what does the semi-periphery want? (G15 communique)

In Boswell/Chase-Dunn's "Spiral" the semi-periphery of the world is seen as
a major potential agent of change. What does the semi-periphery want? Here
are some excerpts from the communique of the recent G15 meeting which
articulates semi-periphery interests at a governmental level. The rhetoric
is not socialist at all, but rather global-liberal, but the goals include
"justice", "fair international economy", "redress the asymmetries and
imbalances" in the world economy, "representation" of developing countries
in international decision-making, eradicating debt, creating jobs for 1
billion people and other. The recent summit in Havanna receives a favourable
mention. The G15 governments represent more people than EU and USA
governments together.

Gert Kohler
Oakville, Canada

***********************EXCERPTS***********************

                The Joint Communique of Tenth Summit of the
                                   G15
                       Cairo, Egypt 19-20 June 2000


                             JOINT COMMUNIQUE

               1- We, the Heads of State and Government of
               the Group of Fifteen, meeting in Cairo,
               Egypt, on 19 and 20 June 200V for our Tenth
               Summit, jointly reviewed global developments
               at the beginning of the XXI Century and
               prospects for the South. Guided by a culture
               of peace and development cooperation, we are
               determined to create a better future for our
               countries and peoples and to work towards
               the establishment of a fair international
               economic system based on justice and
               democracy.  .....

               3- ..... Since the early nineties, the
               phenomenon of globalizing economic
               activities has led to increased
               interdependence around the globe, affecting
               virtually every domain of human activity. At
               the outset, it was our conviction that
               globalization would lead to the securing of
               better standards of living and thc
               realization of thc development objectives of
               our peoples, thus spreading prosperity al1
               over the world. This has not materialized,
               and we are convinced that it will not until
               the international community redresses the
               asymmetries and imbalances in the global
               economy.  .....

               6- The growing protectionist tendencies in
               the industrial countries manifested, inter
               alia, by attempts to introduce non-trade
               issues in multilateral trade negotiations
               and the application of non-tariff barriers,
               antidumping duties and anti-subsidy
               investigations need to be checked. ........
               we urge
               that there should be a freer movement of
               natural persons, an area in the provision of
               services in which developing countries have
               a comparative advantage in the global
               economy.

               7- We attach high priority to full and
               effective implementation of the WTO
               Agreements in a manner consistent with the
               goal of trade liberalization. We express
               concern at unilateral trade measures being
               resorted to on grounds of environmental
               protection. Non-trade issues such as about
               standards, proposed by some developed
               countries, shall not be introduced in, or
               linked to the WTO Agenda. We reject all
               attempts to use such issues as disguised
               forms of protectionism and as conditions for
               restricting market access, aid and/or
               technology flows to developing countries. We
               express our concern on the deterioration of
               preferential schemes, especially the
               imposition of new conditionalities, such as
               labour and environmental standards, on
               developing countries in the Generalized
               System of Preferences (GSP).


               9. ....Furthermore, the participation and
               equitable representation of developing
               countries is required in the efforts devoted
               to the comprehensive reform of the
               international financial system and its
               institutions. In this regard, we welcome
               coordination between the Group of Fifteen
               and the Group of Twenty-Four.

               10. ......we call for substantive
               measures that include debt and debt-service
               reduction, and the write-off of unpayable
               debts of such countries, as appropriate. We
               express serious concern about the debt
               problems middle-income heavily indebted
               countries and non-HIPC low income countries,
               and urge that consideration be given to
               alleviating their debt burdens.


               15- We recognize the important role that the
               private sector is playing in our economies
               and its contribution to sustained economic
               growth. The role of small and medium Size
               Enterprises (SMEs) must be emphasized ...


               17- We express concern regarding the growing
               problem of unemployment in most developing
               countries, a problem that has been worsened
               by the recent financial crisis. Unemployment
               affects the socio-economic fabric of
               societies. This is most acute in countries
               of the South where more than one billion
                people are unemployed and the associated
               problem of underemployment is prevalent. At
               a time of dwindling government tax revenues
               as a result of austerity measures and the
               demands of stabilization policies, social
               safety-nets and other appropriate measures
               should be strengthened in order to address
               rising unemployment, massive poverty and
               income fluctuation. In this context, we
               recognize the importance of both FOI and
               domestic investment in increasing employment
               and generating income, including the support
               for small and medium enterprises.


