Workers' Weekly Correspondent in Havana
The South Summit of the Group of 77 countries, taking place
in Cuba at Havana's International Conference Centre from April 10-14, is the
largest ever gathering of political leaders from the developing world. It marks
a major tuning point in relations between the countries of "the
south", the poorer developing countries, and between these countries and
the big powers, "the north".
At a press conference on April 10, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Felipe Pérez Roque, stated that there
were accredited delegations from 122 different countries and that he believed
that 50 countries would be represented by their head of state and 40 by foreign
ministers. He added that 34 countries that were not members of the G77 group of
133 countries were also represented, while 35 international agencies were also
represented and over 500 journalists from some 80 countries will be reporting
on the summit.
Felipe Pérez Roque stated that the summit is taking
place at a decisive moment in the history of the G77, in the aftermath of the
great opposition to globalisation that took place in Seattle at the meeting of
the WTO both in the streets and at the WTO meeting itself. He said that in this
context the South Summit was an event that could represent the interests of the
majority of the world's population not those of the big powers. The summit was
also taking place before the Millennium Assembly of the UN which will be held
in New York in September this year.
He also stressed that the summit was taking place when
globalisation, neo-liberalism and the imposition of structural adjustment
programmes have brought about a growing disparity between the rich and poor
countries in the world. Now, he said, the world's richest countries with 20% of
its population are 82 times richer than the poorer countries. The summit was
unmistakable proof that the member countries of G77 were demanding to make
their voices heard.
The minister also stated that he expected an extensive and
in-depth debate between all the countries present and that a strong consensus
would emerge. He stressed that it was through unity and harmony that the G77
could defend its views and interests, and he believed that the summit itself
would be a major step forward in this regard. The summit will issue several
important documents, including a final communiqué which is being
co-ordinated by Cuba and a plan of action being co-ordinated by Nigeria. For
its part Cuba had presented some 60 proposals to the group of experts that were
currently meeting to develop concrete measures.
Felipe Pérez Rogue said that for Cuba, globalisation
must be developed taking into account the interest of all, to bring the
benefits of technological advance to all. It must not impose a neo-liberal
agenda and stop countries from developing. G77 was therefore advocating greater
north-south dialogue. But what was important, he added, was that the richest
countries must recognise their responsibility to the poor. The countries must
hear the views of the poorest countries on debt, access to capital and
technology and to their markets. Development was a fundamental human right, he
stressed, and this principle must be translated into fact.
The summit will address the issue of technology and
knowledge, he continued, which is often totally banned from the poorest
countries which have little or no access. He gave the example of sub-Saharan
Africa which has 10% of the world's population but where only 0.1% have
internet access. In such conditions, he said, e-commerce "was science
fiction". This was just one of the trade barriers faced by the poorest
countries in addition to the effects of protectionism, the consequences of
globalisation.
Speaking of co-operation between the countries of the south,
Pérez Rogue gave the example of Cuba. With only a population of 11
million, it has sent 138,000 volunteers of various kinds to 133 countries,
trained and sent 1,700 doctors to 14 countries and has trained 50,000 graduates
from different developing countries.
In conclusion and in answer to questions, the minister said
that the summit would discuss all economic sanctions imposed on the poorer
countries, including those imposed on Cuba by US imperialism. The US blockade,
which has been imposed for four decades has caused much suffering and is an
obstacle to Cuba's development, has been condemned at the UN by all democratic
world opinion, including nearly all the G77 countries. But Pérez Roque
added that Cuba would maintain its economic development even if the blockade
remained. Furthermore, he added, the Group of 77 is a means to harmonise the
interests of all the poorer countries and would of necessity also discuss the
imposition by the big powers of their so-called democratic principles which are
enshrined in the Paris Charter. He stressed that political questions are
interrelated to economic and social ones and that the imposition of a
neo-liberal agenda is accompanied by a total disregard for the principles of
the UN Charter in the sphere of international relations too.
There is, he said, no respect for the self-determination of
countries and non-interference in internal affairs. The big powers use the
justification of "humanitarian intervention", which is not endorsed
by the Charter of the UN or by international law. Using the example of Africa,
he said that its current problems are a consequence of centuries of
exploitation and it is this that the big powers should address. Cuba was in
total opposition to military intervention and the principle of
"humanitarian intervention", as well as to those who tried to move
away from agreed international principles. He highlighted the fact that it was
not the countries of the south who had banded together to bomb those of the
north because of some alleged infringement of "democracy". In his
view, the questions and issues before the summit, both economic and political,
were of utmost important for the peoples of all countries, not least because
the explosion that will come from the peoples of the south will also affect
those in the north. In his view, he said, the countries of the north should
"attack" those of the south with assistance. That kind of attack
would be welcomed as would opening their markets to intervention from the
countries of the south.
In conclusion the minister said that he had
"revolutionary optimism" that based on the extensive preparations
that had been made, and the spirit of opposition which had been exhibited at
the WTO, the South Summit would mark a new beginning and would help bring about
significant changes in international relations.
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