A/HRC/9/17 page 9 task force’s reference to the Inter-American Development Bank, Argentina and other delegations expressed the view that debt should be examined as a global issue rather than a regional one, and that it was important to evaluate a global partnership in relation to that subject. 25. In response to a query regarding the lack of reference in the task force report to the target of Millennium Development Goal 8 relating to trading and financial systems, Mr. Marks explained that the issue of trade was partially dealt with in the review of the Cotonou Agreement and in examining economic partnership agreements. Financing development was also covered by the task force, which hoped that the criteria developed in that respect would be relevant in evaluating trade and finance. 26. Concerning geographical expansion, the task force recommended a dialogue with MERCOSUR with a view to broadening the work of the task force thematically and regionally, as the modus operandi of this partnership combined trade, development and human rights issues. It was requested that the task force send a formal invitation to MERCOSUR to consider entering into a dialogue and the scope of such a dialogue, on the contributions of this partnership to the realization of the right to development and to the criteria refinement. 27. Commenting on the progressive development and refinement of the criteria, a number of delegations, including Cuba (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement), Egypt (on behalf of the African Group) and Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference) expressed concern that there was too much emphasis on national obligations and responsibilities, while the principles of international cooperation and assistance were neglected. They requested an expansion of the scope to cover international cooperation, international trading and financial systems, including free trade agreements, official assistance for development, debt relief, elimination of poverty, technology transfer, capacity-building and other issues identified in Millennium Development Goal 8. 28. Cuba (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement) requested the task force to develop the criteria in a manner that reinforced the international dimension of the right to development, including the external obstacles to development faced by States which limit their capacity to ensure the full implementation of all human rights for all, notwithstanding that the lack of development may not be invoked to justify abridgement of international human rights law obligations assumed by States. 29. In response to the request by the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group for specific comments on the criteria contained in annex II to the task force report, some delegates shared a view that the criteria had conceptual problems and their formulation lacked clarity. It was also suggested that they could be more concrete and practical so that they could help to measure progress. It was also noted that the criteria should not expect all partnerships to have been conceived to advance human rights or the right to development in particular. Some of the criteria, such as the extent to which a partnership establishes priorities that are responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized segments of the population, with positive measures to realize their human rights, were said to be difficult to apply to all the partnerships. 30. The European Union, Switzerland and other delegations believed that the process and the work of the task force were proceeding in the right direction, and commended the work of the