Developed nations also to blame for crisis: Alatas

Developed nations also to blame for crisis: Alatas

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas reminded
developed countries they could not blame developing countries for
their economic crises, arguing they too were partly responsible
for the hardships now facing many people.

The minister said many developing countries had audaciously
opened up their economies only to realize that the social and
political costs of doing so often outstripped the benefits.

"The international agenda has been governed by the interests
of developed countries in opening up opportunities for foreign
investment, private capital flows -- that often turn out to be
merely speculative -- and to boost their exports," Alatas said in
his address to the 53rd United Nations (UN) General Assembly in
New York on Monday.

Alatas described how in spite of judicious macroeconomic
policies and often painful structural adjustments, development
gains earned over decades by Third World countries had crumbled
in a matter of weeks.

"In the affected countries, including Indonesia, economic
turmoil has reached a devastating level. It has pushed economies
into recession and driven people to the very edge of their
endurance," the minister noted.

"In the face of such stark global realities, we must intensify
international solidarity and cooperation," he said.

Alatas, however, did not just complain. He also emphasized
that the country's new government had started to carry out
vigorous and far-reaching reforms in the economy and was
promoting democracy and the human rights protection.

The minister said the government was strongly committed to
restoring the economy and reviving confidence in the current
administration, which he argued was the key to the country's
economic revival.

"We know very well that our economic recovery will basically
have to be driven by confidence in our system of governance, both
on the part of the international community and our own citizens,"
Alatas said.

The minister said Indonesia had taken several measures to give
better protection to human rights in line with the 50th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which
falls this year. Measures taken include the launch of a National
Plan of Action on Human Rights.

"We expect to sign and ratify several more UN conventions on
human rights in the near future," Alatas said.

In his speech, Alatas also reiterated the government's
condemnation of terrorist bomb attacks on the U.S. embassies in
Kenya and Tanzania that claimed 200 lives and injured thousands
more.

"At the same time we stress that we will never condone
unilateral acts of aggression and violation of the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of states as a means to combat
terrorism," he noted.

He also expressed hope that Cambodian leaders would be able to
settle their own conflicts for the sake of their people.

"It is time that all the parties in Cambodia resolved their
differences in the spirit of national reconciliation and unity
and in the larger interests of their country," Alatas noted.
(prb)