ABSTRACT
The assumption that the North has built its prosperity on the exploitation of the South and should therefore pay for the latter’s ‘right to development’ is, regardless of any judgement on its historical accuracy, simply inadequate to provide a sound basis for a productive dialogue. The involvement of this writer in both cases, especially in the negotiations of Fund for Agricultural Development where he represented Kuwait and often spoke on behalf of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and, on occasions, of all developing countries, may be helpful in showing what he believes to be elements of success in this complex process. This personal account may be of particular relevance in view of the fact that both cases are often cited as positive achievements of the North-South Dialogue without paying due attention to important contributing factors which may not be widely known.
