G-77 high level conference concludes with the adoption of Tehran Consensus

TEHRAN, 22 August 2001 – The Intergovernmental Follow-up and Coordination Committee on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries (IFCC-X) concluded its meeting in Tehran on 22 August 2001. The meeting completed its work with the adoption of a final communiqué entitled “Tehran Consensus” and a number of recommendations on various areas of the work of the Committee.

The tenth meeting of the IFCC, taking place after a hiatus of five years, was attended by the representatives of more than 100 delegations from both governments and agencies and institutions of the United Nations, other international organizations, regional economic groupings of the South as well as research institutions of the developing countries.

The meeting adopted sectoral recommendations on trade, finance, technology, economic and technical cooperation among developing countries, food and agriculture, industrialization, energy and raw materials. A number of other decisions were as well adopted in such areas as sustainable development, social development, South health delivery systems, World Solidarity Fund.

The Tehran Consensus, the pivotal outcome of this G-77 meeting, represents a common imperative on the part of the developing world. It is the South´s reflection on the state of South-South cooperation and addresses the major challenges before the developing world in this area under the conditions of continuing globalization. The Communique reaffirms, in its chapeau, the relevance and the validity of the Group´s various declarations and programmes of action and reiterates the Group´s “firm commitment to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Havana Declaration and the Programme of Action”.

The Consensus represents the resolve of the governments of the South to move forcefully and urgently forward on five objectives of common concern to the developing world in the context of South-South cooperation. Further, the Consensus appeals to all other partners in the international development effort to extend genuine support to achieving those objectives. The objectives being: Consolidating the South-South platform; Building stronger South institutions at the global level; Bridging the knowledge and information gap; Building broad-based partnerships; and Mobilizing global support for South-South cooperation.

 Ambassador Bagher Asadi, Chairman of the Group of 77 and President of the Tehran meeting, characterized the Tehran Consensus as “a unique, historic document, deeply rooted in an objective, bold assessment of the state of South-South cooperation”, which “addresses the major challenges in front of the South, and espouses a consensus vision on the part of the developing world.”

At a press conference held at the meeting´s venue (ICIC), the G-77 Chairman considered the Tehran outcome “a solid foundation for the future work of the Group of 77 and China.” and “the necessary platform and a very clear overall guidelines for further follow-up and implementation” of the Group´s previous decisions on South-South cooperation. He also emphasized in his concluding remarks that “The message to the international community proper, the United Nations system, relevant international institutions and the donor community, is very clear and unmistakable. The time has come for all of them to deliver.”

For Further information please contact:
Mourad Ahmia , Executive Secretary
Telephone : (212)963-4777/963-3816
Fax : (212)963-3515
Email : G77OFF@UNMAIL.ORG