Discurso na Reunião do Movimento dos Não-Alinhados - 17 de setembro de 2006

(versão em inglês)

Transcreve-se, a seguir, discurso do Ministro de Estado das Relações Exteriores, Embaixador Celso Amorim, proferido ontem, dia 16 de setembro, na XIV Conferência de Cúpula do Movimento dos Países Não-Alinhados:

Señor Presidente Raúl Castro, Presidente en ejercicio del Consejo de Estado de la Republica de Cuba y Presidente de la 14ª Cumbre del Movimiento de los No-Alineados, Excelencias, Distinguidos Delegados, Señoras y Señores, I am honoured to take part in this 14th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in the wonderful city of Havana. I am grateful for the warm and friendly welcome I have received since my arrival from the Cuban authorities. Let me express, on behalf of President Lula and the Brazilian people, our best wishes for a quick recovery to President Fidel Castro. In the last few decades, there has been much talk among economists about a twin deficit. It refers of course to the situation of internal and external accounts. I wish today to allude to another twin deficit that the world faces and that affects very much countries represented here: the twin deficit of democracy and development in the present international order. Since its foundation, the Non-Aligned Movement has been advancing the aspirations and claims of developing countries in a spirit of dialogue and tolerance. Brazil has been supportive of these efforts and has coordinated closely with its members. Non-Alignment has been an indispensable force for upholding multilateralism. Brazil stands firm on its defense of established notions that have guided the attitudes of the NonAligned Movement, such as non-interference in domestic affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes. In particular, we condemn every form of unilateral action, like embargoes and sanctions, let alone the use of force not authorized by the Security Council. Increased interdependence calls for enhanced solidarity among nations. This is especially needed in the case of many places in Africa, where men, women and children are doomed to a life of poverty and despair. Thus, President Lula has become an advocate for what we describe as an attitude of ‘nonindifference’. In September 2004, President Lula, along with his Chilean, French, German and Spanish counterparts – and with the support of the UN Secretary-General – , launched the ‘Action against Hunger and Poverty’, an initiative that brought together more than fifty Heads of State and Government. Our objective was to create an effective partnership to mobilize international support for financing development through innovative mechanisms. This goal is becoming a reality. Next Tuesday, President Lula – together with other leaders – will announce the official creation of the International Drug Purchase Facility to combat the three diseases that most seriously affect developing countries: HIVAIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Mr. Chairman,

In the WTO, Brazil has joined forces with other poor countries to ensure that the Doha Development Agenda is true to its name. As mentioned in the Statement adopted in the High Level Meeting of the G-20, held in Rio de Janeiro last weekend: ‘The livelihood and standards of living of the world’s poor are seriously jeopardized by the subsidies and market access barriers prevailing in international agricultural trade. Any round that would be faithful to its development dimension must urgently redress this situation’. The challenges of our global society call for enlightened leadership. South-South cooperation, as supported by NAM and other groups such as the G15, is an essential element of the path towards these solutions. The Summit which just took place in Brasilia with India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA, as we call it), involving three large democracies, one from each continent, opens new possibilities for South-South initiatives. The same goes for our relentless efforts towards South American and Latin American integration.

Mr. Chairman,

In the field of peace and security, inadequate responses undertaken outside the UN Charter present us with the urgent task of reforming our institutions. Let us heed the words by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan before this Conference: the narrow power base of the Security Council’s composition carries the risk of a progressive erosion of its authority and legitimacy. We fully agree when he speaks of a ‘democracy deficit’. Threats posed by terrorism and weapons of mass destruction can only be successfully confronted with the democratization of the decision-making process within the UN system. Following the establishment of the Human Rights Council and the Peace-Building Commission, the time has come to address the reform of the Security Council, with the expansion of the number of its members in both categories. In Lebanon, I have witnessed the tragic effects of disproportionate use of force to solve problems which call for enduring political solutions. The Palestinian people continues to face acute hardship, as the prospects for a peace settlement and a viable Palestinian State remain elusive. In our region, Haiti has become a test case for peace-building through a UN-mandated collective effort. But we will need sustained international engagement to achieve lasting results. The challenges we face require solidarity and a renewed capacity for dialogue. We reject the view of an international order which favours the use of force and regards multilateralism as just one among many options in the menu, to be picked when it suits the objectives of the powerful. Our vision of peace presupposes social justice, democratic procedures and respect for international law. We will continue to work closely with the Non-Aligned Movement to transform this shared vision into reality.

Thank you.