Pakistan calls for steps to ensure natural resources fuel development, not conflict

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has stressed the need to prevent diversion of the world's abundant natural resources to fuel conflict by ensuring that land and mineral wealth are managed wisely, transparently and yield benefits for the people.

At the same time, Ambassador Masood Khan acknowledged that extractive resources were not the only cause of conflict. "Poverty, ethnic and religious strife, and bad governance often exacerbate the tensions created by mismanagement of natural resources," he told the UN security Council on Wednesday.

"High dependency on extractive industries combined with unsettled disputes lead to competition and conflict over resources," the Pakistani envoy said in his remarks to the day-long thematic debate in the 15-nation Council on conflict prevention and the extractive industries.

"Greater transparency enables citizens to hold governments and corporations to account and ensure that proceeds from extractive industries are used for public good," he pointed out.

"Historically, almost all countries have experienced conflicts triggered by natural resources. But today, many resource-rich countries in Africa are convulsed by warfare," Masood Khan added.

The Pakistani envoy said that a lack of capacity to effectively manage resource wealth was chief among the causes of reignited conflicts in Ivory Coast, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Natural resources had been illegally exploited and were being used to finance militant activities, he said, adding there was no panacea or shortcut. However, Pakistani envoy said the United Nations needed to lead on a coherent strategic approach to help countries caught in conflicts over natural resources.

That meant ensuring the Security Council paid attention to natural resources when considering situations on its agenda, and took targeted measures against those responsible for violating its embargoes.

Affected countries, especially where the illicit trade had a cross-border dimension, needed more resources and help with capacity-building through regional and other approaches.

He added a call for mining companies to be held accountable for engaging in illicit activities. "The private sector, while entering into contracts concerning natural resources, should ensure that the land ownership and other rights of local communities are fully respected."