[Intl-tobacco] ALA: End US obstructionism at FCTC

[Robert Weissman]

Group Urges Tobacco Treaty Delegates to Protect Public
U.S. Newswire
12 Mar 12:50

Lung Association Urges U.S. Tobacco Treaty Delegates To Protect
Public Health, Not Big Tobacco; Call Issued for Public Hearing
To: National Desk
Contact: Diane Maple of the American Lung Association,
202-785-3355

WASHINGTON, March 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- As international
negotiators meet in Geneva March 18-24 for a fourth round of
negotiations on a global tobacco-control treaty, the American Lung
Association is concerned that U.S. delegates will fail once again
to promote public health.

"To date, the Bush Administration's delegates have been
obstructionist -- seeking to weaken the treaty at every turn," said
John L. Kirkwood, President and CEO of the American Lung
Association.

During previous negotiating meetings, Bush representatives led
efforts to weaken all aspects of the treaty, including opposing
provisions that ban advertising, sponsorship and promotion, ban
misleading descriptors such as "light and low tar", ban duty-free
cigarettes and protect people from secondhand smoke.

In addition to being bad policy for public health, there appears
to be an inconsistency in the Bush Administrations position.
According to a March 11, 2002 report in the Wall Street Journal the
Department of Justice, in discussion regarding settlement of the
federal tobacco lawsuit, is seeking restriction on tobacco
marketing including banning "light", "low-tar" or "mild" labels.

"It is bewildering that on the one hand the U.S. Department of
Justice would pursue marketing restrictions while on the other the
U.S. Delegation to the Convention is opposing similar provisions,"
said Kirkwood. "We suggest that the entire Bush Administration
support strong public health provisions. In this matter like most
things the details matter."

"We urge our U.S. delegates not to squander this truly historic
opportunity to promote public health -- not the interests of Big
Tobacco," he said.

The treaty, known as the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control, is being negotiated under the auspices of the World Health
Organization. Lung Association staff will be among representatives
of non-governmental organizations joining the negotiations as
observers. The Lung Association has attended all three previous
negotiating sessions and will be closely monitoring the actions of
the U.S. delegation as the treaty process continues.

The Lung Association is also calling on U.S. negotiators to live
up to a promise they made last fall to hold a public hearing on the
issue of global tobacco use. The hearing would be a follow-up to
one held by the Clinton Administration in 2000. Bush treaty-making
delegates told the Lung Association that a public hearing would be
held before this month's round of negotiations. The Lung
Association was later told that a hearing "might" be held this
summer.

"What are they afraid of?" asked Kirkwood. "Shouldn't the public
have an opportunity to be heard? Are they concerned that America
will see how much influence big U.S. tobacco companies have in
shaping U.S. policy on this issue?"

"Americans deserve the opportunity to again share their opinions
with U.S. delegates now that the negotiators are drawing closer to
writing final treaty language," said Kirkwood.