REPORT OF THE
12TH SESSION OF THE D-8 COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA 2 NOVEMBER 2009

The Government of Malaysia hosted the 12th Session of the Developing Eight (D-8) Council of Ministers in Kuala Lumpur on 2 November 2009. The Meeting was attended by Ministers and representatives from The People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Arab Republic of Egypt, The Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Turkey. The list of Ministers and representatives is attached as Annex I.

1.    Welcoming Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia

The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Dato’ Sri Anifah Aman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. In his Welcoming Statement the Foreign Minister was pleased that the Commission acknowledged the need to focus efforts on programmes that are of relevance and address the needs of the D-8. Member Countries should ensure that they translate the Action Plans into tangible collaborative and viable business projects for the participation of the private sectors.

The Chairman further outlined Malaysia’s expectations of the D-8 especially to focus on the Priority List of Areas of Cooperation, and in particular the development of the agricultural sector. The D-8 needs to organise its work in a more focused manner on the selected list of Programmes of Work before embarking on other areas of cooperation. In this regard, the D-8 Plan of Action needs to be prioritised based on Member Countries’ interests and needs.

The text of the Chairman’s Welcoming Statement is as Annex II.

2.    Adoption of the Provisional Agenda
The Council adopted the Agenda which appears as Annex III.

3.       Statements by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the D-8 Member Countries/Heads of Delegation

The texts of the Statements are as Annex IV.

The Council expressed strong commitment to the D-8 in ensuring that the Group achieves its goals and objectives. In order to further enhance cooperation among D-8 Member Countries, the following issues could be summarized as follows:

a)    The need to focus on the priority areas and promote cooperation in agriculture, food security, energy, trade and investment;

b)    The need to ratify the various instruments and agreements which we have to agree upon;

c)    The need to rationalize D-8 activities by paying attention to the frequency of and participation at the various technical meetings;

d)    The need to strengthen the Secretariat;

e)    The need to encourage wider and deeper involvement of the private sector including the establishment of a D8 Business Council;

f)    The need to look further into the proposal for a D8 charter; and

g)    The need to mobilize greater resources for D8 activities including the possible establishment of funds such as an investment fund, as well as the need to develop human capital in our countries. The Council thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for initiating 15 million Euros for the joint investment fund.

Besides that, the Council expressed concern over the important issues facing the international community such as climate change and the international economic and financial crisis.

4.    Report by the D-8 Secretary General on the Activities of the D-8 Organization and Secretariat

The Council took note of the Report of H.E. Dr. Dipo Alam, the D-8 Secretary General on the programmes and activities which had been undertaken by the Secretariat and emphasized on what needs to be done to enhance D-8 cooperation for the year 2010 as at Annex V.

He drew the attention of the Council on the speedy implementation of all D-8 Agreements to allow for the increase of D-8 intra-trade, for the Commission to begin work on a draft charter, urge the active participation in the implementation of the Action Plan and enhancing cooperation in trade as well as to continue efforts to promote other potential areas of cooperation.

The Secretary General also informed the Council that the Headquarters Agreement between Turkey and the D-8 Secretariat has been signed and is currently awaiting ratification by the Turkish Parliament.

The Foreign Minister of Pakistan informed the Council that there is a need to put into practice the D-8 vision. He also expressed the readiness of Pakistan to ratify the PTA and the Customs Agreement soon.

5.      Consideration and Adoption of the Report of the 26th and 27th Session of the D-8 Commission

The Council considered and adopted the Report of the 26th and 27th Session of the D-8 Commission.

The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh informed the Council that Bangladesh would soon ratify the Visa Agreement.

Bangladesh and Iran supported the formation of a working group to finalize a D-8 charter.

The Foreign Minister of Turkey emphasized the importance to have consultative meetings among the D-8 Member Countries to promote their common interest pertaining to various issues being discussed in the international fora.

The Council agreed to mandate the Commission to begin work to finalize a charter.

6.      Consideration and Adoption of the Budget for 2009 and 2010 of the D-8 Secretariat.

The Council considered and adopted the Budget for 2009 and 2010 of the D-8 Secretariat. The budgets are as at Annex VI.

The Foreign Minister of Turkey informed the Council that Turkey had submitted the Headquarters Agreement to the Turkish Parliament for ratification.

7.    Report on the Progress of the Outcome of the Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Address Food Security in D-8 Countries.

The Council considered and adopted the Report on the Progress of the Outcome of the Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Address Food Security in   D-8 Countries.

The Council agreed on a proposal for D-8 Member Countries to consult each other on issues pertaining to the World Food Security Summit which will be held in Rome, Italy on 16 November 2009.

The Foreign Minister of Iran supported the Turkish proposal to coordinate D-8 Member Countries’ interest in international fora. As a first step, the Council requested the Commission together with the Secretariat to prepare a submission to the World Food Security Summit Declaration through the D-8 Secretariat or Chairman of the D-8.

8.    Date and Venue of the 13th Session of D-8 Council of Ministers

The Council agreed that the 13th Session of D-8 Council of Ministers will be convened in Abuja, Nigeria in mid-2010.

The Nigerian delegation informed the Council that it will finalize the date and venue of the 13th Session of the D-8 Council of Ministers‘ Meeting as soon as possible. Iran also expressed its readiness to help Nigeria and recommended that the Secretariat cooperate with Nigeria in preparation for the 7th D-8 Summit.

9.    Any other business
In order to promote the awareness of D-8 and foster relation among Member Countries, the representative of Egypt offered a two-week Young Diplomats Program to be implemented by Member Countries. Egypt proposed to hold the first program, followed by Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nigeria.

The Council agreed that the program will consist of one week of lectures and one week of field trips, starting from 2010.

The Council agreed that the inter-governmental meeting on a charter and Action Plan will be hosted by Turkey with Workshop on D-8 Global Vision in January 2010.

10.    Consideration and Adoption of the Report of the 12th Session of Council of D-8 Ministers

The Council adopted its report by consensus.

11.    Closure of the Meeting

The Chairman made a closing statement and thanked all delegates for their active participation in the deliberations of the Meeting leading to the successful conclusion of the Meeting.

Since the D-8 has agreed on the Priority List of Areas of Cooperation, the Foreign Minister of Malaysia reminded the Commission to concentrate its activities in order to enable the D-8 to achieve its objectives. In limiting the number of events held by the D-8, the Group could focus on holding activities which would be of benefit and interest to Member Countries.

The delegations thanked the Chairman on his able stewardship of the meeting and commended the skillful manner in which he conducted the meeting.