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Rio de Janeiro Ministerial Communiqué, India-Brazil-South
Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum, 30 March 2006 1. The Minister of State for
External Affairs of India, H. E. Mr Anand Sharma, the Minister of External Relations
of Brazil, H. E. Mr. Celso Amorim, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South
Africa, H. E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, met in Rio de Janeiro on 30 March 2006
for the Third Meeting of the Trilateral Commission of the IBSA Dialogue Forum. 2.
The Ministers discussed a wide range of critical global issues and reconfirmed
their shared vision and determination to play a constructive role in international
affairs and to maintain friendly relations with all countries. They reaffirmed
the IBSA Dialogue Forum as an important mechanism for political consultation and
co-ordination as well as for strengthening cooperation in sectoral areas and to
improve economic relations among India, Brazil and South Africa. 3. They
confirmed their support for a strong multilateral system as a means towards addressing
issues of global concern, in particular the pre-eminent role of the United Nations
in the maintenance of international peace and security and the promotion of sustainable
development. MILLENIUM REVIEW SUMMIT 4. The Ministers recognized
the successful conclusion of the Millennium Review Summit, which took place in
September 2005. The Ministers expressed their hope that the UN reform processes
continue to reflect a balance between development and security concerns and, in
this regard, reiterated their perception that development matters remain an indispensable
foundation for a new collective security system. 5. They reaffirmed their
commitment to the goal of developing countries successfully achieving, at the
minimum, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a core strategy in the international
fight against underdevelopment, hunger and poverty. They reiterated their support
for the Action against Hunger and Poverty initiative and, in particular, the Declaration
issued by the promoters of the initiative on the occasion of the UN Millennium
Review Summit. They reconfirmed the importance of obtaining new and additional
financial and other resources for fighting poverty and financing development. 6.
Within the framework of the Monterrey consensus, the Ministers acknowledged that
the MDGs will not be achieved without also resorting to additional and innovative
sources of financing for development. The Ministers confirmed their willingness
to support and promote innovative financing mechanisms and in this regard reiterated
their intention to take active part in the work by the Leading Group on Solidarity
Levies, created at the Ministerial Conference on Innovative Financing, held in
Paris in February/March 2006. UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTIONAL REFORM 7.
The Ministers reiterated their continued support for the reform of the United
Nations to make it more democratic and responsive to the priorities of its Member
States, particularly those of developing countries that constitute the vast majority
of its membership. In that regard, they welcomed the decisions taken in the September
Summit in New York in 2005 and expressed their full support for the implementation
of those decisions as contained in the "Summit Outcome Document". 8.
The Ministers emphasised that the Security Council must, in its composition, represent
contemporary realities and not those of 1945. Keeping in view that the decisions
of the Security Council should serve the interests of the larger United Nations
Membership, they emphasised the need for the urgent reform of the Security Council
that would include its expansion in both categories of membership, permanent and
non-permanent, in order to render it more democratic, legitimate, representative
and responsive. Towards this end, the representation of developing countries from
Africa, Asia and Latin America, as permanent members of the Security Council,
is essential. The IBSA countries agreed to continue to exchange views on this
issue, which they feel is central to the process of the reform of the United Nations,
and work towards this common purpose in the coming months, with the view to achieving
concrete results by the end of the 60th General Assembly. 9. They welcomed
the creation of the Peacebuilding Commission as an important intergovernmental
advisory body through which international community could provide long term support
to countries emerging from conflict, including capacity-building efforts. IBSA
countries reiterated their commitment towards working for an early operationalisation
of the Peacebuilding Commission. 10. They voiced their full support for
the capable manner in which the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan,
has been conducting the work of the organisation, and expressed confidence in
his efforts to enhance the UN's role in international relations. 11. They
recommitted their respective delegations to the UN and its specialised agencies,
as well as other multilateral bodies, to remain in close contact with each other
and to consult on all issues of significance. SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION 12.
