Thursday, July 7 2005 14:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Gleneagles (Scotland): India will firmly oppose, the moves by developed countries to erect non-tariff barriers under the garb of promoting clean energy and arresting climate change at the G8 summit here today (July 7,2005).

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is in Scotland to attend the summit as a special invitee, will have separate meetings with leaders of China, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico, the other four guests, before their meeting with G8 leaders.

Subsequently, the Prime Minister will articulate developing countries stand to press for "common and differentiated responsibility" to deal with climate change and sustainable development, official sources said.

India would utilise the opportunity to send a clear-cut message to the industrialised nations, that in an era of globalisation, everybody should avoid any kind of protectionist measures in the shape of non-tariff barriers.

India will also demand that the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) be relaxed for use of cleaner technology along the lines of the concessions given for dealing with HIV/AIDS menace.

Singh will have separate meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac during the day, where, issues of common concern are expected to figure.

Lots of Issues to discuss

Leaders from the eight leading industrialised countries (US, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Russia and the UK) and four special invitees will deliberate on contentious issues like climate change, pulling Africa out of debt trap and global trade.

On the issue of environment, US President George W Bush has made it clear that; Washington would not be part of any Kyoto-style pacts on greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, UK is trying to reach a compromise on the issue by stressing commitment to eco-friendly technology to cut down greenhouse emissions.

Leaders from India, China, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa (the world's five emerging economies known as G-5) will join the discussions on climate change where representatives of the International Monetary Fund, World Trade organisation and World Bank will also be present.

According to sources, several countries, notably France, are expected to push for an agreement on an action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

British Chancellor Gordon Brown said last night that, it was vital to develop a new strategy to tackle global warming which had the support of countries such as India and China as well as the US.

Another key area of discussion will be the state of the world economy, particularly efforts to reduce global trade barriers.

Anti-poverty campaigners are hopeful that the US may make some concessions in this area, curbing cotton and sugar subsidies, which critics claim will distort world prices and harm producers in developing countries.

However, President Bush has said that reform of US farm subsidies has to be tied to an overhaul of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

The G8 leaders will also discuss a range of foreign policy issues including Iraq and the Middle East peace process during the summit.