Law: Let's solve problems together
Reports by Prema Martina, Tan Cheng Li, Lim Kar Yean, Ng Kit Yoong
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has called on the North and South countries to work towards a new global partnership in resolving environmental and pollution problems during the Earth Summit in June.
Science, Technology and Environment Minister Law Hieng Ding said the partnership should not only include the implementation of Agenda 21 but also the means of implementation, in particular, new and additional financing resources, technology transfer, and human development resources.
"These are essential tools for developing countries to implement Agenda 21, without which, it will be difficult for developing nations on their own to undertake the commitments negotiated under the Agenda," said Law at a dinner he hosted for senior officials and delegation heads of over 50 developing countries.
Agenda 21 is a programme of action to halt and reverse global environmental degradation into the 21st Century, apart from programmes for the poorer nations to uplift the well-being of their people without harming the environment.
The officials are here for the three-day conference to be opened by the Prime Minister today.
Law said financial resources. and technology transfer were two issues that had remained unresolved since the Stockholm Conference 20 years ago.
It was high time that the developing and developed nations find solutions to the outstanding issues, he added.
Law also said Malaysia attached great importance to the success of the Earth Summit in Rio, Brazil.
He stressed that the summit should agree on the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development as the guiding principle for a new partnership of the North and South to resolve the core issues.
The issues are, Agenda 21, forests, financial resources, technology transfer, climate change, biodiversity and institutional requirements of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
Law hoped the KL conference would be able to provide some answers to the issues. — Bernama
Source : The Star, April 27, 1992
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