Speech by Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota on the occasion of the 7th Meeting of the IBSA Dialogue Forum Joint Ministerial Commission – New Delhi, March 8th, 2011

His Excellency Minister Krishna,

Her Excellency Minister Mashabane,

Focal Points of the India, Brazil and South Africa,

Representatives of the Working Groups,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

IBSA is going to turn eight years on 3 June and I would like to thank our Indian host for organizing our 7th Trilateral Commission.

This is the first IBSA Trilateral Commission after the inauguration of President Dilma Rousseff and my term in office as Brazilian Minister of External Relations.

I would like to renew the commitment of the present administration of Brazil with the Forum. We firmly believe in the future of our partnership in bringing closer together three large multi-ethnic democracies from Asia, Africa and South America and their respective regions.

This uninterrupted interaction is a clear indication that India, Brazil and South Africa are living up to the pledges undertaken in The Brasilia Declaration of 2003 to strengthen our relations not only through increased consultations and coordination on topics of the international agenda, but also through a Trilateral Commission encompassing different sectors of our Public Administrations.

In line with what we have stated many times, this is a unique platform of interaction for three democracies of the South, three multicultural societies, three increasingly relevant actors in today's world.

IBSA has already established its identity and has success stories to tell.

However, that fact allows no room for complacency.

Our assessment of IBSA is a positive one in each of its three pillars: political consultation and coordination; sectoral cooperation; and the implementation of projects through the Fund for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation.

More than seven years of close political interaction within the IBSA framework - in all areas relevant to the global agenda - have allowed us to get to know each other much better.

We have identified vast areas of common ground in our foreign policies.

But there is a large untapped potential yet to be explored.

The fact that the three countries currently participate in the Security Council is a circumstance that provides us with a particularly valuable platform at a time of momentous international events.

As countries ready to fully assume their responsibilities in the maintenance of international peace, we must take advantage of this opportunity to jointly articulate, whenever possible, our common vision of a more democratic international order with respect for international law and a commitment to improved multilateralism at its core.

As countries that enjoy relations of cooperation and friendship with both the Arab world and Israel, we are in a privileged position to push for early resumption of negotiations on a peace settlement between Israel and Palestine.

As government and societies that have managed to combine strong democratic roots with inclusive economic growth and freedom of expression, we can contribute to a peaceful transition in the Arab world in line with the aspirations of the protesters that have taken to the streets.

As promoters of human rights, as defenders of the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, we can create conditions for sound multilateral decisions on complex situations, such as Lybia's, and provide a way forward through dialogue and cooperation in close consultation with the countries in the region and their consultative mechanisms.

Let us also have in mind that we recognise that the concepts of peace, security and development are closely related and that they underpin, to a large extent, our perspectives on peace.

Together we must continue to press ahead for a reform of the Security Council, which includes expansion in both permanent and non-permanent seats and increased participation of developing countries.

The changes in the global governance in the financial and economic spheres have to be matched with equal changes in the field of peace and security.

We can build on the coordination that we have successfully achieved in fora such as the Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Such joint efforts should be strengthened and extended whenever possible.

For instance, I believe that there is scope for discussing the issue of nuclear disarmament in the context of IBSA as we surely agree on the long term aim of a world free of nuclear weapons.

May I put forward the proposal of a High Officials Meeting on nuclear disarmament before the next Summit.

Let us also engage in deeper consultation about Human Rights so that we can promote a discussion of that topic which might contribute to reduce the persistent North-South polarization that still characterizes the dynamics in much of the current debate on human rights.

Moreover, Brazil regards the pursuit of outreach initiatives by IBSA as a useful endeavour.

The BRICS may also benefit from renewed coordination between IBSA countries. Brazil welcomed with enthusiasm the recent accession of South Africa to the BRICS, which, we understand, opens new opportunities to both mechanisms in terms of diversifying their agendas.

Allow me, Mr Chairman, to dwell on the IBSA Fund now.

It is clear that the Fund has received considerable international attention and has been praised as a model for cooperation, notwithstanding the limited funds allocated to it.

If I am to single out one feature of the IBSA approach to cooperation with third countries that makes it so successful, it is the principle of engagement with recipient governments.

All projects are the result not only of our will to offer a contribution, but also of a clear acceptance of the authorities which are at the receiving end.

In the next months we are going to conclude the construction of a Sports Center in Ramallah. Once again the Fund will be in the spotlight.

Let me suggest that we make preparations so that High Officials, if not ourselves, be present at the inauguration ceremony of the Centre, which would assure the visibility that IBSA deserves.

In the same breath, we have to recognize that the Fund has its shortcomings. In the universe of international cooperation, 3 million dollars is a modest figure.

Moreover, we have yet to achieve faster desimbursements.

We also have to prove that we can implement projects in third countries without intermediaries. This is the ultimate challenge for three countries willing to have full ownership of its cooperation initiatives.

I intend to deal with the topics related to the sectoral cooperation in my remarks after the report of the Focal Points.

Before I conclude this opening address, I once again would like to convey my sincere appreciation for the arrangements carried out by the Indian Government to make this meeting possible.

Thank you

Concluding Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Antonio Patriota

Having listened to the report of the Focal Points and, in general, being aware of the coordination effort that we have undertaken in order to advance the collaboration in the 16 Working Groups that are comprised in IBSA, I would like to underline that the there is a valuable work of exchange of information under way among our countries.

Officials of India, Brazil and South Africa are becoming more and more familiar with the practices prevalent in our countries.

We can surely talk about an IBSA culture which has percolated our Administrations.

We are laying a sound foundation for the establishment of more fertile exchanges.

The two micro satellites which are in our pipeline are emblematic of what we can concretely achieve.

Other examples follow: the cooperation in Antartic research, the certification of exports to facilitate customs procedures; projects in science and technology, the sharing of best practices in Public Administration; coordination in the field of information society; joint naval exercises (IBSAMAR), among others.

At the same time, we have to strive in many fronts. For example, we have to move beyond stereotypes in the prevalent views of our three countries. That can be achieved through widespread cultural exchanges, as well as through an increased flow of tourism, that also depends on the improvement of our connectivity.

The Working Groups on Culture, Tourism and Transport can help us to reach that objective.

Moreover, in all areas we must learn how to move faster from planning-to-action-to-deliverables.

On the whole, Minister Mashabane and Minister Krishna,

I am glad to see that IBSA is not an exercise that goes from Summit-to-Summit, from Ministerial-to-Ministerial. Between these events, we are constantly adding content to our initiative - and all of us have the right to expect even more.

Thank you