The king announced that the G-8 Presidency
has extended an invitation to the G-11 Presidency to discuss
the establishment of a formal, institutional relationship
between the two groups. The king pointed that the G-11 has
identified four priority areas for international support
and cooperation: debt burden alleviation; investment promotion,
trade development, and targeted grant assistance.
These are the basics for self-sustaining
prosperity, supporting the foundations for reform, opening
new opportunities for millions more people to escape poverty,
and enabling our young people to build strong futures.
King Abdullah concluded by identifying
specific initiatives that can serve as a practical, targeted
start-up for G-8/G-11 cooperation. These include investment
in infrastructure, support for small and medium-sized enterprises,
scientific research and development, and technology transfer.
Follows the full text
of the King’s address:
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim;
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon and thank you. On behalf of Jordan, welcome
to the 2nd Summit of the Group of Eleven. This meeting is
the largest G-11 gathering of national leaders since our
partnership began. That high-level commitment indicates
the importance of what our countries are trying to achieve.
Your Excellencies, I deeply appreciate the generous sharing
of your time, ideas, and leadership today.
Let me also thank the officials, from
all our countries, whose work helped launch our initiative
and prepared the way for today's Summit. And I would like
to extend our special appreciation to the G-8 observers
who have joined us today. Our two organizations have a vital
shared goal, to strengthen prosperity and peace in the 21st
century. Working together is a top priority.
My friends,
The G-11 countries have come together, out of a shared commitment
and a shared requirement.
The commitment is to the serious path of development –
structural reforms and accelerated programs that advance
the opportunities, prosperity, and well-being of our people.
The requirement is for supportive partnerships, among ourselves
and with other nations- partnerships that can cement our
gains and sustain our progress into the future.
We can take satisfaction in what we have begun to achieve.
Our countries have made significant gains across society
and the economy, increasing participation in global trade;
widening access to skills and technologies; committing to
good governance; and realizing higher growth.
The challenge is to consolidate these gains and sustain
progress into the long-term. That means having the budgetary
space to continue to invest in development and economic
growth. For all of us, that space has been squeezed by fiscal
and other constraints – high debt burdens; rising
oil prices and other external shocks; rising employment
demand; and more. We can and are pushing forward, including
finding new opportunities from cooperation among our countries.
But it is vital that the international community support
our continued progress.
In this regard, the G-11 has identified four priority areas
for international support and cooperation: debt burden alleviation;
investment promotion, trade development, and targeted grant
assistance. These are the basics for self-sustaining prosperity,
supporting the foundations for reform, opening new opportunities
for millions more people to escape poverty, and enabling
our young people to build strong futures.
The four G-11 priorities, articulated and agreed in this
group’s White Paper, have been submitted to the G-8
Presidency for consideration. We have also identified specific
initiatives that can serve as a practical, targeted start-up
for G-8/G-11 cooperation. These include investment in infrastructure,
support for small and medium-sized enterprises, scientific
research and development, and technology transfer.
I am very pleased to announce that the G-8 Presidency has
extended an invitation to the G-11 Presidency to discuss
the establishment of a formal, institutional relationship
between the two groups in Berlin later this year.
The G-8's partnership with the G-11 can multiply the positive
effects its support to each of our countries has already
had. It will tell the world that the friends of development
will not be satisfied until the house of prosperity is really
open to all, that our countries are not simply welcomed
up the path; not simply left at the door; but invited, gladly,
over the threshold and into the house.
And let me say, yes, success is in our interest, but not
only our own. This is especially true now, with the global
economy in transformation. Developing countries are having
more and more impact on trade, investment and productivity.
And lower-middle income countries hold an especially pivotal
role. Our success anchors our respective regions in prosperity
and stability. And it provides a crucial model, for other
countries, of what structural and economic reform can achieve.
That can be the seed of a new international development
paradigm, one that reaches those most in need and that cements
successful steps towards sustainability on the ladder of
development.
My friends,
Our future is still in the balance.
Only by working together can we get the message across to
the entire international community. Only by working together
can we build on our common strengths.
Today, we meet to reaffirm our commitment to that partnership.
