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Monday, August 14, 2006
Business leaders told: Put security on trade agenda
By Linette C. Ramos
CEBU CITY -- While they keep working on liberalizing trade and investments, former president Fidel Ramos called on business leaders in the Asia Pacific to strengthen cooperation in ensuring security and fighting terrorism.
Ramos also proposed to leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Forum (Apec) to institute changes within the bloc, and to include in their discussions political and security matters, such as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
While serving as an economic forum, the Apec should not limit its agenda to trade and commerce in the region, Ramos said.
"I do not think Apec should continue to be as offhand or ad hoc as it has been, discussing political and security issues like the Middle East conflict only for a particular purpose and only as a side event in a trade and investment show," the former president told foreign business leaders.
The former president was keynote speaker during the third day of the Apec Business Advisory Council's (Abac) 10th anniversary conference at the Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort and Spa Sunday afternoon.
Challenges
"There are many things that have become new challenges. Shifting more to security issues that must engage our attention, Apec has a key role to play in what I call a new security umbrella where every major bloc of power, like the Asean and the Apec, can contribute," he said.
Ramos also said it's time for Apec member-countries "to carry out the principle of burden-sharing in security, considering the overstretched nature and conditions of the US military forces and subtle arms raised by Asia Pacific countries, including the Philippines."
"Why have an arms build-up? It should not just be for fighting international terrorism, but the military answer is found in our part of the world, the most effective new security umbrella which I call Pax-Asia-Pacifica," he said.
His Asia-Pacific peace concept is security cooperation among the member countries based on the balance of mutual benefit, and not on the balance of power.
Ramos was Apec chairman when the Abac was created in Manila in 1996.
Track record
In his keynote address, the former president also reported the successes of the Apec and Abac, and shared how its member-countries are now enjoying the results of the liberalization of trade and investments and other economic reforms.
But Apec is facing dark prospects where the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Doha Round negotiations are concerned. The suspension of the negotiations is seen as a deferment of the talks on free trade liberalization.
"In sum, Apec's track record has been impressive. This is something we should be proud of because there are dark clouds on the horizon. If WTO is unable to strike a deal by December, the world faces dark prospects of a Doha Round package coming into force without the biggest economy, that of the United States," he added.
Ramos reported that among other things, there is a disagreement over a program reducing subsidies and tariffs on industrial and agricultural products.
The Doha Round had hoped to stimulate poor-country exports by lowering trade barriers across all sectors. (Sun.Star Cebu)
(August 14, 2006 issue)
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