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Talks on Tobacco Treaty are Deadlocked in Most Contentious Areas With Less Than Two Days Remaining to Negotiate Developing Countries Hold Out for Comprehensive Ban on Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship as Wealthy Countries Attempt to Weaken Provisions FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACTS: GENEVA --As negotiations on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) draw near to their scheduled conclusion, the talks are deadlocked in some of the treaty's most contentious areas. Developing countries, where the tobacco epidemic is projected to hit hardest in coming decades, are holding firm to strong provisions, such as a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. A number of wealthy countries, led by the US, are trying desperately to weaken the treaty. Members of the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) are deeply disappointed that countries of the European Union, as well as Canada, Norway, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, are lining up with the US in opposition to strong language on advertising. "In the face of intense pressure, we are urging developing countries to maintain their resolve. Philip Morris, BAT and Japan Tobacco have identified countries of Africa, Asia and much of the developing world as expansion markets for their deadly products. These countries should be allowed to lead the way toward a strong treaty. Right now, wealthy countries are standing in the way of that progress" says Muyunda Ililonga of Zambian Consumers Association, a NATT member. The US is facing increasing scrutiny today, as three members of Congress are accusing the Bush administration of trying to persuade Saudi Arabian diplomats to help weaken the FCTC. Representative Henry Waxman, Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Lloyd Doggett wrote to President Bush regarding a letter sent from the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 8 February: "This diplomatic overture to the Saudis just one week prior to the final negotiating session can only be understood as an attempt to weaken the treaty&We urge you to reverse course immediately and support a strong tobacco treaty." (Click here to read letter in its entirety.) "The US is using every bullying tactic in the book to block real progress in these talks. Given the track record of the US, there is absolutely no reason to believe that our government will ever ratify the FCTC. As we come down to the wire, countries committed to public health must move ahead without lowering the bar so that the US can be included. At this point, allowing the US to have its way would be equivalent to allowing Philip Morris to determine the strength of the world's first public health treaty," says Kathryn Mulvey of Infact (US), a NATT member. The final round of FCTC talks is scheduled to end tomorrow. The treaty is scheduled to be adopted in May by the World Health Assembly. ### The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) includes 75 NGOs from more than 50 countries working for a strong, enforceable Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. NATT members at INB6 include: Center for Alternative Development Initiatives (Philippines), Consumers Association of Malawi, ConsumerVOICE (India), Environmental Rights Action (Nigeria), Infact (US), and Zambian Consumers Association.
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