Issued by: Office of the Deputy President
27 November 1999
CONTENTS
1. PREAMBLE 2. CONTRIBUTING TO PEACE AND SECURITY 3. UNDERTAKING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 4. PURSUING A RENEWED ACP COOPERATION 5. REVITALIZING INTRA-ACP COOPERATION 6. PROMOTING A TARGETED ACP PARTY COOPERATION 7. ADAPTING ACP INSTITUTIONS TO CURRENT CHANGES SANTO DOMINGO PLAN OF ACTION
"En route to the 3rd Millennium"
1. PREAMBLE
1. At the close of the 20th century which is characterized by globalization and the liberalization of the world economies, We the Heads of State and Government of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group) meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 25 and 26 November 1999 on the occasion of the second summit:
a. reiterate and reaffirm our adherence and attachment to the principles of the United Nations Charter;
b. reaffirm our attachment to the principles and objectives of the Georgetown Agreement which created the ACP Group in 1975;
c. renew our commitment to the Libreville Declaration adopted at the first ACP Summit held in Gabon on 6 and 7 November 1997;
d. in keeping with the letter and spirit of the Declaration, record our determination to reinforce our relations based on a common political, economic and cultural vision aimed on the one hand, at establishing renewed Intra-ACP cooperation and, on the other hand, creating an adequate framework for consultation on matters relating to the world economy and politics.
2. We especially welcome the wish of CARIFORUM countries that Cuba be a Caribbean - ACP Country and as such, signatory to the new Convention.
3. We undertake to consolidate the overarching values of our national legal systems based on respect for human rights and the fundamental political values of democracy. In this spirit, we reject all forms of intolerance and undertake to promote and protect the rights of the most vulnerable strata of society, particularly women, children, the aged, and the handicapped. Consequently, We welcome the 54th UN General Assembly's adoption of a resolution A/C.3/54/L.14/Rev.1 declaring 25 November as International Day Against Violence Against Women, in commemoration of the death of the Dominican heroines, the MIRABAL Sisters.
4. We reiterate our commitment to transparent and responsible management of human, natural, economic and financial resources with a view to an equitable and sustainable economic and social development.
5. On the strength of the foregoing considerations, after a thorough examination of the political, economic and social situation in the world, and desirous of benefiting from the ongoing changes, we are resolved to revitalize and reinforce our institutions and the instruments governing them so that we can attain our objectives of contributing to peace and security in the world and ensuring the sustainable development of our countries.
2. CONTRIBUTING TO PEACE AND SECURITY
6. Since the Libreville Summit, there have been several world events in the political, economic and financial spheres which have threatened the conditions conducive to the sustainable economic and social development of our countries. In this regard, we intend to make a positive contribution towards any international action aimed at establishing peace, security, stability, solidarity and an equitable distribution of the fruits of world economic expansion.
7. WE NOTE WITH DEEP REGRET THAT ARMED CONFLICT CAUSE MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT OF POPULATIONS, ADVERSELY AFFECT WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND HAVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES FOR PEACE, SECURITY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. While calling on those among us engaged in these conflicts to put an end to their destructive actions and assuring them of our active solidarity in that regard, We fervently appeal to the international community to contribute, through substantial efforts, to reducing these conflicts and eliminating the underlying causes, including the inequitable distribution of wealth and the violation of internationally-recognized borders. Additionally, we appeal to the international community to help us reduce the burden on countries that grant asylum to refugees and to wage a strong battle against the proliferation of small arms, light weapons, ammunition, anti-personnel landmines, and the illicit arms trade.
8. As Members of the United Nations Organization, we subscribe to the pre-eminence of the role of the Security Council in maintaining peace and security in the world. We urge that the ongoing reforms ensure equitable representation of the whole membership of the Organisation, and that the working procedures and functioning of the Security Council become more transparent and be adapted to current realities.
9. Aware of the emergence of the concept of humanitarian intervention in the event of armed conflict, we consider that intervention should take due account of humanitarian considerations, the independence of states and should be under the authority of the United Nations. In this spirit, we reject all unilateral coercive measures aimed at undermining the general principles of international law, the concept of sovereignty and the principles of peaceful coexistence between states.
10. We have observed the evolution of crime into a well-organized transnational and sophisticated force jeopardizing the stability of our states, and note that our territories have in varying degrees been used as sites or transhipment points for narcotics trafficking as well as conduits for the laundering of its proceeds. We strongly commit ourselves to continue the fight against drug trafficking and money laundering in a well coordinated international effort.
