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CONCLUSIONS OF G8 FOREIGN MINISTERS - 9 May 1998
We, the Foreign Ministers of the G8 and representatives of the European
Commission, met in London on 8 and 9 May 1998. Aware of the growing need to work
ever more closely together to ensure a safe and prosperous world, we discussed a
number of global and regional issues that are of common concern. Some issues will be
taken up by our Heads of State or Government at the G8 Birmingham Summit. On
others, we drew the following conclusions.
GLOBAL ISSUES
Environment
We fully endorse the outcome of last year's UN General Assembly review progress
since the Rio Earth Summit and the conclusions of the G8 Environment Ministers'
meeting at Leeds Castle. We reaffirm our commitment to sustainable development and
poverty reduction as our over-riding goal and to work together in partnership with others
to achieve it. We agree to provide a new impetus to global efforts to promote
sustainable development by taking the following actions. We have published today and commit ourselves to the implementation of an Action
Programme on Forests. This sets out specific measures at the domestic and
international levels to promote sustainable forest management, complementing the work
of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests and other international initiatives. We
underline the importance of participation and transparency in the development and
implementation of practical approaches to sustainable forest management that reflect
environmental, ecological, social and economic values. We look forward to working
together and with other partners, including those outside government, in implementing
the Action Programme and reporting back on progress in the year 2000. Recent large
scale forest fires lend urgency to this task. 1998 is the International Year of the Oceans. The world needs to use this year to
consider how better to manage the seven-tenths of the planet covered by sea.
Governments need to take actions domestically and internationally to protect the marine
environment and to promote increased public awareness of its vital importance . We commit ourselves to work
actively with others at the 1999 meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable
Development for conclusions designed to promote the conservation and sustainable use
of the seas, including at the regional level. As mapped out by the G8 Environment
Ministers at their meeting at Leeds Castle, we shall promote greater and more
co-ordinated action on marine biodiversity, including regional initiatives, notably in
relation to enclosed and semi-enclosed seas and the Arctic. We welcome the intention
of the United Kingdom to organise a Second London Oceans Workshop in December
1998, which can offer a focus for the preparation for CSD. We commit ourselves to
renewed efforts to implement existing international agreements, including the UN
Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks.
On Freshwater, access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, within a
proper framework for integrated water-resource management, is essential to help
reduce disease, improve food security and reduce poverty. Water resource
management must reflect the integration of water quality and quantity with land
management activities, and highlight the need for protection of economic-systems,
including water resources, from pollution. Responsible water management entities,
including Governments, must organise themselves at local, national, regional and global
levels, to achieve these goals. We therefore commit ourselves to helping develop
partnerships, including with the private sector, to apply the strategic approach to
freshwater management agreed at the recent meeting of the UN Commission on
Sustainable Development. We welcome the Ministerial Declaration that was adopted at
the Paris Conference on Water and Sustainable Development in March, and emphasise
the importance of following up its programme for priority actions. We recognise that national strategies are an essential tool of policy making by
bringing together the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable
development. We commit ourselves to working with developing countries to help put in
place relevant sustainable development strategies by 2002 and to have implementation
underway by 2005. We pledge our support to the new Executive Director of the United Nations
Environment Programme and look forward to a revitalised role for UNEP as the leading
global environment authority. We welcome the successful US $2.75 billion replenishment of the Global Environment
Facility and reaffirm our commitment to it as the principal funding mechanism for
promoting global environmental benefits. We welcome the success of the first Rome Conference of the Parties to the
Desertification Convention and encourage its full implementation. We recognise the need to take action on the problems persistent organic pollutants
pose to human health and the environment, and welcome the beginning of negotiations
in Montreal in June on a multilateral legal instrument. We recognise the need to address
the problems some developing countries will face in reducing and phasing out the use of
certain persistent chemicals. Building on efforts in the OECD on taking environmental factors into account when
providing official export credits, we encourage further work by the OECD to this end and
ask for a report back next year.
Nuclear Safety
Nuclear safety is a top priority. As our Energy Ministerial colleagues confirmed when
they met in April, we intend to meet in full our commitments at the 1996 Moscow Summit
on Nuclear Safety and Security. This will involve our active and constructive
participation in the work of the international conventions on the safety of nuclear power
installations and spent fuel and radioactive waste management. We discussed the
situation at Reactor No. 1 of the Kursk nuclear power plant. We agreed on the necessity
of the full observation of all the provisions of the Nuclear Safety Account Agreement.
