"We hope that Indonesia as the host would exert its influence on the WTO meeting for the aspirations of developing countries," Alice Mageza, the dean of the Group of African Ambassadors in Indonesia.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - African countries hope that Indonesia will exert its influence on the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for their interest and aspirations, an envoy said.

"We hope that Indonesia as the host would exert its influence on the WTO meeting for the aspirations of developing countries," Alice Mageza, the dean of the Group of African Ambassadors in Indonesia who is also Zimbabwean Ambassador to Indonesia, said here on Thursday.

The WTO meeting in Bali this year is expected to settle debates over the long-stalled Doha Round of Talks to liberalize trade that had been taking place since 2001.

Proposals for the trade liberalization of agricultural products -- which involves subsidy and import tariff cuts -- have caused WTO members to be divided into two groups.

Developing countries and advanced nations have not yet met in minds on the issues.

The proposals for the abolition of agricultural subsidies in European countries and the United States are considered beneficial to developing countries. However, the third world nations fear that the import tariff cut proposals would make their domestic products unable to compete in the market.

Despite the fact that the debates of the stalled issues seemed to be difficult to find a meeting point, Mageza is convinced that Indonesia as the host country would be able to find new initiatives for the settlement of the Doha Round of Talks and for the interest of developing countries.

"I am convinced that the WTO meeting in Bali would benefit all member countries, not only one group," said Mageza.

Mageza also referred to the long history of relations between Indonesia and Africa which serve as the basis for the establishment of the WTO.

"Our countries were the first to recognize the independence of Indonesia and together with us Indonesia formed the Afro-Asian Conference in Bandung in 1955," Mageza said.

Regarding the promotion of equal socio-economic development and prosperity in Africa, Mageza said the African Union has been working on a comprehensive program for the economic integration of the continent under the auspices of the African Economic Community (AEC), including the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), Economic of the Maghreb States, East African Community, Common Market for Eastern and Southern African States (Comesa), and Southern African Development Community (SADC).

However, Mageza noted there were also challenges and obstacles to achieve the AU`s goals, particularly on peace and political stability in Africa.

Therefore, the AU would continue to work to ensure that peace and political stability prevail and endure in the African continent by improving its early warning mechanism in order to prevent conflicts.

"The AU is fully aware that the political independence and freedom enjoyed in the continent can never be taken for granted. Hence, we will take more efforts to promote peace and enhance political stability that synchronize with the spirit of African solidarity and unity," said Mageza.

The AU was established on May 25, 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as the AU`s Secretariat headquarter. The AU groups 54 African countries and its chairmanship is chosen by the AU`s assembly for one year period.

It will commemorate its golden anniversary on May 25 through a theme of celebrating the freedom, said Mageza.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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