12:08 PM |
By Online Editor
3:40 pm GMT+12, 21/01/2010, Fiji
The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) is urging Pacific Island Trade Ministers to call for an immediate suspension of PACER-Plus negotiations as a direct result of actions by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) to delay the establishment of the Office of the Chief Trade Advisor.
PANG is also calling on Forum Island governments to move the office away from the Forum Secretariat in Suva.
In October 2009, Forum Trade Ministers announced that Dr Chris Noonan would be appointed as Chief Trade Advisor (CTA) to coordinate trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand under PACER Plus.
However, in correspondence obtained by PANG it is clear that arrangements proposed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat would jeopardise the integrity and independence of the Office of the CTA – and no contract has been agreed to by Dr Noonan.
It is understood that in the Forum Secretariat proposal for the establishment of the position, dated December 24 2009, the Secretariat sought to ensure that key activities of the Chief Trade Advisor would be under the direct control of the Director of Economic Governance, former AusAID Trade Official Dr Chakriya Bowman.
Under the proposed arrangements, the Forum Secretariat is seeking to reserve the right to access documents generated by the CTA, and require the CTA to report to the Director of Economic Governance. The CTA would also need to get approval from the PIFS to travel to Forum Island Countries or use OCTA funds.
This would have the effect of seriously compromising the office of the Chief Trade Advisor from the outset and would harm the interests of the Forum Island Countries during the tough negotiations with their biggest trading partners.
Forum Island Trade Ministers have made it clear that PACER Plus negotiations should not start until an independent OCTA has been established. However, the actions of the Forum Secretariat mean that Dr Noonan will not take up the CTA position before the next scheduled negotiating meeting – to be held in Adelaide, Australia, on February 18.
In response to this latest development, PANG urges Forum Island Governments to take back control of the OCTA from the PIFS immediately and to call for suspension of PACER-Plus negotiations until an independent OCTA is set up. These trade negotiations are simply too important to be rushed.
SOURCE: PANG/PACNEWS
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pacific islands media association
pima.nius@gmail.com
aotearoa, new zealand
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