We noted that the Russian authorities have invited an EBRD team to examine jointly
with Gosatomnadzor the safety conditions of the reactor in the middle of May, and that
they have undertaken that any further operation of the reactor prior to the completion of
the indepth safety review should comply with the recommendations of both authorities. It
is also important to continue developing and implementing national and international
nuclear liability regimes. We welcome the adoption of the Protocol to amend the Vienna
Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Convention on Supplementary
Compensation for Nuclear Damage. We shall continue to work closely together to help the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States to improve nuclear safety. Full
implementation of the agreements reached under the auspices of the Nuclear Safety
Account since 1993 remains a high priority. As to Chernobyl and the implementation of
the Memorandum of Understanding, good progress has been made in establishing the
new international fund to finance a major programme to make the sarcophagus safe.
Over half of the $760m required has been raised and the first projects are about to get
under way. We urge the countries which have not yet pledged funds to consider joining
the 18 countries and the European Union which have already done so, thereby helping
to ensure that this important project can be completed by 2006. We also emphasise that
contributions by other donors called for at the Denver Summit are necessary.
UN Issues
The UN has our firm backing in maintaining international peace and security, and in
promoting sustainable development. We continue to support thorough-going institutional
reform with the goal of strengthening the UN system. Last summer we, along with the
overwhelming majority of our fellow UN members, welcomed Kofi Annan's wide-ranging
proposals. We are pleased to see several already in force - particularly the new
Development Group, the appointment of Louise Frechette as the UN's first Deputy
Secretary-General, and the improvement of management practices across the system. But there is still much to do. The main responsibility lies with member states. We will
work for agreement of Kofi Annan's remaining recommendations, among them
results-based budgeting, sunset provisions, greater coherence in the field, and recycling
efficiency savings back into high priority development programmes. We will also
encourage further streamlining, especially of ECOSOC subsidiaries, better co-ordination
within the UN and stronger links with civil society and other international institutions. The UN continues to have serious financial problems. We must find a solution which
includes full and timely payment of obligations, and development of a more logical and
more equitable scale of assessment. The G8 attaches great importance to conflict prevention: we support Kofi Annan's
moves to enhance UN capabilities in this area, to integrate human rights concerns into
all such activities, and to develop close links with regional organisations. We will offer
increased support for his conflict prevention efforts. We welcome the Secretary-General's recommendations on addressing conflict in
Africa, as well as efforts by member states, under the aegis of the UN, to work with
African states to enhance their peacekeeping capacity and expand the role of the
Organisation for African Unity and African subregional organisations in the prevention,
management and resolution of conflicts, within the context of the UN Charter. We
reaffirm the importance of the UN's co-ordinating role in demining. Violent conflicts often have roots in social and economic injustice. Trade, aid and
economic reform programmes should take account of this. When violence ends, the
Security Council should support the transition from military peacekeeping operations to
peacebuilding and reconstruction. UN civilian police, with human rights field officers,
have a key role to play in this, protecting human rights and rebuilding democracy.
However, there is a need for better training and rapid deployment. We reaffirm the
importance of UNDPA's role as the UN focal point for peacebuilding. Perpetrators of atrocities must not be left unpunished. Bringing them to justice will
deter others. We strongly support the creation of a credible and effective International
Criminal Court. Because it is important that the Court enjoy participation of a large
number of states from all regions of the world, we call on all states to ensure a
successful outcome to the forthcoming Rome Conference.
Non-Proliferation, arms control and disarmament
In pursuit of our shared non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament objectives,
we are committed to action in the following areas:
the intensification and successful conclusion of the negotiations on measures,
including for effective deterence and verification, to strengthen the Biological and
Toxin Weapons Convention with the aim of the earliest possible adoption of a
legally-binding Protocol. the safe and effective management of fissile material designated as no longer
required for defence purposes. We welcome G8 states' efforts to deal with the
problem of weapons- usable material. A meeting of industrial and financial
experts in London in March called for wider and more effective coordination
between ongoing projects, and to develop a range of financing options. A meeting
of experts should be held in 1999, to reassess progress and to develop new
technical solutions. further implementation of the "Programme for Preventing and Combating Illicit
Trafficking in Nuclear Material". A successful test-run of the Points of Contact
system was held in March. We will continue to work towards expanded
participation in the Within the G8 we will undertake a study of border monitoring
equipment later this year. further strengthening the safeguards system: we urge all countries to conclude
additional safeguards protocols with the International Atomic Energy Agency at
the earliest possible date and, recognising the Agency's efforts to make the
system more efficient, to ensure that it has the resources necessary to implement
this dramatic non-proliferation accomplishment.
