The fifth ministerial conference of the World Trade

The fifth ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), held in Cancun, Mexico on Sept. 4 to Sept. 10 did not produce any agreement. Developed states and developing countries failed to agree on agricultural products.

Developed states like the U.S. and Russia, as well as European countries, wanted countries all over the world to open their markets to any agricultural product. They wanted their products to be free from any import duty.

As a developing country, Indonesia has had a bad experience on agricultural liberalization. Indonesia, based on the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) suggestion, has opened widely its market to imported rice and soybean.

Consequently, imported rice and soybean flooded the Indonesian market, with local rice and soybean losing their market share.

This daily suggests that the government continue lobbying many parties, including developed and developing countries, to save millions of farmers not only in Indonesia but also in other countries.

The next conference in Hong Kong in 2005 would hopefully accept such suggestion from developing countries.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta

;BI; Anpak..r.. OtherOp-Iraq-USA-Bush The costs of stabilizing Iraq JP/6/

The costs of stabilizing Iraq

The price tag for Iraq's reconstruction, detailed by President Bush in his televised address to the nation, is indeed huge. But it is a burden Americans must bear willingly. To do anything less would risk Iraq's disintegration into a fertile land for Islamic extremism, terrorism and adventurism.

In the end, the costs of U.S. failure in Iraq would be many times greater than the US$87 billion in postwar assistance sought by President Bush. That figure includes reconstruction activities in Afghanistan as well. In the case of both countries, an American retreat from its responsibilities in the wake of U.S.- induced regime change would produce wide-scale anarchy and renewed bloodshed. As a result, the long-term security interests of the civilized world would be irreparably undermined.

That's why it's essential that the United States and its allies stay the course, regardless of the costs. The sacrifice Americans are making in Iraq and, to a lesser degree, in Afghanistan is measured in something far more precious than dollars. The military personnel who continue to lose their lives in support of the peacekeeping operations are the true measure of the U.S. commitment to stabilize both countries and eradicate any terrorist threat.....

-- The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, California

U.S. involvement in Iraq

"I recognize that not all of our friends agreed with our decision to enforce the Security Council resolutions and remove Saddam Hussein from power. Yet, we cannot let past differences interfere with present duties," George W. Bush said in his speech to the nation.

The speech was just as much aimed at the rest of the world. After its war adventure in Iraq, the United States needs help.

It borders on audacity for President Bush to ask the world to help out in Iraq. Last autumn, he had no use for the United Nations. Now, his staff is all but begging the United Nations to become more involved. That's because the Iraq war has become costly in both money and loss of human life.

Of course Norway and other countries must contribute to helping the Iraqis, who have gotten rid of a tyrant and dictator, but the United States can no longer demand to decide the military, political and economic developments in the country.

The U.S. request for an international military force under American command must be rejected. Such a force's duties and responsibilities should be done under U.N. leadership, but without the United Nations becoming an excuse for the United States.

-- Dagbladet, Oslo, Norway

The Middle East road map to peace

The American-sponsored peace road map is now in greater jeopardy than ever before. Whether Washington and Tel Aviv like it or not, it is the Palestinians who decide on who becomes their prime minister and, consequently, their interlocutor in negotiations to settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. ... There is no reason a new Palestinian prime minister can live up to Washington's expectations. In fact, he would be reluctant to act according to American or Israeli wishes, so as not to be seen as a puppet of either. The road map cannot hinge on the American perception of the Palestinian prime minister or sidelining Arafat, who is after all the leader of the Palestinian struggle. Washington must exert pressure on Tel Aviv to make sacrifices for peace by stopping their attacks on the Palestinians and ending their occupation of Palestinian lands. Otherwise, the road map will go nowhere.

-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia