Developing 77 to talk economy, UN reform

The Group of 77 plus China will take up UN reform and measures to strengthen their developing economies next week in Doha, Qatar, their first meeting in five years. Leaders from the 132 countries now in the G-77, as the UN alliance of developing states is called, will discuss South-South partnerships, North-South relations and UN reform at the June 15-16 summit, said an official for the group who asked not to be named.
The G77 is the largest Third World coalition, tackling economic development since its founding in 1964. However, some of its members, such as Brazil, India and associate member China, have become rising economic forces on the world stage.
The official said the group hopes to "come up with minimal consensus" on UN reform, adding that reform should "take into account the interests of the South." Indeed, two G77 members, India and Brazil, are vying for permanent seats on an expanded UN Security Council in an effort with Germany and Japan.
However, India's rival and a G77 member, Pakistan, has publicly denounced the plan.
Despite the gamut of economic prowess in the G-77, which runs the gamut from powerhouses like Malaysia and Saudi Arabia to the tiny economies of Zambia and Mali, the official insisted the coalition is based on solidarity.
"Yes there are 132 countries, with different levels of development," he said. "But I think there is a common denominator, in that we all agree that we need to be unified to face the challenges of globalisation," he said.
The Havana meeting five years ago was the first summit to gather heads of state since the group's creation 41 years ago and reflected a shift in global politics, said the official.
"The world has changed since the Cold War," he said. "For the South to be taken seriously into account, we needed to raise the level of commitment."
The official said there has been progress in South-South partnerships, with politicians such as Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva taking the lead, but the still group hopes to improve trade, access to Northern markets and the transfer of technologies.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will also speak at the Qatar summit, ahead of hosting a G8 meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland next month, where Africa aid will be a prime issue.