The first session of the Foreign Ministers Meeting

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda the Hon. Baldwin Spencer has hailed the two day Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting in Malta a success for small developing states.

Prime Minister Spencer who chaired the Session of the meeting dealing with the Implementation of Small States Agenda, said that a number of issues were reviewed and it was emphasized that in this world of economic, political and social transformation, the problem of small states such as Antigua and Barbuda must be taken into account as we move forward He outlined that the CARICOM foreign minister present were very strong in their view that special and differential treatment must be given to small island states and other small nations they are to play a significant roles in this new economic dispensation.

"We were very strong that the communiqué coming out of the Foreign Ministers Meeting must clearly highlight that special and differential treatment must be given to small island states. I can report that we have been successful in ensuring that the decisions of this conference will be so communicated where special and differential treatment must now be an integral part of the deliberations going into the Hong Kong Ministerial with the World Trade Organisation WTO in December," PM Spencer noted.

"We are satisfied that this was a significant break through because it was felt that reference to special and differential treatment must not be in the communiqué. The CARICOM delegations all spoke with one united voice with other small states supporting that concept as well," he added.

"The question of how small island states are going to play a meaningful role in new dispensation was a major topic for discussion and the Caribbean countries were able to point out that our contribution to the issues of peace and security, stability and democracy far outweighs our size and resources and if we are to continue to contribute significantly then we must be treated in such a way to make the transition from traditional economies to the new economy which the WTO is calling on us to adopt," PM Spencer pointed out.

He said that the Caribbean can make the transition but need time and special and differential treatment and the support of developed countries and international agencies and organizations that have developmental agendas.

"The vulnerability of these small states was clearly recognized and even though we are considered middle income countries and therefore our per capita income is too high to allow for other considerations, we were able to make the point which was accepted that we are more vulnerable to internal, external and natural shocks to our respective economies that require attention over and above the fact that we are considered middle income countries," he said.

PM Spencer continued, "We believe that the message got over very well indeed and that the Commonwealth as an institution now has a responsibility to take the message to the WTO and other international organizations supporting the claim for justice, equality and a level playing field in the world economic arena for small developing countries such as Antigua and Barbuda."

He made clear that the issue is one of human rights for small states because it is a human right for small states to be given the opportunity to develop. "It is a right that we are claiming that we have and we are not begging and preaching to the international community. We are saying that we have a right to be given the opportunity to develop and the avenues should be given for us to do so. We hope we have sent the signal that that small developing state would not stand idly by and allow our countries to be marginalized by the world community," he concluded.

The Prime Minister of the Antigua and Barbuda felt that the meeting ended on a high note and paves the way for the Commonwealth Heads Meeting which opens on Friday. He said that they will receive the communiqué coming out of the Foreign Ministers Meeting which will set the pace for their deliberations which will take the form of retreats and executive sessions.

The Foreign Ministers over the past two days also addressed issues of peace and security, terrorism, combating corruption, bridging the digital divide, the Millennium Development Goals and investment among others.

On Friday the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will open with a grand ceremony with addresses from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II, Commonwealth Secretary General the Hon. Don McKinnon, His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Prime Minister of Malta the Hon. Dr. Lawrence Gonzi.