3. UNDERTAKING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
11. We strongly hold the view that the realization of sustainable development, the eradication of poverty, ignorance and disease as well as the gradual and smooth integration of the ACP countries into the global economy are legitimate objectives reflecting the aspirations of our peoples. We declare that people-centred development implies that people must be directly involved in the decision-making process and in the implementation of development plans and programmes.
12. The financial crisis in Asia and the ensuing global economic slowdown have had serious repercussions on the global economy. Our weak economies too have suffered from the adverse effects of this phenomenon. This situation has compounded the precarious economic predicament of many ACP countries. We therefore appeal for the reinforcement of international economic cooperation and renewed financial flows to the ACP States. We note the ongoing efforts to improve the existing framework for regulating international financial transactions and capital markets, and stress the urgent need for the establishment of an appropriate monitoring mechanism.
13. A great deal of uncertainty still attaches to the overall economic outlook in the medium term although recent trends suggest a start to recovery. We are of the view that the fight against poverty, ignorance and disease will remain one of the major challenges confronting our States. We therefore need to implement social and economic policies to ensure total economic development and urge the international community to increase the resources for fighting against this scourge.
14. We remain concerned by the crushing burden of debt, the reduction of official development assistance and the weak flow of foreign direct investments to the ACP countries. We consider it indispensable for this alarming trend to be reversed if a solution is to be found to the acute problems posed by the fight against poverty.
While welcoming the initiatives recently taken by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund relating to the new set of measures to alleviate the debt of the Highly-Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), we consider them not extensive enough to adequately resolve the debt problem of the ACP States. We emphasize the need for the international community to provide more substantial debt relief, speed up the stages of implementation of the HIPC initiative and grant adequate technical assistance to reinforce our poverty-alleviation strategies.
16. We recognize the central role of the private sector in the development process and its key role in generating growth, diversification, employment and wealth. We are committed to creating suitable conditions for its enhancement and increasing its involvement, as well as that of the other actors of civil society, in the dialogue concerning the definition of the main orientations of national development policies, including the consolidation of democracy and respect for human rights. In that regard, we reaffirm our will to promote decentralized cooperation.
17. In both the private and public sectors, the enhancement of human resources is an essential need. We are therefore determined to give urgent attention to upgrading our human resources and to building of knowledge capacities especially in the areas of science and technology.
18. We reiterate our commitment to strive for the sustainable management of our natural resources. Consequently, We recall the 1992 Rio Declaration on the Environment and Sustainable Development and note that not much has been don in terms of the implementation of initiatives therefrom to protect vulnerable ACP States from the ravages of climatic change and desertification and thereby prevent further degradation of our bio-diversity.
19. We reaffirm the importance of a transparent, fair and equitable rule-based multilateral trading system. In that regard, we acknowledge the WTO's role in providing a framework for the promotion of trade liberalization and adoption of trade-related rules.
20. We are aware that trade liberalization should be pursued progressively by giving adequate support to developing countries, in particular the least developed, landlocked, small and vulnerable island States. In this regard, we urge that the Declaration to be adopted by the 3rd WTCO Conference in Seattle should contain a clear and unequivocal reaffirmation of special and differential treatment as a fundamental principle of the multilateral trading system and its enhancement as appropriate.
21. We attach extreme importance to the need for the agenda of the 3rd VTO Ministerial Conference and the resultant work programme to give priority to the issues of implementation in the existing Agreements and to the development concerns of developing countries. In these and other relevant regards, we recall the Declaration adopted by our Ministers of Trade at their Second meeting.
22. We emphasize the important role UNCTAD has played and continues to play in development matters, and urgently request that this role be consolidated in future. We encourage the intensification of cooperation between WTO and UNCTAD with a view of strengthening the institutional capacities of developing countries.
4. PURSUING A RENEWED ACP-EU COOPERATION
23. We reaffirm our attachment to the general framework of relations with European Union and to the cooperation in force for almost three decades now. We recall that this cooperation is based on the principles of solidarity, sovereignty and equal partnership and its fundamental aspects including predictability, dialogue, and its contractual nature. We recommend that these fundamental aspects remain the foundation of our cooperation.
24. Nevertheless, we recognize that the implementation of this cooperation has not always been as effective as we would have hoped. For this reason, we should now ensure that the improvement of the system of implementation is accorded the highest priority in future.
25. While appreciating what has been achieved to date in the current negotiations, we appeal to our EU partners to keep an open mind when dealing with the remaining points of disagreement in an effort to facilitate the conclusion of a balanced and mutually-beneficial Agreement. As we approach the end of the Fourth Lome Convention, we call on the EU to take timely steps to procure the necessary WTO waiver so as to ensure a secure and effective transition to the successor agreement to the current Convention.
