Address of the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations
Ambassador Sotos Zackheos
to the United Nations International Conference on Financing and Development in Monterrey, Mexico 

March 22, 2002

Mr. President, 

Cyprus fully supports the Monterrey Consensus to be adopted by the Conference. We consider this document to be instrumental for the achievement of the Millennium Declaration development goals of sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development.  The warm endorsement extended to it by the international community at the highest political level is truly promising. We sincerely hope that the commitments made will be implemented in full.  

We must not lose sight of the fact that development means breaking away from the misery affecting millions of unfortunate people around the world.  The most recent statistics provided by FAO are indeed staggering. Some 815 million people, who constitute 13% of the population of our planet, including 150 million children, the overwhelming majority of whom are in developing countries, suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Behind each and every one of these statistical numbers there is a human being entitled to a better future and the international community should not rest until everyone’s inalienable right to food is secured.   

Mr. President, 

The developing countries and countries with economies in transition have an obligation to their people to decisively deal with issues like good governance, the fight against corruption, full respect of human rights, peace, and social stability. These are sine qua non conditions, which as the example of the assciated countries with the European Union has shown, can ensure positive results.

Despite the fact that the main responsibility rests with the countries concerned, the developed countries can play a significant role in creating an international environment conducive to development and the elimination of poverty. They must ensure adequate and predictable development aid and broader market access for products and services from developing countries. They must continue their efforts towards alleviating the debt burden of developing countries. In this respect, we take the opportunity to express our support to additional financing and full implementation of the HIPC initiative. The declining trend in financial contribution through ODA by the developed countries must be reversed so that the necessary funds will be available for poverty alleviation and development.

We call upon the donor community to stick to the Monterrey agreement to raise development assistance to 0.7% of the Gross National Product and to lift any bureaucratic obstacles. We welcome the important commitments made at Barcelona by the European Union, the major partner for the Least Developed Countries, as well as by President Bush for increased development assistance. We sincerely hope that other actors will take a similar approach. 

Mr. President,  

Particular attention is required in order to address the special needs of Small Island States, which face certain critical challenges related to their unique economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities. Cyprus, as a small island state shares many of their concerns and urges the international community and particularly the donor countries to support wholeheartedly their efforts to achieve sustainable development. The government of the Republic of Cyprus is currently in the process of overhauling its assistance programmes both at the institutional and financial level. Moreover, in a spirit of solidarity, Cyprus is examining ways at increasing its already existing emergency relief assistance. At the same time, we will continue to support national development policies by providing technical assistance. 

Mr. President, 

The grave daily reality of poverty and underdevelopment in many parts of the world must be confronted with an open mind and determination. The precarious state of the less fortunate of our community inhibits the prospects of economic growth at the global level and restricts the prospects for gaining the most out of globalisation. A serious engagement on the part of the international community will not only prove an emerging global ethos of compassion and solidarity but more importantly, it will constitute an act, which will, in the final analysis, serve our common interests.

Thank you Mr. President.

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