The Ministers reaffirmed that South-South cooperation is an essential and fundamental
component of international cooperation for development, and stressed their support
for mainstreaming of South-South cooperation and of the pursuit of the development
of Technical Cooperation amongst Developing Countries (TCDC) to its full potential.
In this regard, they recommitted themselves to work together for the enhancement
of South-South cooperation and emphasized the establishment of the IBSA Fund as
an example of cooperation among three developing countries for the benefit of
the neediest nations of the South. 13. They noted with satisfaction the
adoption of the Doha Plan of Action at the South Summit, held in Doha, between
12 and 16 June 2005. They emphasized the importance of strengthening South-South
cooperation in order to promote growth and development. THE NEW PARTNERSHIP
FOR AFRICA´S DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD) 14. The Ministers reaffirmed
their support for the socio-economic development programme of the African Union
and committed the IBSA partnership to seeking practical and concrete measures
to be pursued in support of the implementation of NEPAD. The three countries share
a common experience in the struggle against poverty and underdevelopment, as well
as complementary levels of development. There was therefore much to gain from
sharing information and best practices in dealing with common challenges and in
identifying areas of common concern, need and benefit. SOUTH AMERICAN
INTEGRATION 15. The Ministers welcomed the consolidation of the South
American Community of Nations, which held its first Presidential Meeting in Brasilia,
on 30 September, 2005, and recognized it as a major achievement in the process
of strengthening the political coordination and economic, commercial and infrastructural
integration among South American countries. TERRORISM 16. The
Ministers reaffirmed that international terrorism constitutes one of the most
serious threats to peace and security and that acts of terrorism were criminal
and unjustifiable whatever the considerations or factors that might be invoked
to justify them. The Ministers emphasised the need for concerted and co-ordinated
action by the international community, with the ultimate objective of eradicating
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. 17. They reaffirmed their
full support for the implementation of all the measures to combat terrorism outlined
in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. They welcomed the Council's efforts
to increase cooperation and coordination in the fight against terrorism and called
on the international community to work together in a spirit of cooperation and
tolerance to eliminate terrorism. Recalling that the Outcome Document of the World
Summit 2005 had called upon the member states to conclude a comprehensive convention
on international terrorism during the current Session of the UN General Assembly,
the Ministers stressed the importance of finalising the convention on international
terrorism and called upon all States to cooperate in resolving the outstanding
issues with the objective of an expeditious conclusion of negotiations and the
adoption of this Convention. 18. They emphasised that international cooperation
to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the
United Nations Charter, international law and relevant international conventions,
including international human rights, humanitarian and refugee instruments. DISARMAMENT,
NON-PROLIFERATION AND ARMS CONTROL 19. The Ministers reaffirmed the
view that the primary focus on human development, the fight against poverty, and
measures to promote a better quality of life, should underpin and provide for
greater guarantees for international peace and stability. The three Ministers
took stock of the global security situation concerning disarmament and non-proliferation,
and expressed their concern over the lack of progress in multilateral fora related
to the field, and voiced their hope that the international community will show
the necessary resolve and political will to reinforce the international disarmament
and non-proliferation regime by means of multilaterally-negotiated, transparent,
balanced and effective measures. 20. The Ministers expressed their conviction
that multilateral institutions set up under multilateral disarmament agreements
should remain the primary institutions and mechanisms, in the international community's
endeavour to achieve common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. 21.