26. We reiterate our willingness toplace the fight against poverty at the heart of our new partnership with a view to achieving sustainable development in our countries. While acknowledging that the development effort is first and foremost our responsibility, we call upon our privileged partner, the European Union, to support our efforts with adequate financial and technical assistance to meet the challenges facing the ACP States.
27. We consider that the successor agreement should comprise financial instruments not only to support the reforms underway in our countries, the financing of the private sector or public infrastructure, but also human and institutional capacity building, education and training.
28. We stress that the cancellation of the ACP States' debt under the previous Conventions will go a long way towards supporting our efforts in the fight against poverty. We consequently renew our appeal to the European Union to consider this issue favourably during the current negotiations.
29. Furthermore, within the framework of the Highly-Indebted Poor Countries initiative (HIPC), we are of the opinion that the resources for financing debt relief should be derived from sources other than those of the European Development Fund (EDF) which is designed to facilitate the integration of ACP countries into the world economy, promote the eradication of poverty, and encourage and enhance the long-term viable development of the ACP economies. In this regard, we urge our partners to adhere to the concept of additionality of resources and to respect the principle of prior consultation as enshrined in the Convention.
30. We reaffirm the crucial importance of agriculture in ACP countries and the need to allocate all the necessary resources for the development of rural areas and for the welfare of their populations.
31. We believe that further development of mining would be beneficial to ACP economies, and are determined to strive for the rapid modernisation of this sector.
32. We envisage that the successor agreement would provide an instrument for promoting and modernising an effective ACP mining sector that takes due account of the environmental dimension as well as the needs of small local operators.
33. We recognise that industrial development plays a central role in economic development which complements agricultural and mining development. Consequently, we regret that so little funding has been allocated to industrialisation under the previous Conventions. In this context, we urge that adequate financial resources be made available through ACP and EU development finance institutions to ACP States for development. Additionally financial support should be provided for the CDI/CDE.
34. We reaffirm trade cooperation as an essential pillar of the ACP-EU partnership which has always been a decisive factor for the stability of the ACP States.
35. The current non-reciprocal preference regime has provided benefits to ACP economies. In the context of new arrangements to be put in place, We urge our European Union partners to provide appropriate mechanisms to ensure the maintenance of such trade preferences, so as to facilitate the gradual and smooth integration of ACP States into the multilateral trading system.
36. In the context of the new Convention, We confirm the need to maintain and improve Stabex and Sysmin in order to mitigate the adverse effects of instability of the export earnings of ACP States and to encourage the development of their mining resources.
37. With the aim of strengthening the ACP economies, we underscore the importance of ensuring improved access of ACP products to the EU market within the framework of the future agreement.
38. We believe that services promise significant contributions to our development and foreign trade, and call on our EU partners to acknowledge this by providing early market access for them. We attach particular importance to ACP-EU cooperation in the field of tourism and call on the EU to join us in devising a comprehensive package of measures, including financial and technical assistance, that would provide strong foundations for the sustainable development of tourism.
39. We call for the next EDF envelope to be substantially increased in real terms to enable our countries to fully achieve the objectives defined in the renewed ACP-EU partnership.
5. REVITALIZING INTRA-ACP COOPERATION
40. We reaffirm our commitment to promote, facilitate and reinforce the process of regional integration, intra-ACP cooperation, unity and solidarity.
41. Once again, we emphasize the need to accord top priority to reinforcing cooperation within the ACP and implementing the guidelines of the Libreville Declaration.
42. We recognise culture as an essential factor for development and are determined to strive for the preservation and promotion of the cultural identities of our countries. In this regard, we call for the restitution of our cultural property found outside our countries. Additionally, we intend to promote, among ACP countries, cultural exchanges and contacts in order to facilitate intra- and inter-cultural dialogue.
6. PROMOTING A TARGETED ACP-THIRD PARTY COOPERATION
43. We reaffirm the increasingly important political and economic role that other international actors play on the world scene and the need to establish appropriate relations with them. In this context, we reiterate the urgent need to establish closer political links with the States and regional organisations of North Africa, the Middle East, Asia and North and Latin America on the one hand, and with other international organizations on the other hand. We attach particular importance to the South Summit to be held in Havana in April 2000 as an appropriate forum to advance these purposes and strengthen cooperation among developing countries in general.
7. ADAPTING ACP INSTITUTIONS TO CURRENT CHANGES
44. We approve the measures adopted by the ACP Council of Ministers regarding the implementation of Decision No.4 of the 1st ACP Summit relating to the institutional and organisational framework of our Group.
