Annan calls for urgent WTO deal

HONG KONG – UN chief Kofi Annan yesterday told World Trade Organisation (WTO) states they must make progress in troubled free trade talks this week or disappoint the millions who “yearn to lift themselves out of poverty”.

In a speech delivered in his name to the opening session of the WTO’s sixth ministerial conference, the United Nations Secretary-General said the time had passed for “brinkmanship” in the four-year-old battle for a treaty to boost economies and help millions escape poverty through more trade. “The lack of major gains here …would be a severe disappointment for poor people around the world yearning to lift themselves out of poverty,” said Annan, whose speech was read by UNCTAD trade and development agency chief Supachai Panitchpakdi.The negotiations have been dogged by deep differences between rich and poor since their launch in Doha in late 2001.As the ceremony got underway, dozens of anti-globalisation protesters inside the conference hall forced WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy to raise his voice to be heard as they chanted: “Development yes, Doha no’.”Outside, about 70 protesters leapt into Hong Kong harbour after a march by some 2 000 people against trade liberalisation.”The WTO is driving us to our deaths,” one Korean protester yelled as the protesters bobbed with orange life-jackets on in the murky water.One man appeared to have injured his head and police were trying to get him medical help.Riot police used pepper spray to hold back other protesters pushing towards the convention centre, but there was none of the violence seen during the last WTO meetings in Cancun and Seattle.Echoing Annan’s call, Lamy told the some 400 ministers gathered for six days of talks that the time had come to be “bold …open-minded and ready to take risks.”- Nampa-Reuters”The lack of major gains here …would be a severe disappointment for poor people around the world yearning to lift themselves out of poverty,” said Annan, whose speech was read by UNCTAD trade and development agency chief Supachai Panitchpakdi.The negotiations have been dogged by deep differences between rich and poor since their launch in Doha in late 2001.As the ceremony got underway, dozens of anti-globalisation protesters inside the conference hall forced WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy to raise his voice to be heard as they chanted: “Development yes, Doha no’.”Outside, about 70 protesters leapt into Hong Kong harbour after a march by some 2 000 people against trade liberalisation.”The WTO is driving us to our deaths,” one Korean protester yelled as the protesters bobbed with orange life-jackets on in the murky water.One man appeared to have injured his head and police were trying to get him medical help.Riot police used pepper spray to hold back other protesters pushing towards the convention centre, but there was none of the violence seen during the last WTO meetings in Cancun and Seattle.Echoing Annan’s call, Lamy told the some 400 ministers gathered for six days of talks that the time had come to be “bold …open-minded and ready to take risks.” – Nampa-Reuters