[Intl-tobacco] NYT/WPost on close of FCTC negotiations

[Robert Weissman]

November 29, 2001
New York Times

After U.S. Objects, World Fails to Agree to Curb Smoking Ads

By ELIZABETH OLSON

       GENEVA, Nov. 28 — The latest round of talks to forge an
international antitobacco agreement ended today with some of the most
contentious issues, particularly a sweeping ban on cigarette
       advertising, left for next year.

Saying tobacco is responsible for the deaths of an estimated four
million people a year, the World Health Organization has tried hard to
encourage its 191 member countries to agree on measures to
reduce significantly the use of tobacco. The organization's director,
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland of Norway, said that she was satisfied that
progress had been made for talks next year.

The proposed ban on advertising and on labels touting cigarettes as
"light" or "low-tar," were two of the most disputed proposals. The
United States has opposed any across-the- board prohibition of
tobacco advertising saying it violates American free speech guarantees;
such actions instead should be controlled country by country, the United
States delegates argued.

This position appears to clash with the one taken by the 15-country
European Union, which has come out in favor of "global restrictions on
all forms of advertising and promotion of tobacco
products, and a total ban on cross-border advertising."

Dr. Derek Yach, the organization's executive director for
noncommunicable diseases, said that while the agency is encouraging
countries to adopt their own bans he expected the treaty "would close
any loopholes."

Europeans and Americans did agree on steps directed at curbing
widespread cigarette smuggling. The United States is pushing for
measures to stop the practice and introduced an addendum to the
proposed treaty that would commit countries to fight smuggling.

American officials came out against banning "light" and similar
labeling, which a study released this week by the National Cancer
Institute of the United States said was deceptive because smokers
thought the wording promised a reduced risk of lung cancer and other
smoking- related diseases, while the scientific evidence shows no such
thing.

The American positions drew a chorus of criticism from antismoking
advocates, who insisted that the Bush administration was echoing tobacco
industry stands, an argument that the senior American
delegate, Dr. Kenneth Bernard, firmly denied.

No American officials commented after the conclusion of the talks, over
which the United States now formally presides, at least until the
quarrel over which country will assume the chairmanship is
settled.

The departure of the current chairman, Celso Amorim of Brazil, opened up
a rift as Brazil sought to retain the chairmanship and South Africa,
which has made the reduction of smoking a top health
priority, battled to win the spot. A last-minute drawing of lots left
the United States as interim chairman, perhaps until the next session
begins, on March 18.


----------------


Washington Post

Tobacco Control Talks Make Progress

By Jonathan Fowler
Associated Press Writer
Thursday, November 29, 2001; 5:25 AM

GENEVA ?? A week of talks to broker a U.N.-sponsored tobacco control
treaty ended with good progress, a senior health official said.

The draft of the international anti-tobacco treaty, set to enter into
force in 2003, was packed with options for alternative wording setting
out differing and often competing policy options on taxation,
marketing, labeling and anti-smuggling measures. The talks, which ended
Wednesday evening, will continue in March and October.

But Derek Yach, head of the World Health Organization's anti-smoking
campaign, said the "general trend is moving toward a public-health
oriented treaty."

"The language we have creates options for a strong treaty. There's also
language that could make it a weak treaty ? but all the language is
clear," Yach said.

Delegates had been bogged down trying to agree on particular sentences
or single words in the document, but WHO officials said they were now at
a stage were they could focus on the issues in the draft.

Delegates remained split, however, over which country should chair the
next round of talks, and finished by drawing straws to decide.

The vacancy follows the departure of Celso Amorim, the Brazilian
diplomat who drew up the draft. Amorim is being moved to another post by
his government.

Brazil wants to keep the chair, but is opposed by South Africa, which is
arguing for a strong treaty. The United States drew the straw to become
acting chair, while Iran is now responsible for finding a
solution to the deadlock before March.

Anti-smoking campaigners said they were cautiously pleased with progress
at the Geneva meeting ? despite what they said were industry and
pro-tobacco government attempts to produce a weak treaty.

The meeting had managed "to streamline an unwieldy draft text that
consisted of different and often conflicting approaches to key issues,"
said Judith Wilkenfeld of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

She praised developing countries for not giving in to tobacco industry
lobbying.

"It is heartening that nations from Africa, Asia, the Middle East ...
that are the latest targets of the tobacco industry's marketing barrage
have taken strong positions and have succeeded in keeping them under
consideration as the negotiating process moves forward," she said.

Wilkenfeld said also that participants had agreed to discuss in March a
total ban on terms like "light" and "low-tar" to describe cigarettes.
Campaigners say these mislead people who might otherwise stop
smoking.

WHO says smoking and tobacco related disease kills 4 million people per
year worldwide. Deaths are expected to reach 10 million per year by
2030, with 70 percent of them in developing countries.