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New Straits Times (Malaysia)

Israel and Monaco were supposed to be included in Annex VII to circumvent the Basle ban. This is because the ban only covers the export of hazardous waste from countries listed in Annex VII to countries not listed. It does not prohibit waste trading among countries in Annex VII. At present, Annex VII consists of states which are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Community and Liechtenstein. There is fear that the request will open the floodgates and allow other non-OECD countries to join in the list in order to be exempted from the ban.

A greenpeace official said the adoption of the proposal would only underscore the Convention's main principle to reduce hazardous waste generation. "Therefore, it is an injustice if Annex VII is allowed to be expanded to enable non-OECD countries to become dumping grounds for OECD countries." Basel Action Network's secretary Jim Puckett said if Israel and Monaco were allowed to join the list, other countries would also want to do the same.

"Some countries have suggested establishing criteria to consider the application for inclusion into Annex VII. However, they are ignoring the thrust of the amendments to the Convention, that developed countries are not suppposed to export their waste to developing countries at all," he said.

Israel and Monaco's issue is expected to generate a major debate at the Fourth COP. "It will be the most decisive issue," said Puckett. (Basle Action Network, represented by representatives from non-governmental organisations from countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Haiti, South Africa and the United States, was launched a week ago to push for the immediate ban on the export of hazardous wastes from developedcountries to developing nations.)

A few environmentalists also questioned Malaysia's stance on the Basle ban. Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia's advisor Gurmit Singh reiterated that Malaysia has yet to ratify the amendments to the Convention. An official from Third World Network said Malaysia should not break ranks with southern countries which had called for the ban. "Malaysia has to ratify the amendments in view of the stance it took in pushing for the ban in the previous meetings," he added. Sahabat Alam Malaysia's president S.M Mohd Idris, in a statement which was circulated to the media today said it was imperative that countries present at the Fourth COP, especially Malaysia as the host, to ratify the amendments. He said developing nations must protect its people by being united in the effort to halt the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes into their countries.