They took note of the positive continuing cooperation among their countries at
the IAEA and other fora, with a view to ensuring the unimpeded growth and development
of the peaceful use of atomic energy, through the supply of technology, equipment
and material, under appropriate safeguards, and reaffirmed their will to intensify
such cooperation. In this regard, the Ministers called for a peaceful resolution
of the Iranian nuclear programme within the context of the IAEA. 22. They
highlighted that nuclear energy can play an important role in meeting growing
global energy requirements while at the same time addressing concerns related
to global warming. In this regard they agreed to consider further enhancing international
civilian nuclear cooperation, with countries who share the objectives of non-proliferation
and have contributed to them, as well as having concluded appropriate safeguard
agreements with IAEA. 23. The Ministers expressed concern over the continuing
impasse in the Conference on Disarmament and called upon member states to intensify
efforts to reach an agreement on a programme of work. In this context, they reiterated
that the Five Ambassadors proposal as revised in 2003 still remained a viable
basis for a programme of work. 24. They also expressed their commitment
to the universalization of the Convention for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
and Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), as well as to the goal of ensuring its
balanced, transparent and effective implementation. 25. They also agreed
on the pressing need to adopt measures aimed at strengthening the Convention for
the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons, in order to consolidate its role
as a key disarmament instrument of the international disarmament and non-proliferation
regime, and expressed their will to intensify the cooperation and consultations
in relation to the Convention, in particular in the context of its 6th Review
Conference, scheduled for November-December 2006. 26. They recalled the
importance of cooperative and effective international action against the illicit
trade in small arms, light weapons and ammunition, and the need for the 2006 Review
Conference of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate
the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN-PoA),
adopted at the Conference on the Illicit Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons
in All Its Aspects. SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST 27. The Ministers
welcomed the holding of transparent and free parliamentary elections in the Palestinian
territories on 25 January 2006 and of general elections in Israel this very week.
They welcomed the strengthening of the democratic process in Palestine and the
peaceful nature of the polling. They expressed the hope that the newly formed
government in Palestine and the newly formed government in Israel will continue
to pursue peaceful negotiations as laid down by the Road Map for Peace and to
abstain from taking any action or measure which might put in jeopardy the peace
process in the region leading to the establishment of a viable, sovereign, independent
State of Palestine living side by side in peaceful co-existence with the State
of Israel. INTERNATIONAL TRADE 28. Considering the results
of the 6th WTO Ministerial Conference, held in Hong Kong, in December 2005, the
Ministers emphasized the necessity of renewed political commitment to advance
negotiations so that the Hong Kong deadlines are met. 29. As agriculture
is central to development and the Doha Round, the Ministers expressed their conviction
that Hong Kong consolidated the G-20 as an element of systemic relevance in WTO
Agriculture negotiations. 30. The Ministers emphasised the need to consolidate
unity on the development content of the Round. This is supported by increased
activity, in the form of consultations, held in Geneva by Indian, Brazilian and
South African delegations, in order to co-ordinate positions and strengthen Non-Agricultural
Market Access (NAMA), as well as the establishment of the NAMA -11 whose two main
principles are supporting flexibilities for developing countries and balance between
NAMA and other areas under negotiation. 31. They recognized the importance
of incorporating the development dimension in international discussions concerning
intellectual property, as a means to preserve the policy space that countries
enjoy in ensuring access to knowledge, health, culture and a sustainable environment.
In this context, they welcomed the launching of a "Development Agenda in
the World Intellectual Property Organization" and reaffirmed their hope that
the aforementioned Organization incorporates effectively the development dimension
in all its bodies. 32. The Ministers took note of the broader objectives
of the European Union proposed Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals
(REACH) Legislation, in respect of the protection of human health and the environment.
The Ministers reiterated their support for the commitments made on chemical safety
at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002. 33. The ministers
expressed their concern for the unintended consequences that REACH will have on
developing economies exporting to the EU. Such consequences will negatively affect
the attainment of development goals in the South, including the MDGs . The Ministers
recognised the efforts, commitments and determination of leaders of developing
economies to effectively address the challenges of poverty, underdevelopment,
marginalisation social exclusion and economic disparities. 34. The Ministers
urged the EU to give due consideration to the grave consequences for developing
economies should REACH be adopted in its current form. The Ministers urged the
EU to ensure that REACH will not become a Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT). The
high costs for compliance, the possibilities for substituting commodities and
the lack of technological and human resource capacity to comply may render the
EU markets inaccessible for exports from developing countries. The Ministers expressed
their desire that REACH should be consistent with the WTO laws and provide for
adequate flexibility to developing countries. 35. The Ministers undertook
to work together and jointly to address the challenges posed by REACH. The Ministers
resolved to make all efforts to cooperate in coordinated manner regarding REACH. INTERNATIONAL
FINANCIAL SYSTEM 36. The Ministers underlined the convergence of views
regarding the need for enhancing the governance of the international financial
system and, in this respect, reiterated their commitment to coordinate efforts
on this issue. They further stressed that progress in this field will lead to
improvements in crisis prevention and the increase of resources to finance development. SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT 37. The Ministers reaffirmed the validity of the principles
contained in the Rio Declaration, particularly on common but differentiated responsibilities,
the Programme of Action contained in Agenda 21, and the Plan of Implementation
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg. IBSA
would continue its efforts to mobilise new and additional financial resources
and the transfer of environmentally-sound technologies within an agreed time-frame
in order to implement the outcomes of these conferences. 38. They stressed
that an international environment supportive of development would be critical
to this process. They also called for a specific focus on capacity-building as
well as on the transfer of financial resources and technology to developing countries. 39.
