G-15 leaders call for better cooperation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid, in his address at
\nthe Group of 15 summit on Wednesday, warned of the dangers of
\nglobalization and the urgent need to master information
\ntechnology (IT).<\/p>\n
In a brief address at the opening of the group's 11th summit,
\nheld at the Jakarta Convention Center, he urged the group to
\ncontinue to foster stronger cooperation.<\/p>\n
Citing the theme of the two-day summit, harnessing the
\npotential of IT for development, Abdurrahman cautioned the
\nleaders to anticipate difficulties ahead in facing globalization
\nand called on them to remain united and work together for their
\nmutual benefit.<\/p>\n
Without adopting information technology, members of the G-15
\nwould not be able to compete with other countries, the President
\ninsisted.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman officially heads Indonesia's 46-member delegation,
\nwhich includes Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Minister
\nof Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab.<\/p>\n
The delegation includes five members of the House of
\nRepresentatives, among them Yasril Ananta from Golkar and Ahmad
\nSumargono from the Crescent Star Party.<\/p>\n
Megawati was assigned to preside over the closed session in
\nthe morning.<\/p>\n
The Vice President was also present during a "retreat", an
\ninformal meeting of the heads of state and government to discuss
\nissues outside the formal agenda.<\/p>\n
Speaking on behalf of Asian countries, Malaysian Prime
\nMinister Mahathir Mohamad, who hosted the first G-15 summit in
\n1990, detailed what he believed were the priorities that needed
\nto be pursued.<\/p>\n
"As developing countries, we have to overcome major
\nimpediments in order to seize the opportunities offered by the
\ndigital era," he said.<\/p>\n
"First and most basic of all, we have to develop the necessary
\nhuman capital. However, human capital alone will not be
\nsufficient to address the requirements of the new economy.
\nDeveloping good infrastructure, as well as a pragmatic legal and
\npolicy framework, are crucial," said Mahathir.<\/p>\n
He also shared his own experience in overcoming Malaysia's
\neconomic crisis in the mid-1990s, achieved without assistance
\nfrom the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which he described as
\nmore of a political tool than an institution to heal the economic
\nwoes of needy states.<\/p>\n
"It has been made all too clear that the IMF is more of a
\npolitical instrument than one committed to financial
\nrehabilitation. The sufferings of people seem to be of little
\nconcern as long as certain policies and directives are
\nimplemented," Mahathir said, criticizing the IMF.<\/p>\n
The G-15 was established in 1989, its name is retained despite
\nthe recent admission of four new member countries.<\/p>\n
Its membership comprises Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
\nColombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya,
\nMalaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela
\nand Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
Among the leaders attending the Jakarta summit are the
\nPresident of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, Venezuelan President Hugo
\nChavez, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Jamaican Prime
\nMinister James Patterson.<\/p>\n
Speaking as a representative of Africa, Mugabe also lashed out
\nat the West for their past record during colonial times and in
\nthe current globalization era.<\/p>\n
"The current world economic order is deliberately constructed
\nfor the exploitation of Third World economies and their people,"
\nsaid Mugabe.<\/p>\n
"Despite official aid programs, our economies and people
\nremain poor and marginalized and servile to the economies of the
\ndeveloped world, especially those of Europe and the United
\nStates," Mugabe announced.<\/p>\n
While the leaders were busy with the summit, Indonesian
\ntraditional cosmetics manufacturer PT Mustika Ratu invited First
\nLady Sinta Nuriyah and the leaders' spouses to enjoy an
\nunderwater massage and Javanese aromatherapy massage.<\/p>\n
Vice President Megawati is scheduled to read out President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's closing statement during the closing ceremony
\non Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
Venezuelan leader Chavez, whose country will host next year's
\nsummit, will also deliver a short speech.<\/p>\n
As the host, the President is slated to convene a media
\nconference, after officially closing the two-day summit. (prb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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