We remain committed to tackling the continuing risks of the proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction and missiles capable of delivering them. We will work to ensure the
success of the strengthened review process for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT). We will continue to support the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons in implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention in a
cost-effective way and we call for the ratification of, or accession to, the Convention by
all States which are not yet Parties to it. We urge all those who have not yet done so to
adhere to the NPT and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. We will
continue to provide full support to UNSCOM and the IAEA's efforts to eliminate Iraq's
WMD programmes and monitor compliance with relevant UNSCRs. We remain
committed to the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations on a
Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty. We will also continue to look forward to the entry into
force of START II and the beginning of negotiations on START III. We welcome the
work in progress on adaptation of the CFE treaty to take account of the changes in
Europe and look forward to the conclusion of the negotiations. We reaffirm our
commitment to all States Parties' obligations under Article VI of the NPT. We remain concerned about the potentially destabilising effect of accumulations of
conventional weapons in regions of tension. We see merit in promoting further practical
disarmament measures for the consolidation of peace in areas that have suffered from
conflict. We encourage continuing efforts by interested states in this direction, in
particular at the United Nations, and reaffirm the importance of transparency and
responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies.
We therefore reiterate our full support for the objectives of the Wassenaar Arrangement.
We also reaffirm our commitment to the improvement of the UN Register of
Conventional Arms. In addition, we will pursue in the appropriate fora the problem of
small arms proliferation. We support the recommendations of the UN Panel of
Governmental Experts on Small Arms, encourage their implementation, and request the
UN to consider further action to address the issue. We recognise the threat posed to
civil aviation by the criminal use of Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MAN PADS),
and call for further work to be done to address this problem.
Anti-personnel landmines
The opening for signature of the Ottawa Convention was a significant step towards a
world free of anti-personnel landmines. We encourage universal fulfillment of its
objectives. We note that it will enter into force at an early date. We welcome the
contributions made by various bans, moratoria and other restrictions that address the
humanitarian impact of landmines. We urge all countries to make further progress
towards this goal through signature and ratification of the relevant international
agreements, for example through the Ottawa Convention and through Amended
Protocol II of the UN Convention on Conventional Weapons, and by pursuing
complementary work at international and regional fora, recognising the special
importance of the UN Conference on Disarmament. We encourage the international
community to cooperate more effectively in its demining efforts towards the goal of zero
victims, including through the newly constituted United Nations Mine Action Service, and
to strengthen efforts to ensure effective assistance to and the long term rehabilitation of
mine victims.
Democracy and human rights
In this 50th Anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
we pay tribute to all those who work to defend and protect human rights. We are
strongly committed to strengthening democratic values, good governance and the rule of
law throughout the world. Human rights are universal and we call upon all states to
refrain from denying human rights and fundamental freedoms to individuals because of
nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, religion, opinion or language. We will continue to promote the universal implementation of human rights and
fundamental freedoms. We will:
emphasise the key role of civil society by increasing human rights awareness,
including among young people, minorities and other vulnerable groups, and by
extending new types of assistance to civil society groups; and, bearing in mind
the goal of universal ratification of human rights treaties, continue our efforts to
maximise accession to human rights instruments; provide political and financial support for the new High Commissioner for Human
Rights, by seeking to ensure that an adequate share of the UN regular budget is
devoted to human rights as well as by continuing voluntary contributions to the
funds and programmes which she administers; support efforts to harmonise and
integrate human rights, including a gender perspective, into all UN programmes
and policies, including peacebuilding activities; and commemorate the 50th
Anniversary of the UDHR;
press for an early conclusion to the International Labour Organisation's (ILO's)
efforts to achieve a new Convention on Extreme Forms of Child Labour; increase
support for the ILO's International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour
and implement the action plan of the Oslo Conference on Child Labour; work to
protect the rights of children and to prevent their exploitation in situations of
armed conflict; and support the activities of the UN Secretary General's Special
Representative for Children and Armed Conflict;
strive for the adoption of the ILO Declaration on Core Labour Standards; encourage the adoption of voluntary codes of ethical business practices, based
on recognised international standards; focus further attention in the International Financial Institutions on issues of
openness, transparency and good governance; in reaffirmation of our commitment to democracy, development, respect for
human rights and peace, strengthen the impact of good governance programmes
in developing countries by encouraging their own initiatives and improving
co-ordination both among donors and with recipient countries, for example
through OECD pilot efforts with Africa where an unprecedented multilateral
workshop on Development and Good Governance was held in Mali on 4-5 May;
co-operate on peacebuilding programmes targeted at stability and reconciliation;
and work to address the problem of excessive military expenditures; affirm the value of government-sponsored organisations which promote
democracy.
