18th NAM Summit concludes with Baku Declaration

The 18th Summit of heads of state and government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) concluded this afternoon issuing the Baku Declaration that calls for resolving to increase the effectiveness of the Movement by making it a dynamic and effective mechanism to represent, coordinate and support the interests and priorities of all of its member states.
The NAM member states have also decided to activate the role of the Movement for making it adequate to new realities in the current geopolitical landscape by promoting and upholding its founding principles which continue to be as much valid and relevant as originally conceived, according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.
The 18th NAM Summit also decided that the member states will remain united and steadfast within the Movement in view of the emerging threats and challenges to international peace, security and development.
The two-day 18th Summit of heads of state and government of the NAM was held at the Baku Congress Centre in Baku, the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan from October 25 to 26, where the member-states – during the conclusion – also declared that the effective implementation of the NAM Baku Summit Outcome Document and the documents of the previous NAM Summits and ministerial meetings requires the highest commitment and determination of all NAM member states. The NAM member states also decided to consolidate their positions in order to advance the interests of the developing world, build a fair, inclusive, transparent and effective system of global governance. “The member states shall support multilateralism with the UN at its core and give a boost to the central role of the United Nations in the institutional and legal framework of global governance,” reads the Declaration.
In this regard, the member states also decided to call for further strengthening and modernising of the UN, revitalising the UN General Assembly and strengthening its authority as the most democratic, accountable, universal and representative body of the organisation, including in the area of international peace and security.
“All states shall respect the territorial integrity, sovereignty, the sovereign equality, political independence and inviolability of international borders of other states, comply with the principles of non-intervention in the internal affairs”, the Declaration reads, adding that that any attempt aimed at partial or total disruption of the national unity or territorial integrity of states shall be continued to be opposed.
The states also decided to strengthen NAM solidarity in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations while stressing that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group. A decision was taken to observe the 2021 as the International Year of Peace and Trust and to continue to work towards the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, leaving no one behind, remembering that the Agenda is universal and transformative, based on peoples’ needs and interest.
They have also reaffirmed the central importance of the development dimensions in trade negotiations and maintain that a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round, launched in 2001, can only be achieved, if the outcomes thereof significantly address the imbalances and inequities in the multilateral trading system, in which the interests of developing countries could be reflected.
The promulgation and application of unilateral coercive measures against member states of the Movement was strongly condemned, while demanding the repeal of, such measures, which affect human rights and prevent the full economic and social development of the peoples subjected to them.
They also reaffirmed that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of present time and express profound alarm that emissions of greenhouse gases continue to raise globally.
Reaffirming that the South-South Cooperation is an expression of solidarity and cooperation among the peoples and countries of the South, the NAM member states stressed on ensuring the full enjoyment of all human rights, including the right to development so as to build collective and sustainable peace and prosperity across the world.
The summit also recognised the member states’ primary responsibility to promote durable solutions for internally displaced persons in situations of armed conflict, including their voluntary return in safety and with dignity, as well as to ensure respect, protection and fulfillment of their human rights.
Finally, the member states congratulated President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for assuming the chairmanship of the NAM and expressed appreciation to the government and people of the Republic of Azerbaijan for hosting the 18th Summit of heads of state and government of the NAM in a grand manner.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli led a 21-member Nepali delegation to the 18th NAM summit in Baku. The Prime Minister Oli and the Nepali delegation will leave Baku tonight and arrive Kathmandu on Sunday morning.

WTO seals historic deal

Ministers from 159 countries have sealed today a historic deal aiming at boosting global trade at a meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

The World Trade Organisation's (WTO) first comprehensive agreement will simplify the customs procedures for doing business across borders, which has potential to create $1 trillion in economic activity and 21 million jobs, if properly implemented.

Commerce ministers – who have been involved in the historic Bali package that was stitched together after four days of marathon negotiations – roared and thumped desks as the deal was approved.
The historic agreement on international commerce but marks the first global agreement struck by the Geneva-based body since its 1995 founding. After the failure of 12-year-old elusive Doha Round of talks, "the WTO has truly delivered,” according to WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo. "We have put the ‘World’ back into the World Trade Organisation,” he told the jubilant delegates at Bali.
The meeting also formally accepted Yemen as the group’s 160th member. Yemen’s parliament within six months will have to ratify its accession.
Though, the first ever trade reform deal is still uncertainty over its effective implementation in underdeveloped countries like Nepal, the hard-fought nature of the talks indicated how difficult it could be for the body to make real progress on the Doha Round, launched in Qatar in 2001.
The Bali meet that started on December 3 ended on December 7 with a happy note.

The new agreement on trade facilitation is also expected to ease controls over flow of goods and services through ports and airports will be in place soon, apart from the outcomes on food security that is a big victory for multilateral trading system.

India has played a major role in the revival and re-energising the Doha Round of talks, according to Indian commerce and industry minister Ananda Sharma.

Agricultural G-20 proposals could revive negotiators’ engagement, chair says

The Group of 20 (G-20) developing countries, an alliance in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agriculture talks, presented two new proposals on September 28, described as an effort to comply with instructions from the December 2011 Ministerial Conference, to explore how to progress in the Doha Round negotiations.

New Zealand’s ambassador and chairperson John Adank had called the meeting so that members could share information on their discussions since the last meeting in March. He concluded that after a lull in the talks, delegations’ willingness to examine the new proposals will mean a greater engagement by negotiators, which has been absent for some time.

One of the proposals is a draft “understanding” written in treaty language on the administration of tariff quotas — how imports within the quotas are shared among importers, when duties inside the quotas are lower than on quantities outside.

Brazil, the group’s coordinator, told an informal negotiations meeting that the G-20 considers it to be a subject that could be settled ahead of a fuller agreement on the whole Doha Round package.

The other is a call for new secretariat studies on tariff quota administration, and on export subsidies and other forms of export competition — export credit and insurance, state trading enterprises and food aid, which can all involve hidden export subsidies.

Brazil said that the G-20’s members have been working on new ideas since agriculture negotiators last met in March, except during the Geneva summer break. They had only just agreed on the text to submit even though Beijing was still examining the tariff quota administration draft. The proposals are still evolving but the group felt it should present something to start with, Brazil said.

Speaking for itself Brazil added that it considers export competition and the linked issue of cotton subsidies to be other contenders for subjects that could be agreed early.

It also said it is looking at ways of moving the negotiations forward on issues related to agriculture but in other committees.