Brazilian President Stresses
Importance Of IBSA Forum
BRASILIA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio
Lula da Silva stressed on Thursday the
importance of the IBSA Forum, which gathers
Brazil, India and South Africa.
The fourth IBSA meeting is being held in the
Brazilian capital Brasilia.
According to President Lula, the IBSA
represents an answer to an unfair and
unequal international order, incapable of
solving old problems such as world hunger
and extreme poverty, or new threats like
environmental degradation.
"We are three large multi-ethnic democracies
of the developing world, united to propose
and build, without antagonisms and with
firmness and continuity of purpose," he
said.
"IBSA wants to help mold a 21st century free
of conflicts, poverty and fear," the
president added.
Lula pointed out that IBSA has been fighting
for a fairer world in several fronts -- in
the WTO's Doha Development Round, in the
Human Rights Council and in the talks to
tackle climate change.
However, he said, developing countries will
not have a more active voice without a
reform in the United Nations and the
restructuring of the UN Security Council.
Lula also defended the participation of
developing countries in the Middle East
peace negotiations, stating that they do not
have private interests in the region or a
history of colonialism.
He highlighted the efforts of the IBSA
countries in helping poorer countries,
through initiatives such as the IBSA Fund
and the IBSA satellites, which he said will
benefit many nations in such areas as
navigation and agriculture.
"With the IBSA we are proving that it is not
necessary to be rich to show solidarity," he
said, "that it is possible to help without
interfering with other nations' internal
affairs."
"IBSA faced the criticism of those who
prefer inertia to action. Our
accomplishments prove that we have reason to
look at the future with optimism," he
stressed.
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