Terrorism
We reaffirm our determination to combat terrorism in all its forms, irrespective of
motive, to oppose any concession to terrorist demands and to promote coordinated
international action against this evil. We welcome the substantial progress made to
combat terrorism by implementing the 25 measures adopted by the G8 in 1996, and the
additional steps agreed at the Denver Summit, including the adoption of the International
Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings. We are taking the following
steps to enhance international cooperation: requesting all governments to ratify the
eleven international counter-terrorism conventions by 2000; negotiating a draft UN
Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism; exchanging summaries of
G8 national crisis management procedures; promoting consultation, cooperation and
joint action with other states; and exchanging information on new or growing threats,
including those from chemical and biological terrorism. We endorse our experts' report and identify the following priority areas for further
action:
Preventing terrorist fund-raising. We identified points for G8 action and are
comparing national legislation. G8 experts will meet to share best practice and
determine practical measures for enhanced cooperation. No concessions to terrorists. A united front against ransom payment is essential
to deter hostage-takers. To promote a common approach we have agreed a set
of principles and have proposed advice for organisations operating in high risk
countries. A G8 workshop will strengthen coordination and information exchange. Denying terrorist access to arms, explosives and related items. The Lyon Group
is taking forward an action plan to counter trafficking in illegal firearms. We are
comparing export controls on explosives and related materials and have agreed
the basis for future work, including determining the scope for tighter export
controls on items of use to terrorists. Strengthened aviation security. Ten years after Lockerbie, and recalling the
atrocities perpetrated against Air India (1985) and UTA (1989) flights, we
expressed grave concern at the evidence recently collected by the ICAO of a
continuing lack of satisfactory implementation of international aviation security
measures by some Contracting States. We reaffirm the G8's commitment to full
implementation of Standards and Recommended Practices agreed under the
Chicago Convention and strongly urge all states to pursue implementation with
vigour.
Infectious Diseases
The impact of infectious and parasitic diseases continues to cause concern. The G8
is committed to helping countries respond to these challenges, for example through
strengthening national health sectors, improving surveillance capacity, developing
strategies to reduce the threat of anti-microbial drug resistance through suitable drug
use policies and development of alternative interventions, and improving disease
resistance in children through appropriate micronutrient fortification. Experts from G8
countries and WHO will meet later this month to review current surveillance systems
throughout the world, and examine options for assisting WHO as it helps to develop
global surveillance networks. We note with renewed concern the UNAIDS estimate that over 30 million people are
now living with HIV/AIDS. Prevention measures must remain a priority. We will continue
to work with those countries which bear the heaviest burden of the disease, to develop
and disseminate cost effective mechanisms which will decrease the rate of HIV infection
and the suffering it causes. A vaccine remains the ultimate goal and G8 countries will
take forward scientific co-operation in the development of an effective and affordable
vaccine.
Intellectual property-related crime
We recognise that intellectual property related crime, such as piracy and
counterfeiting, is a major and growing problem which should be of concern to all. We
agree on the importance of effective action against such crime in our own countries and
of the need to encourage other countries to meet the demanding enforcement provisions
of the WTO TRIPS agreement as soon as possible so that there are real reductions in
the level of piracy and counterfeiting worldwide. We agree to explore opportunities for
better co- operation and exchange of information between governments and intellectual
property rights holders so as to facilitate more effective enforcement of intellectual
property rights.
REGIONAL ISSUES
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Peace and reconciliation in Bosnia which is directly linked to security in Europe
remains a top priority of the G8 countries' foreign policy. We welcome the progress
achieved on implementation of the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement in Bosnia and, in
particular, in Republika Srpska following President Plavsic's and Prime Minister Dodik's
move towards peace implementation and cooperation with the international community.
