Pretoria - South Africa on Wednesday reiterated its call for the international community to increase its support for developing nations.
“We reiterate the call we made in 2005 that the international community should increase its efforts to provide support to developing countries,” President Jacob Zuma said in his address on raising visibility towards the 2014 Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in New York, US.
Zuma said it was critical that commitments to financial, technical assistance and technology transfer should be fulfilled for people in SIDS to enjoy decent lives and security.
“We are fully cognisant that sustainable development is primarily a national responsibility, but that for the developing countries to succeed, the Rio Principles, including, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, must be given specific expression for SIDS,” he said.
The President said that climate change and the resultant natural disasters require special attention in order to highlight the vulnerabilities of the developing countries, particularly the SIDS.
“We know that vulnerabilities related to climate change can result in loss of lives, and damage to property and infrastructure that can easily cripple their small economies.”
The adoption of the Barbados Programme of Action in 1994 was a milestone to highlight the plight of the SIDS.
“Indeed the Barbados Programme of Action became an expression of the will and commitment of the international community to assist SIDS to deal with their unique vulnerabilities,” he explained.
While natural disasters affect many developing countries, SIDS are most affected given their unique geographic circumstances.
“We are fully cognisant that sustainable development is primarily a national responsibility, but that for the developing countries to succeed, the Rio Principles, including, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, must be given specific expression for SIDS.”
Zuma said South Africa fully supported efforts to organise the Third International Conference for (SIDS) next year in Samoa.
“We join others in wishing Samoa all the best in hosting this Conference in the coming year. South Africa stands ready to share its experience in hosting events of that magnitude.”
It was also important that all developing countries work closely together to ensure that developmental imperatives and vulnerabilities to environmental degradation are addressed in the decisions taken. - SAnews.gov.za
