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Web-only Exclusives November 30, 2000 From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead Bad news for the Philippines - and some others From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights? |
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APEC '99: Day Seven
Men - and One Woman - in Black By ALEJANDRO REYES Auckland also: Key Points of the Declaration East Timor Update September 15, 1999 Web posted at 7:30 p.m. Hong Kong time, 7:30 a.m. EDT
The 21 leaders gathered in the museum for their "retreat," an informal closed-door meeting just among themselves, though advisers are not far away. They have two sessions - one in the morning, another after lunch. This is the culmination of the APEC week and, indeed, of the organization's calendar. The leaders discuss various issues put to them by their officials and ministers, particularly any matters that remain to be resolved. And they put the final touches on the declaration or communiqué that is issued at the end of the day. Finally, the group poses with arms linked for the usual official photograph. At 4 p.m., they emerged from their conclave. Shipley, as host, read a summary of the declaration, dubbed "The Auckland Challenge." The PM, the only woman among the pack, sported a black turtle neck and a silver fern brooch, instead of the embroidered patch. "Our meeting marks ten years of unprecedented cooperation throughout APEC," she said. "This year we have sought to create a strong platform for our second decade." Key Points of the Declaration 
• Leaders are committed to continuing economic reforms and are aware of the risks to the region's recovery.
• APEC renews its commitment to the Bogor goals of free and open trade and investment by 2010 for developed economies and 2020 for developing ones. Members will make their "individual action plans," or blueprints for meeting the Bogor target, "more specific, transparent, and comprehensive." Ministers will give priority to improving trade facilitation and eliminating non-tariff impediments to trade. • The group will work to strengthen its markets and its financial and banking sectors. It is launching an initiative to develop a set of banking standards which may be adopted APEC-wide. • APEC is committed to the launch of a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. The declaration does not specify exactly when a new round should begin, though it is expected to be launched at the World Trade Organization's ministerial conference in Seattle in late November. This new round should be comprehensive and be wound up within three years "as a single package." APEC leaders support the abolition of agricultural export subsidies and the accession to the WTO of those APEC economies that are not yet members of the global trade body (Russia, Vietnam, China and Taiwan). • The leaders agreed to recommendations from the APEC Business Advisory Council to further liberalize air services in the Pacific Rim. • APEC must do more to win the trust of citizens. "We challenge our economies to strengthen our markets," said Shipley. "We challenge the world to move to freer trade. And we challenge ourselves as leaders to bring our people with us to broaden support for the work of APEC." Concluded the PM: "That is the Auckland challenge. We accept that challenge today." East Timor Update With the Indonesian decision late Sept. 12 to allow a U.N. peacekeeping force in East Timor, leaders concentrated on APEC's official economic agenda and did not discuss the troubled province. With the diplomatic focus shifting to New York - Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas is due at the U.N. headquarters - the issue now is the composition of the force. Indonesia would prefer an Asian-led contingent, but that wish may not be feasible. Before leaving his hotel for the leaders' retreat, Clinton stressed that Jakarta could not dictate any conditions to the U.N. The 5,000-7,000-strong multinational force is likely to be led by Australia, with the U.S. offering only a few hundred troops to provide only logistical support.
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THE APEC SUMMIT
TIME ASIA
