Final Document of the XIII Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement, Kuala Lumpur, 24 - 25 February 2003

Nedenfor gjengis et utdrag fra slutterklæringen fra toppmøte i Den alliansefrie bevegelsen (Non-Alligned Movement), en allianse av 133 utviklingsland, som møttes i sin 13. konferanse i Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 24-25 februar 2003. Slutterklæringen tar opp en rekke globale utfordringer, bl.a. "Globalisation and Interdependance" (Globalisering og gjensidig avhengighet) der det heter at

"Stats- og regjeringssjefene forble dypt bekymret over den fortsatte marginaliseringen av utviklingslandene fra globaliseringens fordeler og det vedvarende gapet mellom utviklingsland og utviklede land når det gjelder inntekt og økonomi."

CHAPTER III: ECONOMIC ISSUES
Globalisation and Interdependence 

220. The Heads of State or Government remained deeply concerned over the continued marginalisation of the developing countries from the benefits of globalisation, and persistent income and economic gaps between the developed and developing countries. They also expressed their concern that developing countries continue to face barriers to markets, capital and technology and that many grapple with the structural transformation necessary for practical and meaningful integration into the world economy. The ability to exploit new opportunities depends on the economic, technological, trade, industrial and institutional capacities to enter the global markets. As globalisation deepens, the technological, financial and productive gap, including the digital divide, between the developed and developing countries increases. Hence, the Non-Aligned Movement is of the belief that the central focus of international development efforts should be on the creation of an enabling international economic environment, which is critical for developing countries to acquire the requisite capacities to successfully compete and fully benefit from globalisation. They called therefore for an equitable international economic order. They also called for measures to ensure that developing countries participate in and benefit from globalisation, in particular through their full and effective participation in the processes of decision-making on world economic problems.

221. The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the central role of the United Nations in the promotion of international co-operation for development in the context of globalisation and interdependence. The global economy has become increasingly interdependent, characterised by rapid growth in flows of trade, finance, information and technology, in the 1990s, which led to increased interdependence among countries. While the developing countries have little share of the global prosperity, they will be the primary victims in the slowing down of the global economy which have adversely impacted on the prospects for sustained economic growth and sustainable development in developing countries. It is evident that a large number of Member Countries of the Non-Aligned Movement, particularly in Africa and the LDCs, have been marginalised and others risk marginalisation, and are thus unable to fully share in the benefits of these processes, while they remain most vulnerable to adverse impacts.

222. In this regard, the Heads of State or Government recalled the United Nations Millennium Declaration which commits all Members States at the highest level to make globalisation a positive force for all the world’s people and seeks to ensure that the benefits of globalisation are shared evenly by all as a central challenge for the international community and called upon all Member States to remain focused on the development needs of the developing nations and achievement of the Millennium Development goals including the target of halving of poverty by 2015.

223. The Heads of State or Government remained deeply concerned over the fact that developing countries are shouldering a disproportionate share of the adjustment burden, taking into consideration the rapid changes and transformations of the world economy. These concerns relate to the imbalances contained in the current architecture of the multilateral trading system, which benignly tolerates market distorting policy instruments by the North and yet denies developing countries legitimate policy space to pursue development objectives.

224. Noting that integration into the global economy in order to benefit from multilateral rules without destroying national comparative advantage is a critical challenge for the developing countries, and recognising that economic reforms are only a means to an end and that in the pursuit of development, the human goals of security, freedom, justice and the opportunity for a fulfilling and empowering life for all humanity must not be neglected, the Heads of State or Government emphasised the need for a New Global Human Order aimed at reversing the growing disparity between rich and poor, both among and within countries through, inter alia, the eradication of poverty and the promotion of sustainable development. They called for the elaboration of consensus for action in this regard, including the identification of specific measures. They also emphasised that the effective implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations Millennium Summit and the outcomes of other major United Nations summits and conferences will require political will to implement the commitments undertaken particularly in making available the means of implementation.

225. The Heads of State or Government reiterated that the participation of developing countries in global economic decision-making, in particular in the international financial institutions, as well as in multilateral trading organizations, should be enhanced as developing countries represent the majority of countries participating in trade and economic negotiations. They reaffirmed the importance of good governance at the international level through democratisation and transparency and accountability in international economic and financial decision-making in all fora and at all levels with the full and effective participation of developing countries so as to ensure that their development interests are fully taken into account, including enhanced access to markets, to international capital flows and to technology.

226. The Heads of State or Government expressed their deep concern about the increasing social pressure that developing countries are facing as a result of decreasing or negative economic growth, widening poverty and soaring unemployment. In this regard, they called upon the international community, in particular the financial and development multilateral institutions, to establish innovative and new financial mechanisms to support developing countries to meet their immediate social and economic demands as they implement their long - term development programmes.