wfn.org | Oekumenische Organisationen senden Botschaft an

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Oekumenische Organisationen senden Botschaft an Welthandelskonferenz in
Cancun
"Sprituelle, moralische und ethische" Anfragen an WTO und Handelsminister
 
Genf, 10. September 2003 (LWI) - Mit einer Botschaft haben sich die
TeilnehmerInnen eines vom Lutherischen Weltbund (LWB), dem Oekumenischen Rat
der Kirchen (OeRK), dem Reformierten Weltbund (RWB) und der Konferenz
Europaeischer Kirchen (KEK) heute Nachmittag, 10. September, in Genf
veranstalteten Seminars an die Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) und
Handelsminister, die vom 10. bis 14. September zur Welthandelskonferenz in
Cancun (Mexiko) zusammentreffen, gewandt.
 
Die Botschaft unterstreicht die Anliegen der oekumenischen Gemeinschaft im
Blick auf die Handels- und Entwicklungsfragen, die von der Konferenz in
Cancun behandelt werden. Dazu gehoeren Verhandlungen zum
Landwirtschaftsabkommen sowie zum weltweiten Abkommen zur Liberalisierung der
Dienstleistungsmaerkte (GATS). Die Botschaft geht ausserdem auf neue
Verhandlungen ueber Investitionen und auf das Abkommen zu handelsbezogenen
intellektuellen Eigentumsrechten (TRIPs) ein.
 
Die Haltung der oekumenischen Gemeinschaft im Blick auf die
Welthandelskonferenz in Cancun basiere auf einem Verstaendnis von Handel und
Entwicklung, das spirituelle, moralische und ethische Aspekte in den
Vordergrund stellt, so die Botschaft, die von den Generalsekretaeren von LWB,
OeRK, RWB und KEK unterzeichnet wurde. Sie wurde veroeffentlicht "als Teil
unserer Verpflichtung mit Menschen und Bewegungen fuer ein globales
Handelssystem zu arbeiten, das gerecht und nachhaltig ist." (200 Woerter)
 
Im Folgenden finden Sie den vollstaendigen Wortlaut der Erklaerung in
englischer Sprache (Eine deutschsprachige Fassung steht Ihnen ab Freitag, 12.
September zur Verfuegung):
 
Statement from ecumenical organisations addressed to the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) and Ministers of Trade gathered in Cancun, Mexico for the
5th Ministerial Conference of the WTO from 10-14 September 2003
 
On the occasion of the opening of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Cancun, Mexico on 10 September 2003, we -
concerned Christians and representatives of Churches, Christian World
Communions and faith-based organisations in Geneva - gather at the Ecumenical
Centre in Geneva, Switzerland to make known our views on the current
discussions in the WTO. We believe that these discussions have has very
profound implications for the livelihood, health, wellbeing and survival of
peoples - especially in the developing world.
 
The ecumenical community approaches the Cancun Ministerial Meeting with an
understanding of "trade and development" rooted in spiritual, moral and
ethical perspectives. In evaluating WTO agreements so far, we ask the
following questions: Are they just and fair - especially to the vulnerable
and impoverished? For these, we believe, God has expressed a preferential
option. Do the agreements support right relationships between North and
South, between producers and consumers, and between the powerful and the
powerless? Are they friendly to God's creation? Do they enhance and not
diminish the planet's capacity to sustain and nurture present as well as
future generations of humankind and all other life forms? Do they affirm
human dignity and care for life in all its richness and diversity? 
 
The ecumenical community believes that international trade agreements should
first and foremost respect, value and uphold the sacred nature of all life.
In contrast, the economic agendas of some governments, especially Northern
governments, seem to be largely driven by corporate interests at the expense
of economic justice. Guided by this core vision, we make the following
recommendations on some of the critical issues that will be taken up in the
Cancun Ministerial Meeting:
 
We call upon all governments of developed countries to recognise the rights
of the weak and in co-operation with developing countries to develop fair
conditions for trade with equal access for all.
 
On the Agreement on Agriculture, we believe that food sovereignty and
adequate nutrition for all, especially children, should be the primary aim.
We therefore call upon governments of developed countries, to:
+ eliminate harmful subsidies and domestic support to agricultural
enterprises;
+ differentiate between small farmers and major agri-businesses; 
+ halt export dumping of food; and
+ remove barriers to the access of developing countries to Northern
agricultural markets. 
These create unfair competition, destroy livelihoods and undermine long-term
food sovereignty in developing countries. 
 
