India claims 'major gains' at G-77 summit

By Hasan Suroor

HAVANA, APRIL 14. The five-day G-77 summit ended here today with India claiming several major diplomatic ``gains'', the most ``significant'' being the inclusion of its formulation on democracy in the final key document - the Havana Declaration the main theme of which is combating international terrorism and removing inequities in north-south trade. The formulation commits all G-77 countries to ``promoting democracy and strengthening the rule of law'' sending out a strong message to those G-77 member countries where democratic institutions are under siege.

Officials stressed that it was not related to developments in Pakistan, which is facing international pressure to restore democracy, and was simply a way of re-emphasising the third world's commitment to democracy. In reply to a question, the Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Sudhir K. Devare, said there was no opposition to the paragraph from any country, and even Pakistan went along with it. ``They did not oppose it.''

India also succeeded in pushing through its proposal that the summit recognise the significance of information technology and urge member countries to make full use of it for development. The final version included in the Declaration describes information technology as ``one of the pillars of technological revolution... and a powerful development tool of our time.''

Pak. keeps low profile

There was a degree of barely concealed satisfaction in Indian diplomatic circles that in comparison Pakistan took a back seat and virtually made no significant contribution to the Declaration. ``Well, we didn't notice any,'' senior officials noted drily. Despite the presence of the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan apparently not only kept a low profile but according to the leader of the Indian delegation Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, it even seemed isolated. In fact, this was one reason, he suggested, why Pakistan did not raise the Kashmir issue. ``After what they experienced at NAM (non-aligned Foreign Ministers' conference in Colombia) they realised that raising the issue here would not help,'' he said.

Dr. Joshi claimed ``widespread support'' for India on bilateral issues and said most of the countries whose representatives he met here during the summit recognised New Delhi as a ``world leader.'' ``Yasser Arafat (Palestinian leader) hugged me and kissed me twice,'' he chuckled. And added that India ``certainly enjoys greater respect and support than Pakistan does.''

The Cuban President, Mr. Fidel Castro, whom he met briefly to deliver a message from the Prime Minister, MR. Atal Behari Vajpayee, was ``very happy and warm'' though he regretted that the Prime Minister himself did not make it to the summit.

The Indian camp was particularly excited over Cambodia's public support for India's claim to a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. The mood was one of celebration as the word spread that the Cambodian Prime Minister, Mr. Hun Sen, had stood up for India - redeeming the promise he had made during his visit to India recently.

Officials said India's perceptions on several issues were reflected both in the Havana Declaration and the Programme of Action adopted at the summit. These included the Indian position that G-77 should focus entirely on development issues and not allow political differences to come in the way of south-south cooperation. In fact there was a sense in some Indian circles that Mr. Castro somewhat spoilt his brilliant speech with his political attack on the U.S. and other developed countries.

Dr. Joshi said while Mr. Castro's ``facts were clear'' India believed that the emphasis in G-77 should be on development and south-south cooperation rather than on political differences.

In his speech, the Minister focussed on sustainable development which, he said, was possible if there was ``sustainable consumption and sustainable production''. He called for curbs on ``excessive'' consumption saying that conspicuous consumption in affluent societies put an intolerable strain on the earth's resources and environment. He also reiterated India's strong opposition to attempts to link trade with social issues such as core labour standards and environment.

This is reflected in the final declaration which among other things calls for a more equitable and participative world economic order. It expresses concern that liberalisation of international trade has not benefitted most of the developing countries, and says there is need to restore confidence in multilateral trading system. ``We stress the universality of the World Trade Organisation through acceleration of the accession process without political conditionalities'', the declaration says.

The declaration sharply asserts the ``right'' of developing countries to choose their own models of development in accordance with their national priorities ``without any interference in their internal affairs.''

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Section  : International
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