IBSA Ministerial Meeting at General Debate of UNGA 65

The Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, H.E. Mr. S. M. Krishna, the Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, H.E. Ambassador Celso Amorim, and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, H.E. Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, met in New York on 25 September 2010.

The Ministers reiterated their commitment to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and in this regard acknowledged the importance of the High Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Integrated and Coordinated Implementation of and Follow-up to the Millennium Summit.

The Ministers emphasized the importance of the implementation of commitments by development partners to assist developing countries in achieving the MDGs by 2015.  They again committed IBSA to enhancing South-South cooperation, through the IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund). The Ministers noted that amidst all the challenges that face countries, South-South cooperation is an effective tool contributing to the achievement of MDGs and IBSA will continue to find ways of cooperating with fellow developing countries. 

In this regard the Ministers noted the meeting hosted by Indonesia on the side-lines of the General Debate of the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly, on the situation in Palestine in which Brazil, India and South Africa participated, as a concrete example of developing countries meeting to discuss ways of assisting Palestine.

The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and to increased participation of developing countries in the decision-making bodies of multilateral organisations and institutions. They reiterated the urgent need for the UN to be reformed so as to become more representative and reflective of the needs and priorities of developing countries, specifically the UN Security Council.

In this regard, the Ministers recalled the urgent need to expand the Security Council in both its permanent and non-permanent categories, in order to increase participation of developing countries. This will make the UNSC more broadly representative, efficient and transparent, would enhance its effectiveness and legitimacy, as well as the implementation of its decisions.

The Ministers acknowledged the progress in the inter-governmental negotiations on Security Council reform so far.  The Ministers noted the development of “text-based” negotiations and called on all UN Member States to ensure that concrete results are achieved at the 65th Session of the General Assembly. In this regard, the IBSA countries reiterated their commitment to enhance coordination with each other and the broader UN membership with the aim of achieving genuine reform of the UN Security Council at the earliest opportunity.

The Ministers also noted the historic occasion in 2011 in which all three IBSA countries will serve on the UN Security Council.  They stressed the importance for IBSA to work together on the Security Council with the aim of making the Council more responsive and transparent in the execution of its mandate.

The Ministers conveyed their support and best wishes to the Government and people of India for successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi from 3-14 October 2010.
The Ministers also wished the Government and people of Brazil well with the presidential elections that will take place on 3 October 2010 and reiterated IBSA’s commitment to democratic values.
Finally, the Ministers expressed their sincere appreciation to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for the significant role he played in IBSA.  They conveyed their best wishes to him for his future.

For more information, please do not hesitate to call Mr Saul Kgomotso Molobi, Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, at +27 82 940 1647, +27 12 351 0083 or email him at molobisk@dirco.gov.za.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
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25 September 2010