Mubarak urges G-15 to clarify its vision at start of new century
Egypt, Politics, 6/21/2000

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak has called on the G-15 member states to work out a concerted vision at the beginning of a new century with the aim of consolidating their efforts and inter-dialogue.

At a press conference Tuesday of the G-15 summiteers at the close of their two-day gathering, President Mubarak, Chairman of the tenth G-15 summit, reviewed the highlights of the summit's final communique, with emphasis on the group's role in the peace era; boosting development efforts; and the challenges and opportunities attending globalization.

The communique also included a call for taking into consideration the preferential privileges of developing countries in the global trade systems, added Mubarak..

President Mubarak went on to say that the summit also reviewed the debt problem and proposals made to solve the problem in addition to the ever-widening gap between developed and developing nations, disarmament, the environment and aid offered to developing countries.

The summit discussed the role of the private sector in the development process and the State role in providing the propitious atmosphere for comprehensive development.

"We have also asserted the importance that advanced states should honor their international pledges," Mubarak said.

We have endorsed a number of recommendations by the G-15 foreign ministers, including the holding of their periodical meeting in between the group's summits and upgrading the level of dialogue between the G-15 and the G-8 of industrialized nations.

Also, We have agreed on accepting both Iran and Colombia as new members of the G-15, he added. The G-15 discussions have reflected member states' support of efforts being exerted to establish just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region, President Mubarak said, pointing out that agreement was reached to hold the coming summit in Indonesia in 2001, and the following one in Venezuela in 2002.

President Mubarak then invited questions and said on what the tenth G-15 summit had accomplished, that the outcome of the meeting, which he believed would positively reflect on the group's peoples, could be inferred from the final communique.

President Mubarak referred to considerable cooperation among the group's member states in the field of economy and joint projects.

Taking a question on a proposal to write off developing nations' foreign debts, President Mubarak said those countries, especially in Africa and Asia, were unable to realize development while being weighted down by debts.

President Mubarak saluted the successful efforts exerted by Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, the current President of the Organization of African Unity, to stop the fighting between Eritrea and Ethiopia. On a reported inertia in coordination between the G-15 and the G-8, and inside the former itself, President Mubarak said the tenth G-15 summit has dedicated much time to debating the issue.

Referring in this regard to ministerial meetings held between the G-15 summits, President Mubarak said the group's trade ministers are due to meet in August to discuss coordination and cooperation among member states.

Responding to a query on the reason for being optimistic about the future role of the G-15, ten years after its coming into being and considering the vast hopes of its peoples, President Mubarak made clear that any nascent organization like the G-15 could not solve problems just by pushing a button.

The G-15, however, is vociferously alerting to the dangers that would evolve as a result of unjust distribution (of wealth's) and failure to ensure democratic participation in decision-making with regard to these issues affecting peoples, President Mubarak added.

Previous Stories:
  G-15 leaders have unified vision of joint action   (6/20/2000)
  Mubarak highlights G-15 philosophy, way of action   (6/19/2000)
  Monday's G-15 Summit to focus on development   (6/17/2000)

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