Madagascar, 2006

I

would like to pay tribute to the Secretary-General,

Mr. Kofi Annan, for everything that he has done; he

has been a great Secretary-General. Thanks to his clear

vision, his commitment and his open-mindedness, he

has greatly contributed to the development of the

United Nations and the promotion of Africa. I thank

him and his team.

Last year we discussed the Millennium

Development Goals. It was clear that they could not be

attained in the sub-Saharan countries if we did not

make a considerable effort. The initiatives of the G-8,

the World Bank, the European Union and other donors

seemed to constitute a good foundation for a profound

change. Have we noticed a profound change? I do not

think so. The sad reality is that Africa receives less

international assistance per capita than it did 20 years

ago.

Let us be honest. The great ideas and the

goodwill expressed in words rarely pass through the

filters of existing structures and programmes. The files

on Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon, the Palestine

question and the oil question have put the Africa file in

the shade. It is a fact: Africa is not a priority for

international authorities.

However, I remind the Assembly that we all set

the Millennium Development Goals. These are

common goals; therefore, their realization is also a

common task. I remind the Assembly, too, that when

we deal with issues we are also writing the destiny of

hundreds of millions of human beings. Our decisions

affect millions of children. Where is the fervent desire,

then, to deliver on what we have promised to do for

them? That is the paradox between what we preach and

what we do.

I remind the Assembly that the task of this

community is to avoid crises instead of dealing with

crises. This institution should be a place not for

firefighters, but for strategists.

I emphasize that the idea of one world, the

foundation of globalization, cannot take us towards a

fair and peaceful future as long as many poor countries

are still marginalized. We want the same ticket to enter

the international community as the European Union has

given to Eastern European countries. We should all be

on the same boat. However, many developing countries

are still struggling behind it, swimming hard to try to

catch up with it. How can we get out of this calamitous

situation?

The Millennium Development Goals must remain

the basis of our discussions and our actions, even if

their achievement becomes more and more difficult.

The industrialized countries have asked us, the

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developing countries, to develop visions for our

countries and to prepare road maps in order to achieve

them. They have asked us to specify the Millennium

Development Goals for our countries. They have asked

us to increase our absorption capacity.

All of that is fair and understandable. However,

the role of industrialized countries is not to play the

referee, assess players and give out red cards. All

countries, developed and developing alike, must play

together. We must act together and have the same goal.

That is why I have decided to develop a new

strategy in Madagascar, which we call the Madagascar

Action Plan. The plan has been discussed throughout

the regions of Madagascar with representatives of

private and public organizations to create a sound basis

for achieving our vision, “Madagascar — Naturally!”,

and the Millennium Development Goals.

The plan has also been discussed with members

of the donor community. I told them that it is based on

our vision and on the Millennium Development Goals,

which we all set together. We should not be satisfied

with existing means; we should mobilize all the means

needed to achieve those goals.

I also told the donors that the Madagascar Action

Plan is our common plan. We decide together how

many men and women we want to — and can — pull

out of poverty; how many poor children can have a

better education; and how many children we can save

by providing them with safe drinking water and

vaccines.

Together we have to answer these questions,

because they concern global tasks, common tasks.

Hunger, poverty and disasters are among those issues

that know no borders. Therefore, they are part of our

shared responsibility.

We must change the approach used in the past,

which was based on division. We must accept that the

tasks are too burdensome to be carried out by weak

people, to whom a new burden is given. I am talking

about goals and measures that we must deal with

together, according to the capacity of each of us.

International assistance for African development

must undoubtedly be doubled or tripled in the short

term. Donors must deliver on their promises in the

short term if we really want to revive the economies of

African countries.

People ask why sub-Saharan Africa has not

experienced economic growth in the last few years.

There are many reasons. They include internal

conflicts, lack of good governance, instability and

insecurity. However, the reduction of aid per capita

during the last 20 years is one of the main reasons for

the slowing of economic growth.

A further reduction of international aid has been

proposed, so that developing countries will become —

so it is said — much more independent quickly. That is

a fundamental misunderstanding. To become

independent, we need more international aid. Greater

support is the shortest path towards independence. The

more we invest in education, infrastructure and health,

the more economic growth will be strengthened. And

the more economic growth is strengthened, the quicker

will the independence of developing countries become

effective.

Investments in education, health, infrastructure

and so on continue to be conditions for foreign direct

investment. Private investment cannot replace them.

We should look at the results of the Marshall Plan

and at the huge investments by the European Union in

the new member States. They have been a huge

success.

The question of absorption capacity has been

discussed. Like all developing countries, we too have

had problems, problems of cooperation between

national and international partners. Basically, if there is

a lack of capacity, it is the result of lack of cooperation

and confidence.

Capacity must never be the factor that determines

the volume of support. Where there is a lack of

capacity in an area, it is necessary to strengthen that

area. If there are not yet enough human resources

available at the national level, it is necessary to call on

international experts, while reinforcing national

capacities.

In this context, I would like to add a few words

on “country ownership”. It is true that we in the

developing countries know our problems very well.

Therefore, we are ready to assume our responsibilities.

Deciding on policies and actions must be the

responsibility of nationals. The programmes of the

donors have to be integrated into national programmes.

But it is also true that we are not always aware of

our weaknesses and are not in phase with all the

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values, rules, standards and procedures that are

acknowledged in most industrialized countries. Often

our fellow citizens do not appreciate the true worth of

good governance.

Transferring the rules of good governance and

standards of quality in education, health and

infrastructure into our culture and our policies is

essential. The transfer of knowledge is as urgent as is

the transfer of capital. It is not only technical

knowledge that we lack; the transfer of knowledge

must also include values and the concept of

professionalism.

Let us pool our capacities. What is at stake is so

important that we must use all our capacities at the

same time. Effectiveness must be the rule. Good

cooperation between national and international experts

is the basis of success.

And let us be more realistic, more pragmatic. The

percentage of international aid spent on studies is far

too high. Most studies are not implemented and simply

repeat what previous studies have already found out.

I also recommend more effective

decentralization, so that financial aid reaches the grass-

roots communities. The financing mechanism is often

slow and sometimes complex. It resembles a tortuous,

stony path — and it is porous.

From time to time, we ask the same questions:

How can we better structure international assistance?

Which transfer of funds, for which area and with which

measures is the most important? There is no simple

answer. Each country, each region and each area

requires a different answer. Theoretical discussions

will not help.

However, there is a foundation that is crucial to

all development: confidence. If a people do not feel

confident, they will not contribute to development. If

international firms do not feel confident, they will not

come.

Confidence comes from opening up to the outside

world, from stability, security and transparency. Good

governance and democracy are also crucial. I assure

the Assembly that Madagascar, my Government and I,

will hold free and fair presidential elections in

December.

During last year’s session of the Assembly there

was general agreement about the urgent need to

increase international aid quantitatively and

qualitatively in order to achieve the Millennium

Development Goals. We should therefore act

accordingly.

North America, Europe and most countries in

Asia and South America have experienced an era of

prosperity and progress. Their peoples now have a

good chance of enjoying a good standard of living until

the age of 80.

The peoples of Africa do not have that chance. I

therefore call upon the United Nations to develop and

adopt a new, more dynamic and determined approach

in favour of Africa. If that is done, opportunities will

be more balanced and the world will be a fairer place.

We note that the industrialized countries can react

quickly and launch large-scale operations if their vital

interests are at stake. We desire now the same dynamic

approach for Africa, because the basic needs of our

people are still being ignored. Such an approach is in

the interest of the African peoples, but it is also in the

best interest of humanity. A prosperous Africa is an

asset for the world.