Susilo wants MDGs accelerated

Susilo wants MDGs accelerated

Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, New York

The scene outside the United Nations headquarters in New York
during the first day of the three-day 2005 World Summit on
Wednesday (local time), especially with the presence of U.S.
President George W. Bush, resembled a Hollywood movie.

Police tightly patrolled the streets around the UN
headquarters and their cars blocked several streets, helicopters
were flying overhead and police sirens were often heard.

At the entrance of the UN office, police dogs sniffed the bags
of journalists. Muslim journalists could only cringe because they
could not prevent the dogs from touching their bags.

The UN office described the summit as biggest ever event in
history with the attendance of most leaders of the UN member
countries to discuss UN reform.

The American media however paid little attention to the mega
summit. CNN, Fox News, New York Times and USA Today focused their
headline news on other issues, like the Katrina hurricane
aftermath and the hearing of chief justice nominee John Roberts.

Inside the building the situation was gloomy as there was
practically no hope that the summit could accomplish its target
to reform the world body following strong resistance from the
U.S. administration and the other five permanent members of the
Security Council.

All delegation leaders had the chance to address the summit
for three minutes, but many leaders from developing countries
went over the limit despite repeated warnings from the session
chairman.

"What message can be delivered in such a short time?" an
Indonesian delegate complained.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono joined the desperate chorus
of developing countries on Wednesday (local time), the majority
of UN members, to demand the acceleration of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) which they understand as the flow of
much more generous aid, more foreign direct investment and fairer
trade practices.

While developed countries, championed by President Bush, also
reiterated the same demands to the poor countries: Good
governance, democratization, corruption eradication and
intensifying the fight against terrorism.

In his address, Susilo pointed out that while sharing the
demands for good governance and combating corruption and the
strengthening of the private sector, he reminded developed
countries against the danger of imposing too many conditions on
aid for developing countries.

"So many conditions are imposed on developing countries before
they qualify for financial aid for development. On the other
hand, the obligations of developed countries are worded in the
vaguest of terms," he said.

He also urged the establishment of timetables for developed
countries to fulfill the commitment of 0.7 percent of their GNPs
to the official development assistance (ODA).

The President also lamented the deadlock in the negotiations
on the Outcome Document of the High-Level Plenary Meeting
(summit), which he said had not turned out to be a balanced
document.

"The document leaves out many issues relevant to international
trade that developing countries have been watching with keen
anticipation. This omission renders the Doha Round of trade
negotiations unfriendly to development," said the President.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda meanwhile said the
summit would unlikely be able to reach its original objectives,
and only a very compromised document could be achieved.

"But much of our interests have been accommodated, like the
MDGs for our development and our war on terrorism," he said.