Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com
VALLETTA, Malta: The Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon, has issued a call to Commonwealth Heads to show "leadership" during the present Doha Development Round of international trade talks.
In addressing the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on Friday, McKinnon expressed some delight saying that he applauds "the gestures we have seen this year from the developed world, in pledges to ease debt burdens and increase aid."
However, McKinnon was quick to point out that "the applause will be muted until we see delivery, delivery, delivery. One cannot ask developing countries to give in the Doha Round when they cannot yet count what they have not received," said he, adding that, "here stands the test of Commonwealth leadership."
According to McKinnon, "The Commonwealth accounts for one-fifth of global trade, and represents the full breadth of the world's interests. We don't just represent, in fact, we are the spectrum from the poorest and most vulnerable to the wealthiest and most secure. We have a right and a responsibility to show leadership. If we can give the WTO the shot in the arm it requires, then our organisation will have shown again its global worth," he said.
Previous Page Print This Page.
Copyright© 2007 Caribbean Net News at www.caribbeannetnews.com All Rights Reserved
License is granted for free print and distribution.
