Phase out trade-distorting agricultural subsidies : Manmohan

JAKARTA, Apr 23: Asserting the need for a greater voice for the Asian-African countries in international institutions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called for evolving formula to phase out trade-distorting agricultural subsidies in developed countries and to remove barriers for agricultural exports, while protecting the livelihood of millions of farmers.

"We need a lowering of tariff and non-tariff barriers to our other exports," he said while addressing the plenary session of the Asian-African summit here today.

He, however, regretted, "rigid visa restrictions continued to obstruct the free movement of our people and services, depriving us of full benefit from our main economic strength. We need greater protection for our bio-diversity resources and fair recompense for their exploitation by others."

Highlighting that Asian and African countries together account for over half of humanity, he regretted that "we do not have a commensurate voice in international institutions of the modern world."

Dr Singh identified democratisation of the United Nations and its specialised agencies as being a fundamental plan of the Asian-African strategic partnership, and said "the evolving global economy needs the guiding hand of a well-managed global polity to bring about an efficient and equitable management of global interdependence."

In this context, he said the strategic partnership must be inspired by a common vision of globalisation based on maximising cooperative self reliance.

"We understand and appreciate international concern for the protection of the environment, which we fully share," he said, while pointing out that the goal needed to be balanced with the development aspirations of the developing nations.

"We need assured access to environment-friendly technologies and the resources to induct them into our countries. We also need urgent measures to generate additional financial resources for development, especially for the least developed countries and the highly indebted poor countries," Dr Singh said.

The Prime Minister called for cooperative management of research and development among the Asian-African countries in the areas of both new and appropriate technologies and to cutting-edge areas of science. Advances in biotechnology could promote revolutionary changes in agriculture and health, while imaginative strategies of human resource development based on information and communication technology could accelerate the pace of social and economic development.

He regretted that though the two continents included both major producers and consumers of energy, "the framework within which we produce and consume energy is determined elsewhere. We must address this anomaly."

On international terrorism, Dr Singh said the voice of the Asian and African countries should be heard in this regard. "Our countries have our own distinct perspectives on measures to combat international terrorism. We are well-equipped to initiate and sustain meaningful dialogues among civilizations, instead of subscribing to the theory of the so-called clash of civilizations."

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and South African President Thabo Mbeki were among nearly 50 heads of state who attended the plenary session on "new Asian African strategic partnerhip."

Calling upon the Asian and African countries to respond to the challenges and constraints ahead in a manner worthy of the Bandung spirit. "Just as that meeting redefined the agenda for its times, we must do so once again today.

He said the declaration on a new Asian African strategic parntership outlined guiding principles for joint action to achieve the goals in a changed global environment. "It must awaken a global conscience that recognised the moral imperatives of social justice, poverty alleviation and the core elements of our millennium development goals."

Recalling the role of Jawahar Lal Nehru in shaping up the non aligned movement whose genesis began from Bandung in 1955, Dr Singh said ‘’for us, bandung is a defining event in our modern history.’’

He said except for the Palestinian people, all peoples on the two continents had achieved freedom or statehood. "the world has changed dramatically in these past decades. Colonialism and apartheid have been comprehensively defeated."

In this context, Dr Singh said a new ‘cooperative global structure’ was within reach. The proliferation of regional associations promised considerable benefits through mutual cooperation. Rapid economic development and technological progress were generating unprecedented changes. Although mass poverty still afflicted millions of people in Africa and Asia, most countries experiencing growth in excess of 5 per cent were in these two continents. "We live in a world of falling barriers to trade and rising living standards."

Saying that globalisation brought with it opportunities and challenges, he said the globalisation of disease and insecurity and the management of scarce natural resources were challenges that confronted the Asian and African nations. The threat of pandemics such as Avian flu, HIV-AIDS and terrorism required global solutions. "A cooperative and consensual international security order eludes us, and its consequence is insecurity, not common security." (UNI)

Kofi Annan to visit India

NEW DELHI, Apr 23: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will pay a four-day visit to India from April 25 and hold talks with President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders, an official announcement here said today.

Mr Annan had visited India last in March 2001.

The visit of Mr Annan takes place at a critical juncture with the millennium review summit due to be held in New York in September 2005 and India’s interaction with the UN on several important issues.

Mr Annan has recently released his report in larger freedom: Towards security, development and human rights for all . The report has suggestions in the areas of development, security, human rights and reform of the UN system.

The visit of Mr Annan would provide an occasion to India to discuss various elements of the report and the Secretary General’s detailed views on several of the recommendations.

India has been urging the need for reforms of the UN so that it reflects the contemporary realities and makes the UN more relevant and effective in discharge of its mandate.

India had tabled a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism at the UN in 1996. The UN Secretary General in his report has, inter Alia, strongly urged that a comprehensive convention on terrorism be concluded before the end of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly.

India’s participation in peacekeeping is a reflection of its consistent commitment to the ideal of world peace. India, as a major troop contributing country to un peace keeping operations has participated in 42 of the 60 UN peacekeeping missions established so far.

Indian troops numbering over 71,000 have served in UN peacekeeping missions all over the world and in almost every UN peacekeeping operation in Africa. Nearly 110 Indian soldiers have so far made the supreme sacrifice under the UN flag.

In terms of continued exchanges with the UN, UN Deputy Secretary General Ms Louise Frechette visited India in January 2004. Mr Jean-Marie Guehenno, UN Under Secretary General for peace keeping operations, visited India in January 2005. (UNI)

Karmapa’s return to Rumtek depends on India, says Dalai Lama

GANGTOK, Apr 23: The return of the 17th Karmapa Orgyen Trinley Dorje, who is currently staying in Dharamsala, to the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim depends entirely on India, the Dalai Lama has said.

The Buddhist spiritual leader, who is currently on a week-long visit to the Himalayan state, told an interactive session here yesterday that India alone could answer as to when the 17th Karmapa would return to the monastery.

Dorje, the 17th Karmapa of the Karma Kagyu sect of Buddhism, has long been waiting for a nod from the centre to return to Sikkim and join the Rumtek monastery, a few kms from here.

The Dalai Lama also lavished praise on the young Karmapa for the dedication with which he was pursuing his religious studies in Dharamsala.

The interactive session had followed an hour-long discourse by the Dalai Lama on compassion and universal responsibility which was attended by the Governor V Rama Rao, Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chmaling, his Cabinet colleagues and senior Government officiabs.

During the discourse the Dalai Lama spoke at length on the growing relevance of compassion in these troubled times. (PTI)

US audit criticizes Aegis security work in Iraq

WASHINGTON, Apr 23: US investigators have criticized Aegis Defence Services Ltd. For its work providing security in Iraq for contractors and US Government staff, saying the British firm had failed to verify that employees were properly qualified for the job.

The office of the special Inspector General for Iraq reconstruction said Aegis had not complied with several areas of its 293 million dollar contract, according to an audit report made available yesterday .

Among problems cited in the audit were that Aegis could not provide the correct documents to show its employees were qualified to use weapons and many Iraqi employees were not properly vetted to ensure they were not a security threat.

"As a result there is no assurance that Aegis is providing the best possible safety and security for Government and reconstruction contractor personnel and facilities," said the audit.

The auditors recommended that the US Project and Contracting Office (PCO) in Iraq, which oversees billions of dollars in US-funded rebuilding work, ensure Aegis comply with the terms of its contract.

A representative of Aegis had no immediate comment on the audit.

Aegis won a US contract last May to help coordinate security for contractors in Iraq and provide, among other tasks, anti-terrorism support, escort security and close personal protection. (AGENCIES)