VALLETTA (Malta), Nov 26: As Commonwealth leaders continued their discussion on key issues of trade, poverty, terrorism and governance, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz stressed the need for providing a level playing field to the developing countries.

He made this call at a news conference before the leaders went into weekend retreat on Saturday. The Commonwealth summit would end on Sunday.

“We want more access to the world market. We demand and expect a level playing filed. The developed world has to come up with a timeframe for dealing with the issue of agricultural subsidy,” said Mr Aziz who is the first Pakistan government leader to attend the CHOGM in six years.

Mr Aziz noted that one-third of Europe’s farmers were subsidized which had made it difficult for the developing countries to compete. He stressed the need for structural reforms so that when the economies were opened up they were able to absorb the pressure.

He emphasized that Commonwealth leaders ought to discuss and arrive at some consensus before the Hong Kong round of WTO talks. To achieve the ultimate objectives there must be a transitional plan envisaging structural reforms for everyone, he said, adding that Pakistan wanted “more access to the world market.”

Conference sources said that leaders of the developing countries would take up the issue of farm subsidies with British Prime Minister Tony Blair during the retreat. Mr Blair, who is also President of the European Union, would be urged to persuade the European nations to cut farm subsidies for a world trade deal next month. Though some of the EU members, mainly France, appear intransigent because it is a major beneficiary of the EU farming programmes, some African, Pacific and Caribbean countries were not happy with EU’s decision to cut sugar subsidy.

Mr Aziz referred to his meetings with Tony Blair and Malaysian premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during which issues pending before the Commonwealth leaders and bilateral matters were discussed, including trade and fight against terrorism.

Mr Aziz said he briefed world leaders about the developments in South Asia, regional issues and Pakistan’s efforts for peace in the region. He also updated them on the devastating earthquake in Pakistan and explained measures his government had taken for the rehabilitation of the victims.

Asked to comment on concerns shown by some quarters over political development in Uganda following arrest of opposition leader and democratic dispensation in Pakistan, in the context of the CMAG report, Mr Aziz’s reply was that every country had its laws.

About Uganda, he said, details of the development had to be examined. In Pakistan, which remained on the watch list, Mr Aziz said there was “functioning democracy”, a vibrant opposition and free press. He added that Pakistan’s economy was one of the fastest growing economy following structural reforms introduced by the government.

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to rooting out terrorism. He stressed the need for examining the root causes of extreme behaviour and called for removing the root causes of terrorism that included political and economic deprivation, lack of justice and basic rights.

Prime Minister Aziz told a questioner that there should be more sharing of information and intelligence, better security system and coordination among nations for effectively fighting terrorism.

Asked whether the earthquake had affected Pakistan’s fight against terrorism and the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, Mr Aziz said the devastating quake had had no impact on this war.

Responding to questions on India-Pakistan relations, Mr Aziz recalled the various confidences building measures Pakistan had taken for promoting good-neighbourly relations.

Nevertheless he stressed that the core issue between Pakistan and India was Kashmir and stressed the need for taking steps to resolve the issue through dialogue. He said that Pakistan had demanded demilitarization of Kashmir and self-governance.