Democracy Must Be At the Forefront for Developing Countries

"We are working on the issue of international trade by seeking a genuine achievement in the Doha Development Round. Developing countries must get something out of it." Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon

Good governance and development work best when put together, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon has said. He was addressing the opening of the 'Beyond the Commission for Africa' conference held on 10 October 2005 at Marlborough House, London, UK.

The conference, organised by the Foreign Policy Centre in collaboration with the Royal Institute for International Relations and the Commonwealth Secretariat, was aimed at devising an action plan to help donor countries better target their priorities for development assistance to Africa.

During his opening remarks the Secretary-General said that both components, good governance and development, have become part of the core business of the Commonwealth in underscoring the mutually reinforcing relationship between democracy and development.

Participants at the conference examined obstacles to African development, issues pertaining to land reform and preventative diplomacy, and the potential role that donor countries can play in development assistance to developing countries in Africa.

Mr McKinnon stated he was delighted to see the establishment of the Commission for Africa, because of the high level of focus it gave to development assistance for the continent. "We are pleased with the outcomes of the Commission's report as it highlights what needs to be done."

He noted that there are similarities in the objectives of the Commission for Africa report, the work of the Commonwealth, and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) strategic framework, dealing with the way forward for African countries.

The Secretary-General said that having an open and transparent society and economy tends to lead to a healthier and more prosperous country. He stated: "You can tackle economic development challenges more effectively if you have a high level of openness and democracy in the minds of the people. When they are able to decide upon who speaks for them and who represents them, then you can have progress ...

"The easiest thing to have is an international conference, but the hardest thing is to implement a communiqué ... what people are now expecting is delivery. I am pleased that the G8 leaders have committed themselves to support some 50 of the 90 commitments, and the pledge by the European Union to double its aid is certainly a sign of turning something around."

Mr McKinnon said while developed countries continue to make commitments in debt relief and aid, there must be progress on international trade. "We are working on the issue of international trade by seeking a genuine achievement in the Doha Development Round. Developing countries must get something out of it."

He pointed out that the Commonwealth Secretariat continues its work, along with the EU, to build trading capacity in developing countries through its Hub and Spokes project. This project entails the placement of senior trade experts ('Hubs') in regional economic integration organisations to provide trade policy advice, and trade policy analysts ('Spokes') to enhance research and analytical capacity in individual countries.

Trade, he said, is one of the significant ways in which developing countries can lift themselves out of poverty.

Following the conference a report will be produced and sent to EU Development Ministers in time for their meeting in Leeds, UK, on 24-25 October 2005.

 

CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 256, 12 October 2005

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