Meeting avoids divisions

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 9

Meeting avoids divisions

NZPA-Reuter Cancun Foreign Ministers from 22 rich and poor countries have begun a first round of discussions at Cancun, Mexico, hoping to lay the groundwork for broader international economic co-operation. The Mexican Foreign Minister (Mr Jorge Castaneda) opened the meeting by telling the Ministers that world peace and stability depended on international co-operation. He said a crusade to eradicate fear, hunger, and injustice had to be launched. The Ministers are to prepare the way for a so-called North-South summit conference in October., -

Conference sources said developing “South” countries, which met in New York before going to Cancun, a seaside resort, agreed not to bring up issues that could provide divisive. “We will try to lay down broad policy guidelines for the summit, concentrating on issues where we think chances of a consensus are great and soft-pedaling difficult issues," they said. Third World countries hope the meeting will add impetus to proposed global economic talks, although similar North-South dialogues in the mid-1970s never rea Ily got off the ground.