Group of 15 forum seeks to make its presence felt
Group of 15 forum seeks to make its presence felt
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat
BUENOS AIRES (JP): The Group of 15 (G-15) forum must solidify
cooperation between its members to prove itself worthy of
attention by the industrialized countries, if North-South dialog
is to be rejuvenated.
The Egyptian and Indonesian foreign ministers both said that
the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized countries have tended to
neglect the presence and appeals of the G-15.
But they said it was up to the G-15 to grab attention itself
if the actions being taken to address concerns about the
developing world are to be acknowledged by the G-7.
"We'll have to prove that we are viable, that we are strong
and performing well in order to get their attention," Egyptian
Foreign Minister Amr Mousa told The Jakarta Post.
He maintained that it is impossible to expect the G-7 to
respond to the concerns addressed by the G-15 unless the group
makes an effort to tackle the problems itself.
"Attention we'll have to get. It is never a gift," Mousa
argued, adding: "It cannot be otherwise."
Mousa and his counterparts are in Buenos Aires to attend a
ministerial meeting of the G-15, which precedes a two-day summit-
level meeting on Monday.
The G-15 was formed in 1989 as a consultative forum of state
leaders to help foster cooperation among developing countries and
forge North-South dialog.
It is now comprises Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt,
India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru
Senegal, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ail Alatas also noted
the G-7's less-than-warm reception to the G-15.
"I believe evidence shows that the G-7 has been very cautious,
and even shown reluctance in reacting to the proposals and
attempts of the G-15," he said.
The G-7 leaders, at their summits, have thus far neglected to
respond directly to, or meet with, representatives of the G-15.
Indonesia's President Soeharto, when he was chairman of the
Non-Aligned Movement in 1992-95, is the only leader to have
succeeded in addressing the concerns of the Third World when he
met the chairman of the G-7 during its summit in Japan in 1993.
"The G-15 has only been able to have contacts (with the G-7)
at the senior officials level," Alatas said.
He maintained that if the G-15 wants to capture the full
attention of the G-7, its declarations and appeals must be
superior in content.
"I think it's up to us. If the message we deliver is
noteworthy, I believe it will catch the attention of the G-7."
When asked whether the message due to be released at the end
of this year's summit is of exceptional quality, Alatas replied
that it is better to wait and see.
Delegates have revealed that the G-15 has prepared a special
call for constructive dialog with the G-7, which could be adopted
by the G-15 leaders in their meeting on Monday.
Among the themes underlying the G-15's call is the great
urgency for international action in bringing stability to
exchange and interest rates, in order to check the volatile
capital inflows that affect developing countries.
There is also a special plea for industrialized countries to
resist attempts to curb their own unemployment by imposing
protectionist and unilateral trade restraints. The G-15 argues
that trade is the only solution to enhance development and create
jobs.
Delegates also said the G-15 leaders may make an effort to
fight misconceptions that there is a direct negative link between
structural unemployment in the industrialized North and increased
trade and investment in the developing South.