NGOs Demand Open Talks with Government Delegations

new york, mar 11 1992 (ips) -- nearly 40 latin american and caribbean non-governmental organisations (ngos) have demanded an open dialogue with regional government delegations taking part in preparatory meetings here for the u.n. conference on environment and development (unced) in june.

at a meeting of delegates from the latin american and caribbean group, chaired by the head of the mexican government delegation, jorge montano, ngos called for a "free and democratic process" to analyse the agreements expected to be signed at the 'earth summit' in rio de janeiro, brazil.

wednesday's meeting between the governments and ngos comes on the 10th day of the new york preparatory conference, which ends apr. 3.

official delegations are currently discussing 'agenda 21', a global plan of action aimed at addressing the present environmental crisis and promoting sustainable development, as well as the 'earth charter', a declaration of principles for the conservation of the planet.

at the same time, official working groups are analysing how 'agenda 21' should be funded. this issue has generated major disagreements between the industrialised north and third world countries represented by the 'group of 77' (g-77).

meanwhile, some 1,200 ngos participating in the preparatory process are holding parallel meetings to discuss the numerous issues raised at the conference.

at wednesday's meeting, latin american and caribbean ngos said "governments should not feel threatened by the presence of ordinary citizens at this conference, but, on the contrary, should accept their encouragement to assume more daring positions in the negotiations".

brazilian ngo delegate creuza maciel, of the latin american peace and justice service, warned that unless relations are smoothed with the ngos, "we will be the future opposition to governments".

ever since the start of this preparatory conference, ngos have complained of the lack of contact with the negotiating commissions analysing the various issues, and of their lack of access to debates taking place at the u.n. headquarters.

ngos have reiterated that latin america's foreign debt "should be cancelled", while demanding that the "environmental debt" owed by industrialised countries should be paid back.

"the structural adjustments currently being implemented in our economies are endangering latin america's peoples and democracies," said manuel baquendano of chile's institute of political ecology.

baquedano cited the case of venezuela, where military officers launched an unsuccessful coup on feb. 4, using the country's socio- economic disarray to justify their actions.

for his part, mexican representative jorge montano revealed that the members of the latin american and caribbean group are not in full agreement over certain issues being discussed at the conference.

"in general terms, (these) countries are following a very similar line, but we haven't yet reached a full consensus," he said.

montano said differences had emerged over the role of the global environment facility (gef), which was set up by the world bank, the u.n. environment programme (unep), and the u.n. development programme (undp) to finance environmental conservation projects.

some countries have questioned the role of the world bank in this fund, arguing that the bank is unlikely to finance local projects included in 'agenda 21'.

however, montano did not give details of the varying positions within the latin american and caribbean group, citing the sensitive nature of the current negotiations.

government and ngo representatives will continue meeting weekly, for the duration of the conference, to discuss issues related to the rio de janeiro summit.

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