They noted with appreciation the stage of the TRIPS Council negotiations on the
relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity
and reaffirmed the urgent need that Members reach a prompt solution for the problem
raised by the granting of intellectual property rights concerning or making use
of genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge without compliance
of relevant provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. In this respect,
they underscored the wide support for the proposal of amending TRIPS with a view
to require intellectual property applications to disclose the country of origin
of the subject matter as well as the compliance with the requirements of fair
and equitable benefit-sharing and prior informed consent, in accordance with the
legislation of the country of origin. 40. They expressed, in this context,
their positive expectations about the results of the VIII Conference of the Parties
of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-8/CBD), which is being held in
Curitiba, Brazil (March, 20th-31st). They concurred on that COP-8 constitutes
an opportunity to advance the effective implementation of CBD. 41. They
also called for expediting negotiation and conclusion of the international regime
on access and benefit sharing, as an instrument for protecting intellectual property
rights concerning traditional and indigenous knowledge. India, Brazil and South
Africa, as the founding members of the Group of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries,
agreed to strengthen cooperation and co-ordination, with an emphasis on multilateral
negotiations and in fostering activities related to South-South Cooperation. 42.
They recalled that Brazil, India and South Africa will jointly participate in
the Capacity Building Committee of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO), an intergovernmental
partnership entrusted with implementing the Global Earth Observation System of
Systems (GEOSS). The participation in the Capacity Building Committee provides
a unique opportunity for the three countries to cooperate in enhancing the capabilities
of developing countries, especially less developed ones, in the use, analysis,
interpretation and modelling of Earth Observation data, for applications in the
nine societal benefit areas of GEOSS, which comprise Agriculture, Health, Disasters,
Water, Ecosystems, Climate, Meteorology, Energy and Biodiversity. CLIMATE
CHANGE 43. The Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the results
of the Montreal meetings (COP-11, COP/MOP-1), particularly with the adoption of
the Marrakech Accords and the establishment of the Ad-hoc Working Group on Further
Commitments for Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol to consider such commitments
for the period beyond 2012. They further urged developed countries to meet their
own commitments and undertakings under the Protocol not only in terms of complying
with current targets for Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emission reduction, but also in
terms of their commitment in respect of technology transfer, capacity building
and financial support to developing countries. They also welcomed the dialogue
on long term co-operative action to address climate change by enhancing implementation
of the Convention. 44. They also agreed on the need for continued consultations
within IBSA Forum on the environment and climate change issues. IBSA
FACILITY FUND FOR ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND HUNGER 45. The Ministers
reiterated the fundamental character of the IBSA Fund as a means to disseminate
the best practices in the alleviation of poverty and hunger. They emphasized the
importance of the participation of institutions of IBSA countries (Governmental
and Non-Governmental) in the projects financed by the Fund and recommended that
the UNDP, as administrator of the Fund, find means to make that participation
possible. 46. The Ministers received the report of the visit of the Technical
Monitoring Committee (TMC) to Guinea Bissau and accepted the recommendations made
by the TMC, especially concerning the management of the project, and urged the
UNDP Office in Bissau to work more closely with the UNDP Special Unit for South-South
Cooperation in New York, the Coordinator of the project and the Guinean Bissau
national authorities. They accepted the Committee´s recommendation that
an additional agreement be signed with UNDP in order to clarify rights and obligations
of both parties.
