoured nation tariff reduction.  It was critically important to address their specific development needs.  He urged major economies to conclude the Doha trade negotiations, with full implementation of its development agenda, with particular attention to African country concerns.

The external debt situation of developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, remained a serious concern, he said.  Some progress had been made in sub-Saharan Africa, as the debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio it had dropped to 24 per cent from 37 per cent last year.  He was deeply concerned that, excluding debt forgiveness, official development assistance from Development Assistance Committee countries had declined in 2006 to its lowest level since 1999.  Development partners should also help Africa integrate into the global economy through foreign direct investment.  On peace and development, he said there had hardly been any African peacekeeping missions in the past 25 years where his country had not participated.  Today, there were about 10,000 Bangladeshis working in 12 United Nations peacekeeping missions.  On development, he noted Bangladesh’s membership in the Group of 77 and Non-Aligned Movement and the least developed countries.  Fulfilling the commitments of the Brussels Programme of Action also would go a long way in addressing Africa’s problems.  As current Chair of the least developed countries, Africa would remain at the top of the priority agenda.

Within the framework of South-South cooperation, Bangladesh had adopted innovative ideas such as microcredit, which was a simple concept that could create profound changes.  The model had been replicated in 100 countries, including many in Africa, and Bangladesh remained ready to share its experience.  He concluded by saying that addressing extreme poverty was a strategic choice, well embedded in NEPAD.  Development progress could not be achieved without the social and economic emancipation of most of Africa’s long-neglected nations.

AHMED MEKKI AHMED, Director, Economic and Technical Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, aligned himself with Pakistan’s statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and Benin’s statement on behalf of the African Group of States.  Welcoming African countries’ progress in implementing the two tracks of NEPAD’s infrastructure programme, he urged scaled up investment in infrastructure.  He further emphasized the need to support international initiatives in the area of global health, including the Oslo Declaration of 2006.

He welcomed progress achieved in implementing the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), and said Sudan had continually urged the remaining African countries to join.  Moreover, his country had established the organs necessary to accelerate implementation with the participation of all domestic stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the private sector.  On trade issues, he said that African countries’ accession to the World Trade Organization was vital for the process of integration into the world economy.  While welcoming the efforts of development partners to relieve African countries’ debt, he pointed out that Sudan faced constraints that kept it from benefiting from the HIPC Initiative, and looked forward to support in overcoming that challenge.

Sudan’s experience illustrated the vital role improving socio-economic conditions played in sustaining peace, he said, noting that wealth-sharing arrangements had been essential components of the county’s three peace agreements.  Unilateral sanctions imposed on Sudan since the 1990s continued to seriously hamper the Government of National Unity’s efforts to address the root causes of conflicts, among them climate change.  The central role of regional organizations in sustaining peace was vital, particularly for post-conflict African countries, and he called for the urgent implementation of the 10-year capacity building plan to enhance Africa’s peacekeeping capacities.

On malaria, he said Sudan’s entire population was at risk of contracting the disease, adding that malaria affected 7.5 million Sudanese people, and accounted for one-fifth of outpatient attendance in public health facilities.  Scientific evidence pointed to climate change as having an impact on the incidence of malaria, with higher temperatures accelerating the development of mosquitoes.   Sudan had designed a national strategy and set up a special unit to combat malaria, through improved disease management and disease surveillance measures.  The strategy aimed to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality by 40 per cent in 2007.

FRANCIS K. BUTAGIRA ( Uganda) said that malaria had killed many people in sub-Saharan Africa, and he wanted to describe some experiences that he had seen happen.  In one instance, a customer who did not have the funds for the full number of pills required for treatment was sold only the number of pills his funds would cover.  He left and took the drug, but treatment failed.  In another, a doctor agreed to treat a patient -- without examining him -- with a quinine drip, thus making him resistant to any lesser potent drugs.  What conclusions could be drawn?  First, drugs were sold like any other commodity, without any quality control.  Often they have expired.  Also, some doctors defer to a patient’s wishes over their own professional judgment.  Doctors must be regulated.  Medicines must be made affordable.  Finally, the sale of drugs must be regulated, so that they could only be sold in pharmacies and by prescription.

He said that prevention was key to fighting malaria.  Breeding grounds for mosquitoes must be tackled.  Uganda had introduced controlled indoor spraying of DDT, after fighting a battle with so-called environmentalists.  He asked for assistance from the international community and the private sector in helping to provide treated mosquito nets, but also noted that if a person had no shelter, a mosquito net would not help.  Hence, poverty eradication was also essential to the fight against malaria.  Transportation infrastructure was also essential, as many died because they were unable to reach a hospital.

