Statement by Ambassador Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, Permanent Representative of Cuba, at the General Debate of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation.
New York, 29 May 2007
Mr. Chairman,
My delegation joins the statement of Pakistan on behalf of the G-77 and China, while at the same time we would like to make some remarks on this issue, which we regard as highly important for developing countries.
Once again Cuba reiterates the importance of South-South cooperation for the future of developing countries, particularly technical and economic cooperation, intended as a complement of the North-South cooperation and not as its substitute.
In the First South Summit Declaration, held in Havana in 2000, the Heads of State and Government of the developing countries stressed the importance of South-South cooperation as an essential mechanism to promote sustained economic growth and sustainable development, and they undertook to overcome any factor limiting such cooperation.
It is pressing that we continue to take concrete steps and that each one of us shares successful experiences and initiatives that could be useful and beneficial to others. We need to develop models and initiatives that take into account and are based on the development strategies and practices that have proved effective in the South.
A far-reaching South-South cooperation is vital, in which not only the advantageous economic factor that comes with all trade or economic agreement - and which only lasts while the agreement is on – prevails, but also a solidarity factor marked by the principle of selfless assistance without conditions, as opposed to a mentality of conditioned charity aid.
Since the adoption 1978 of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action on technical cooperation among developing countries to date, the countries of the South have made important achievements in this area, notwithstanding the complex challenges and obstacles that they have had to endure in all spheres, due to the unequal and unjust international economic and financial system and the neoliberal globalization, which far from benefitting the developing countries, they have increasingly worsened their economic, financial and social situation, as well as their marginalization in the international market.
However, despite the achievements in this regard, the potentialities and possibilities of this cooperation as a viable alternative to overcome the difficulties, they still fail to be exploited in all their real scope and capacity; and the main obstacle to the advance of any kind of initiative of cooperation among the countries of the South continues to be the lack of resources and financial support by the donors.
Mr. Chairman,
As agreed by the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement at its 14th Summit held in Havana in September last year, it is essential to:
- Undertake more vigorous efforts to consolidate, intensify and enhance South- South cooperation in all its aspects, including triangular cooperation, as a continuous and vital process to meet the challenges facing the countries of the South and as valuable contribution to development.
- Enhance the capacities of the institutions and provisions which promote South- South cooperation, as well as the implementation of concrete programs and projects and the use of the contributions by eminent personalities and institutions from the South. In this regard, the South Fund for Development and Humanitarian Assistance established in the Second South Summit of the G-77 and China, could rally contribute to reach the goals and objectives of South- South cooperation.
- Promote and encourage the establishment of South-South cooperation agreements, including sectoral cooperation and other associations promoting such cooperation, as well as, voluntarily, trade agreements as means to strengthen South-South economic cooperation.
- Reaffirm the central role of the South Center as a panel of experts from the countries of the South.
- Support international development funds aimed at financing the implementation of the South-South cooperation projects, such as the Perez Guerrero Fund.
Mr. Chairman,
The United Nation’s role in the promotion of cooperation actions among the nations of the South is paramount; hence it is essential that the Organization continues to pay special attention to the area of cooperation among developing countries, for it has proved to be an important means for unity and integration in the South.
The Agencies, Funds and Programs of the United Nations should implement initiatives to enhance South-South cooperation, incorporating this objective to its work in the field of operational activities, always respecting the established principles and procedures, and not affecting the scarce resources that are currently devoted to operational activities. In this regard, the UNDP Special Unit for Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries should play a more active role in promoting a stronger integration of South-South cooperation in the rest of the bodies of the UN system.
It is essential to have an adequate, organized and efficient information system that provides all countries with the possibility to know in detail the availabilities and needs of the nations of the South and the cooperation opportunities that allow overcoming the present information and knowledge gap. In this regard, the Special Unit for Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries should play a key role as the center of this system of information and dissemination of cooperation actions. Its work should continue to perfect so as it becomes a basic reference framework and analytic and regulating instrument for South-South cooperation.
Mr. Chairman,
For our country, developing the human capital of the developing countries as a major element of cooperation among our nations has always been priority and, in this regard, and despite the criminal and illegal four-decades long economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US Government, we have provided and will continue to provide our selfless assistance to the rest of the developing countries, as part of a sincere and recognized vocation for solidarity toward the Third World.
Since 1961 Cuba has cooperated with 154 countries, and through its cooperation programs 270 743 Cuban cooperators have provided their services, of which 131 770 are health professionals and technicians. Currently, more than 42 000 Cuban cooperators work in 103 countries, of which 31 000 work in health care and serve in 72 countries.
Through our government’s scholarship program, a total 47 637 students from 120 countries have graduated in more than 33 university and technical specialties.
Also contributing to this objective is the creation in Cuba, in 1998, of the Latin-American School of Medicine, where more than 9 000 youths study, mainly from Latin America, but also from Africa, and even the United States.
Another example of the Cuban cooperation is the Comprehensive Health Program, developed in Cuba since 1998, which has saved the lives of more than a million patients in Asia, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Besides these actions, Cuba has developed a literacy campaign program implemented in 22 countries, through which more than 2 million people have learned to read and write.
Mr. Chairman,
South-South cooperation should not be construed as a substitute for North-South cooperation. The developed countries have a historical responsibility toward the South. We are convinced that much more can be achieved through a joint and conscious effort of the international community that includes the fulfillment of the developed countries’ commitments to development assistance and the donors’ decisive financial contribution to these purposes.
Thank you very much.