ID :
13891
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 15:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/13891
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TRADE MINISTER: WTO NEGOTIATIONS NOT TRANSPARENT
Jakarta, July 26 (ANTARA) - Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, who was also acting as coordinator of the Group 33 (G-33), a group of 44 developing countries, said the negotiation process in the WTO (World Trade Organization)'s Doha Development Agenda (DDA) were not transparent and not open.
"Many countries, including Indonesia, are not aware of what has happened because everything in the talks is not transparent," Minister Pangestu said in her ministry's press release here on Friday.
Pangestu urged the chairman of the WTO negotiation committee to publicize the results of discussion held by members of the small group G-6 (United States, European Union, Brazil, India, Australia, and Japan) in their closed-door meeting during the Doha negotiations.
"We urge the Chairman of the Negotiation Committee to make sure that all process of negotiation be conducted more openly and transparently. A small group which has been set up, should only discuss issues concerning the group, and not all issues of thenegotiation," she said.
WTO's Doha Development Agenda is being held in Geneva, Switzerland from July 21 to 26, 2008.
Meanwhile, Rediff India abroad in its website reported that WTO Director General Pascal Lamy on Thursday (July 24) faced serious charges of creating darkness at noon in the crucial Doha modalities negotiations when several trade ministers complained about their exclusion from the hard bargains he is conducting among seven members that also include India.
On Wednesday, Lamy constituted a new group of seven members - the United States, the European Union, Japan, Brazil, India, Australia and China - to try and resolve some six difficult issues that are eluding any agreement.
In the process, over a score of trade ministers who have been invited to the same ministerial meeting are in the dark and not involved in the negotiations, which will impact their final commitments.
Switzerland's hard-hitting trade minister, Doris Leuthard, told Business Standard "this is unacceptable". It is wrong to call the trade ministers here and then keep them in darkness, she said.
Mauritius, on behalf of over 80 ACP (Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific) countries, said they were disturbed over this lack of complete transparency.
Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said she represents 45 countries in the G-33 coalition but has no clue as to what is being negotiated among the seven countries.
She said this was unfortunate as in some of the issues on which the G-33 is fighting - special products and special safeguard mechanism - the coordinator was not involved. "Indonesia and other ministers are left in the dark waiting room," said Pangestu.
In response to the criticism, the WTO chief said he shared the members' frustrations. He added this was one way to move the process, arguing that the final agreement had to be endorsed by all members at the trade negotiations committee meeting.
"Many countries, including Indonesia, are not aware of what has happened because everything in the talks is not transparent," Minister Pangestu said in her ministry's press release here on Friday.
Pangestu urged the chairman of the WTO negotiation committee to publicize the results of discussion held by members of the small group G-6 (United States, European Union, Brazil, India, Australia, and Japan) in their closed-door meeting during the Doha negotiations.
"We urge the Chairman of the Negotiation Committee to make sure that all process of negotiation be conducted more openly and transparently. A small group which has been set up, should only discuss issues concerning the group, and not all issues of thenegotiation," she said.
WTO's Doha Development Agenda is being held in Geneva, Switzerland from July 21 to 26, 2008.
Meanwhile, Rediff India abroad in its website reported that WTO Director General Pascal Lamy on Thursday (July 24) faced serious charges of creating darkness at noon in the crucial Doha modalities negotiations when several trade ministers complained about their exclusion from the hard bargains he is conducting among seven members that also include India.
On Wednesday, Lamy constituted a new group of seven members - the United States, the European Union, Japan, Brazil, India, Australia and China - to try and resolve some six difficult issues that are eluding any agreement.
In the process, over a score of trade ministers who have been invited to the same ministerial meeting are in the dark and not involved in the negotiations, which will impact their final commitments.
Switzerland's hard-hitting trade minister, Doris Leuthard, told Business Standard "this is unacceptable". It is wrong to call the trade ministers here and then keep them in darkness, she said.
Mauritius, on behalf of over 80 ACP (Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific) countries, said they were disturbed over this lack of complete transparency.
Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said she represents 45 countries in the G-33 coalition but has no clue as to what is being negotiated among the seven countries.
She said this was unfortunate as in some of the issues on which the G-33 is fighting - special products and special safeguard mechanism - the coordinator was not involved. "Indonesia and other ministers are left in the dark waiting room," said Pangestu.
In response to the criticism, the WTO chief said he shared the members' frustrations. He added this was one way to move the process, arguing that the final agreement had to be endorsed by all members at the trade negotiations committee meeting.
