ZENIT, Daily dispatch
The World Seen From Rome
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VATICAN DOSSIER
* Scourge of Unexploded Ordnance Lamented
WORLD FEATURES
* Captive Priests Found Courage in Pope's Appeal
* Cardinals Call for Change 40 Years After Abortion Act
* Holy See: Africa Is Progressing, But Needs More
NEWS BRIEFS
* Archbishop Thanks Alexy II for Years of Cooperation
* Cardinal Proposes Road Map for Peace
* Religious Education Extolled at UNESCO
LITURGY
* Arriving After the Gospel: No Communion
DOCUMENTS
* Cardinals' Letter on Anniversary of Abortion Act
* Holy See Address on Africa's Development
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VATICAN DOSSIER
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Scourge of Unexploded Ordnance Lamented
Holy See Calls for More Effort to Remove Dangers
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace met with the founder of a U.S.-based organization aiming to replace minefields with farmland, and made an appeal for the elimination of unexploded ordnance.
Cardinal Renato Martino spoke with Heidi Kuhn, founder of the international Roots of Peace organization, last Thursday, a communiqué from the Vatican dicastery reported.
In an audience with Benedict XVI, Kuhn launched an appeal for Catholic organizations to support the California-based Roots of Peace, which concerns itself with the "Mines for Vines" campaign.
"Every 30 minutes," the communiqué from the pontifical council said, "a person is killed or maimed by UXO [unexploded ordnance] in countries that have been theaters of war. Every year, 20,000 civilians are killed or injured because of the explosion of mines or cluster munitions. This cruel type of weaponry does not discriminate between civilians and combatants; it is designed to inflict maximum suffering and not always to kill."
UXO, the communiqué continued, "prolongs fear among the civilian population and often accentuates their dependence on aid from the international community. According to estimates, planting a mine costs $3, while removing it costs $1,000. There are some 70 million mines in areas of some 70 countries of the world."Cardinal Martino underlined the need "to increase commitment, particularly at the local level, to free the world from the dangers of UXO, which causes so much suffering and death in countries that seek to re-establish an order of justice and peace following the atrocities of a conflict."
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WORLD FEATURES
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Captive Priests Found Courage in Pope's Appeal
Father Afas Concerned for Friendship With Muslims
MOSUL, Iraq, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- One of the Syrian-Catholic priests kidnapped in Iraq for a week said Benedict XVI's public plea for their release gave them courage in the midst of their situation.
Father Mazen Ishoa, 35, and Father Pius Afas, 60, were kidnapped Oct. 13 on their way to celebrate a funeral Mass. The next day, during his Angelus address at the Vatican, the Pope appealed for their release. One week later, the Holy See welcomed the news that the priests had been set free.
"The Pope's plea gave us a lot of courage: The exhortation for our captors to release us was definitely a great, great help," said Father Afas on Vatican Radio on Monday. "We have not suffered torture. [] We have lived difficult moments, though I never lost trust, hope, nor a spirit of prayer."
The priest expressed his joy and gratitude for the "great solidarity" that the two received from all parts of the world, for the many prayers, and for the Pope's appeal.
Father Afas said that he and Father Ishoa were set free Sunday morning, and immediately took a taxi and headed for their church. That afternoon, they concelebrated Mass. "There were a lot of people there to show their gratitude to God. It was truly very, very exciting," he said.
Staying home
Despite his experience, Father Afas encouraged Christians to stay in Mosul.
"We are very worried that this will undermine the friendship with our Muslim brothers, with whom we have coexisted for centuries," he said. "And this is what we told our kidnappers: We don't want to ruin this friendship, lose this Islamic-Christian fraternity. We will stay, therefore, in Iraq; and we are not ready to give in, because we -- Christians and Muslims together -- are here for peace among Iraqis."
Syrian-Catholic Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa of Mosul said: "We are very worried about the future. We represent a minority in Iraq and many Iraqi Christians are being pressured to leave their houses in Baghdad or Mosul. There are many families that are leaving these places. Sometimes they receive threats that they must leave their homes, but other times, they are exhorted to convert to Islam in exchange for liberty, and if not, then to leave.
"Normally, our relationship with the Muslim population has been very good; we have coexisted in a spirit of friendship and collaboration. But now, with the fundamentalist current that combats the presence of the American troops, the situation has become extremely dangerous for us."
