New York
September 29, 2008

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee; Brazil, Mr. Celso Amorim; and South Africa, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma; met in New York on 29 September 2008 on the occasion of the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. They exchanged views on a number of issues on the international agenda and discussed topics related to the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA).

The three Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the further strengthening of IBSA and their joint resolve to enhance coordinated positions on global political and multilateral issues of importance, especially in terms of those issues which have a major impact on developing countries, such as the imperative to reform Global Governance institutions to be more representative and democratic.

They further discussed improved mechanisms to streamline and fast-track the disbursement of funds from the IBSA Trust Fund to identified beneficiaries from least developed countries in order to make progress with the implementation of projects. In this regard, the three IBSA partners approved the review report and expressed satisfaction that the IBSA Facility Fund for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation, which is a tangible example of South-South cooperation, has approved support projects, in addition to existing projects in Haiti (solid waste management) and Guinea-Bissau (agriculture development), in the following developing countries:

• Guinea-Bissau: agriculture development (phase II) and reliable energy supply in key locations
• Burundi: strengthening infrastructure and capacity to combat HIV/Aids
• Lao People’s Democratic Republic: irrigation and watershed management
• Cape Verde: refurbishment of health care infrastructure
• Palestine: building of a sports facility to promote constructive youth engagement

The Ministers took note with satisfaction that most of the Working Groups of IBSA have met or would be meeting in India in September – October, 2009, prior to the forthcoming Third IBSA Summit. They welcomed the new agreements/MOUs that are envisaged to be signed at the Summit.

They noted with satisfaction that preparations for the Third IBSA Summit were proceeding satisfactorily.

The Ministers noted that the Focal Points will meet in New Delhi on 10 October 2008, and if necessary, prior to that, to finalize arrangements for the Summit. 

The Ministers also discussed UN Security Council Reform, and expressed satisfaction at the decision of the General Assembly to commence intergovernmental negotiations, based on proposals of Member States, in the informal plenary of the UN General Assembly, no later than 28 February 2009. They emphasized the need for urgent reform of the Security Council, that would include its expansion in both categories of membership, permanent and non-permanent, in order to render it more democratic, legitimate, representative and responsive. They reiterated their commitment to continue to jointly pursue a decision on the Security Council expansion on an urgent basis, with a view to achieving concrete results.

The preparations for the 3rd IBSA Summit were also part of the three Minister’s agenda and they agreed to meet again on the eve of that occasion.