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CS:
The G-77 was founded as a common voice for the South. Given the
wide divergence of Southern countries today, to what extent does
the spirit of cooperation which led to the formation of G-77 still
exist, and how can G-77 seek to foster that spirit as a means of
enhancing South-South cooperation?
Ambassador
Mabilangan: The fact of the varying stages of development among
the countries of the South does not hinder G-77 solidarity. Diversity
among developing countries was evident even during the formation
of the G-77 in the '60s. In fact, diversity can be a unifying factor,
and the spirit of cooperation inspiring the creation of the G-77
has grown immensely through the years. The G-77 pioneered new ideas
that altered the dynamics of international relations. It was key
to the adoption of such landmark instruments as the Declaration
and Programme of Action for the Establishment of a New International
Economic Order, the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States,
the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, the International
Development Strategies of the United Nations, the Buenos Aires Plan
of Action and the Cartagena Commitment. The G-77 remains just as
important today, continuing to play a crucial role in helping to
foster a common position for the South. The divergence of countries
in the South is in itself a source of strength and a reservoir of
beneficial cooperation among themselves. Every member of the G-77
is both donor and recipient because each member has valuable experience
and capacities to offer.
CS:
The recent High-Level Committee Meeting concluded with a renewed
commitment to TCDC. What in your view were the most important new
elements that emerged from the meeting and how could these elements
be translated into operational programmes?
Ambassador
Mabilangan: The most recent session of the High-level Committee
signals the true coming of age of TCDC. By this I mean the realization
by the participating countries that TCDC has been around for a long
time, but has not been utilized to any significant degree, and that
the time has come to make fuller use of this very valuable development
cooperation tool. I think the most important element to emerge from
the recent meeting of the High-level Committee is the resolve to
get down to actually applying TCDC with forward-looking new approaches
as recommended in the excellent report on "New Directions for TCDC."
It
is also worth noting that at the recently held meeting of the High-Level
Committee, many delegations endorsed the idea of triangular funding
in the light of the fact that financial constraints remain a major
impediment to the wider application of TCDC modalities. The triangular
funding methodology maximizes the financial resources of developed
countries or multilateral agencies and the appropriate technical
resources within developing countries in meeting development needs.
We will explore the application of this new element in accordance
with the principles of South-South cooperation.
CS:
The key policy document considered at the meeting of the High-level
Committee, "New Directions," identifies the "need to achieve wider
acceptance of TCDC" as one of the most significant challenges to
the full realization of TCDC. What practical measures can be taken
to foster that wider acceptance?
Ambassador
Mabilangan: The "New Directions for TCDC" is a blueprint for approaches
to development assistance. It reflects the constant change that
every developing country faces. The G-77 needs to raise the level
of awareness of all countries, institutions and international agencies
regarding the need to address these changes. In my view, achieving
wider acceptance of TCDC as a means to its fuller use really entails
two simultaneous efforts: an effective information and training
campaign, and actually carrying out innovative pilot activities
and strategic initiatives. The initiatives should focus on trade
and investment, debt, the environment, poverty alleviation and macro-economic
coordination and management.
Fuller
development of TCDC national focal points and increased budgetary
allocations for TCDC programmes are two other areas which are obviously
important for the growth of TCDC. In addition, we need to develop
some creative activities which will inspire development practitioners
to follow these new directions.
CS:
"New Directions" also reiterates the importance of integrating TCDC
and ECDC strategies. What mechanisms and institutional arrangements
need to be strengthened or established to advance that goal?
Ambassador
Mabilangan: For the integration of TCDC and ECDC, we need to revisit
the Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) where TCDC was seen as having
an integral relationship to ECDC. This implies less compartmentalization
of "technical" and "economic" aspects, and more linking of TCDC
initiatives with ECDC programmes, as was suggested in the recent
intergovernmental expert group meeting on South-South cooperation.
UNDP, UNCTAD and other agencies should be encouraged to programme
joint efforts to achieve greater integration.
CS:
The Group of 77/UNDP award for TCDC/ECDC, which was launched last
year to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of
the G-77, will be presented for the first time in September 1995.
Could you tell us a little about the award and its significance
from the point of view of the G-77?
Ambassador
Mabilangan: An important manifestation of the coming of age of the
countries of the South on the global stage is their ability to share
capacities and technologies among themselves. The sharing of knowledge
and experience is the essence of TCDC and ECDC. It constitutes a
powerful point of convergence for the developing world which is
seeking greater solidarity, more self-reliance and a better life
for its citizens. The G-77/UNDP award for TCDC/ECDC is an excellent
practical and inspirational expression of this position of increased
self-confidence and greater capacity. The award will be granted
annually to an individual, group or institution from the South for
an initiative that has made the greatest contribution to the advancement
of the objectives of TCDC and ECDC. We are looking forward to the
announcement of the first award in September 1995. I hope the award
will stimulate creative sharing and exchange among developing countries.