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Cardinals Call for Change 40 Years After Abortion Act
U.K. Prelates Advocate Father's Role in Life of Child
LONDON, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The presidents of the bishops' conferences of England and Wales and Scotland say the scale of abortion in their countries is a source of anguish for everyone, regardless of creed or political convictions.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien, president of the bishops' conference of Scotland, and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, president of the bishops' conference of England and Wales, said this in a letter published Monday, marking the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act.
The prelates noted that the development of technology over the last 40 years has brought new understanding of the beginnings of human life.
"In 1967, ultrasound was a primitive tool," they wrote. "Ultrasound scanners today can reveal in extraordinary detail the development of a human life in the womb. Premature babies are now able to survive at ever younger ages.
"Developmental biology makes increasingly clear the beautiful and intricate processes of continuous development and growth of the single unique organism that is formed at conception."
The cardinals lamented, "We have one of the most liberal abortion laws in Europe with abortion up to 24 weeks and abortion in the case of disability -- and on some other grounds -- up to birth." They noted that in their countries, some 200,000 abortions are performed every year.
Discriminatory slogan
The cardinals affirmed that the slogan "a woman's right to choose" denies the role of the father in the life of the child.
"It seems to pass over the fact that the majority of men do want to be fathers of their children," they said. "If we accept 'a woman's right to choose' as the governing principle of such a profound choice between life and death, then rather than encouraging men to accept responsibility, it can support their denial or avoidance.
"This is why we believe that abortion is not only a personal choice, it is about the choices our society makes to support women, their partners and families in these situations. If our society makes life its choice then there is no reason why the child, the mother and the father, and indeed the whole family of society cannot grow to fulfill their potential. Abortion robs everyone of their future. Individually and as a society we believe we have another choice: to give birth to life."
The cardinals proposed seven steps to help bring about change, including "respecting and supporting the decision of those in health care who refuse to perform or assist in abortions on grounds of conscience," and developing better educational programs.
"The Catholic Church offers to participate with others in working for this timely change of heart and mind," they concluded. "We hope and pray for the sake of our common humanity, and the lives at stake, that the next 40 years will tell a very different story. The time to take a different path is now."
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Holy See: Africa Is Progressing, But Needs More
Archbishop Migliore Highlights Importance of Education
NEW YORK, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See says recent economic growth in Africa is encouraging, but the continent still needs a lot of aid, especially at it suffers from "brain drain" -- the exodus of skilled and educated workers to rich countries.
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said this Friday at the 62nd session of the U.N. general assembly, which focused on the aid program called the New Partnership for Africa's Development.
Noting accelerated economic growth in the continent, the archbishop said, "This Africa-owned and Africa-led vision and strategic framework for Africa's renewal has contributed in no small measure to this growth.
"Nevertheless, these positive signs stand in stark contrast with situations of conflict and the reality of extreme forms of poverty difficult to uproot. Africa still lags behind most of the regions of the world. Thus the international community's support remains decisive, to assist Africa to respond to daunting challenges and to consolidate recent gains."
Archbishop Migliore noted the need for more peace-building initiatives in Africa.
"Initiatives such as the Continental Early Warning System and the regional conflict warning systems deserve the international community's generous support," he said, "so that the continent's increasing assumption of its share of responsibility in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and post-conflict peace-building may be consolidated further."
Debt
Turning to socioeconomic questions, the prelate said: "To address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development, Africa would need a comprehensive solution to the unsustainable debt burdens of some countries, fairer access to world market through equitable integration into the international trading system, the timely disbursement by the developed countries of the agreed 0.7% of gross national product as official development assistance, better harmonization between international support and the New Partnership for Africa's Development [NEPAD] priorities, greater and long-term investments in Africa's public and private sector, transfer of technology, better educational and health systems, just to cite some.
"The international community is called to assist African countries develop policies that promote a culture of solidarity, so that their economic development may go hand in hand with integral human development."
Archbishop Migliore emphasized that education is a priority for the continent.
"Education must be at the heart of NEPAD's objectives and priorities, not only as a goal in itself but also as a means in achieving the other objectives," he said. "Strategic partnerships in education and skills formation between institutions in Africa and in the developed world will no doubt accelerate progress in all sectors.
