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DEVELOPMENT: Qatar Pledges to Promote South-South Cooperation
Interview with Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 30, 2007 (IPS) - "Despite significant progress in the South, the pattern of cooperation has not
been commensurate with the comprehensive nature of the commitments
contained in the various declarations and other documents on South-South
cooperation," Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Permanent
Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, told IPS. "The existing
capabilities and capacities in the South have not been adequately acknowledged
and utilised," he added.
For its part, the government of Qatar has been very active in promoting
South-South cooperation. Most recently, the High Level Meeting on Oil and
Gas Development was hosted by Qatar and held in Doha from Sep. 8-10,
2007. The meeting brought together senior officials from 42 countries of
Africa, Asia and Latin America and from United Nations agencies and
international organisations with the objective of sharing experiences among
the petroleum-exporting countries of the South.
In June 2005, the government of Qatar hosted the Second South Summit, a
meeting of world leaders from the 132 developing nations, who discussed
strengthening their partnership.
Al-Nasser currently serves as the president of the High-level Committee on
South-South Cooperation. IPS U.N. correspondent Mithre J. Sandrasagra
recently interviewed Al-Nasser:
IPS: Why is South-South cooperation increasingly important to the world’s
developing nations? Can South-South cooperation be viewed from a
development angle rather than a political angle?
Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser: South-South Cooperation derives
its importance from the fact that sustained economic growth since the late
1980s has led an increasing number of developing countries to become
regional centres of economic dynamism.
Such importance also stems from the fact that the countries of the South can
work together in solidarity to secure and share in gains from the emerging
new international trade geography, and design and implement strategies to
ensure that the dynamism evident in the new geography of international
economic relations is sustained and has a positive multiplier effect
throughout the South.
IPS: Are there any trends indicating significant growth in trade and
investments among countries of the global South?
NAAN: The volume of trade among the countries of the South, according to
2004 statistics, has grown significantly to make up 26 percent of developing
countries’ exports for that year. It is estimated that the rate has grown during
2005 to 43 percent. Moreover, the 1990s witnessed a faster growth in the
South-South foreign direct investment flows than North-South flows.
Apparently, the causative factor behind this was the large accumulation of
financial surpluses by many developing countries through trade.
IPS: One of the key elements of enhancing South-South cooperation is the
sharing of experience and expertise. Could you share some of the successes
or best practices learned during the recent High-Level meeting Qatar hosted
to enable current petroleum-exporting countries share their knowledge and
experience with emerging and potential oil and gas-producing nations?
NAAN: The objective of the meeting was to share experiences and lessons
learned in efficient and effective development and management of the
petroleum sector, which is of crucial importance to the economies of the
countries of the South in their quest for economic and social advancement,
including achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Much
discussion focused on ways in which existing oil- and gas-producing
countries can help countries which are emerging producers to strengthen
their capacities in the sector. Countries held various bilateral discussions.
Some existing oil and gas producers offered to welcome emerging producers
on study tours in order to share experiences on specific issues or approaches
to hydrocarbon management and broader policy requirements.
IPS: Can South-South cooperation help developing countries meet targets set
by the U.N.’s MDGs, including the eradication of poverty and hunger, and the
fight against HIV/AIDS?
NAAN: South-South Cooperation is the vehicle to accelerate development as
it fosters partnerships among the middle income developing countries and
least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island
developing states and countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with the view to
increasing volume and rate of South-South exchanges in trade, finance,
technology exchange and development enterprises. This approach will help
accelerate development, thus assisting developing countries to achieve the
MDGs, including halving poverty by 2015, as well as combating hunger and
fighting HIV/AIDS.
IPS: During the Second South Summit in 2005 His Highness Sheik Hamad
Khalifa Al-Thani launched the South Fund for Development and Humanitarian
Circumstances to address problems of hunger, poverty, and human
catastrophes. Could you tell us what the status of the Fund is now?
NAAN: The proposed agreement on the establishment and operationalisation
of the Fund was transmitted to the Group of 77 and China in 2005. Since that
time, it has been the subject of review… Many valuable comments were made
and pertinent amendments to the original proposal were introduced.
Nevertheless, there still remain a few points to agree upon. These points are
currently under active discussions between the Group and the Qatari
authorities. Once a final agreement on these points is reached, the Fund will
be operationalised, without any further delay.
IPS: The GA High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation has called
upon the U.N. to mainstream South-South cooperation as a crosscutting
issue at the heart of the development agenda and within its regular
programmes. How is Qatar helping with this process?
NAAN: Qatar has proved, throughout its membership in the United Nations,
to be a serious member which discharges its obligations responsibly. It has
unfailingly strived to live up to the ideals of the United Nations. As such, and
as an active player in the international arena, it will spare no effort to help
the United Nations to achieve its objectives in these areas.
(END)
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