Brussels, 19/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 18 October, the European Commission reacted with cautious optimism to the commitment by the heads of the South African, Brazilian and Indian governments Thabo Mbeki, Lula da Silva and Manmohan Singh, who had met the previous day in Pretoria, to contribute to the conclusion of a multilateral agreement that was “fair and acceptable to all”. In a joint statement, the three leaders acknowledged that the Falconer/Stephenson compromise texts on agriculture and industrial goods (NAMA) formed “a good basis for negotiations”. They said, however, that, if the deadlock was to be broken, the rich countries would have to open up their protected agriculture markets. “The development imperative should not be linked with meeting the disproportionate demands by developed countries in the industrial goods and services negotiations,” they added. “The outcome of the summit seems to be positive,” commented Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson's spokesman Peter Power on Thursday, before going on to welcome the decision of the South African, Brazilian and Indian leaders “not to step outside the process as defined by the chairs' texts”. “We hope that all negotiators in Geneva will actively engage to see this process through,” he added. The developed countries want further concessions on NAMA from the emerging countries (see EUROPE 9518 and 9524). (E.H.)