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UNCTaD Conference

Bangkok Declaration: Full of Sound, Not Much Fury

by AMM Shahabuddin
***A strong un ited front of the poor nations of South can only serve as a deterrent force against any detrimental move by the rich nations of North. The 'Group of 77', representing more than one , hundred developing countries, in its up-coming meeting in Havana, can evolve a 'Plan of Action' for the preservation of the interests of its member nations. This may help establish a lasting North-South understanding with better prospects for poor nations.***
YES. they came. they talked and they dispersed after attending an efeht-day long UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development) conference in Bangkok which ended 19 February last. Result? They 'delivered.' alter great labour' and less puin. another declaration, billed as Bangkok Declaration . full of sound, but not much fury, rich in rhetorics and pious wishes, such as. call for creating a fairer world economic system and a better deal for south', and deep-throated 'sermons' like the poorest nations must have a chance to Improve their economies' and "rich and poor countries must work to create a prosperous, peaceful and secure world based on true partnership'. so on and so forth.
The Bangkok Declaration Is supposed to serve as UNCTAD's agenda for the next four years of so. which it has been doing since its establishment as a permanent organ of the UN General Assembly in 1964. following the first UN Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva Ute same year.
In fact, there is nothing new in the latest Declaration except a repeat performance' of the past. There is. however, enough of old wine served In new containers , perhaps with new colourful Tabeis'. The only new addition seems to be a West-inspired call for "improving the protection of our environment" which is strongly opposed by the developing countries. But. following the debacle at WTO summit in Seattle and not-so-bappy oul.-comf! at APEC (Asia-Pacific EcMuncttu: Cnapwrahnu) summit in New Zealand. America took a more cautious stance.
The total absence of US officials- from the Bangkok conference was most striking. Their absence was in sharp contrast with the heavy'-weight presence at the APEC summit, attended by President. Clinton. While
their absence was being fell In Bangkok meeting, the senior US officials were reported to be holding discussions In Washington with trade representatives from EU and Japan on the need for launching a new WTO round' of trade talks, which couldn't be done al WTO Seattle summit And that practically gives a broad hint as to where the real power Ites In the trade talks. Power is theirs!
Coercing the Poor Nations
The high-profile UNCTAD conference was held in Bangkok literally on the ruins' of the WTO Seattle summit which ended in a fiasco, due to street agitation, on one hand, by American activists tn protest against Clinton's 'sell-out' of US interests lo China in the bilateral accord signed In Beijing paving the way’ for China's entry into WTO. and on the other, squabbling between the developed and the developing co intries representatives In the ■' inference hall. It was America's insistence for inclusion of a resolution in the '.VTO agenda on the question of 'labour standard' and 'workers' rights." that led to the chaos as the developing countries considered It as a conspiracy by the developed countries to push them out from
their consumer markets.
The same altitude was shown by Ilie developed countries In APEC conferences Ln Auckland. New Zealand, in September last year, and in Manila In 1996. And Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir boldly accused the developed countries of using APEC forum for coercing' the poor nations lo tow their line. And now the Just concluded UNCTAD conference has called for "improving the protection of our environment’ which tantamounls to linking of 'tougher environmental protection to the ac .ual economic policies of the developing countries. Ilie purpose of such maneuvering is to lighten the screw on the p-xar nations so that they don't get upper hand with their low-cost consumer goods in the developed countries.
UNCTAD and WTO on Different Wave-lengths
It may be noted here that the 188-member UNCTAD and 135-member WTO (World Trade Organisation). re born in 1995. replacing former GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) work on two different levels and perhaps also speaks on different wavelengths.
While UNCTAD serves more
as an advisory' body, issuing non-binding declarations as to how to help the poor nations improve their economy, having no executive authority of its own to implement its decisions, the WTO works as a real powerhouse'. greatly influenced' by the developed nations, sets rules anti guidelines for moulding world trade. And the recent rejoinder issued by America and the 15-member EU shows the way wind blows, when they unequivocally said that they "don't want UNCTAD moving Into the areas now controlled by WTO." This very announcement clearly snows where the two organisations stand and which slue the power tilts.
Moore: "US Placeman"?
In fact, the two organisations can loosely be compared, one with the UN General Assembly and the other with the UN Security Council, although the West, which forms the ruling block' tn WTO has no veto' power with them. Though far-retched. they have a resemblance. in respect of their functions and authority The authority of the West, particularly America, our WTO was further demonstrated when America made all-out efforts to get its candidate. Mike Moore. New
Zealand's former Prime Minister. elected to the post of WTO Secretary-General, as a rival candidate of Thailand's Dy. Prime Minister Supachai who had the support of the majority of the developing candidates. As a media coverage put it. a bruising nine-month battle leading to Moore's appointment (as Secy-General) for a three-year term from last September nad left a legacy of anger among many developing countries' arid a 'suspicion' tnat Mr Moore was a "US Placeman". This un-doubtedly shows America's victory over the wishes of the majority of the developing countries. However, as a compro-anse. Supachai will serve the second-half of the term as WTO Secretary-General.
UNCTAD Bangkok conference was. therefore, considered by the developed countries as a place to rebuild’ the confidence lliat was miserably shattered at Seattle. Perhaps that's why the Bangkok Declaration called on UNCTAD to contribute to continuing efforts to promote a stable and transparent legal and regulatory framework favourable lo development." And UNCTAD Secretary-General Rubens Ricupero thought that the Bangkok meeting was part of the "healing process ', after months of North-South
scrapping/ following the col-lapse of WTO meeting In Seattle But things are not what they seem After an eight-day meet-ing, UNCTAD seems to have done very little to bring a trade agreement closer on launching a round' ot trade talks by WTO*
Taste of Cake Lies in L Eating
The taste of the cake lies tn eating.' sc goes the saying Hence the taste of the West's much talkcd-about sincerity and transparency towards the poor nations to build a belter world, would be tested at the up. coming WTO summit. Actions always speak louder than words. Let the rich nation* prove it. Any wrong step by them would further bolster further clash of interests between North and South. They will have tn drop their henceforth followed policy of 'I win whettier head or tan .
If experience Is the best teacher, then the developing poor nations have had the bit* tcrest experience of being exploited by the developed countries in tne name of 'economic reforms' and globalisation of trade . Perhaps the time has come for the poor nations not to follow any more the old maxim If you can't beat them, jom them." A strong united front of the poor nations of South can only serve as a deterrent force against any detrimental move by the rich, uatlnos of North The Group of 77 , representing more than cue hundred developing countries, in its up-coming meeting in Havana, can ‘ — evolve a Plan of Action' for the ‘ preservation of rhe interests of its member nations. This may help establish a lasting North-South understanding with belter prospects for poor nations. What can't be endured must be cured for good.
The writer is a retired UN official.