SENATOR THE HONOURABLE DELANO FRANKLYN
MINISTER OF STATE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE
AT THE MEETING OF THE MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AT THE SECOND SOUTH SUMMIT
13 June 2005, Doha, Qatar

Distinguished Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be back here in Doha after having participated in the High Level Forum on Trade and Investment in December 2004. I wish to thank the Government of the State of Qatar for having graciously offered to host yet another important meeting for the developing world and for the excellent preparations which they have made for the convening of the Summit.

Excellencies,

Five years ago, we participated in the First South Summit in Havana, Cuba at which time we adopted the Havana Programme of Action and identified elements for more intensified South-South cooperation with a view to improving the lives and welfare of the peoples of the South.

Since then, the gap between the rich and the poor, the developed and the developing has widened and global policy making in relation to finance, trade and technology continue to work against the interests of countries of the South.

While there has been some level of progress in some areas, the overall development progress in our countries has been retarded.

The convening of the Second South Summit, therefore, presents an important opportunity for us to consolidate the development agenda for the South and to lay the foundations for a more equitable global economic governance so that the vast number of developing countries can share the benefits of globalization.

We will therefore seek to launch a new platform for a more democratic global economic order and to further strengthen South-South cooperation by adopting concrete projects on South-South cooperation which were presented at the recently concluded 11 th Session of the Inter-governmental Follow-up and Coordination Committee on Economic Cooperation Among Developing Countries which was held in Havana, Cuba in March 2005.

These projects will not only fortify the bonds within our membership and maintain the cohesion which is critical to the Group’s vitality and effectiveness in this era of globalization, but will also contribute to our efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development in our countries.

While developing countries have responsibility for their own development, the assistance of the international community is crucial. In this regard, we cannot over emphasize the importance of economic cooperation and engagement through North-South dialogue. We must therefore continue to work constructively with our partners in the North to advance development cooperation in the broadest sense with a view to reducing poverty and to achieve overall, the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals.

At the 60 th session of the General Assembly this year, special attention will be focused on the strengthening of the United Nations and the review of progress to achieving the MDGs. It is an important for us to advance the development agenda of the South and to strengthen the multilateral system. As Ministers are aware, the President of the General Assembly has recently circulated a draft outcome document and I believe it is important that while we are assembled in Doha, we consult and discuss how our common interests can be promoted in the further drafting of the document. I am sure that we will have very fruitful discussions on this.

In closing, let me reiterate Jamaica’s commitment to the Group and our determination and dedication to work to advance our common objectives in 2005.

I wish you success in your deliberations over the next few days and look forward to the discussions ahead as we seek to lay the foundations for a more equitable and inclusive global economic system.

I thank you.