Commonwealth Leaders Focus on Trade Justice & Terrorism in Malta

Top leaders from Commonwealth countries across the world have been locked in discussions in Valletta, Malta regarding the complex issues of trade justice for poorer nations, as well as talks on a united front in the fight against terrorism.

|PIC1|Members from the 53 nations of the Commonwealth, representing approximately 1.8 billion people, which is 30% of the world’s population, have faced a packed schedule during the closed-door talks.

A major focus of negotiations has been to achieve a closer cooperation to fight terrorism, as well as trade justice with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks coming up in December.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said tat governments must ensure that the liberalisation of markets must be achieved gradually.

He said during a news conference, “We need to have a road map and a timetable, to transition from where we are to a more free and open market.

“If the curtain falls overnight then countries will go into severe pain. And the Caribbean countries and the smaller states have made this point.

“The advantage of discussing these at the Commonwealth level is that we flesh out our ideas, we understand each others' position and perhaps try to prepare before we get into the Hong Kong round.”

|QUOTE|The Pakistan premier added that already there was widespread agreement on ways to cooperate against terrorism, including intelligence-sharing, however, leaders were locked into finding ways to “institutionalise” this co-operation.

Aziz insisted that there was common ground on trade despite wide differences between rich nations like Britain and Canada, the huge developing countries of South Asia, and tiny states like Tuvalu with 11,000 people.

"Our time today and tomorrow will be to come to some common ground," he told a news conference ahead of the retreat.

|AD|A number of countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean have been looking to use the summit to add pressure to western leaders, and in particular Prime Minister Tony Blair, to use his position as the current president of the European Union to urge the EU nations to cut farm subsidies. They hope he can do this as part of a deal in Hong Kong that would see markets for poorer countries’ exports open up.

However, despite previous efforts by Blair and Peter Mandelson, to carry forward these plans, large resistance has been seen from various EU countries, and in particular France has been leading the opposition to any such moves.

Despite unprecedented pressure, world leaders have thus far failed to deliver the urgent action required for a just world trade system, report Christian Aid. Campaigners, however, remain determined to push for change.

Over 600,000 people in the UK have already added their support to the Vote for Trade Justice, a special ballot calling on the Government to urgently deliver a just trade deal for the world’s poor.

The Queen opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on Nov. 25th, 2005 in Valletta, Malta, and the talks will conclude on Sunday Nov. 27th, 2005.