* Forwarded (from: CHRIS_SOC) by Stephen Hayes using timEd/2 1.10.y2k.
* Originally from Stephen Hayes (8:7903/10) to All.
* Original dated: Wed Feb 26, 06:53

Subject: [southnews] Leaked documents show poor countries targetted
From: Dave Muller 
Date: 25 Feb 2003 12:58:19 -0600

Todays massive leak of the WTOs General Agreement on Trade in
Services (GATS) negotiation documents exposes the so-called Doha
development round as the sham we've always said it was," says
Professor Jane Kelsey from the Action, Research and Education Network of
Aotearoa (ARENA).

  ----------

Press Release: Arena 
Tuesday, 25 February 2003, 2:50 pm

Leaked documents show poor countries are the main targets of GATS
negotiations 

Todays massive leak of the WTOs General Agreement on Trade in
Services (GATS) negotiation documents exposes the so-called Doha
development round as the sham we've always said it was," says
Professor Jane Kelsey from the Action, Research and Education
Network of Aotearoa (ARENA).

The extent of the ECs demands that the worlds poorest countries open
their services to Europes transnational firms has shocked even veteran
analysts of the GATS negotiations.

A British-based development agency, the World Development
Movement (WDM), and the international secretariat of public services
unions, Public Services International, (PSI) have condemned Europes
promises to protect and promote the interests of poorer countries as
empty rhetoric.

Almost 90 per cent of the 109 countries targeted by the European
Commission are classed as developing countries or countries in
transition.

Water and other environmental services are the EC's major targets in 72
countries, including New Zealand. This includes poorer nations whose
present non-profit water delivery systems operate effectively. Other
services under attack include energy, transport, retail, finance, tourism,
construction, along with restrictions on foreign investment.* 

This raises serious questions about what the New Zealand Government
is up to, Kelsey says.

"The GATS consultation document tells us almost nothing. We know
demands have been made in North Asia, South Asia, South East Asia,
Latin America, the South Pacific and Africa. We know also that the
government is pressing poor countries to open up their postal services to
Transend, despite the debacle in South Africa. 

"Beyond that, the document simply says it has recognised the special
circumstances of developing countries in its requests and tailored them
appropriately, while seeking an overall gain for our national interest. 

Its time the Government stopped hiding behind the WTOs shredded
veil of secrecy and released the formal documentation for us to assess
what they really are up to, and what that could mean for poorer
countries, the people of the Pacific and the world, Jane Kelsey said.

Ends: Text 318 words. Contact Professor Jane Kelsey by ringing 021
765 055; (09) 373 7599 x 88006 (wk) or (09) 579 1030 (home)

* Ed Note: Initial analysis by WDM and PSI shows these requests
want to remove existing beneficial development laws and regulations that
interfere with maximum foreign profit. For example: In Cameroon, at
least one new local job must be created for every US$10,000 of foreign
investment. In Botswana, nationals have priority in buying assets owned
by foreigners. In El Salvador there is a 50% ceiling on remittance of
profits abroad. In the Philippines, foreign investment buying real estate
must have 60% local capital, and in Chile: foreign investors must employ
85% of staff of Chilean nationality. 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The archives of South News can be found at
http://southmovement.alphalink.com.au/southnews/ 

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