Brazilian president stresses importance of IBSA Forum

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stressed on Thursday the importance of the IBSA Forum, which gathers Brazil, India and South Africa.

The fourth IBSA meeting is being held in the Brazilian capital Brasilia.

According to President Lula, the IBSA represents an answer to an unfair and unequal international order, incapable of solving old problems such as world hunger and extreme poverty, or new threats like environmental degradation.

“We are three large multi-ethnic democracies of the developing world, united to propose and build, without antagonisms and with firmness and continuity of purpose,” he said.

“IBSA wants to help mold a 21st century free of conflicts, poverty and fear,” the president added.

Lula pointed out that IBSA has been fighting for a fairer world in several fronts — in the WTO’s Doha Development Round, in the Human Rights Council and in the talks to tackle climate change.

However, he said, developing countries will not have a more active voice without a reform in the United Nations and the restructuring of the UN Security Council.

Lula also defended the participation of developing countries in the Middle East peace negotiations, stating that they do not have private interests in the region or a history of colonialism.

He highlighted the efforts of the IBSA countries in helping poorer countries, through initiatives such as the IBSA Fund and the IBSA satellites, which he said will benefit many nations in such areas as navigation and agriculture.

“With the IBSA we are proving that it is not necessary to be rich to show solidarity,” he said, “that it is possible to help without interfering with other nations’ internal affairs.”

“IBSA faced the criticism of those who prefer inertia to action. Our accomplishments prove that we have reason to look at the future with optimism,” he stressed.