I wish to add my voice to those who have spoken before me on the need for "Effective Responses on Global Crises: Strengthening Multilateralism and Dialogue among Civilizations for International Peace, Security and Development".

I believe there is no longer an excuse for reluctance of world leaders to move closer together and to stimulate the debate on how multilateralism and dialogue could be strengthened. We need to strengthen collaboration so that the international community responds effectively to global challenges such as climate change, the financial and economic crisis, food and energy crises, armed conflicts, terrorism and above all poverty reduction.

 

The first agenda in multilateralism is to reach a global consensus on reforming the multilateral institutions including the United Nations, to ensure equitable and geographical representation of both developed and developing countries.

It is imperative that developing nations have an effective voice on matters that concern them. Therefore, the United Nations should promote dialogue that ensures inclusiveness, transparency and accountability that are needed to attain genuine global peace, security and development.

The Security Council must be made flexible to allow Africa, Asia, Latin America and Middle East countries to have fair representation in this world body. The continued monopoly of this body by the Super Powers is no longer justifiable.

Developing nations cannot continue to be silent spectators in matters that affect them. Every sovereign nation is an integral part of the global village.

Gone are the days when conflicts, wars and economic crises in Africa, South East Asia, Middle East and Latin America were the concerns of only the peoples and governments in these areas.

 

The second agenda for multilateral dialogue is to attain world food security. Food shortages threaten the foundations of democracy and good governance.

The United Nations cannot sustain a world system where huge populations permanently live with hunger and starvation.

This world body must find a formula whereby the world can produce enough food for all at affordable prices. I believe that it is possible under the auspices of the United Nations to achieve global food security.

Malawi has a well organized agricultural development strategy and can contribute to the UN efforts in this matter. Malawi has within a short period of time transformed from being a food deficit and hungry nation to a food surplus nation. Malawi now produces enough food for all the people and we are able to export to the neighbouring countries.

The factor behind the success story is that Malawi allocated large budgetary resources and heavy investment in the agricultural sector. We also successfully introduced Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme that enables the poor and low income households to buy fertilizer, seeds and chemicals at a heavily subsidized.cost. As a result poor smallholder fanners became more productive. At the same time there are visible signs of improvements in the standard of living of the rural poor.

 

The third agenda for multilateral dialogue is to manage climate change. Malawi is happy that this matter will be fully discussed at the Copenhagen conference later this year.

At the national level Malawi is responding to the challenge of climate change through intensive irrigation farming and moving away from heavy dependence on rain fed agricultural system.

The Government has introduced the "GREEN BELT" programme that will irrigate up to one million hectares of land for small, medium and large scale fanning by harnessing water sources from the rivers and lakes to provide extensive irrigation.

We shall grow a large range of food crops such as rice, wheat, maize, beans and lentils as our way to contribute towards the solution to world food shortages.

 

The threat of climate change is real. I believe that the price for complacency will be much higher if we fail to act today.

For Africa and other developing countries we need to adequately address the issue of deforestation, environmental degradation and agriculture productivity. We need to act now.
 

What is the future of multilateralism and trade under the DOHA framework? This is another important agenda for the United Nations. But the question is why are the industrialized nations continuing to marginalize Africa and inhibiting the continent's capacity to play its role as a true partner in multilateral trade?

Malawi is concerned that under the DOHA arrangements, industrialized nations continue to protect their industries against processed and manufactured goods from Africa while insisting that the poor nations completely liberalize their economies.

Therefore, Malawi would like to see an international trading system that is fair and can enhance sustainable growth and development in Africa and other developing countries. This is possible if the G8 countries are willing to engage in genuine dialogue to solve the problems.

 

Let me conclude by stating that we also need a global dialogue on democracy, good governance, human rights, the rule of law and the fight against terrorism in all its manifestations. .We also need new understanding on how developing nations can cope with the shocks of the global financial crises and escalating fuel prices. I believe that working together, all nations of the world, rich or poor, powerful and powerless, we can strengthen multilateralism and dialogue for lasting international peace, security and development. We live in one world. We have the same destiny. Thank you.