There was also a need for training health workers and equipping laboratories.  He told of a laboratory where every test result for malaria was positive and, in actual fact, that might not be the case.  So, the patients were treated for malaria that was not there, with disastrous consequences.  Properly trained health workers could teach people in rural areas about hygiene and ensure proper drug administration.  Lastly, he thanked those organizations and Governments who had contributed to increased anti-malaria interventions in populations at risk.

LAZAROUS KAPAMBWE ( Zambia) said that NEPAD had become a useful tool for the United Nations and other partners to develop infrastructure, investment, trade, the private sector and human resources in Africa.  African countries had used NEPAD as a tool to develop democratic and accountable governing institutions and, as such, the international community should continue its support of NEPAD to help the continent achieve even more success, including the realization of the Millennium Development Goals.  The overall decline of official development assistance was of great concern, and development partners should live up to past promises to provide adequate aid for the continent.

Turning to the report on malaria, he said the Roll Back Malaria strategy demonstrated a political will and financial commitment to control malaria and help the 500 million people who suffer from the disease every year.  The assistance of the international community to fight the disease was highly appreciated, since malaria was not only an immediate problem, but also had an adverse effect on long-term socio-economic and sustainable development.  His Government had identified malaria control as an urgent health priority, and had been implementing the Roll Back Malaria strategy since 2001. 

Free distribution of bed nets and immunization campaigns had resulted in a decrease in the incidence of malaria, and development partners were now buying into the national malaria strategic plan, he continued.  However, his country continued to face a number of challenges including, among others, a weak and constrained health system, inadequate communication infrastructure, and a lack of highly-skilled personnel.  He called for greater technical and financial support to be made available in a timely and effective manner to help his country overcome those obstacles.

PAUL BADJI ( Senegal) said, in its first five years, NEPAD had helped build greater stability in Africa while strengthening the principles of good governance, democracy, gender equality and human rights.  However, NEPAD was not a complete success.  Member States often spent more time talking about NEPAD, rather than implementing it, and the upcoming “mini-summit” in Senegal in November should be used to turn that trend around.  So far, the international community had not lived up to its promises of financial assistance, nor had it reached a consensus on multilateral trade agreements.  Without significant advances on both issues, African countries would never meet NEPAD goals.  The rising cost of oil was also a problem for many African countries, and external financial aid was less effective without concrete measures to provide oil to Africa at a reasonable cost.

The United Nations should do more to ensure its agencies worked within NEPAD priorities instead of operating outside those models, he said.  The General Assembly’s decision to hold a high-level dialogue on development in Africa next year was a step in the right direction.  Past conferences and dialogues had achieved significant success in raising international awareness of the special needs of Africa, and the upcoming dialogue should do the same.  Achieving sustainable development in Africa was inherently linked to building peace and stability, and his Government applauded African countries for moving beyond some of the divisions, misunderstandings and intolerance that had shackled the continent in the past.  In particular, he cited successes in Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire, while reiterating Senegal’s commitment to achieving similar success in Sudan and Somalia.

Turning to health issues, he said stopping deaths from malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases was also a top priority, and all countries should work towards that goal.  African-led efforts to manage those diseases should take precedence, and funds should be funnelled through the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.  NEPAD was a global partnership for development in Africa, and it was time for all partners to do their utmost to achieve the shared goals within it.

ZACHARY D. MUBURI-MUITA(Kenya),associating himself with Pakistan’s statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and Benin’s statement on behalf of the African Group of States, said the United Nations could refocus international attention and mobilize efforts to address Africa’s significant problems.  While Kenya supported NEPAD’s projects and programmes, he said some initiatives called for enhanced efforts to quickly bring them to fruition.  Kenya had acceded to the African Peer Review Mechanism, and had presented its report to an African Union Summit.  His country sought dialogue with the Secretariat to effect lasting change for the Kenyan people, and was committed to implementing the report’s recommendations.

He said the foreign direct investment situation had improved in the last five years, as highlighted in the report, a sign that resources could be available for other economic and social needs.  However, international support had been given selectively, leaving some countries unable to undertake their responsibilities.  Debt relief initiatives had targeted some countries, but excluded others.  Several countries in the last four years had crossed the HIPC Initiative threshold, he added.  Debt relief required attention, and he urged States to prevent Africa from rolling back its gains.  Taking up trade issues, he said international rules supported developed country interests.  An unfair trading system discouraged export diversification, pointing out that Africa’s share of world trade had dropped between 1970 and 2005.

