[Tradeban] FW: Media release re MoU signed with Qatar today

[Sabina]

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From: Glenys Oogjes [mailto:googjes at animalsaustralia.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, 17 July 2007 4:06 PM

Subject: Media release re MoU signed with Qatar today

 

Hi all,

See our media release issued this afternoon (below).  The Ministers release
is at - http://www.maff.gov.au/releases/07/07096pm.html

 

 

                             Tuesday 17 July 2007

                                 For immediate release 

 

Qatar live sheep export MoU another political charade

 

 

Animals Australia has asked Australians to see the signing today of an
Australia/Qatar Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for what it is - a piece
of paper that will do nothing to stop the ongoing and inherent suffering of
Australian sheep sent to Qatar and other Middle East destinations.  

 

The Qatar MoU, as with MoUs previously signed with 7 other countries that
import Australian live animals, is only designed to ensure live animals are
offloaded from a ship in the event of a trade or disease dispute.

 

Animals Australia Executive Director, Glenys Oogjes said, 

 

"These MoUs have no legal standing whatsoever. The Howard government
portrays these documents as guarantees against another Cormo Express
incident. Yet they offer no real protection to Australian animals. Egypt
proved how worthless these documents are."

 

Late last year Animals Australia investigators documented Egypt's complete
disregard for the conditions of the MoU signed between Minister McGauran and
the Egyptian Minister for Agriculture .   As a result no further animals
have been sent to Egypt.  

 

Earlier in 2006 Animals Australia investigators delivered to Minister
McGauran eye-witness and video proof of the abuse of Australian sheep in
Qatar being trussed, dragged and shoved into car boots - a common practice
in all the Middle East countries.

 

 "Minister McGauran knows only too clearly the real worth of these MoUs yet
he continues to laud them as 'animal welfare' achievements whilst
conveniently ignoring the barbaric treatment our animals receive in
importing countries," concluded Ms Oogjes.

 

Background:  

*	The MoU signed with Qatar relates only to a secure quarantine
holding facility being available in Qatar.
*	Some 192,000 Australian sheep were shipped to Qatar in 2006.
*	The MoU does not relate to compliance with OIE (World Animal Health
Organisation) animal handling/slaughter Guidelines (as attempted with
Egypt).
*	Videos and photos of Animals Australia's investigations to the
Middle East (in 2003, 2005/6, and December 2006) are available -
http://www.liveexport-indefensible.com/index.htm

 

For further information: 

Glenys Oogjes, Executive Director of Animals Australia - 041 431 2552 

or the Animals Australia office - 03 9329 6333.

 

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