45. In the light of the above We, the ACP Heads of State and Government, hereby decide to adopt this Declaration and Plan of Action for the implementation of the decisions of the SANTO DOMINGO Summit.
SANTO DOMINGO PLAN OF ACTION
1. We mandate our Ministers of Foreign Affairs to undertake the periodically review the international political situation in the framework of the ACP Group taking due account of emerging trends in inter-state relations. In this regard they will pay particular attention to the ongoing reforms in the Security Council.
2. We mandate the Council of Ministers, in the context of conflict prevention and resolution, to endorse the efforts aimed at reinforcing or establishing real and credible early-warning systems. These systems shall provide a key role for local and regional actors.
3. We mandate the appropriate Ministers to seek the ways and means of intensifying the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering. In this regard, they shall create a Working Group on these issues and deepen cooperation between the ACP states and institutions as well as between these ACP entities and other parties. In addition to the exchange of information, the cooperation should provide for collaboration between regulators.
4. We mandate the ACP Council of Ministers, within the framework of political dialogue, to engage the EU in meaningful talks on the ways and means of monitoring the illicit sale of arms to the ACP countries. We urge all ACP states that have not yet done so to ratify the Ottawa Convention on land and anti-personnel mines.
5. We mandate the Council of Ministers to seek the participation of the EU in an initiative which would share data on the flow of European-made arms from factories through their Customs Services to the ACP countries, and in closer cooperation regarding the shipment of narcotics from ACP countries into Europe and vice-versa.
6. We mandate the relevant ACP Minister to examine the problem of conformity and coherence of the policies of international institutions dealing with trade, finance and development, and to periodically make specific recommendations for ensuring that, in their activities, the question of development in ACP countries is accorded the highest priority.
7. We mandate the Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Foreign Affairs to pursue the establishment of an International Convention to facilitate the recovery and repatriation of funds illegally appropriated from national treasuries.
8. We hereby renew the mandate issued to the Ministers of Finance by the 1st ACP Summit relating to monetary and financial matters including debt. In this regard, we call upon them within the framework of the Plan of Action set out, in their Declaration of 26 June 1998, to create a Think Tank to deal with these matters. It will be entrusted with the task of monitoring and assessing the implications, for our economies, of the recent measures for enlarging the HIPC initiative and transforming the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility into one for growth and poverty alleviation.
9. We call upon all ACP states which have not yet done so to ratify the Multilateral Agreements on the Environment and Development, including those of the UN Conference (Rio Conference). In that regard, we appeal for support to be given to environmental protection and conservation which constitutes one of our major concerns.
10. We mandate ACP Ministers responsible for Trade to ensure that development is put at the heart of any future WTO Trade Negotiations and that priority is accorded to the implementation of existing agreements and undertakings made especially in respect of the least developed, landlocked, small and vulnerable island states.
11. We mandate ACP Ministers of Trade and the ACP Secretariat to facilitate the accession to WTO of the Group's members which have not yet done so, and to ensure that special attention is paid to the conditions of their accession and adherence.
12. We mandate the Council of Ministers to establish a Forum composed of inter-governmental regional integration institutions of the ACP Group, with a view to reinforcing the process of regional integration. The forum should provide for the involvement of civil society including experts and academics.
13. We mandate ACP Ministers of Culture to undertake any action aimed at the identification, promotion and implementation of intra-ACP cultural projects. In this regard, the Goree Memorial Project, (Senegal), that of the Gate of No Return in Cotonou, Benin, as well as that of a monument of national reconciliation at Ourdah, Benin, constitute the first examples.
14. We mandate the Council of Ministers to initiate action for urgently pursuing closer political and economic relations with other regional and international organizations and other regions including North Africa, the Middle East, Asia and North and Latin America. The Council should ensure that the Secretariat puts in place the necessary mechanism for the implementation and follow-up of this mandate.
15. We renew the mandate issued to the ACP Council of Ministers by the first Summit and request it to speed up the process of reforming the ACP and ACP-EU institutions to enable them to respond more effectively to ongoing changes.
16. We mandate the Council of Ministers to establish, well before the next Summit, an ACP consultative mechanism which would convene expeditiously to discuss any EU allegations, against an ACP state, of serious violations of the Lome Convention.
17. We mandate the ACP Council of Ministers to complete by 31 December 2000 the establishment of the new institutions of the ACP Group.
18. The new Convention should, inter alia, ensure the strengthening of the ACP supply-side, greater competitiveness and improved market access for ACP products prior to the commencement of any transition period.
19. We mandate the President of the Second summit to make representations to his European counterpart with a view to obtaining a substantial increase in real terms of the financial package under the European Development Fund (9th EDF) of the successor agreement.