47. The Ministers reiterated their commitment to move
forward with other projects in the scope of the Fund. They welcomed the finalisation
of the concept paper of the project on waste collection in Haiti (Carrefour Feuille)
and called upon speedy appointment of a project coordinator so that the project
can be implemented as soon as possible.. They underlined the importance of making
progresses in the drawing up of the projects benefiting Palestine and Laos. 48.
The IBSA countries recommitted themselves to allocate at least US$ 1 million a
year to the Fund. IBSA SECTORAL COOPERATION 49. The Ministers
reviewed the work of the sectoral working groups and adopted their reports. 50.
Reference was made to the two Workshops on Information Society and E-Government,
held in South Africa and India, and to the commitment of the three delegations
to actively participate in the last event of the series, to take place in Brazil,
in June 2006. 51. The Ministers welcomed the agreement reached by the Working
Group on the Information Society, on the content of the "IBSA Framework for
Cooperation on Information Society", setting up the basis and defining modes
of cooperation in the fields of Information Society and Communication Technologies,
and took note with satisfaction of the Joint Action Program for 2006-2007, prescribing
specific initiatives in all fields of cooperation covered by the Framework. The
Ministers also welcomed the development of the IBSA website (www.ibsa-trilateral.org),
maintained by South Africa, and invite the various working groups of the IBSA
Forum to provide content and make full use of this channel of communication. 52.
The Ministers recognized with pleasure the high level of coordination between
the three delegations during the second phase of the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS), held in Tunis, in November 2005, and its preparatory works. In
this regard, the three countries reiterated their commitment to keep working together
during the WSIS follow-up process, as well as in other international fora related
to the issue, to promote the use of Information and Communication Technologies
as a tool for development and to build multilateral, democratic and transparent
global Internet governance mechanisms. 53. The Ministers decided to formalise
the establishment of an additional sectoral working group on Social Issues, as
a follow-up to the International Seminar on Economic Development and Social Equity,
held in Rio de Janeiro, on 3rd and 4th August, 2005. They also expressed their
intention of establishing as soon as possible a working group on Public Administration.
54. The member countries reiterated their commitment to further promote
the production and use of Biofuels as environmentally friendly and sustainable
fuels which promote socio - economic development, taking into consideration their
global importance. Progress is being made, on exchange of information on Renewable
Energy and the Biofuels value chain. 55. More emphasis will be placed on
exchange of information into the areas of energy efficiency and conservation,
and hydrogen energy. India will host the second technical meeting of the Energy
Working Group, to which other stakeholders including private sector players may
be invited for the enhancement of implementation of IBSA initiatives. 56.
The Ministers agreed on the importance of new initiatives aimed at strengthening
economic and trade relations among developing countries, as a means to generate
business opportunities and contribute to an international trade scenario more
suitable to their development projects. In that regard, they took note with great
satisfaction that Mercosul will be proposing to SACU and India the creation of
a Working Group to explore the modalities of a Trilateral Free Trade Agreement
(T-FTA) among them. They underlined the significance of this exercise and expressed
their full support to the initiative. 57. Further the Ministers supported
the initiative of a renewable source of energy seminar and the proposals to assist
Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises through the proposed study on how to make
business in the IBSA countries, and the proposals on sharing of experiences and
training opportunities. 58. The Ministers also laid emphasis on the need
to conclude the bilateral customs cooperation agreements expeditiously. 59.
