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Joint Press Statement on the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum) Ministerial Meeting on the Margins of the 62nd Session of the UNGA

New York
September 26, 2007

The Minister of Foreign Relations of Brazil, H.E. Mr. Celso Amorim; H.E. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, the Minister of External Affairs of India; and H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, met in New York on 26 September 2007, on the margins of the 62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. They exchanged views on a number of issues on the international agenda, topics relating to the IBSA Dialogue Forum and the IBSA Fund for Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger. 

The Ministers reaffirmed their determination to strengthen IBSA’s political segment by enhancing coordination among their delegations in international fora. They stressed the urgent need to reform the United Nations, in particular the Security Council, and emphasized in this regard their co-sponsorship of draft resolution A/61/L.69, aimed at the immediate launching of elements-based, result-oriented inter-governmental negotiations for the expansion of the Security Council. 

Stressing that improved connectivity is essential to the development of IBSA trade and economic relations, the Ministers emphasized the importance of an early implementation of the Trilateral MOU of July 2005. While reiterating that health and defense are promising areas of cooperation, the Ministers encouraged the concerned Ministers to meet early so that untapped potential in these areas could be utilized. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to address the issue of availability and sustainable, economical and clean energy supplies. 

The Ministers expressed satisfaction that the IBSA Fund for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation won the 2006 South-South Alliance Award for its projects in Haiti and Guinea Bissau. They also reviewed recent developments in the IBSA initiative, including the formation of two new Working Groups in the areas of Environment and Climate Change and Human Settlement Development. On trade issues, the Ministers welcomed the upcoming meeting on October 6th of the group responsible for considering the modalities for the envisaged Trilateral Free-Trade Agreement among Mercosur, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and India. The Ministers also stressed taking several additional measures, including greater participation in each other’s trade fairs, trilateral investments and a study of complementarities. 

The preparations for the 2nd IBSA Summit (Johannesburg and Tshwane, South Africa, 17 October 2007), were also discussed.