BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In Kampala, Uganda, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune delivered a speech on Sunday at the plenary session of the 3rd South Summit, read on his behalf by Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Heads of State and Government,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased, on this auspicious occasion, to convey to Your Excellency, President Yoweri Museveni, the best regards of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and his highest esteem to the people and government of Uganda for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to us. We also express our deep gratitude to Your Excellency for skillfully presiding over the 3rd South Summit held on this hospitable African soil, ensuring all conditions for its success.
I would also like to congratulate my brother, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cuba, Mr. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, for the remarkable efforts of his country and its constant commitment throughout his presidency of the G77 +China last year.
Our summit, occurring 19 years after the second Doha summit, holds extreme importance as a renewed occasion to emphasize the spirit of unity, solidarity, complementarity, and cooperation to achieve our common aspirations for a better future that leaves no one behind. This is the slogan chosen by the Ugandan presidency for this historic meeting.
This meeting, as we approach the celebration of the 60th anniversary of our group’s creation in June, provides an opportunity to envision vast cooperation perspectives among our countries, contributing to strengthening our Forum’s pivotal role and influence in shaping international discourse and establishing multilateral legal foundations and rules. This should be within a common vision considering sustainable development and security in its broadest sense.
Our summit occurs in a shifting and complex international context marked by divisions, increased polarization, and challenges resulting from successive shocks impacting Southern countries, causing crises exacerbation and deepening disparities, especially in low-growth countries. Globalization is in decline, and interconnectedness is no longer the dominant characteristic of international cooperation, as evident in the disproportionate response to the severe repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting the economies of many emerging countries. Also, tangible effects of climate change are undeniable.
Moreover, the complex global geopolitical situation has posed challenges to our countries in terms of food security and energy, challenges fueling conflicts and intensifying poverty and disparities. The imperative of closer coordination and joint action within the G77+China is clear. This is in line with its natural action of multilateralism and to preserve its negotiating strength within international organizations. It is crucial to preserve Southern countries’ interests, particularly regarding sovereignty equality, consensus-based solutions within multilateralism, development, empowerment, and specific and preferential treatments on the economic level.
It is equally important for us to launch targeted initiatives and move forward with a well-crafted sustainable development plan for 2030, especially within the framework of South-South cooperation, a cornerstone for achieving our common aspirations.
In support of this approach, Algeria has made South-South cooperation a priority axis under its national development approach. This involves launching numerous complementary initiatives nationally and multilaterally, in addition to dedicating several cooperation projects to support potentials in various fields.
Among the significant structural projects are the Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic Backbone, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, and Trans-Saharan Road. These initiatives contribute to deepening African complementarity and developing intra-African trade.
Mr. President,
The governance dysfunctions of the current world order, based on the dominance of wealthy countries over political, economic, and financial decision-making mechanisms, have impoverished Southern countries. These countries continue to suffer from marginalization, dependence, and an inability to reduce the development gap.
This inequitable order with disparate mechanisms calls for an urgent comprehensive reform of the global economic and financial system to provide more equity, representation, and balance. Algeria has consistently advocated for this reform since the 1970s, aiming for a new international economic system that effectively establishes the principle of economic independence for emerging countries.
This reform should be a vital complement to their political independence, providing a balanced framework not only in terms of benefits but also in terms of responsibilities and shared burdens. The reform of the United Nations system for greater representativity, meeting the aspirations and priorities of Southern countries, would enhance its effectiveness, strengthen multilateralism, and better address the development challenges we face today.
Reforming multilateral financial institutions to reflect the growing role of Southern countries is now an urgent necessity to optimize development financing mechanisms and mitigate the impact of financial shocks on emerging economies. The issue of development financing remains a major concern for Southern countries facing difficulties in mobilizing the necessary financial resources due to low financial flows. This situation is exacerbated by external debt and unjust conditions imposed by donors. Reflecting on effective mechanisms to alleviate the burden of debt, even canceling or restructuring it, and suspending debt service, especially for the least developed countries, is imperative.
