United Nations: Part 1; Decrying Economic System, Which Promotes 'Hoarding of Wealth by the Few,' Speakers from Developing Countries Demand More Input into Global Decision-Making; General Assembly President Closes Annual Debate Pledging to Work With Member States towards Renewed Commitment to Promoting Inclusive Multilateralism

• Published in: M2 Presswire
• Format: Newsletter
• Language: English
• Published: Coventry Normans Media Ltd 30.09.2009
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Climate change; Decision making; Economic crisis; Global economy; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus

Among the 16 delegations taking the floor today, Samuel Santos Lopez, Nicaragua's Minister of Foreign Affairs, agreed, saying economic policies should be decided within the most representative institution -- not within groups such as the Group of Eight (G-8) and Group of Twenty (G-20), which championed an economic system that promoted the subjugation of nations and the 'hoarding of wealth by the few'. Citing Nicaragua's national experience, he spoke of an alternative development model that transformed the structures of poverty and marginalization that were breeding grounds of public safety problems. 'Our model is based on democratic reform, expressed in popular will, which we call 'Citizen Power'', he said. PETER DAVID, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Grenada, said the United Nations was the best place to face the numerous challenges of today's world. 'We cannot respond to one challenge and choose to ignore another, because all are interconnected,' he said, adding: 'Indeed, working together is the raison d'etre, the essence of 'united' in United Nations.' Climate change remained at the top of the global agenda but for small island States, the threat was particularly pronounced, he said. He called on the international community to support the most vulnerable and encouraged States to reach the targets set out for the upcoming Copenhagen Summit on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The citizens of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines would soon vote on a new constitution to transform the country into an independent republic, he announced, before turning to the subject of international relations. It was necessary for multilateral cooperation to be inclusive and participatory and, to that end, poor and developing countries were urged to help remake the United Nations. The global economic and financial crisis, poverty and development weren't academic issues; climate change wasn't theoretic and United Nations reform wasn't a 'diplomatic parlour game', he said, and concluded: 'We stand now in the autumn of our discontent.' But, as Gandhi said, 'healthy discontent is the prelude to progress'.