CS:
On the issue of funding, what arrangements do you consider contain
the greatest opportunity for overcoming the present financial constraints
to TCDC activities?
Ambassador
Mabilangan: There are many sources of funding which can be tapped
to facilitate TCDC. TCDC seeks to create self-reliance among countries
in the South by harnessing their capacities to resolve their own
development problems. Countries in the South should set aside funding
from their own national budgets to complement the funding assistance
from other sources. The imperative to make TCDC effective rests
primarily on the shoulders of the countries of the South. However,
everyone should realize that the international community has a common
stake in the success of the South. Other countries will share the
fruits of successful TCDC when the countries in the South expand
their absorptive capacities for goods and services and begin to
tread the path of stability and sustained economic growth. More
assistance from outside sources should be made available to support
TCDC activities, particularly those which have inputs from international
institutions and agencies and which will benefit the least developed
countries, especially in Africa. The emerging modality of triangular
cooperation based on a South-South-North configuration will also
allow some resources to be made available from the North for activities
defined and managed by the South. Finally, the creative engagement
of the private commercial sector in TCDC activities would also provide
for additional of resources.
CS:
Turning for a moment to your own country, the Philippines. What
initiatives involved in promoting and fostering TCDC are taking
place there at the present time?
Ambassador
Mabilangan: The Philippines has a small TCDC programme funded from
the national budget and focused on a number of areas where we feel
we have a unique contribution to make to our fellow developing countries.
We have a body called the Technical Cooperation Council which serves
as the national focal point on TCDC/ECDC and administers all TCDC/ECDC
activities undertaken by my government. In the past, with the help
of UN agencies such as UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),
the Technical Cooperation Council has implemented various training
programmes and workshops in the areas of rural banking, small business
management, metallurgy and aquaculture, with participants from various
least-developed countries as well as from other developing countries.
We have good experience in involving indigenous NGOs as development
partners with the Government, particularly at the rural levels.
We have also shared our experience in the multi-disciplinary management
of natural disasters involving all segments of the population. The
Philippine Government and the Asia Pacific Centre for the Transfer
of Technology (APCTT) are organizing a five-day workshop on technology
management tools and practices at Manila from 26 to 30 September
1995. The Technical Cooperation Council and the Technology Application
and Promotion Institute of our Department of Science and Technology
will jointly host the workshop. Countries whose nationals will be
attending the meeting include: Bangladesh, Chile, China, India,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Mexico
and Viet Nam. The participants will be senior representatives of
various research and development institutions, science and technology
agencies, consultants and consulting firms, industry, non-governmental
organizations and productivity environment-management centres.
CS:
What is the status of the proposal by the ministerial meeting of
the G-77 held in September 1994 for a conference on South-South
cooperation about which there were some initial discussions during
the forty-ninth session of the UN General Assembly?
Ambassador
Mabilangan: As far as the G-77 is concerned, the conference on South-South
cooperation should be convened no later than 1997. However, this
view does not appear to be shared by some other groups. The European
Union, for example, at a recent meeting, stated for the record that
it had serious reservations about the convening of such a conference,
although some developed countries are sympathetic to the idea of
a conference. Nevertheless, the G-77 will continue to vigorously
pursue the issue. The conference is a key means of reinvigorating
international support for South-South cooperation. Developed countries
should support the convening of such a conference because in the
ultimate analysis, whatever advances the South is able to realize
will have a concomitant benefit for the North.
CS:
What linkage do you see between the proposed conference on South-South
cooperation and the "Agenda for Development"?
Ambassador
Mabilangan: The G-77, in fact, all developing countries, recognize
that South-South cooperation is an important means for promoting
development and breathing new life into international development
cooperation. The Agenda for Development, at least in the G-77 version,
contains a section on South-South cooperation in which this view
is reflected. An international conference on South-South cooperation
would thus provide a b political basis and commitment not only in
terms of pursuing opportunities for greater South-South cooperation
in the post-Cold War era, but also for promoting political and financial
support by the international community and particularly the developed
countries, for South-South cooperation activities.
In
this regard, it should be stressed that South-South cooperation
is not a substitute for North-South cooperation but is, in fact,
a valuable complement to it. It is therefore in the political and
economic interest of all countries, particularly in the North, to
meaningfully support South-South cooperation. It is in this context
that South-South cooperation would be a valuable means of enhancing
international cooperation for development, which, in turn, should
be the essential objective of an agenda for development.
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