As the contribution of emerging countries to international trade and investments remains relatively low compared to their potential, South-South cooperation is of utmost importance for strengthening trade and investment flows and developing economic integration mechanisms. It is essential to emphasize the increase and fluctuation of commodity prices on international markets. Now more than ever, a new approach based on intensified exchanges and access to effective mechanisms proven in Southern countries is needed. This includes promoting investment in infrastructure projects, improving financing, technological transition, and competitiveness, along with improving the international investment environment according to sustainable development foundations and principles of transparency, fairness, and flexibility.
Mr. President,
The digital transition offers opportunities and poses significant challenges for Southern countries. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a common cooperation framework to contribute to reducing the digital divide, popularizing the use of information and communication technologies in line with sustainable development goals, and strengthening the sovereignty and cybernetic security of our countries.
Algeria has embarked on a thoughtful approach to align with the digital revolution, creating the High Commission for Digitization as the supreme body responsible for overseeing, organizing, and managing strategic projects in the digital transition domain.
I would like to salute the promising steps taken by Africa in e-commerce within the continent’s development efforts. This includes ongoing efforts to assess the first ten-year plan and the preparation of the upcoming plan for implementing the African Agenda 2063. These conclusions are expected to be adopted at the next African summit in February 2024. Both operations address e-commerce and other aspects related to information and communication technologies in various priority work areas and related strategic objectives. This includes the quality of basic services, regional integration, and infrastructure creation, including establishing a unified and secure digital market.
Science, technology, and innovation are fertile ground for South-South cooperation, acting as catalysts for economic growth and sustainable development. Therefore, it is imperative to leverage their contribution to achieving development goals through policies that promote skill development and the promotion of scientific and technological research and innovation.
In this context, priority should be given to solutions that flatten technological barriers and monopolies, as well as unjust practices limiting Southern countries’ access to these modern and essential tools for their development. Small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as startups, are vectors of economic development, creating jobs and boosting innovation. Hence, there is a need for our countries to enhance dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of experiences in this regard.
This is an objective for which Algeria has made efforts to implement the conclusions of the 2nd African Startup Forum held last December. These efforts are on the way to preparing the development of an African framework to develop such businesses in coordination with African Union bodies, in perfect harmony with the objectives and principles of Agenda 2063.
Algeria aspires to launch a similar initiative at the Southern level by proposing the creation of a center of excellence for detecting and promoting success stories of innovative startups. This initiative aims to establish communication bridges and exchange experiences and initiatives among different countries in our common space.
Given the devastating repercussions of climate change on many emerging countries, it is now necessary to adopt a common approach to find solutions and means to address this phenomenon. This includes mobilizing the necessary resources for a smooth energy transition to strengthen resilience to resulting challenges. This approach should consider sustainable development requirements and the historical responsibility of developed economies toward the climate crisis. Establishing climate justice through the implementation of commitments, especially regarding adaptation, losses, and damages, is a prerequisite for achieving this expected transition fairly.
In this regard, my country attaches great importance to serious efforts against the negative effects of climate change and disasters. This includes its initiative to create a continental civil force to address natural disasters. The force aims to ensure effective and immediate response and provide necessary support to African countries affected by these disasters.
As my country prepares to host the 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government of Gas Exporting Countries in early March, we are determined to make this summit a decisive turning point for the Forum. This is in line with strengthening countries’ sovereign rights over their resources, reinforcing the role of natural gas in the current and future energy mix, and renewing the commitment of member states to optimize the efficiency and environmental performance of the natural gas industry. This will enable an equitable, inclusive, and realistic transition to a low-carbon economy.
Mr. President,
There is no doubt that what is happening in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially blatant violations of international humanitarian law and the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their most basic rights, will stain the history of humanity. This underscores the close correlation between the right to development and the right of peoples to self-determination in accordance with international law principles and resolutions. These principles have always been defended by the Group of Southern countries.
I would like to express here the total and unconditional support of Algeria to the Palestinian people in establishing their independent state withEl Quds as its capital. In the same context, my country reiterates its support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for a just settlement of the Western Sahara issue. This is through organizing a free and regular referendum that guarantees the Sahrawi people the exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination.
In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm my country’s deep commitment to the principles and objectives on which our group was founded. Algeria is fully available to continue working to promote cooperation and partnership among Southern states. This is to achieve prosperity for our people and development for our world.
I thank you for your kind attention.
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