I look forward to your ideas on practical measures to consolidate
our relationship with the G-8. I hope also we can discuss
the tremendous opportunities to enhance cooperation among
G11 members, especially in the fields of trade and investment,
information technology and tourism.
Allow me to thank you again for your participation and commitment.
Together, I believe we can take another step closer to the
prosperity and stability our peoples seek.
Thank you very much.
Update with opening remarks by some leaders
of G11 member states
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said
his country’s participation in G11 membership stems
from its belief in the common standards that bring together
members of this group and the group’s policy does
not contravene with Croatia’s foreign policy in joining
the World Trade Organization (WTO).
He stressed the necessity to implement
objectives of the Millennium challenges and establish the
ability to open our countries to the global trade and economy.
“We need their assistance to promote peace and security
in our countries and combat fight terrorism which can be
destroyed by military might but by eliminating the environment
which breeds terror,” President Mesic said.
He also called for supporting economic
experiments of the G11 member states through combating poverty
and socials deteriorating, adopting liberal policies, searching
for alternative sources of energy, and protecting environment.
President of Salvador Elias Antonio Saca
underlined the importance of establishing the group in light
of the available opportunities of common interest to promote
reform policies and building sustainable development.
“It is necessary to admit that members
of the group have accomplished significant steps towards
the world’s commitment to fight poverty,” he
said noting that many of the countries have experienced
experiments to achieve economic cooperation and have moved
to medium income countries.
He said all countries will support initiatives
that help fulfill their needs and benefit from their points
of strength to fight poverty and raise per capita income.
King opens G11 summit… 4th Add
President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili
affirmed his country’s support to the initiative to
establish the group and stressed the need to keep in contact
and coordinate with the G-8 as this would help ease the
burdens and difficulties facing our countries.
He called upon G-11 member states to attract
investment to vital sectors such as transport, tourism,
foreign trade and energy.
Georgian President asked members state
of G-8 to take into consideration reform plans carried out
by G-11 countries. More focus should be given to negotiation
to join the World Trade Organization, he said.
President of Seri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse
affirmed the necessity to bridge the gap between G-11 member
states in fields of sustainable development.
All countries need a stable environment
to achieve progress and prosperity, he said, stressing the
necessity to fight all forms of terror and to concentrate
of the bonds that bring these countries together in their
drive to combat terror.
Members of the group should give support
to His Majesty King Abdullah’s initiative to establish
peace in Palestine, he said.
Vice President of Honduras Alven Ernesto
Santos affirmed his country’s support to the four
basic principles adopted by the group which emphasize their
willingness to achieve economic and social reforms in a
bid to reach a higher per capita income and this requires
support from the G-8 industrial countries, he said. Addressing
the problem of poverty in our countries can not be made
through dividing gains and benefits but through collective
and cooperative work and through seeking alternative energy
resources, he said.
Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou also
affirmed his countries support to the initiative because
Morocco is fully aware of the challenges ahead of us in
light of the world’s openness to globalization.
Morocco, he added strongly supports Jordan,
as president of the group, in its continued endeavor to
promote relations with G-8.
He stressed the need to maintain economic
equilibrium and strengthening tools to fight bribery and
corruption and address the problem of indebtedness.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz
said this second summit offers an opportunity to revise
accomplishment in economic and social spheres and identify
obstacles and search for areas of joint cooperation.
Pakistan, he said supports the “White
Paper” and the reform trends, the good governance
and empowerment of woman. Besides, Pakistan welcomes institutionalization
of cooperation between G-11 and G-8 to help us attain common
goals of the two groups.
Head of Ecuador delegations Minister of
National Product said member states of the group have identified
areas of joint cooperation and will submit them to G-8.
He said his country will cooperate with members of the group
to achieve the desired objectives.
Representative of Indonesia, Minister
of Economic Affairs said his country is committed to agenda
put forward by the group so that it can presented to the
outside world and can help overcome challenges facing members
of the group.
Representative of Paraguay identified
difficulties facing his country and that have been overcome
to improve living conditions of citizens and improve services.
He said his country would give full support to King Abdullah’s
efforts to succeed initiatives put forward by the group.
