Your Excellency,
The Honourable Mr. John A. Fraser
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Thank you for your opening remarks.
Let me, on behalf of the Malaysian delegation, express our deep appreciation to our Canadian partner in hosting the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Forestry.
There have been tremendous efforts put in organizing these meetings. This second meeting in particular provides additional challenge and hope for success. My special recognition to my colleague Dr. Jag Maini and David Drake on their tireless efforts. We have received overwhelming response and the number of countries and NGOs has more than doubled from the one in Kuala Lumpur in April.
Let met also as co-host of this meeting welcome all delegates to our second and final meeting of the IWGF.
As you would recall, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, in recognizing the integral and interdependent nature of the Earth, our home, proclaims 27 principles. More than 11 of these principles invoke on cooperation and global partnership to achieve the major goals identified. Let me quote the preamble of the Agenda 21.
"Humanity stands at a defining moment in history. We are confronted with a perpetuation of disparities between and within nations, a worsening of poverty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems on which we depend for our well-being."
However, integration of environment and development concerns and greater attention to them will lead to the fulfilment of basic needs, improved living standards for all, better protected and managed ecosystems and a safer more prosperous future. No nation can achieve this on its own, but together we can - in a global partnership for sustainable development.
Since these declarations were made, more than 2 years have passed. Other than the resolution adopted by UNCSD to review, inter alia, matters on forests at its session in 1995, there has been no clear indication regarding the implementation of the UNCED decisions.
The Canadian and Malaysian initiative in organizing this Intergovernmental Working Group on Forests is to facilitate UNCSD in its deliberation to review the Rio decisions and to develop action programs for the coming years. This meeting has been able to bridge the North-South divide over the follow up to the UNCED Forest Principles.
The IWGF is not a negotiating process. It is a sincere attempt by Canada and Malaysia to bring together countries of the North and the South as well as Intergovernmental Organizations and the NGOs to discuss and consult on the post-Rio agenda and the changes that have taken place in the true spirit of global partnership and international cooperation.
Apart from the IWGF, we recognize that other efforts have also been taken to facilitate preparations for the review on forests by UNCSD next year. It is important to view these initiatives as complementary, supportive and contributory to the thematic multi-year work program of UNCSD.
I have great faith in our limitless capacity to cooperate. Your presence this week in Hull is a testimony of that capacity. Human beings too have great capacity to debate and to differ. This has been the essence of our strength and weakness. But since time is not on our side, we need to converge our thoughts into action programs. Let us, as a follow-up from Kuala Lumpur, develop these action programs as a manifestation of our capacity to cooperate and to rise above individual interests.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Hull and Ottawa are most beautiful during this part of the year. I am sure everyone of us is awed with the beauty and the splendour of nature in its different colours and forms. This is the Canadian heritage. It is also the heritage of us all . Let us enjoy and work together during our short stay in this beautiful surrounding.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to say a few words.