On the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), we believe that
essential public services such as water, health and education services are
important vehicles for the realisation of basic human rights. Therefore these
services cannot be commodified nor negotiated. Water in particular has
spiritual value in all religions and cultures and is essential for the
sustenance of life. We therefore call upon governments to keep these public
services out of the GATS negotiations.
 
On Implementation Issues, developing countries should be allowed much more
flexibility in implementing the Uruguay Round of agreements because of
longstanding asymmetries between developing and developed countries. We
therefore call upon all governments to:
+ implement the agreements reached at Doha without forcing further
concessions from developing countries; and
+ strengthen provisions and mechanisms in all WTO agreements providing for
special and differential treatment for developing countries such as longer
implementation periods and lower tariff reduction rates, among others. 
 
On Investment and "new issues," we believe that: 
+ governments have a primary responsibility in guaranteeing the protection
of the environment, safeguarding public health and promoting decent work; 
+ peoples' rights and freedoms clearly have precedence over corporate rights
and must be the primary principles to regulate the activities of
transnational corporations. 
We therefore call upon all governments to oppose the launching of a new
round of negotiations on Investment and other "Singapore issues." 
 
On the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement, we
believe that:
+ health is a central concern to human development that should not be
overridden by interests of pharmaceutical corporations in earning monopoly
profits;
+ all efforts should be taken to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases by enabling poor people to have
access to affordable medicines; and
+ living organisms (including seeds) are part of God's creation and
therefore should be neither patented nor commodified. 
 
The TRIPs agreement and the interpretation of some of its regulations by the
WTO has blocked the availability of generic drugs at affordable prices that
are needed to combat diseases in the developing world. The recently achieved
agreement in relation to such generic drugs does not resolve the problem in a
sufficiently comprehensive manner that really benefits developing countries
and the millions of people suffering from HIV/AIDS and other diseases. 
 
We therefore call for radical changes of the trade regime concerning
intellectual property rights and recognition of the right of developing
countries to produce and import generic drugs in quantities and at prices
that serve the needs of their people.
 
Motivated by faith in a compassionate God, and based on the hope that
"another world is possible!," we issue this statement as part of our
commitment to work with peoples and movements towards a global trading system
that is just, sustainable and caring. The ecumenical community will continue
to advocate for trade and finance policies that uphold human rights -
especially economic, social and cultural rights - through the Trade for
People Campaign under the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and the Debt
Cancellation Campaign, among other initiatives. 
 
Rev. Dr. Konrad Raiser	 
General Secretary
World Council of Churches   
 
Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko
General Secretary    
The Lutheran World Federation
 
Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi	
General Secretary
World Alliance of Reformed Churches 
 
Rev. Dr. Keith Clements
General Secretary
Conference of European Churches

Geneva, Wednesday, September 10, 2003
 

Den vollen Wortlaut der Erklaerung, finden Sie im Format PDF auch auf der
LWB-Webseite unter:
www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/Ecumenical_Statement_on_Cancun-2003.pdf.
 
*	*	*
 
Der Lutherische Weltbund (LWB) ist eine Gemeinschaft lutherischer Kirchen
weltweit. 1947 in Lund (Schweden) gegruendet, zaehlt er inzwischen 136
Mitgliedskirchen, denen rund 61,7 Millionen der weltweit rund 65,4 Millionen
LutheranerInnen in 76 Laendern angehoeren.
Das LWB-Sekretariat befindet sich in Genf (Schweiz). Das ermoeglicht eine
enge Zusammenarbeit mit dem Oekumenischen Rat der Kirchen (OeRK) und anderen
weltweiten christlichen Organisationen. Der LWB handelt als Organ seiner
Mitgliedskirchen in Bereichen gemeinsamen Interesses, z. B. oekumenische und
interreligioese Beziehungen, Theologie, humanitaere Hilfe, Menschenrechte,
Kommunikation und verschiedene Aspekte von Missions- und Entwicklungsarbeit.
 
Die LUTHERISCHE WELT-INFORMATION (LWI) wird als Informationsdienst des
Lutherischen Weltbundes (LWB) herausgegeben. Veroeffentlichtes Material gibt,
falls dies nicht besonders vermerkt ist, nicht die Haltung oder Meinung des
LWB oder seiner Arbeitseinheiten wieder. Die mit "LWI" gekennzeichneten
Beitraege koennen kostenlos mit Quellenangabe abgedruckt werden.

*	*	*

LWI online unter: http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.DE.html 

LUTHERISCHE WELT-INFORMATION
Postfach 2100, CH-1211 Genf 2, Schweiz
Deutsche Redaktion: Dirk-Michael Groetzsch
Tel.: +41-22-791-6353
Fax: +41-22-791-6630
E-Mail: dmg@lutheranworld.org