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Germany expresses concern about globalization |
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September 16, 2000
UNITED NATIONS, SEPT 15 (AP) - Germany is warning that with the Cold War over, globalization could become the new world divide unless development includes all. "The international community must make every effort in the coming decade to ensure that globalization benefits all people," German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Thursday. Speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, he said that less than a decade since the end of the Cold War, the world is at risk from a new divide, "one between winners and losers of the economic globalization process." The foreign minister said all nations must be included in the advantages of globalization and must be given a chance of a fair share in the development of the world economy. The United Nations could play a role, he said. "In the 21st century, we will, more than ever before, need a form of global governance if we are to solve global challenges," the minister said. Fischer added that the United Nations must intensify efforts to make it easier for poor countries to use the information and communications technology. The foreign minister said Germany will present an initiative for a resolution in the General Assembly "For Global Partnerships" that will take up the issue of globalization as well as U.N. partnership with business and civil society. The strategy of Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse and a major industrialized country, is to combine debt relief for poor countries with efforts to combat poverty. Fischer said Germany also backed a World Bank proposal to establish a fund that could be used to purchase vaccines. On peacekeeping, Germany offered training for civilian peace missions and plans to set up a "pool of qualified personnel" who can be deployed on peace missions in a short notice. Pushing a long-standing German demand for a permanent seat on the Security Council, Fischer said the decision-making council "no longer reflects the political reality of our world." The five permanent members are the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.
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