"These partnerships should extend to the movement of skilled labor. Africa, in fact, is suffering from brain drain, as many of its educated, talented and skilled human capital -- especially in the health sector -- leave the continent for better economic opportunities in rich countries.
"Persistent wars in Africa and their deleterious effects in terms of the displaced and refugees, and of the heinous crimes of child soldiers and violence against women, should remind us that peace and collective security are inseparable from human development."
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NEWS BRIEFS
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Archbishop Thanks Alexy II for Years of Cooperation
MOSCOW, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Before leaving Russia, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz wanted to thank Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II for the years of cooperation the two leaders shared.
Archbishop Kondrusiewicz of the Mother of God Archdiocese in Moscow sent Monday a message of gratitude to the patriarch. The prelate has been assigned to the Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev, Belarus. His successor, Father Paolo Pezzi of the Priestly Fraternity of Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo, will be ordained archbishop Saturday. Father Pezzi, 47, was the rector of the Mary Queen of the Apostles seminary in St. Petersburg.
Archbishop Kondrusiewicz, 61, wrote to Alexy II: "After 16 years of pastoral care of Russian Catholics, I return to my home country, leaving in Moscow a part of my heart and remembering happy moments of fruitful cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church and with Your Holiness.
"With deep gratitude for the help in confronting the challenges of the modern world, I thank you for the high esteem you gave to our work in the words of welcome in the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe, where you highlighted that 'the community of Russian Catholics has sincere respect on the part of the Russian Orthodox Church.'
"Feeling faithful esteem for you, I look toward the future with the hope that our Churches will develop dialogue and cooperation."
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Cardinal Proposes Road Map for Peace
Calls Religiously-Motivated Violence a Profanation
NAPLES, Italy, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran told leaders representing world religions that the rejection of violence and the promotion of peace is the road map for interreligious dialogue.The president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue explained his proposal Monday in Naples at the round-table discussion "Religions in Dialogue for a World Without Violence." The cardinal was participating in the 21st International Encounter of Peoples and Religions, organized by the Catholic lay Sant'Egidio Community and the Archdiocese of Naples. The encounter ends today.
Cardinal Tauran said, "We have our road map that we have to follow: to make for religions a name of peace. Terrorism covers its followers with shame. All violence justified in the name of faith is a profanation of the name of God."
Noting that some factions are still committing crimes that appeared to be disappearing after World War II -- ethnic cleansing, concentration camps -- the cardinal reflected that there is still hope, reflected in "an army of men and women who believe in peace and raise their hands toward heaven."
"They do this because they are convinced that the situations of violence can be overcome when they are contrasted with goodness," he added.
According to the cardinal, who for many years was secretary for Vatican relations with states, "dialogue is for all a pilgrimage and a risk. With dialogue, as a matter of fact, I place myself in a position to listen to different situations and risk myself before the questions of others."
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Religious Education Extolled at UNESCO
PARIS, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Religious education is a fundamental element for the full development of the human person, the Holy See said in an address to a meeting of UNESCO.
Monsignor Francesco Follo, the permanent observer of the Holy See to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said this at the opening of the agency's 34th general conference last week. The conference, being held in Paris, will continue through Nov. 3.
The papal representative spoke of the urgent need for religious education, "not as just a personal reality, but also a social reality, and as a fundamental element for the improvement and maturity of individuals."
"Certain fundamental principles exist that constitute the patrimony of peoples and are cement in the common life, to be able to construct a true social and world order of justice and peace," he said.
Monsignor Follo added that the integral development of individuals and of peoples cannot be limited to scientific and economic concepts, and said that religious liberty is important for the development of "a culture of peace."
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LITURGY
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Arriving After the Gospel: No Communion
And More on the Mass Intention
ROME, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: My parish priest made a regulation that anyone who arrives in Mass after the Gospel is not allowed to take Communion. According to him, the reason is that Jesus is "the Word made flesh." Therefore we must recognize Jesus in the Word before we recognize him in holy Communion. Another priest, who is a professor of liturgy, has another opinion. He said that people who arrive late in Mass with a valid reason (for example, an unusual traffic jam, attending sick children, etc.) should not be denied Communion. Could you please give a clarification on this matter? -- B.E., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
A: We dealt with the question of late arrivals at Mass in one of our first columns, on Nov. 4 and Nov. 18, in 2003.
Then as now, I would agree more with the second priest: that someone who arrives late out of no fault of their own should not be denied Communion.