               19- Within the context of the overall action
               for the eradication of poverty, special
               attention should be given to the
               multidimensional nature of poverty and the
               national and international conditions and
               policies that are conducive to its
               eradication by, inter alia, investing in
               human resources, training and education, and
               fostering the social and economic
               integration of people living in poverty,
               thus empowering them to participate in
               decision-making with regard to thc policies
               that affect them, the promotion and
               protection of all human rights and
               fundamental freedoms, including the right to
               development.

               20- ..... we urge specific and speedy
               fulfillment of the commitments of thc
               international community in regard to
               improving social conditions, particularly,
               in the areas of health, education, training
               and employment. The goal of reducing by 50%
               the proportion of the world s population
               living in extreme poverty by the year 2015
               should be met.

               21- Cooperation and coordination among
               developing countries foster solidarity and
               mutual support. Such cooperation among G-15
               and other developing countries contributes
               to collective self-reliance and to concerted
               and effective action in global and regional
               fore. .....


               24- ............The
               outcome of the South Summit held in Havana,
               Cuba from 10 to 14 April 2000 constitutes an
               important contribution to the enhancement of
               North-South relations to support the
               development objectives of developing
               countries.


               29- Our deliberations and discussions in thc
               Tenth Summit have led to the following
               conclusions and recommendations:
               The International level:
               At the International level

               (a) Globalization should ensure: development
               with less poverty and deprivation, raising
               of standards of living with less disparity
               among nations; integration of all developing
               countries into the international economy on
               a fair and equitable basis; economic growth
               with less environmental destruction;
               democratization of international relations
               and respect for and promotion of all human
               rights, including the right to development;

               (b) We reaffirm the central rote that the
               United Nations and its Agencies play as we
               strive for closer cooperation and solidarity
               among developing countries so as to realize
               higher standards of living for our peoples;
               A revitalized United Nations should provide
               a forum for promoting global development
               with equity and a human face; in this
               context there should be full implementation
               of the Declaration and Program of Action of
               the Copenhagen World Summit for Social
               Development with special emphasis on the
               needs of developing countries in regard
               employment, education, vocational and
               technical training, and mobilization of
               resources for social development as a whole.
               New sources of financing should be mobilized
               for poverty eradication;

               (C) The IMF should act effectively and in
               the interest of all countries, including in
               crisis situations; and in particular we call
               for equitable representation and
               participation of developing countries in
               international decision making and standard
               setting processes in the multilateral
               institutions, including the reform of the
               international financial system;

               (D) The World Trade Organization (WTO) must
               ensure fair international trade and take
               full account of the interests of developing
               countries particularly through the
               implementation of Special and Differential
               treatment provisions; developing countries
               should be assisted in strengthening their
               capacities to make full use of the WTO
               dispute settlement mechanism such as through
               the Advisory Center on WTO law, Non-trade
               issues such as labour standards, proposed by
               some developed countries, shall not be
               introduced in, or linked to the WTO Agenda;

               (E) Donor countries should accelerate their
               efforts in providing debt relief and should
               attain the objective for Official
               Development Assistance (ODA) of 0.7 % of
               their GDP;

               (F) Adoption of urgent and effective
               measures to eliminate the use of unilateral
               coercive economic measures against
               developing countries not authorized by
               relevant organs of the United Nations or
               inconsistent with the principles of
               international law as set forth in the
               Charter of the United Nations;

               (G) We reiterate the call of the South
               Summit for the United Nations to commence
               preparatory work for the elaboration of a
               Convention on prevention of corruption and
               illegal transfer of funds;

               (H) We recognize and support the call by
               several developing countries for the urgent
               need to reexamine and deepen current debt
               relief strategies to encompass effective
               debt relief and write-off of their debt, so
               as to ensure sustained economic growth and
               sustainable development;

               At the regional level:
               (a) Intra-regional cooperation amongst
               developing countries should be intensified
               and, in this context, G-15 financial
               institutions should seek to strengthen
               regional and subregional cooperation in
               order to promote intra G-15 trade and
               investment;

               (b) Intra G- 15 trade should be promoted and
               should include, as appropriate, the
               operationalization of preferential
               treatment, including GSTP, to facilitate
               trade among G-15 countries with the support
               of UNCTAI) and the International Trade
               Center (ITC);

               (C) G-15 and other developing countries
               should strengthen the institutional
               framework of their cooperation in order to
               ensure effective coordination of their
               positions and strategies in international
               fora;

               (D) Regional and Intra-regional cooperation
               and coordination should take place among
               developing countries through their groups,
               such as the G-77, 0-24 and G-15 with a view
               to strengthening their dialogue with the G8
               and other industrialized countries in order
               to ensure the consistency and universality
               of economic policy measures and the design
               and implementation of an improved
               international financial architecture.