WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(03)/11 
10 September 2003 
 (03-4728) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Fifth Session Cancún, 10 - 14 September 2003 Original:   Spanish 
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. PÉREZ DEL CASTILLO 
CHAIRMAN OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL 
 
 
 
 In Geneva, on 11 August, we embarked on the last stage in our preparatory process for this 
Ministerial Conference.  The work was done on the basi s of a skeletal Draft Mi nisterial Text which I, 
in my capacity as Chairman of Council, had submitte d on 18 July.  It had many gaps and lacunae and 
it reflected the situation we were facing, one marked  by a lack of concrete results and many unmet 
deadlines on a number of matters since the Doha Conference.  In addition, there were still highly divergent positions among Members on most topics and it was plain that it had not been possible to start a real negotiating process, particularly on key is sues for this Round, such as agriculture.  In short, 
we were facing a delicate situation a few weeks away from Cancún and the prospects of a successful outcome to this Conference were seriously jeopardized. 
 
 Since then, and in the past four weeks of this preparatory process, we have seen very 
encouraging changes.  Ambassadors and high-ranki ng officials in Geneva worked long and hard and 
new proposals were put forward that energized the process and made for substantive negotiations on 
all the items on the agenda.  A good climate prevaile d, along with a construc tive and flexible attitude 
among all Members, and there was a clear readiness and a joint effort to search for common ground 
and reach understanding on complex and politically sensitive matters.   I have to say, as Chairman of the General Council,  that I am satisfied with the process that has 
just ended in Geneva.  First of all, on account of the transparency and incl usiveness of the process.  
All Members, without exception, played a broad and active part in the daily open-ended meetings that 
were a feature of this process.  The transparen cy and inclusiveness of the process have built up 
confidence and credibility - an important factor that must endure and be reinforced during this Conference.   Secondly, obvious headway has been made in  the negotiating process.  The most important 
agreement is the one already mentioned on Intellectua l Property and Public Hea lth and I need add no 
more in this connection, except to say that it is ausp icious for the start of our negotiations in Cancún.  
But progress has not been confined to this area alone .  Following intensive wo rk, it has been possible 
to produce an initial package of 25 proposals on Special and Differential Treatment submitted by 
developing countries, and a commitment to pursue our work in this area.  In addition, signs have 
emerged from the preparatory stage of understandings  on texts concerning many other items to be 
taken up by the Ministers.  Progress has been made on other issues and the texts have reached a stage that will possibly make for agreement given a positive overall context.  It has also been possible to 
arrive at understanding on a framework approach  for agricultural modalities and non-agricultural 
market access.  However, it should be emphasized th at, as on the so-called Singapore issues, there are 
still great divergences among Members with re gard to the substance of these issues. 
 
 As the outcome of these long and intensive meeti ngs and consultations of  various kinds I have 
submitted to this Conference, on my own responsib ility and in close cooperation with the Director-WT/MIN(03)/11 
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 General, the Draft Ministerial Text that is now be fore you.  The Draft does not purport to be agreed 
upon in any part or as a whole and it is being s ubmitted without prejudice to the position of each and 
every Member State on any of the matters covered in the text.   I should have liked nothing better than to submit to the Ministerial Conference a document 
that met with consensus from everyone.  But you are aware that this has been impossible and that 
convergence or directions on crucial issues have not emerged to guarantee a new text leading to 
greater consensus than the document I am placing be fore you now.  We had to admit that we had gone 
as far as possible with the preparatory process in Geneva  and, ultimately, I have been compelled to act 
as I saw fit and assume the responsibility conferred on me as the Chairman.  I should like, once again, 
to thank all delegations for their intensive efforts in this regard. 
  The Draft Ministerial Text that I am submitti ng to you for your consideration, with all its 
deficiencies and imperfections, as well as its mer its, which have been duly emphasized and noted, is 
still in my opinion a manageable fra mework for the discussions of this Ministerial Conference, and it 
is my hope that it will be a useful contribution to the search for the understandi ng that is necessary for 
the success of the Conference.   In order for Ministers to be able to engage in  the negotiations fully aware of what happened in 
the preparatory process in Geneva, we have, together  with the Director-General, issued this Draft 
along with a letter in which we give as objective and comprehensible an account as possible of the 
divergences between negotiators in essential areas.  Th ey will certainly call for the priority attention 
of the Ministers and for considerable work in reach ing decisions acceptable to all parties.  To mention 
but a few, we have highlighted the differences th at still remain in connec tion with agriculture, in 
regard to both substance and pro cedures.  We have also pointed to the persistence of the main 
divergent positions on non-agricultural market acce ss.  We have also clarified some delegations' 
positions regarding possible modalities for the Singapore issues.  These do not, of course, constitute 
the only room for disagreement on the Draft Ministerial Text, but in our opinion they are the most significant and the ones that most call for further information for the Ministers. 
  In the whole of this preparatory process, and as I had announced on the very day I was appointed Chairman of the General Council, my ac tions have been guided by three main criteria: 
 
 First, faithfully pursuing the mandates agreed by our Ministers in Doha and maintaining the 
levels of ambition set for all negotiating areas, yet exercising, wherever possible, the requisite flexibility to help meet Members' most serious concerns and problems;  
 Second, ensuring that the development dimens ion is present in all negotiating areas and is 
clearly reflected in the results;   Third, seeking balance in the overall context of this Round and not in specific negotiating 
sectors or areas.  
 I sincerely believe that these three criteria ar e still fully operative in the overall exercise you 
are embarking on today, in the search for results th at will be acceptable and will be beneficial to all 
parties.   Without wishing to minimize the discrepanci es and problems you will be facing over the next 
few days, I am convinced that you have at your di sposal all the necessary in gredients to make this 
Conference an important and decisive stage in  completing the Round in accordance with the 
objectives and time-frames agreed on at Doha.  I am also  certain that you will, once again, be able to 
overcome difficulties flexibly and with the sense of responsibility required in the circumstances. 
  WT/MIN(03)/11 
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  I should like to end by thanking all Members, as well as the Director-General and all his team, 
for the enormous support I received in this preparatory stage.  My thanks go to you, President Fox, to 
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Derbez and to the G overnment and people of Mexico for acting as hosts 
at this important meeting and for their generous hospitality. 
 
 I should like to assure all Members that it has tr uly been an honour for my country and for me 
personally to have led this preparatory process and I should like to reiterate my unfailing readiness to 
continue here to support the Chairman of the C onference and all other Ministers in the important 
endeavour of making sure that this meeting is a success and will fulfil the legitimate expectations 
placed in it by so many millions of people. 
 
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