I also consider it unwise to set any barrier point; I continue to insist that the faithful should assist at the whole Mass.
It is quite possible that some members of the faithful could begin to see the Gospel as the cutoff moment and feel comfortable in habitually arriving for the second reading, thus assuring that the Mass is "valid."
It is true that the Mass is a whole and that we must first recognize Jesus in the Word before we recognize him in the Eucharist. But this would include the entire Liturgy of the Word and not just the Gospel.
Also, while there is some certain logic in choosing the Gospel as such a moment, the reasons given are not sufficiently well grounded from the theological, canonical and moral standpoints to support such a blanket impediment to receiving Communion.
The pastor has a duty to direct and inform the consciences of the faithful entrusted to him. And while I disagree with his suggesting the Gospel as a demarcation point for receiving Communion, it is at least clear that he his trying to perform his sacred duty.
Therefore, the onus of the decision whether or not to receive Communion, in this particular case of a late arrival, falls primarily upon the individual Catholic rather than upon the pastor who can hardly be expected to be attentive to every late arrival.
It is therefore incumbent on those arriving late to examine their conscience as to the reason behind their tardiness. If the reason is neglect or laziness, then they would do better attending another full Mass if this is possible. Even those who blamelessly arrive late should prefer to assist at a full Mass although they would be less bound to do so in conscience.
At the same time, there are some objective elements to be taken into account besides the reason for lateness. Someone who arrives after the consecration has not attended Mass, no matter what the reason for his belatedness. Such a person should not receive Communion, and if it is a Sunday, has the obligation to attend another Mass.
It is true that Communion may be received outside of Mass, so Mass is not an essential prerequisite for receiving Communion. This would not, however, justify arriving just in time for Communion at a weekday Mass, as all of the rites for receiving Communion outside of Mass include a Liturgy of the Word and one should attend the entire rite.
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Follow-up: Mentioning the Mass Intention
After our commentaries on reading out Mass intentions (Oct. 9) a priest observed: "At a concelebrated Mass, each concelebrant conceivably has a separate Mass intention. At my monastery, we have daily concelebration, and we have a policy of never mentioning any Mass intention at Mass. Otherwise, it could happen that if one Mass intention is mentioned by the presiding celebrant, someone may be present who has requested a different intention from one of the concelebrants, and would have the impression that the requested intention was not fulfilled."
This is certainly a legitimate policy given the circumstances. There might be particular occasions, however, when the fact that several priests are concelebrating specifically allows for more than one intention to be mentioned, provided that the faithful know that each intention will be entrusted to a different priest.
Even though only one Mass is celebrated at a concelebration, each priest legitimately celebrates a Mass and may receive a stipend for the corresponding intention.
There is, however, a strict norm that a priest may never receive a stipend for a concelebrated Mass if he celebrates, or more rarely concelebrates, another Mass on the same day.
For example, if our correspondent, besides concelebrating at the community Mass in the monastery, were to also celebrate for the people at some other time, he could only accept a stipend for the second Mass.
He could have any number of personal intentions to offer at the community Mass, but none associated with a stipend.
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Readers may send questions to liturgy@zenit.org. Please put the word "Liturgy" in the subject field. The text should include your initials, your city and your state, province or country. Father McNamara can only answer a small selection of the great number of questions that arrive.
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DOCUMENTS
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Cardinals' Letter on Anniversary of Abortion Act
LONDON, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is a letter by Cardinal Keith O'Brien, president of the bishops' conference of Scotland, and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, president of the bishops' conference of England and Wales. The message, released Monday, marks the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act.
* * *
The 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act is an important moment for reflection. It gives us all an opportunity to seek to cherish human life and to support women in difficult circumstances. The law affects attitudes, but it does not itself compel anyone to have an abortion. Even without a change in the law, the abortion rate could fall dramatically if enough minds and hearts were changed.
The miraculous nature of human reproduction has become ever more apparent through recent advances in medical technology. In 1967, ultrasound was a primitive tool. Ultrasound scanners today can reveal in extraordinary detail the development of a human life in the womb. Premature babies are now able to survive at ever younger ages.
Developmental biology makes increasingly clear the beautiful and intricate processes of continuous development and growth of the single unique organism that is formed at conception. That is when our lives started. From that point on, there is a new human life that is neither the life of the father nor the mother. In 2007, we understand better than ever before, because we have seen it with our own eyes, the wonderful process of life that is brought to an end by abortion.
