UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAID ON MONDAY HE HOPED THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD'S TOP ECONOMIES MEETING IN RUSSIA NEXT WEEK WOULD WORK TO ENSURE THE DOHA ROUND OF TRADE TALKS WAS NOT A FAILURE, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. "WHEN I ATTEND THE G8 SUMMIT IN ST PETERSBURG NEXT WEEK, I WILL URGE LEADERS TO TAKE BOLD MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THE DOHA ROUND SUCCEEDS AND TRULY BENEFITS DEVELOPING NATIONS," ANNAN SAID IN THE TEXT OF A SPEECH FOR DELIVERY IN BERLIN. "MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES MUST BE GIVEN, AND MUST BE PREPARED TO CONCEDE, GENUINE MARKET ACCESS FOR BOTH GOODS AND SERVICES WHILE THE DUTY-FREE AND QUOTA-FREE ACCESS PROMISED TO THE LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES MUST BECOME A FULL REALITY." ANNAN ALSO SAID IT WAS "HIGH TIME TO ELIMINATE ALL SUBSIDIES THAT CAUSED POOR COUNTRIES TO FACE UNFAIR COMPETITION FROM RICHER ONES". LEADERS FROM THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN, GERMANY, BRITAIN, FRANCE, ITALY, CANADA AND RUSSIA GATHER IN ST PETERSBURG ON JULY 15-17. TRADE, ENERGY SECURITY AND IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME WILL DOMINATE THE AGENDA. THEY MEET TWO WEEKS AFTER WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) MINISTERS FAILED TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES OVER FARM AND INDUSTRIAL GOODS, WHICH ALONG WITH SERVICES MAKE UP THE THREE PILLARS OF THE TRADE TALKS. --MORE 10/07/2006 23:52 ت م