On malaria, he underlined the fact that the disease continued to hinder economic and social development.  At the same time, support for malaria control had given hope to populations, and the availability of treated mosquito nets was a highly effective approach.  Noting an increase in multilateral funding through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, he encouraged development partners to continue in that trend.  In the African region, he called for sharing best practices.  Kenya, with the support of its partners, had launched the ACT treatment programme, and was today offering treatment free of charge.  Moreover, the preventative measures were beginning to bear fruit.

Citing the Secretary-General’s report that the number of global conflicts had fallen more than 40 per cent in the last decade, he called for increased efforts in conflict resolution.  Such efforts provided a way to ensure hope for local populations.  In addition, he urged African Union involvement in conflict monitoring and reconstruction efforts.  In that respect, it was important for African peacekeeping capacity to be strengthened.  His country had held a conference to promote peace in the Great Lakes region.  A pact had been signed and was being implemented.  He thanked Kenya’s partners for their valuable support in preparing for that conference.  He trusted that other focused talks would reenergize international attention on supporting Africa in addressing social and security problems.  He reiterated the request to appoint a Special Advisor on Africa.

STEVE D. MATENJE ( Malawi) said, while African countries held the primary responsibility for their economic and social development, they should be supported by an enabling and equitable international economic environment.  In Malawi, malaria was one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, especially in expectant women and children under five years.  To mitigate that problem, his Government had developed a Malaria Strategic Plan which had already recorded a number of achievements in the management of malaria cases. 

He said Malawi had also taken significant steps towards eliminating extreme poverty in the country by allocating a major percentage of its budget to agriculture and food security.  Currently, Malawi had a food surplus that was above national requirements and had even begun exporting some of its surplus to neighbouring countries.  The bold decision his Government made to subsidize farm inputs had proved worthwhile and should serve as an example for other African countries seeking to improve food security.

Infrastructure development was also a top priority of Malawi’s sustainable development programme, he said.  To that end, his Government had proposed two infrastructure projects, namely, the Mozambique-Malawi Transmission Interconnection Project to increase access to diversified, reliable, and affordable energy supplies, and the Shire-Zambezi Waterway project aimed at connecting landlocked Malawi to the sea.  Both projects were in line with NEPAD’s goal of enhancing sustainable economic growth through regional economic cooperation and integration and, as such, should receive the full support of the international community.  In conclusion, he noted the contribution his country had made to the Trust Fund to support the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism, and expressed support for the NEPAD e-schools initiative to help bridge the digital divide between Africa and other countries.

LIU ZHENMIN ( China) fully endorsed Pakistan’s statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, as well as the conclusions of the Secretary-General’s reports.  Since the launch of NEPAD, African countries had made tremendous efforts to implement development initiatives and had maintained healthy growth rates.  However, as stated by the Secretary-General, most African countries were not on track with the Millennium Development Goals.

China stressed, first, that African countries should play a leading role in implementing NEPAD.  It was also important to address the gap between international support and Africa’s needs.  In that context, he said developed countries should cancel debts and reduce the conditions attached to their assistance, among other measures.  Their assistance should be assured on the basis of the practical needs of African countries.  Moreover, it was important to help African countries in their capacity building efforts, as that would enhance their attractiveness for foreign direct investment.

Second, he underscored that a NEPAD priority was to help African countries benefit from globalization.  In that context, he called for the swift completion of the Doha round of trade negotiations, and stressed the need for developed countries to drastically reduce their agricultural subsidies, which would facilitate the emergence of African products in global markets.  South-South cooperation should also be enhanced, as a supplement to North-South cooperation.  As Africa had the largest number of developing countries, he called on the continent to play an important role in those efforts.

China had actively supported implementation of NEPAD, he said, highlighting that China shared the same goals for promoting common development.  At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Chinese President Hu Jintao had announced eight policy measures to increase cooperation and development in Africa.  Those measures focused on increasing assistance, setting up a China-Africa development fund, cancelling debt for some African countries and establishing zones for economic cooperation, among other things.  Moreover, on the margins of the general debate of the sixty-second session, foreign ministers from China and Africa exchanged their views on the implementation of agreements of the Beijing Summit.  China would strengthen its partnership with Africa on the basis of mutual benefit and a “win for all” approach.

As the United Nations was responsible for maintaining peace and security, he said to fulfil that mission the Organization needed the trust of Member States.  Preventative diplomacy should be accorded a high priority in addressing conflicts.  To prevent conflicts, he called for identifying causes, as most armed conflicts were rooted in poverty and underdevelopment.  Further, China believed that cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations should be reinforced.  The United Nations should, on the one hand, continue to enhance cooperation with the African Union Peace and Security Council, and, on the other, also provide the Union with capacity-building assistance.  In closing, he said, despite the long distance between them, China and Africa had retained friendly relations.  Africa was an important actor in Chinese efforts to seek peace, and China would continue to work with Africa, particularly in the area of security.