The 1967 Act was intended to solve the problem of illegal abortion, on the basis that it was a major cause of death in pregnant women. Yet our countries now perform nearly 200,000 abortions every year. We have one of the most liberal abortion laws in Europe with abortion up to 24 weeks and abortion in the case of disability (and on some other grounds) up to birth. Whatever our religious creed or political conviction, abortion on this scale can only be a source of distress and profound anguish for us all.
The Catholic Church throughout the world has been constant in its opposition to abortion as morally wrong, and has been determined to give voice to the silent cry for love and recognition that belongs to every human life. The Church has for many years in our countries been at the forefront of offering practical, emotional and spiritual care to women and babies in need. It has sought, too, to help the many women, and men, who suffer grief, pain and loss following an abortion experience.
In the years since 1967, much has been made of the slogan "the woman's right to choose." Yet the right to make a genuine choice is exactly what very many women who have abortions say they do not have.
Abortion is a moment of choice. Abortion is always a choice between life and death, but we recognize that it is made in complex personal and domestic situations. It can be especially difficult for the mother if she feels abandoned by her partner or that by having the child she will lose the support of her family or society. Women in this situation can feel intensely isolated.
Many women and men, too, already feel the pressure of caring for their families. They often have to cope with financial burdens and the demands of a career. In such situations, family relationships can feel so strained that they do not feel they can welcome another life. If the pregnancy is unwanted it can be easier to argue that it is somehow in the interests of the child not to be born because the child will not be welcomed. At times, the life of the child is seen as an unnecessary limitation on the mother and the father. The child's life is placed in opposition to theirs. When this happens, abortion can be portrayed as the lesser of two evils, which removes an obstacle to the "success" of the parents' lives. Yet life, especially new life, is ultimately never a deprivation. It is a gift that always enriches; a promise filled with hope. We should never let ourselves be persuaded otherwise.
Often, "a woman's right to choose" fails to acknowledge the role of the father. It seems to pass over the fact that the majority of men do want to be fathers of their children. If we accept "a woman's right to choose" as the governing principle of such a profound choice between life and death, then rather than encouraging men to accept responsibility, it can support their denial or avoidance.
For everyone involved, abortion will often have been a painful and shattering decision. For many women it is one in which they, perhaps even as much as their unborn child, will have been the victim. This is why we believe that abortion is not only a personal choice, it is about the choices our society makes to support women, their partners and families in these situations. If our society makes life its choice then there is no reason why the child, the mother and the father, and indeed the whole family of society cannot grow to fulfill their potential. Abortion robs everyone of their future. Individually and as a society we believe we have another choice: to give birth to life.
How can we all help bring about change? There is nothing to stop our society from acting now to foster a new understanding and approach to relationships, responsibility and mutual support:
-- By being parents and families who cherish life and support our daughters and sons in making decisions that are responsibly pro-life.
-- By providing sympathetic counseling and help for young women who find themselves pregnant.
-- By providing more and better facilities to support and help young mothers who choose to have their babies.
-- By dismantling a conveyor belt that can often take a young woman through to having an early abortion without any of the alternatives being properly explored or resourced. Making genuine freedom of choice a reality is the first and crucial step in a fundamental change of mind and heart.
-- By supporting and developing better educational programs which place the gift of sexual relations within the context of marriage and fidelity. Such programs can help people understand realistically the joy and sacred responsibility of parenthood. They can inform them about the resources available within the Catholic Church and society for supporting families and parents at moments of difficulty.
-- By respecting and supporting the decision of those in health care who refuse to perform or assist in abortions on grounds of conscience.
-- By pressing for achievable change in the law in the light of advances in medical developments, even if Parliament will not abolish the law. Whilst upholding the principle of the sacredness of human life, it is both licit and important for those in public life who oppose abortion on principle to work and vote for achievable incremental improvement to what is an unjust law.
The Catholic faith lets us see the radiant glory of human life from its beginning to its end. When we know that every person whatever their age, race or condition carries the image of God, we see their infinite value and dignity. Whether we have this vision of faith or not, cherishing life is the central value of every society that wants to flourish.
