G8 and the South: briefing

Meeting report

FOREIGN AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
6 June 2001
G-8 AND THE SOUTH: BRIEFING BY DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL

Chairperson: Mr Ebrahim (ANC)

Relevant Document:
Briefing presentation

Deputy Director General of Multi-Lateral Affairs, Mr Abdul Minty, briefed the Committee in anticipation of the G-8's meeting with the South in Genoa during the G-8 summit scheduled for July 18-22. He noted that, given the current turmoil caused by the recent change in the Italian government, there is some uncertainty about the agenda for the meeting which will hopefully be resolved in a manner which provides continuity of recent positive trends in the way North-South relations have been developing.

He proceeded with his presentation [see document], supplemented by a number of explanatory comments. First, he noted that while inclusion of meetings with the non-developed South during the G-8's annual summits has become more regular, the G-8 continues to be reluctant to institutionalise its dealings with the South both before and afterwards. Nonetheless, pre- and post-summit interactions between the G-8 and the Non-Aligned Movement ("NAM") have been increasing, particularly since South Africa started chairing NAM. He described the function of the NAM Bureau at the UN in New York as a major mechanism for facilitating contact between NAM and the G-8. He emphasised that the last NAM meeting, held in Durban, was a breakthrough insofar as the G-8 nations' unprecedented attendance. Moreover, NAM, under President Mbeki's leadership, has increasingly been co-ordinating its efforts with regard to the G-8 with the G-77. The G-77 is a negotiating group representing the non-developed southern nations, and is headed by Nigerian President Obasanjo, who with Mbeki is one of the three architects of the "Millennium Africa Plan" ("MAP") endorsed by the African Union (formerly the OAU).

NAM and the G-77 have identified development, debt relief, reforming global institutions like the IMF, conflict prevention, disarmament, health, education, the digital divide, and women's and children's matters as "key issues" to be addressed with the developed countries. Mr Minty observed that international declarations and conference/summit communiques do not automatically lead to implementation of the policies endorsed. Regrettably, many African countries are not on track for meeting targets in accordance with such declarations, even if some other southern nations, particularly Asian countries, appear to be. There are many reasons for this, including the devastating effect of AIDS on sub-Saharan Africa.

He noted that there remain differences in the North and South's respective perceptions of various issues. By way of illustration he asserted that "sustainable development" is not solely an environmental matter, as the North sometimes appears to believe, and that Johannesburg's 2002 Sustainable Development Conference will emphasise economic, and not just "green", issues. He suggested that Mbeki's coming meetings with UK and US leaders prior to the Genoa meeting, along with his recent consultations with the French Prime Minister, will hopefully be useful in continuing the dialogue for establishing common ground in addressing pressing matters facing both northern and southern nations.

Discussion
Dr Geldenhuys (NNP) asked what the World Bank and IMF positions are on debt relief, and whether most of the non-developed world's debt is owed to these institutions or to individual lender nations. Mr Minty replied that most of the debt is owed to lender nations, rather than the noted institutions, and that while addressing debt relief is a long term process, progress is being made on the issue.

Dr Jordan (ANC) commended the Deputy Director General on a "very useful" briefing, and asked which of the groups representing southern nations' interests the G-8 appears to prefer to deal with. Mr Minty indicated that while there seemed to be no preference by the G-8, there had been some resistance by the G-8 to post-summit follow-up meetings with sub-head of government representatives of the South, although there seems to have been an improvement in this attitude after the 2000 Summit in Okinawa.

Regarding Jordan's follow-up query as to which groups the South prefers to work through, Mr Minty indicated that on a non-summit level, meetings between the foreign ministers of the G-8 and NAM, with G-77 involvement, had been useful, and worth continuing. He added that the process of interaction was an ongoing one, and that structures created by MAP would also hopefully play an important future role as the process evolves further.

The Chair thanked the Mr Minty for his presentation and efforts, and noted that the South has to keep actively pressing the North for engagement and attention on these critical matters.

The meeting was adjourned.