CHO HYUN ( Republic of Korea) noted that while there had been substantial progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals, unfortunately most African States were not on track.  Those global goals would not truly be achieved if African countries could not meet their targets.  For that to happen, both African commitment and international support were necessary.  He commended African States on their strenuous efforts to implement NEPAD, noting progress in infrastructure, agriculture, health, education and other areas.  He also supported the Secretary-General’s initiative for an African Steering Group that would serve as the central United Nations vehicle for African development.

He called the African Peer Review Mechanism “instrumental” in putting mutual accountability to work for good economic, political and corporate governance and for the observance of human rights.  He encouraged accession to that process in support of NEPAD.  He was encouraged by progress on debt relief, but said that commitments made for development aid must be realized in a timelier manner.  His Government would significantly increase its overall development assistance by 2008.  It established the Korea-Africa Forum last year to share its own development experience.  Further, his country supported African ownership of its development, and was ready to cooperate with regional organizations to that end, as well as to work with international organizations to improve aid effectiveness.

As trade was the engine of development, he supported resumption and completion of the Doha development round and supported Aid for Trade, especially for Africa.  His country was expanding duty-free and quota-free access for the least developed countries, and it had also pledged to cooperate with African partners in bridging the digital divide by sharing technology and knowledge.  He emphasized the importance of South-South cooperation.  He noted progress in achieving peace and stability in Africa and supported the goal of seeing Africa conflict-free by 2010.  He also welcomed United Nations initiatives to eradicate epidemic diseases.  Those diseases affected the young, undermining development and threatening the future of Africa.  In closing, he said that African development required a joint effort from African countries, the international community and the United Nations.

DANIEL CARMON ( Israel) reiterated his Government’s strong support for the development initiatives and principles of the African Union, and said the existence of African owned, led and managed endeavours was an outstanding example of the effectiveness of regional initiation and cooperation.  NEPAD had improved the chances for progress and prosperity in Africa, and the participation of African countries in the African Peer Review Mechanism was proof of the genuine desire African nations had to make good on the promise of NEPAD.  The United Nations should continue to strengthen collaboration among its component parts to ensure the necessary support for the effective implementation of NEPAD.

Israel had recently celebrated 50 years of relations with Africa, he said.  That relationship continued to be of the highest priority, and had recently evolved to include the sharing of Israel’s know-how in areas such as agriculture, food security, gender equality, education and health.  Last year, more than 1,000 African trainees benefited from bilateral aid and training programmes, while even more were assisted through international initiatives supported by Israel, such as the HIPC Initiative.

The malaria pandemic was a tragedy of unparalleled proportions, he said.  Public health infrastructures in Africa should be strengthened to help address problems caused by malaria, as well as HIV/AIDS.  To that end, his Government had implemented a training programme for local medical staff, and had proposed the establishment of community health centres based on an Israeli model, to help African countries diminish infant and maternal mortality.  The fact that most African countries were off track in meeting the Millennium Goals was regrettable.  Israel would continue to do its utmost to contribute to the development of the continent.  Though its assistance may appear modest, taking into consideration its size and other financial burdens, Israel’s per-capita contribution was indeed significant.  His Government had made that commitment because it was convinced that the challenges facing Africa was a collective responsibility, and because it believed in the potential of Africa and its people.

MARIA LUIZA RIBEIRO VIOTTI ( Brazil) said that Africa’s interests were central to the work of the United Nations.  NEPAD was part of a collective response to those needs.  The international community’s commitment to support Africa and NEPAD was reflected by the implementation of pledges made by donors.  Every effort must be made to deliver on those pledges.  “Our success will not be judged by the number and magnitude of pledges.  Rather, it will be gauged by the actual support we give to the determination shown by African governments and societies to eliminate obstacles to peace and development,” she said.

The “partnership” in NEPAD was not simply a partnership for Africa, but a partnership with Africa, she noted.  Brazil had taken that approach in such areas as health, education, agriculture, science and technology, and energy.  She enumerated programmes illustrating that approach, among them the coordination of an international technical cooperation network for the transfer of technology to produce anti-retroviral drugs in Africa; the provision of free university and graduate level education to over 3,000 African students in Brazil; and the production of clean and renewable energy, such as ethanol and biodiesel, in Africa where soil and climate conditions were suited to producing such fuels.

Working with Africa also required efforts to make multilateral systems more responsive to Africa’s needs, she said.  Brazil was working with African countries on the successful conclusion of the Doha round, strengthening of the Economic and Social Council, meaningful reform of the Security Council and revitalization of the General Assembly.  Sustainable support and increased multilateral responsiveness were the core message that Brazil would seek to turn into deeds in all United Nations initiatives related to Africa.