But we also remind all signatories to the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement that any
attempt to obstruct or reverse the Peace Process will carry severe consequences. The
resolution and co-ordinated approach of the international community, together with that
of the High Representative, is proving decisive. We encourage the High Representative
to continue taking an active role in the Bosnian Peace Process, using all the authority
given to him under the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement and by the Peace
Implementation Conference. The future of the peace process will largely depend on the
willingness of the Bosnian authorities themselves to fulfil their commitments to move the
peace process forward and build a prosperous and democratic Bosnian state with two
pluralist and multi-ethnic Entities. 1998 is a critical year for peace implementation, in
particular for all the questions associated with refugee return, freedom of movement,
and for the elections held across Bosnia in September. More progress is now also
needed on building the central institutions, police reform, economic reform and
cooperation with the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. We therefore
welcome SFOR's efforts to maintain a secure environment and provide support to
civilian implementation. We urge the leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to cooperate
fully with OHR, UNHCR, OSCE, IPTF and other international agencies to achieve the
necessary goals and reaffirm our willingness to assist those who do.
Croatia
We call on the Croatian Government, and all other parties concerned, to comply fully
with all commitments of the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement, and with commitments
made regarding Eastern Slavonia, and to engage constructively and energetically in
international efforts to secure the return of all refugees and displaced persons to their
former homes in Croatia and throughout the region, regardless of ethnicity or current
residence. We draw particular attention to the need for progress on democratisation in
Croatia, especially on improved election laws and increased media freedom.
Kosovo We are deeply concerned by the increasing violence and growing polarisation in
Kosovo, and in particular the excessive use of force by the Serbian forces. We reject
absolutely terrorism and the supply of arms to terrorists, and the use of violence by
armed extremists as a means of bringing about political change. We are firmly opposed
to independence for Kosovo and to a continuation of the unacceptable status quo; and we support an enhanced status and autonomy for Kosovo. It is Belgrade's primary responsibility as the government to seek a
negotiated solution and to ensure adherence to the rule of law, the protection of all
citizens and the safeguarding of human and civil rights. We call on the authorities in Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanian leadership urgently
to begin a process of dialogue without preconditions on either side, and for Belgrade to
accept international involvement in the negotiations. We also fully support the
engagement of Felipe Gonzalez as the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office and the Special Representative of the EU for the FRY and urge the
authorities in Belgrade to co-operate fully with him. Finding a political solution in Kosovo through dialogue is in the interest of all the
people in the region. We stand ready to promote a clear and achievable path toward
Belgrade's full integration in the international community. However, in the light of
Belgrade's failure to start a dialogue to bring about a political solution in Kosovo,
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States and the
European Commission have agreed to implement the decision by members of the
Contact Group to freeze funds held abroad by the FRY and Serbian Governments and
to stop new investments in Serbia. Japan supports this approach and will study possible
action. Other countries are encouraged to take similar action. The Russian Federation
does not associate itself with these measures. The international community and we, the G8, have made great efforts to bring about
peace in Bosnia and the wider region. We are determined to work with the relevant
international organisations to address the growing problem of refugees and displaced
persons in this region. We are committed to working together to enhance the security of
all the states in the region, and to upholding the principle of inviolability of borders.
Albania We welcome the commitment of the Albanian Government to restore law and order,
to undertake political and economic reform, and to contribute to regional stability. We
support Albania's territorial integrity. We pledge our full support to helping Albania
recover from the unrest of last year, and encourage the International Financial
Institutions and other international agencies to assist in this progress. We reiterate that
ultimate responsibility rests with the Albanians themselves and urge all sides -
Government and opposition - to work together to this end.
Cyprus We reiterate our support for the UN's efforts to find a comprehensive settlement of
the Cyprus problem on the basis of UN resolutions and the high level agreements. We
call upon the parties to resume the direct talks under the auspices of the UN. We urge
all concerned to work for a settlement on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal
federation. We are concerned that new developments in the military sphere, including
any increase in force levels and the upgrading of sophisticated weaponry, may risk further raising tension in this already unstable region.
We particularly urge the governments of Greece and Turkey to promote good
neighbourly relations between them, and to work for the peaceful settlement of their
bilateral disputes.
Middle East Peace Process We are deeply concerned at the lack of progress in the Middle East Peace Process.
