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 Novembre-Décembre
2003
Editorial
Trouble
Times…
Terrorism
is still a very real threat to international peace
and security, it affects world trade movement, is
the name Globalisation collapsing. Terrorism
and commerce talks have dominated the APEC summit
in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thai
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had no choice:
"The topic of terrorism is unavoidable. There
is no way that developed countries can discuss
trade but not security because the economy and
security go hand in hand. Terrorism destroys
economic and human security, therefore we will
talk on this issue and the United States will push
for comprehensive cooperation in order that all
countries realise terrorism is not only a US
problem. Southeast Asia is now very much aware
that it is one of the fronts in the war against
terrorism. These things will be discussed in the
context of how they undermine secure trade because
we cannot have stable international trade if it is
always being undermined in a climate of fear of
terrorism."
As
the first major meeting of world leaders since the
stunning collapse of World Trade Organization
(WTO) talks in Mexico, the APEC summit is also
poised to be the arena for a new showdown on
international trading rules.
Breaking
the deadlock between rich and poor nations, which
is centred on disagreement over agriculture, and
putting the Doha Round of free trade negotiations
back on track will be a major goal for the Bangkok
talks. Thaksin, who faces the biggest task of his
career in guiding the debate, he said he is
confident developed nations will make compromises
on trade issues.
Some
20,000 security personnel have been deployed to
protect delegates, while fighter jets and tanks
are guarding Bangkok's international airport and
the city's hotels are patrolled by armed commandos
and bomb-sniffing dogs. APEC groups 21 Pacific Rim
nations: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China,
Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines,
Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand,
the United States and Vietnam.
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