Jul 29, 1987
UNCTAD-VII: "RESULTS WILL INFLUENCE OTHER NEGOTIATIONS".
GENEVA, JULY 28 (IFDA/CHAKRAVARTHI RAGHAVAN) – Expressing their deep concern at failure of the industrialised countries so far to display a constructive attitude to negotiations at UNCTAD-VII, the Group of 77 again warned that the results of UNCTAD-VII would have an important influence on attitude of third world countries towards other international negotiations and activities. The G77 statement was delivered in the Plenary Tuesday morning by the Cuban Foreign Trade Minister, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, who had been asked by the group to interrupt the general debate in the Plenary to convey their dissatisfaction at the lack of any negotiations at the Conference. Cabrisas noted the Conference in its last and critical phase had barely four days left to accomplish its important tasks. He was intervening to draw the attention of the Conference "in unusual circumstances", he said. Since the beginning of the preparatory process of the Conference, the G77 had demonstrated "an open and cooperative spirit, based on the desire to initiate serious and meaningful negotiations with the developed countries in order to reach agreements on the policies and measures required to face the present international crisis and to revitalise growth and development for the benefit of all". "This positive cooperative spirit has been fully reflected in the proposals made by the Group of 77 in Havana declaration and is further borne out in the flexible attitude the developing countries have demonstrated in the Committees of the Conference", the G77 spokesman declared. "Generally the positive sense of the statements and messages received from numerous heads of states and governments as well as the statements made by the Ministers in the Plenary have reflected and strengthened our hopes in this regard". "However, while recognising the constructive attitude of some industrialised countries, the Group of 77 feels compelled to state its deep concern at the fact that the constructive attitude of developing countries has not been matched by others"" "It is difficult to understand", Cabrisas said, "that on questions as important as resources, commodities, international trade and problems faced by least developed countries, it has not been possible up to now to find agreements intended to promote solutions that, in the last instance will benefit the entire international community". "UNCTAD is an institution born of the collective will of the international community. Its universal character, its historic development orientation and its unique, cross-sectoral and inter-disciplinary approach make UNCTAD an important link in the chain of international economic relationships". "The crucial need for development calls for the enhancement of UNCTAD’s effectiveness and its responsiveness to current and future problems, as well as for maintaining the integrity of its mandate and its functions and of the means to fulfil them". "The Seventh Session of the UN Conference on Trade and Development provides the member states with a signal opportunity to strengthen multilateral cooperation for development and to strengthen the institution of UNCTAD itself". "Let me remind this Conference that the results of UNCTAD-VII will have an important influence on the attitude of the developing countries towards other international negotiations and activities"" "We believe that all states members of the UNCTAD share common interests and objectives. We also believe that we have a common stake in solving the present crisis. We expect our partners, particularly those who have relatively greater economic strength to muster sufficient political will and seize the opportunity provided by UNCTAD-VII".