We'd agree with the position that Amnesty has just described. But there's nothing intrinsically negative about trade growth. It may well carry a lot of benefits for countries that are able to experience it. But there is also no empirical evidence for the notion that democracy and human rights get a boost because of a trade agreement. It is for that reason that there should be a human rights assessment. You have here a particularly conflictive set environment and one that carries a tremendously high price. Our position is that we need to test the intuitive argument that democracy and human rights are going to get a boost from this agreement, that it's generally good to engage. This needs to be tested very carefully in circumstances where civil conflict is on the marquee, is the leitmotif of the region with which we are hoping to have a deal.
On April 30th, 2008. See this statement in context.