‘North-South Dialogue’ resumed in Paris

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 8

‘North-South Dialogue’ resumed in Paris

NZPA Paris Rich and poor nations trying to chart a ne.v world economic order have resumed their negotiations in Paris after breaking a twomonth deadlock. Officials describe the atmosphere as business-like as the "North-South Dialogue" began again after the tensest period of its short existence.

The bargaining in the officially-entitled Conference on International Economic CO-operation. which groups the mam Western industrial States, big oil-exporters, and developing nations, became snagged in July.

Weeks of intense secret consultations presided over by the conference co-chair-men, Mr Alan MacEachen (the Canadian Foreign Minister! and Mr Manuel Perez Guerero (the Venezuelan Minister of State) led to a compromise agreement to resume substantive bargainitJjj.

The negotiations are being conducted in four specialist commissions; on energy, raw materials, development aid, and finance The commissions meet in private for the remainder of this week, and again in October and November in an effort tu agree on proposals

I for a decisive Ministerial conference in December. I The industrial side, including the United States, I Canada, the nine European I Common Market countries ,and Japan, have agreed to discuss the two main problems preoccupying the developing countries: the debts of Third World nations, and what they see as the need to (protect the purchasing Ipower of oil and other raw material-producers against I the vagaries of Western I inflation.

But while they study any proposals which the developing nations may submit up to an October 31 deadline, the industrial side has stubbornly refused to be pinned down to any prior commitments.

I The world's poorer nations ’ have begun detailed talks in Mexico City on setting up i their own self-contained | development schemes without the help of the rich countries.

! Sources at the Conference I on Economic Co-operation {Among Developing Countries said the two working comimittees were due to finish 'their general appraisal today ;and begin discussing specific [projects. Two committees spent the I first two days at the 77-

nation meeting, which will end next Tuesday, hammering out a list of proposals.