Our relations with the developing nations are of major importance to the
United States. The fabric of our relations with these countries has strong
economic and political dimensions. They constitute the most rapidly growing
markets for our exports, and are important sources of fuel and raw
materials. Their political views are increasingly important, as
demonstrated in their overwhelming condemnation of the Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan. Our ability to work together with developing nations toward
goals we have in common (their political independence, the resolution of
regional tensions, and our growing ties of trade for example) require us to
maintain the policy of active involvement with the developing world that we
have pursued over the past four years.
The actions we have taken in such areas as energy, trade, commodities, and
international financial institutions are all important to the welfare of
the developing countries. Another important way the United States can
directly assist these countries and demonstrate our concern for their
future is through our multilateral and bilateral foreign assistance
program. The legislation which I will be submitting to you for FY 82
provides the authority and the funds to carry on this activity. Prompt
Congressional action on this legislation is essential in order to attack
such high priority global problems as food and energy, meet our treaty and
base rights agreements, continue our peace efforts in the Middle East,
provide economic and development support to countries in need, promote
progress on North-South issues, protect Western interests, and counter
Soviet influence.
Our proposed FY 1982 bilateral development aid program is directly
responsive to the agreement reached at the 1980 Venice Economic Summit that
the major industrial nations should increase their aid for food and energy
production and for family planning. We understand that other Summit
countries plan similar responses. It is also important to honor our
international agreements for multilateral assistance by authorizing and
appropriating funds for the International Financial Institutions. These
multilateral programs enhance the efficiency of U.S. contributions by
combining them with those of many other donor countries to promote
development; the proposed new World Bank affiliate to increase energy
output in developing countries offers particular promise. All these types
of aid benefit our long-run economic and political interests.
Progress was made on a number of economic issues in negotiations throughout
the U.N. system. However, in spite of lengthy efforts in the United
Nations, agreement has not been reached on how to launch a process of
Global Negotiations in which nations might collectively work to solve such
important issues as energy, food, protectionism, and population pressures.
The United States continues to believe that progress can best be made when
nations focus on such specific problems, rather than on procedural and
institutional questions. It will continue to work to move the North-South
dialogue into a more constructive phase.