RI urges Third World debt cuts<\/p>\n
COPENHAGEN (JP): President Soeharto used the World Conference
\non Social Development once again yesterday to press for
\nreductions in the foreign debts of developing countries.<\/p>\n
As one of the first leaders to take the podium at the Social
\nSummit, Soeharto wore his chairman of the Non Aligned Movement
\n(NAM) hat by raising issues of concern to the 111-nation
\nmovement.<\/p>\n
He urged industrial nations to adopt freer trade and help
\ndeveloping countries to improve their human resources in order to
\nalleviate poverty.<\/p>\n
In his address to 130 world leaders, he said the United
\nNations should improve its role in the creation of better
\nconditions for the global society.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was the fourth speaker, after opening remarks by UN
\nSecretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and addresses by Danish
\nPrime Minister Paul Nyrup Rasmussen and Chilean President Eduardo
\nFrei Ruis Tagle.<\/p>\n
\"I want to emphasize that the reduction of the burdens of
\nheavily debt ridden developing nations is a must. Partial
\nsolution to this problem will never be adequate,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto underlined that NAM, at its 10th summit meeting in
\nJakarta in 1992, put high priority on efforts to seek reduction
\nof the debts of its 111 member countries.<\/p>\n
\"If the debt burdens are not soon resolved, the debt crisis
\nwill continue hampering the process of development, which in turn
\nwill affect their economies as well as their social spectrums,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"I, therefore, want to underline the importance of
\ninternational financial institutions taking new measures of
\nreducing the debt burdens of and expanding concessional loans to
\ndeveloping nations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that such measures would not affect the credit
\nratings of the institutions, nor the creditworthiness of the
\ndebtor countries.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said the adoption of a free and open system based on
\nnon-discriminatory regulations would also help improve the
\neconomic conditions of developing countries.<\/p>\n
Acknowledging that the new General Agreement on Tariffs and
\nTrade (GATT) has been signed, he said \"we all still have to work
\nhard to implement the agreement reached in the Uruguay Round of
\nGATT negotiations.\"<\/p>\n
\"In this respect, NAM members see the importance of the
\nliberalization of trade in agricultural products,\" he said.
\n\"Improvement in the flows of trade and investments among nations
\nwill increase their welfare because it will alleviate poverty and
\ncreate job opportunities.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto also called on the leaders of industrial countries to
\nhelp improve the human resources of developing nations through
\ncooperation in the development of educational systems.
\n\"Developing countries are facing problems related to the shortage
\nof funds and infrastructure in their efforts to improve
\neducation.\"<\/p>\n
The President urged the UN to improve its role in helping
\nsolve the problems of developing nations. \"The United Nations
\nshould not only help countries which are facing turbulence but
\nshould also create a new world order.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia will actively involve itself in constructive
\ncooperation to create a better global society.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia will support all of the agreements to be
\nreached in the Copenhagen summit meeting. \"Indonesia hopes that
\nall the heads of state\/government will implement the Program of
\nAction, which will be an integrated part of the Declaration of
\nthe World Summit for Social Development.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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