We note and commend all efforts to move the process forward, including by the US at
the recent talks in London. We call upon all parties to pursue with renewed vigour
negotiations leading to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace which must include
security for all in the region. Such negotiations must be based on the full implementation
of existing commitments and on the principles of land for peace, as enshrined in UNSC
resolutions 242 and 338 and agreed at Madrid and Oslo. On the Israeli-Palestinian
track, we further urge the parties to implement existing agreements, to pursue
confidence building measures and to refrain from unilateral acts which predetermine the
final status negotiations and undermine confidence. Final status negotiations should
resume as soon as possible. We support a reinvigoration of the multilateral track of the
peace process and the efforts of the multilateral working groups to address regional
issues. We are also determined to work with Israel, Syria and Lebanon to bring about a
resumption of progress towards a comprehensive settlement. We continue to support
the positive role of the Israel-Lebanon Monitoring Group in reducing the risks to civilians
in Southern Lebanon and in Israel. Sustained economic development and improved
living standards for the Palestinian people are a real factor in securing peace and
enhancing stability in the region.
Iran We welcome recent encouraging political developments in Iran: its ratification of the
Chemical Weapons Convention, its stated commitment to develop a civil society based
on the rule of law, including greater freedom of speech, and Iran's interest in pursuing a
more positive relationship with its neighbours, in the region and with the outside world.
We urge Iran to build on this and play a more constructive role in world affairs. We call
on Iran to adopt a more positive approach to the Middle East Peace Process and not to
support groups that use violent means against it; to take further measures to ensure the
human rights of all Iranian citizens, including the Bahai and other communities; to stand
by its stated condemnation of all forms of terrorism against anyone anywhere; and to
ensure that the threat against the life of Salman Rushdie and those associated with his
work is removed. We further call on Iran to respect the international conventions or
arrangements it has signed regarding the development of weapons of mass destruction
and urge all states to avoid providing assistance to Iran that might contribute to its ability
to develop these weapons or missile capabilities in violation of international conventions
or arrangements.
Iraq We reaffirm our determination to obtain full compliance with all UN Security Council
resolutions related to Iraq. We are determined to ensure the swift, full and effective
implementation of arrangements for providing increased humanitarian assistance to the
Iraqi people under UNSCR 1153, and call on the Iraqi government to cooperate fully with
the UN in this effort and with the UN Special Rapporteur. We commend the UN
Secretary General's efforts in obtaining in the Memorandum of Understanding Iraq's
commitment to providing full, unconditional and immediate access to UNSCOM and the
IAEA in carrying out their UNSC mandate. We welcome the inspections of Presidential
sites carried out so far under the arrangements agreed in the Memorandum of
Understanding as noted above, and take note that they were achieved on the whole in a
satisfactory way with only minor incidents. We look forward to the full implementation of
the Memorandum of Understanding and to Iraqi compliance with its obligations under
UNSCR 1154. We note that any violation by Iraq would have severest consequences.
We regret Iraq's failure so far to comply with its relevant obligations and we note that full
compliance with the relevant Resolutions would allow the process of lifting sanctions to
begin.
Algeria The continuing violence in Algeria is a cause for serious concern. We condemn
unreservedly all acts of terrorism and call on those responsible to bring the violence to
an immediate end. We welcome Algeria's commitment to human rights and democracy
and the government's efforts to strengthen further democratic institutions. In this regard,
visits by UN Special Rapporteurs and greater access for journalists and NGOs would
make an important contribution to transparency and openness. We hope the Algerian
Government will move ahead quickly, further strengthening the democratic process as
well as pursuing the economic reforms to which it is committed.
Afghanistan We fully support the United Nations' efforts to seek a peaceful settlement of the
conflict in Afghanistan and endorse the view of the "six plus two" group that the war
must be brought to a rapid close. It is our conviction that there is no military solution to
the conflict. We are encouraged by the recent UN efforts to promote direct dialogue. We
hope that this dialogue will be substantive and will soon result in a peaceful settlement
and establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic representative government. All
factions must refrain from further military offensives. It is essential that all countries with
influence on the parties support the UN's efforts and work to halt the supply of arms and
materials to the factions from outside Afghanistan. We also call on all Afghan factions to
end the appalling human rights abuses in Afghanistan, including discrimination against
women and girls; to reduce substantially the production, trafficking and abuse of drugs;
and to halt all support for foreign terrorists. We urge all the Afghan factions, and
particularly the Taliban, to ensure a cooperative climate for the indispensable work of
international humanitarian organisations.
