[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Say no at WTO, Venezuela tells developing nations

[Al Kagan]

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>Subject: Say no at WTO, Venezuela tells developing nations
>Date: Sat, 06 Sep 2003 13:09:16 -0700
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>Reuters     September 5, 2003
>
>Say no at WTO, Venezuela tells developing nations
>
>Caracas, Venezuela -- Venezuela declared war on Friday against what it
>called an unfair world trade system and urged developing nations not to
>subscribe to any new agreements at upcoming global trade talks next week.
>
>The world's No. 5 oil exporter made clear it would take an aggressive stance
>at September 10-14 World Trade Organization negotiations in Cancun, Mexico,
>which aim to lower barriers to world trade.
>
>Venezuela's chief trade negotiator Victor Alvarez said the world's poorest
>countries had only a tiny share of world exports, which were hogged by rich
>nations: "It's clear who are the winners and losers of today's world trade
>system."
>
>"We'll be taking the fight to inside the WTO," he said.
>
>Alvarez said President Hugo Chavez's left-wing government would not
>negotiate over its demand, shared with other developing countries, that rich
>industrialized nations end "ruinous subsidies" for their farm products.
>
>Challenging what he called the "pro-market fundamentalism" of the United
>States and other rich nations, he insisted on the right of Third World
>states to intervene heavily in their economies to promote development and
>fight poverty.
>
>"Venezuela is going to propose that no new commitments be adopted (at the
>Cancun talks)," Alvarez said.
>
>"It makes no sense for countries like ours to add new points to the WTO
>agenda when there's such a long list of issues that haven't been satisfied,"
>he added.
>
>Venezuela's apparent spoiling strategy flew in the face of urgent calls from
>the United States and Europe for concrete agreements during the Cancun
>meeting.
>
>It also reflected repeated verbal attacks by populist former paratrooper
>Chavez against world bodies like the WTO, the International Monetary Fund
>and the World Bank.
>
>The Venezuelan leader, who is accused by his foes of trying to introduce
>Cuba-style communism at home, has pilloried these organizations as
>"institutions created by empires to continue dominating the world."
>
>Echoes of Cuba's Castro Alvarez said Venezuela's position was shared by
>major developing nations like Brazil and India. But it seemed to echo views
>expressed by Cuban President Fidel Castro, a friend and ideological ally of
>the Venezuelan president.
>
>Alvarez presented a 10-point list dismissing free trade demands by
>industrialized nations.
>
>For example, he rejected calls for transnational companies to be given equal
>treatment with national firms in bidding for state contracts. "We're not
>going to negotiate our government purchases," he said.
>
>While demanding a reduction in the subsidies of rich nations, Alvarez said
>developing countries should be given more time and special treatment,
>including financing and debt-forgiveness, to develop their farm sectors to
>face fierce competition in world markets.
>
>He rejected suggestions that tough foreign exchange controls adopted by
>Chavez's government earlier this year and Venezuela's active membership of
>the oil exporters' cartel OPEC were against the spirit of free trade.
>
>Alvarez described these as legitimate protection mechanisms. "They (the rich
>nations) want us to give away our resources for free," he said.
>
>
>
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-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu