The IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Dialogue Forum, which met here on Thursday on the sidelines of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), urged the international community for concrete and coordinated responses to terrorism, in accordance with international law.
The forum, comprising External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Relations of Brazil Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Maite Nkoana-Mashabane underscored that terrorism is a grave challenge to international peace and security.
They called for a comprehensive and determined international action including strengthening of international normative regime through the early conclusion and adoption of the draft Comprehensive Convention on international terrorism to address this menace. They reaffirmed that the United Nations (UN) has a central role in coordinating international action against terrorism and urged the international community for concrete and coordinated response to terrorism, in accordance with international law.
They also exchanged views on the current security situation in parts of the Middle East, Africa and other regions. They agreed that inclusive political processes are the best way to address internal conflicts.
The international community, led by the UN and in conformity with the UN Charter and the principles of international law, should support inclusive political processes, rule of law and socio-economic development so that sustainable peace and security is established in conflict-ridden societies.
The ministers also expressed deep concern at the grave situation in Iraq, particularly in view of its spill-over effects in the region. They expressed strong support to the Iraqi people and their new government in their efforts to overcome the crisis, uphold national sovereignty and preserve territorial integrity and also urged the regional and global players to support Iraq in its efforts towards national reconciliation.
Of the situation in Gaza, the ministers expressed grave concern at the loss of a large number of civilian lives and extensive damage to infrastructure. They welcomed the long-term ceasefire in the region, mediated by Egypt, and hoped that it would lead to an immediate resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians based on international law and relevant United Nations Resolutions with the final aim of an independent, viable and contiguous Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders and living side by side in security and peace with Israel and all its neighbours.
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They pledged their continued developmental support to Palestine bilaterally as well as through IBSA Fund. In this context, the ministers recalled the two ongoing projects of the IBSA fund in Palestine.
They also announced their decision to launch a project for the reconstruction of medical centre Atta Habib in Gaza, already agreed with the relevant Palestinian authorities and pledged USD one million for the project.
The ministers also talked of their efforts to contribute to a peaceful and diplomatic solution of the situation in Syria, and called upon all parties of the conflict to abjure violence so that conducive environment may be created for an inclusive Syrian-led political dialogue leading to a comprehensive political solution, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria.
The ministers voiced serious concern over the threats to peace and security in the Africa. They also discussed the political and humanitarian situation in Libya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, the Central African Republic, Mali and South Sudan. They expressed the view that the main role in tackling African conflicts should be led by African nations themselves, with active support from the UN and the international community. The need for the UN to ensure stronger cooperation and coordination with the regional representative body, the African Union and its Peace and Security Council was also reiterated.
Noting that the IBSA Fund for Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger plays an important role through sharing of developmental experience of IBSA countries for inclusive and sustainable growth and empowerment of the peoples of developing countries, they agreed that the footprint of IBSA Fund should be expanded to reach out to other countries in need of immediate developmental assistance.
The ministers also stressed the need to explore IBSA Fund projects aimed at women empowerment.
Noting that 2015 would be the 70th anniversary of the UN as well as the 10th year following the collective mandate of the leaders at the 2005 World Summit calling for an early reform of the UN Security Council, the ministers agreed to intensify their cooperation for a decisive conclusion next year on reforming the Security Council with the addition of new permanent and non-permanent members and expressed full support for each other's candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council.
Further, they underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the global institutions of political and economic governance and stressed that the UN Security Council must be enlarged in both permanent and non-permanent categories in order to better reflect present day realities and to make it more representative, legitimate, efficient and effective.
In matters of health, the ministers expressed grave concern about the impact of the Ebola outbreak in West African countries. They agreed that coordination among various stakeholders and partners including the UN agencies, especially the World Health Organisation (WHO), national governments, regional organizations, private sector and NGOs that have direct presence on the ground will go a long way in reaching the assistance to the needy quickly. The ministers reaffirmed that in this hour of need, they stood ready to contribute to the ongoing efforts of the international community to manage this common global threat.
The ministers also reiterated their commitment towards further deepening and strengthening of the IBSA dialogue forum and expressed satisfaction that IBSA provides an important platform for mutual consultation and cooperation on a range of regional and global issues of mutual interest. They noted that the existing comprehensive legal and institutional framework under IBSA comprising intergovernmental interaction and People-to-People Fora for multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation provides a solid base to take the IBSA cooperation forward. They stressed the importance of close coordination and cooperation among IBSA countries in various multilateral fora including the UN, World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), G20, G24, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) and so on.
They agreed to hold the eighth meeting of the trilateral commission in South Africa at a mutually agreed date.
The IBSA forum, which was created in 2003 through the Brasilia Declaration, seeks to promote international cooperation among the three nations.