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Dear all, Please find below a brief statement we have written in light of the latest developments at the WTO regarding services negotiations. We are concerned that the four countries which are strongly resisting the push for a deal in services are being isolated and pressure is being brought to bear on them to agree to a deal. The services chair is attempting to push through a report (including paragraph 4) as a consensus text despite members' vocal opposition. Please circulate this to your networks as we are hoping to get as many signatures as possible in a short time to be able to present to negotiators and the media. Please send endorsements to David Robinson at [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Signed, Members of OWINFS GATS working group in Geneva. STATEMENT REGARDING DEVELOPMENTS IN SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS IN THE WTO We the undersigned civil society organisations are concerned that the current WTO negotiations in services are based on a draft text which substantially undermines and contradicts the previously agreed right of developing countries to choose whether or not they wish to engage in negotiations over their services sectors. We fear that in what appears to be this final push to make the Doha round succeed, GATS negotiators will suddenly be compelled to make offers in inequitable exchanges for concessions made in areas of agriculture and NAMA. This would also mean that GATS negotiations would be extremely rushed in comparison with the negotiations on agriculture and NAMA, while the demands from the rich countries might have very complex, costly and negative consequences in many developing countries. We applaud the efforts of Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba and Nicaragua to safeguard the right of people to have access to basic human rights such as water, education, health, and other services that are vital to be able to live life in dignity. We encourage other countries to support their efforts and not give in to the interests of foreign-based international corporations who seek to put profit before people. We remind our governments that protecting access to these services is a legal obligation and not a bargaining chip. We are also alarmed that the current negotiations are taking place in a context in which most WTO countries are simply spectators in a process that will profoundly affect them and their people. As civil society organizations who witness every day the dire consequences of the lack of access to services which are basic human rights, we strongly believe that their place is not at the bargaining table of the WTO, and they should be excluded from these talks. ============================================================== WTO-Intl - the listserv the Our World Is Not For Sale network (OWINFS) If you have any questions/concerns, contact the list owner at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger <http://clk.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/> ------ End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Discover the new Windows Vista Learn more! <http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=windows+vista&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE> -- _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
