Commonwealth 'getting angry' at lack of WTO action

VALLETTA - Members of the Commonwealth group are "getting very angry" that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is failing to meet the needs of poor nations, the group's top official said.

Leaders from the 53 member countries flew into the Mediterranean island of Malta on the eve of a twice-yearly meeting dominated by trade and terrorism. But some may also face questions on human rights, Secretary-General Don McKinnon said.

After foreign ministers spent two days preparing the closed- door discussions, McKinnon said the summit would send a united message to the WTO that its talks in December, whose success is far from assured, must produce a fairer deal for poorer states.

"Most of us are saying that we are really getting very angry with the lack of ambition that has come into that round in more recent times," he told a news conference.

"Too many people in Geneva or Brussels are saying it's time a lot of developing countries lowered their expectations. I don't think they intend to lower their expectations," he said.

Developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean will use the summit to push British Prime Minister Tony Blair to take advantage of his position as current president of the European Union to get the EU to slash farm subsidies as part of a deal which could open markets for poorer countries' exports.

Efforts so far by Blair and EU Trade Commission Peter Mandelson to move Europe in that direction have met firm resistance from some EU countries, especially France.

Developing countries lost out in previous trade rounds, McKinnon said, and the WTO talks in December in Hong Kong must deliver.

"I know this is one issue that the leaders will be very united on," he said.

The 148 members of the WTO are due to meet in Hong Kong between Dec. 13 and 18.

The Commonwealth leaders, who together represent about 1.8 billion people, 30 per cent of the world's population, will also discuss terrorism and illegal immigration.

But concerns over human rights and democracy in some Commonwealth countries will also be addressed.

McKinnon said he would raise the subject with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, whose country is due to host the Commonwealth summit in 2007.

Human rights campaigners say Uganda should be suspended from the group rather than be given the honour of hosting its highest-level gathering, amid concerns its government is suppressing media and opposition ahead of an election to be held before March, when Museveni hopes to extend his 20-year rule.

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has also been charged with treason, terrorism and weapons offences. The opposition denies the charges.

- REUTERS