| JOHANNESBURG--Saying
the Johannesburg summit had resulted in a "new
vision of sustainable development," US Secretary
of State Colin Powell underscored the importance
of good governance on the part of developing
countries as essential in freeing them from the
bondage of
poverty.
According
to Powell, who addressed the summit briefly on its
final day, the WSSD has succeeded in "widening
the circle of development" to encourage the
use of renewable energy, sound economic policies
and respect for human rights. Putting a large share
of the burden of responsibility on those exercising
power in developing countries, Powell said these
nations must be "governed wisely" in order
to attract investment. In this connection, he quoted
President George W. Bush who has stated that, "Trade
is the engine to development."
Like others speakers before him, the
American secretary of state emphasized
the importance of access to clean water
as an essential element in overcoming
poverty and disease in poor countries.
Putting clean water in the mouths of
thirsty people, and stopping the spread
of water-borne disease, will be a major
focus of those leaving Johannesburg,
including governments, businesses, and
international agencies, he added. In
his view, policies that promote advancements
in the use of water, energy, agriculture,
and forestry are the key to a better
future for those now living in poverty.
As for the role of the United States,
Powell said Washington would spend an
additional $5 billion over the next three
years to promote improvement in living
conditions in developing nations. On
the touchy subject of climate change,
Powell briefly noted that the US would
be spending $1 billion on research to
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Powell
elicited his greatest response, both
cheers and jeers, when he attacked
President Robert Mugabe's "land
reform" in Zimbabwe. There, thousands
of white farmers, in the midst of a growing
food crisis, are being driven, without
compensation, off their land. Instead
of being turned over to poor black farmers,
the land is widely reported to be going
to Mugabe's political allies. In Zimbabwe,
he said, "the lack of respect for
human rights and the rule of law have
brought millions of people to the brink
of famine."
Earlier
in the week, Mugabe had defended his
policy before the WSSD in the strongest
of terms, saying it was justified because
British colonialists had taken the land
from native blacks. Powell's remarks
are a clear indication of Washington's
anger over Mugabe's unapologetic stance.
Later in the day, UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan told a press conference that
he had spoken with Mugabe and expressed
his concern about the way in which the "land
reform" is being carried out.
In an
apparent effort to deflect criticism
directed at President Bush for not attending
the WSSD, Powell pointed to his own African
ancestry in expressing his empathy for
the issues addressed at Johannesburg.
Noting that "Ubuntu" is the
name given to an area set aside at the
WSSD which is dedicated to promoting
sustainable development, Powell said
that, to him, ubuntu means, "when
one is hungry, all are hungry."
No one
could seriously expect that the American
secretary of state, representing
a government blamed by many at Johannesburg
for being chiefly responsible for many
of the ills in the world, was going to
satisfy Washington's critics at the WSSD.
His emphasis on the role of trade and
good governance in fostering economic
development in the world's poorest countries
was not what the radical elements of
the NGOs gathered at the summit wanted
to hear. Indeed, other than his brief
reference to climate change, he made
no effort to speak their language. Instead,
by holding up a "new vision of sustainable
development," he confirmed that
his country is not tied to the agenda
drawn up in Rio ten years ago.
Bonner R. Cohen is a senior fellow at
the Lexington Institute in Arlington,
Virginia.
|
