Finland taking initiative to build partnerships for democratic global governance
The Government of Finland arranged the Discussion Forum ”Beyond Johannesburg—Searching for Global Partnerships” on Friday evening in connection with the WSSD in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Discussion Forum, a side event to the Johannesburg Summit, debated the follow-up of the Summit, searching for mechanisms for an inclusive and equitable governance of globalisation.
The Discussion Forum was chaired by Mr Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland, and co-chaired by Dr Frene Ginwala, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Parliament of South Africa. At the Discussion Forum, Ms Suvi-Anne Siimes, Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation, announced the “Helsinki Conference 2002—Searching for Global Partnerships”, a Conference on Global Governance to be arranged in Helsinki in December 2002 for high-ranking decision-makers, heads of international organisations, key researchers, and civil society and business representatives. The Helsinki Conference 2002 will discuss globalisation processes and how they could be guided to increase the participation and capacity of all relevant parties, including not only states, but also civil society and private sector actors. This way Finland wishes to pave the way to practical implementation of the Millennium Declaration.
“Globalization itself does not create solutions for governance, nor does it transfer power to new, effective democratic actors. The only logical response to ever-increasing interdependence lies in ambitious and brave attempts to manage it in a collective and equitable manner. Global governance institutions have to be improved and strengthened - by our political decisions and actions”, said Mr Ahtisaari in opening the Discussion Forum.
“The Helsinki Conference 2002 is one step in a process of creating partnerships for equitable globalisation with real solidarity”, said Ms Siimes. “The need to generate further open discussion on the democratic principles and for new institutional arrangements of international relations is now even more urgent than ever. That’s why we would like to continue discussion not only on principles of globalisation, but also on ways to go forward after Johannesburg and to make the global deal a real political practice.”
Other speakers of the Forum included Mr Martin Khor, Director of the Third World Network.
Further information about the Discussion Forum: Ms Erja Tikka, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, tel. +358 40 5329764, [email protected]
Further information about the Helsinki Conference 2002: Ambassador Ilari Rantakari, tel: +358 40 708 4245, e-mail: [email protected] or the Helsinki Conference Secretariat,
Crisis Management Initiative, Erottajankatu 11 A, 4th floor, FIN-00130 Helsinki, Finland,
tel. +358 9 698 7024, fax +358 9 612 7759, e-mail: [email protected]
The Helsinki Conference site was launched today at www.helsinkiconference.fi(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window).