The member countries decided that, in taking forward the renewed approach to IBSA
deliverables, South Africa should host a meeting on civil aviation and maritime
transport in April 2006. This meeting will focus on the finalization of the trilateral
on maritime transport agreement and also review implementation of air transport
agreement. It should be noted, in addition, that during the present meeting of
the working group in Rio, which also included the presence of representatives
of Air India, VARIG and SAA, tremendous progress has been made and concrete projects
have been identified for cooperation. To this end cooperation will be fostered
in areas of airlink expansions, training and knowledge sharing in airports and
airspace management, port management, operational and infrastructural systems,
including capacity building in shipbuilding, environmental management and navigational
systems. 60. The development of transshipment facilities will also be made
a priority in order to support the IBSA trade strategy which advocates for the
creation of South-South shipping highway that integrate subregional connection
between MERCOSUL, SACU and Indian regions. 61.The Ministers noted progress
on the establishment of a framework to strengthen cooperation in the field of
agriculture. Specific areas of cooperation that have been identified are: research
and capacity building, agricultural trade, rural development and poverty alleviation,
and other allied areas as may be agreed.
62. Following the successful meeting
of the health working group held in Brazil from 6th to 10th February 2006 in which
broad areas of cooperation were discussed, the South African Minister of Health
invited her counterparts for a meeting in March 2006. However, this meeting will
now take place on the margins of the WHO meeting in Geneva, in May 2006. IBSA
TRADE AND INVESTMENT FORUM
63. The Ministers noted with satisfaction
the results of the Trade and Investment Forum. The forum was divided into four
panels: a) Trilateral trade analysis; b) implementation of the preferential trade
agreements between Mercosul, India and Southern African Customs Union (SACU);
c) challenges to the growth of the trilateral trade (barriers, logistics and financing);
and d) organization of the trilateral business meeting on the occasion of the
IBSA Meeting of Heads of Government and State in September 2006.The delegations
of India, Brazil and South Africa presented data and facts concerning trade issues
that thrusted fruitful discussions among the businessmen attending the meeting.
64. It was presented an evaluation of the current aspects of the negotiations
involving Mercosul, Sacu and India. All delegations concluded that there must
be an expansion on acting positions to fit the ever growing market of the three
countries. The importance of solid links between the three countries was mentioned
several times and also the necessity of a stronger South-South union. The possible
substitution of imports from northern countries by imports from southern countries
was considered a possible solution to enforce this new commercial agreement. 65.
Brazilian businessmen pointed out that among the main barriers to be eliminated
to foster trilateral trade are: a) logistics, b) customs procedures, c) lack of
information and d) distances. The logistic problem was tackled by the suggestion
of a study (previously discussed in the IBSA work group for trade and investment
(on march 28th) to further address the issue. The private sector also emphasized
the necessity of creating flights uniting Brazil-South Africa-India. The measure
would help to narrow the distances both physical and cultural between IBSA partners.
66. In what concerns customs procedures, it was suggested more cooperation
in the area by the specific government institutions, in order to simplify many
of the regulations and turn the customs process into a more unified process. 67.
The study suggested in the work group of trade and investment, as well as the
magazine "Brazil Brand of Excellence", the Brazilian website "Brazil
Trade Net" and the creation of the IBSA site, were solutions proposed to
help ease the gap of information, and bring businessmen from the three countries
closer. 68. A great deal of possible solutions were suggested to help strengthen
the IBSA economic area: more aggressive free trade agreements, closer relations
between businesses and industries from the three countries, enhancing contact
between the automobile industries of IBSA. 69. Some sectors were also given
special attention: the renewable energy sector and ethanol industry. The WG on
trade and investment decided to create a seminar that will happen in South Africa
before the Summit in September. 70. The meeting was praised and considered
by the attendants as highly productive. It is expected new steps towards a more
united and stronger IBSA by all. *** 71. The Ministers of India and
South Africa confirmed the participation of Prime Minister Singh and President
Mbeki in the IBSA Summit to be convened by Brazil on 13th September 2006. 72.
The Ministers welcomed the announcement by Brazil of the II Conference of Intellectuals
from the Africa and the Diaspora, which will take place in Salvador, on 12th-14th
July 2006. Representatives from India will also be extended an invitation to attend
this meeting as observers. 73. The Ministers of India and South Africa expressed
their deep gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil for convening
the Third Meeting of the Trilateral Commission. 74. The Ministers agreed
that the next meeting will be hosted by India in the first quarter of 2007. | 