Cambodia Free and fair elections are indispensable to restoring representative government and
political stability in Cambodia. We welcome recent positive developments, such as the
return of Prince Ranariddh to Cambodia on 30 March and the return of King Sihanouk,
whose role remains central to the proper functioning of Cambodia's institutions. We
further welcome the efforts undertaken by the members of ASEAN, Japan and the other
Friends of Cambodia countries. We remain willing to provide electoral assistance
subject to acceptable conditions on the ground. However, serious concerns remain. We
call for all parties and political figures to be permitted to participate in the electoral
process, and for all sides to respect the result of the elections. We encourage all fighting
forces to implement fully the ceasefire as soon as possible. We attach the utmost
importance to the respect of human rights, and we urge the Cambodian authorities to
investigate human rights abuses, including those catalogued by the United Nations, and
to bring the guilty to justice without further delay.
Myanmar/Burma We remain concerned at the political and economic situation in the country and at
continuing widespread human rights abuses, particularly in ethnic minority areas, and
the cross-border attacks on refugees in camps in Thailand. We call on the State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC) to tackle these issues as a matter of urgency, notably
by engaging in substantive political dialogue with national minorities and leaders of the
democracy movement, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, for the purpose of establishing
democracy. We also call on the SPDC to take further concrete action to eliminate the
production and trafficking of illicit drugs and to participate more actively in regional and
international drug control efforts.
Korean Peninsula We endorse North/South dialogue and the Four-Party process aimed at achieving
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. We reaffirm our support for the US-DPRK
Agreed Framework and to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation, and
underline the importance of North Korea complying fully with all its non-proliferation
obligations. We have provided substantial emergency food aid to North Korea and will
continue to encourage the government of North Korea to take measures to address the
basic causes of the food shortages and allow adequate monitoring of food shipments to
be allowed.
Great Lakes Region The destabilising impact of the continuing conflict in the Great Lakes region remains
a major concern to the international community. We condemn all politically and
ethnically-motivated killings, which risk renewed genocide, and welcome steps to stem
the violence such as the reactivation of the UN Arms Flow Commission. We urge the
governments and people of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
to address the causes of conflict, through a process of dialogue and through justice,
rejection of violence, reconciliation and capacity-building, to create strengthened
democratic institutions and processes, including accountable and representative
governments. In this regard, the review by an international panel of eminent persons of
the genocide in Rwanda and surrounding events, as proposed by the Organisation of
African Unity, should help regional governments and the international community identify
ways forward. We commend the continuing efforts of those in the region to promote stability, democracy and prosperity and stand ready to assist these efforts. We
deplore the fact that conditions made it impossible for the UN Secretary General's
investigative team to continue and we urge the Democratic Republic of the Congo to
cooperate in international investigation of human rights violations.
Nigeria Transition to a credible civilian democratic administration is imperative so that
Nigeria can fulfil its true potential in the international community and its important role in
the future of Africa. We note that even from the five Government-approved political
parties only a single presidential nomination has yet emerged. We underscore that in
Africa, as elsewhere, a credible transition requires that those who have an alternative
view on the succession to the current leadership should be able to make nominations,
organise freely, campaign and take their case to the Nigerian people. We remain deeply
concerned about continued human rights abuses, including the detention of leaders and
other pro-democracy activists, as well as the harassment of journalists and human rights
groups. We call on the Nigerian regime to take immediate steps to release all political
prisoners, to restore respect for human rights and the rule of law and to recognise the
great importance which the international community attaches to early progress on these
issues.
Angola Taking note of certain positive changes in the peace process, we call on all the
Angolan parties to implement fully within the previously agreed dates all the provisions
of the bilateral agreements, the timetable of the settlement and corresponding Security
Council resolutions. We support the efforts to that end of the "troika", of the UN Security
Council, and of the UN Secretary General and his Special Representative in Angola.
Somalia We are concerned at the situation of conflict in Somalia, marked by a lack of legal
authority and the obstruction of humanitarian aid and rehabilitation. We support the
coordinated efforts of the countries of the sub-region through the Inter-Governmental
Authority on Development (IGAD), backed up by the IGAD partners and other interested
countries and international and regional organisations, to promote peace, stability and
institutional reconstruction in Somalia.
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