The Catholic Church offers to participate with others in working for this timely change of heart and mind. We hope and pray for the sake of our common humanity, and the lives at stake, that the next 40 years will tell a very different story. The time to take a different path is now.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien
President
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
President
Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
[Text adapted]
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Holy See Address on Africa's Development
The Continent "Is Suffering From Brain Drain"
NEW YORK, OCT. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the Friday statement by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, to the 62nd session of the U.N. General Assembly. The address dealt with the New Partnership for Africa's Development -- its progress in implementation and international support.
* * *Madame President,
Resolutions 61/229 and 61/230 and the reports of the Secretary-General (A/62/203 and A/62/204) highlight many positive signs of the commitment of the peoples and governments of Africa to act as protagonists in the promotion of peace and of their own economic and social development. They also express the international community's responsibilities toward Africa.
Figures showing accelerated economic growth in Africa as a whole during the past years are particularly encouraging. This was best exemplified by last year's growth rate that was the highest in the last 30 years.
It is therefore with pleasure that I salute the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in its seventh year of existence. This Africa-owned and Africa-led vision and strategic framework for Africa's renewal has contributed in no small measure to this growth. Moreover, although designed to address the challenges facing the continent through closer cooperation among the African countries, NEPAD also opens and prepares Africa to greater international cooperation. Indeed, one of its primary objectives is to halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process and enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy. Africa has started to reap the fruit of this wise decision, like the aforementioned highest growth rate, which was in part due to favorable international economic conditions.
Nevertheless, these positive signs stand in stark contrast with situations of conflict and the reality of extreme forms of poverty difficult to uproot. Africa still lags behind most of the regions of the world. Thus the international community's support remains decisive, to assist Africa respond to daunting challenges and to consolidate recent gains.
In the area of peace and security, the Holy See wishes to renew its support for a global approach to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in Africa. Efforts in these areas should be guided by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, assisted by the Panel of the Wise and the African Standby Force. Initiatives such as the Continental Early Warning System and the regional conflict warning systems deserve the international community's generous support, so that the continent's increasing assumption of its share of responsibility in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and post-conflict peace-building may be consolidated further.
In the socioeconomic field, there would be no need to look far and wide for ways and means to support Africa: resolution 61/229 operative paragraphs 19 to 25 enumerate a number of them. To address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development, Africa would need a comprehensive solution to the unsustainable debt burdens of some countries, fairer access to world market through equitable integration into the international trading system, the timely disbursement by the developed countries of the agreed 0.7% of gross national product as official development aid, better harmonization between international support and the NEPAD priorities, greater and long-term investments in Africa's public and private sector, transfer of technology, better educational and health systems, just to cite some.
Africa's integration into the international trading system should help it build its capacity to compete without reducing its ability to safeguard their citizens from the undesirable consequences of structural adjustments and trade liberalization. The international community is called to assist African countries develop policies that promote a culture of solidarity, so that their economic development may go hand in hand with integral human development. On the other hand, good governance and institution-building efforts, correct use of aid and anti-corruption measures are primary responsibilities of the recipient countries and are essential if international aid is to bear fruit.
At the end of the day, any new trade development -- particularly the new north-south regional agreements -- must improve on what is already in place and must avoid putting conditions to the detriment of Africans. One sector that is vital to Africa's capacity both to ensure its food security and to compete in the global economy would be the sensitive issue of agricultural subsidies in developed countries. An equitable solution to the imbalances in international agricultural trade is urgently needed, as well as an approach to the subsidies on exports from developed countries that is consistent with and satisfactory for African agriculture.
Madame President,
Education must be at the heart of NEPAD's objectives and priorities, not only as a goal in itself but also as a means in achieving the other objectives. Strategic partnerships in education and skills formation between institutions in Africa and in the developed world will no doubt accelerate progress in all sectors.
These partnerships should extend to the movement of skilled labor. Africa, in fact, is suffering from brain drain, as many of its educated, talented and skilled human capital -- especially in the health sector -- leave the continent for better economic opportunities in rich countries. There is real risk that the hard-earned investments in African higher education would yield less and less returns to Africa, even if it would benefit countries where African skilled labor is being employed.
Persistent wars in Africa and their deleterious effects in terms of the displaced and refugees, and of the heinous crimes of child soldiers and violence against women, should remind us that peace and collective security are inseparable from human development.
Thank you, Madame President.
[Text adapted]
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