The Hindu : `India advocating cause of developing nations'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 25, 2003

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`India advocating cause of developing nations'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 24. The Government said today that it was actively advocating the cause of developing countries prior to the crucial World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference in Cancun, Mexico.

According to the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, the Commerce and Industry Minister, Arun Jaitley, is in constant touch with his counterparts from developing as well as developed countries to coordinate views on the coming WTO ministerial conference.

Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha today, he said India had also raised several issues agitating developing countries before wider audiences including the first G-8 ''enlarged dialogue'' at Evian to which India was among the 17 special invitees. He said that Mr. Shourie would represent India at the mini-ministerial meeting.

The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, had expressed disappointment at the lack of progress on the latest WTO round. He underlined the need to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers, especially phasing out all trade distorting agricultural subsidies, removal of restrictions on the free movement of natural persons for providing services and broader access of developing countries to pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Sinha said that the issues raised by the Prime Minister were reflected in the statements of some of the other developing country participants in the enlarged dialogue.

He further claimed that though there was no formal comment by the G-8, its declaration did reflect some of the concerns of developing countries.

Aid package for Pak.

To another question, the Government avoided taking a stand on the $3 billion American aid package for Pakistan on grounds that no details were available. Asked to comment by Murli Deora (Congress) on the aid package which includes half in military equipment, Mr. Sinha said the Government had no information apart from indications that the aid package would not immediately accrue to Pakistan.

The aid package was promised by the U.S. President, George Bush, over a period of five years beginning October 2004 and is subject to Pakistan's performance on three issues. Also it will be debated and voted upon by the U.S. legislature. "At the moment no further details are available," said Mr. Sinha.

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