HENDI EL MAHDI ABDULATIF ( Libya) associated himself with Benin’s statement on behalf of the African Group and Pakistan’s statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.  Africa had been affected by war, conflict, poverty and the spread of deadly disease, which had jeopardized the lives of its populations.  Progress in addressing those issues and achieving development in Africa would be possible only through the implementation of a true international partnership for development.  On an international level, he urged States to contribute to the creation of concrete actions that would achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Similarly, African countries must continue to take steps to implement various NEPAD programmes, he said.  His Government had stated that achievements in debt cancellation should be coupled with efforts to achieve the official development assistance goals, as well as support for economic structures, particularly those that would help Africa participate in international trade.  Turning to malaria, he said that aid given to address the disease had fallen short of its goals.  Weaknesses persisted in health structures and were evident in sub-standard products.  Moreover, international support had fallen short of what was needed to render partnerships effective.

He reiterated that the United Nations should cooperate with the African Union.  Indeed, enhancing that partnership was of paramount importance, as it allowed Africa to make use of the Organization’s expertise in peacekeeping and stability efforts.

LESLIE K. CHRISTIAN ( Ghana) said the international community had been a faithful development partner of African countries, and had demonstrated its commitment to helping them achieve the Millennium Development Goals.  Poverty levels in some African countries had declined since 1990, and progress had been made in providing access to education and reducing child mortality.  However, that progress had been slow and uneven and, in most cases, fell far short of the promises made.  Even in countries that had made substantial improvements, there were still pockets of extreme poverty.  African countries had demonstrated their resolve to take ownership of their own development agenda.  Nevertheless, there was an overwhelming need for a strong global partnership in support of those efforts.  Challenges such as external debt, climate change, global trade, and financing for development could not be solved by national or regional efforts alone.

He noted the progress in extending and deepening debt relief through the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative and HIPC Initiative.  Yet, despite that progress, total debt service obligations remained almost unchanged and continued to slow growth and employment generation.  Official development assistant was on the decline, and projected levels of assistance would fall short of the Group of Eight promise to double aid to Africa by 2010.  The increase in funding of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was welcome news, and recent pledges from donors had raised expectations that even more funds would be available in the future.  However, charity began at home, and African leaders should do more to pursue prudent policies to enhance their domestic resource mobilization and attract foreign investment. 

Compared to the previous decades, Africa was afflicted by far fewer armed conflicts.  Sierra Leone and Liberia were success stories, though challenges in crisis areas like Darfur remained.  A major factor in containing violent conflicts was the improved effectiveness in the response of the international community, including the African countries themselves.  The African Union peace and security architecture, as well as conflict management mechanisms of regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States and Southern African Development Community, were building blocks that improved the capacity for peace and security on the continent.  He added, however, that all those efforts would mean little if African countries did not do more to create the right environment for the continent’s development.

JEAN-BAPTISTE NATAMA ( Burkina Faso) said that, following the United Nations conference that had produced the Millennium Declaration, African Heads of State conceived a strategic framework for development, which formed the matrix of NEPAD and the goal of sustainable development for Africa.  Good governance was essential.  It was both a means to, and objective of, development, guaranteeing popular participation, political stability, institutional development and human rights.  The African Mechanism for Peer Evaluation, now comprised of 27 States, contributed to those goals.  He said that peer evaluation was indispensable for development, given its impact on strengthening institutional, political and economic capacities.

African countries had placed the Millennium Development Goals at the heart of their development programmes and anti-poverty strategies, he said.  In the framework of NEPAD, economic growth was both a condition for, and the result of, economic growth, based on free market exchange.  However, global economic imbalances had a negative impact on African States.  Greater international assistance and debt forgiveness were crucial to ameliorating the lives of millions living in extreme poverty in Africa.  For globalization to benefit all, the world must come together to hammer out a common future based on a common humanity.   Africa had the responsibility for its own development, but the international community must also play its part.

According to the Secretary-General’s report, he noted, the response of the international community had been weak.  Africa needed access to Northern markets.  Multilateral trade agreements, notably those that would arise from the final Doha Round, must address Africa’s needs.  African States must also acquaint their populations with NEPAD, or the political will voiced by African Heads of State would not be realized.  The social environment was just as important as good governance.  International investors looked for stability and other factors when considering investing.  Burkina Faso had adjusted its strategic framework in the national fight against poverty in accordance with the principles of NEPAD.  He acknowledged United Nations efforts, over many decades, to support Africa’s development.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record