Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana (2nd R front) and Argentine Economy Minister Carlos Fernandez (2nd L front) attend the ministerial conference of the 35th Summit of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) at the Hotel Catalinas Park, in the city of San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, June 30, 2008. The ministerial conference of the 35th Summit of Mercosur opened here on Monday. (Xinhua/Telam) Photo Gallery>>>

    BUENOS AIRES, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Diplomats of the South American Common Market (Mercosur) Monday urged developed countries to cut agricultural subsidies, which are widely blamed for the stalled Doha trade negotiations.

    In a statement issued after a meeting in Argentina's northern city of Tucuman, foreign and economic ministers and chiefs of central banks of the Mercosur nations said the developed countries must take substantial measures to ensure a breakthrough in the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting in July.

    The farm subsidy policies in developed countries have gravely damaged the agriculture industry in developing countries and have thus jeopardized food security in these countries, said the statement.

    Mercosur members urged developed nations to substantially cut farm subsidies and gradually reduce subsidies for agricultural export products, it said.

    Mercosur called for a fair international trade environment, urging developed nations to cut import customs on agricultural products and remove trade barriers for non-agricultural products, said the statement.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez (R) meets with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the city of San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, June 30, 2008. The 35th Summit of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) is to be held at the Hotel Catalinas Park in the city on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Telam)  Photo Gallery>>>

 

    Mercosur also suggested that the service industry be included in the Doha talks, which began in 2001 to reduce trade barriers worldwide.

    Meanwhile, the leaders strongly criticized new immigration policies by the European Union, calling on the EU to abolish the "biased" rules that are a "violation of human rights."

    The so-called "return directive," which was passed by the European Parliament earlier this month and could come into force in 2010, allows up to 18 months' detention of illegal immigrants before deportation from the EU.

    Mercosur, established in 1991, groups Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay as full members and Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru as associate members. Venezuela signed a membership agreement in 2006 but awaits formal ratification to become a full member.

Delegates attend the ministerial conference of the 35th Summit of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) at the Hotel Catalinas Park, in the city of San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina, June 30, 2008. The ministerial conference of the 35th Summit of Mercosur opened here on Monday. (Xinhua/Juan Vittori) Photo Gallery>>>