WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(99)/ST/54
1 December 1999
(99-5275)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Third Session
Seattle, 30 November - 3 December 1999Original:  English
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Statement by H.E. Mr. Peter Brno
Deputy Minister of Economy
At the outset, allow me to express on behalf of the Slovak Republic thanks to the Government
of the United States for hosting the 3rd WTO Ministerial Conference and the possibility to visit the
beautiful city of Seattle.
This Ministerial Conference of the WTO has particular importance for the future development
of the multilateral trading system.  We have to make some important decisions with extraordinary
significance not only towards the multilateral tradin g system but also for economic growth in the new
Millennium.
We are convinced that the multilateral trading system , based on WTO rules and principles
could bring benefits to the world's citizens of all countries and could play a fundamental role in their
economic success and development.  We recognize the reality that the multilateral trading system
should be better organized and improved in many aspects, and shall be more liberal as well.  Our
attention and efforts in this respect should be particularly directed towards enhancing interaction
between the multilateral trading system and national economies.
We believe that the new round of negotiations  should be based on mutually agreed
principles, building up on our previous commitments and taking into consideration needs arising from
current world economic development, leading towards our common goal of sustainable economic
growth.  Postponing or failing to launch the new r ound of negotiations could bring disadvantages for
all of us.  It would encourage protectionism tendencies as well as stagnation in strengthening of the
multilateral trading system.
The Slovak Republic attaches high importance to the comprehensive  process of new
negotiations which in its wide scope offers a better balance of benefits to all WTO Members.
Particular consideration should be devoted to developing countries and countries in economictransitions, paying special attention to the least-developed countries.  We believe that the balanced
outcome of a new round of negotiations will help to narrow differences which still exist in the level of
tariff as well as non-tariff protection among the trade policy regimes of WTO Members.
We believe that to have a successful new round of negotiations leading to results mutually
accepted by all WTO Members, the key element of our future work must be transparency .
Transparency should mean that every single member  of the WTO shall be involved in the process and
shall have the possibility to express its views and concerns.  Having gone through a long and
complicated process of preparation for this Conference we have to express our feeling that
transparency was not always part of the preparatory process.  In this respect, I would like to highlight
the need to preserve the original spirit of this Organization based on transparency and consensus.WT/MIN(99)/ST/54
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For the Slovak Republic, as a small country extensively dependent on foreign trade, it is very
important to firmly anchor a multilateral trading system based on fundamental rules and principles of
liberal trade regime and high levels of market access commitments.
For the Government of the Slovak Republic there are five main premises:
1. Strengthening of the WTO multilateral system of rules;2. promoting the further liberalization of trade;
3. improving the integration of the developing countries into the multilateral trading
system;
4. addressing the deepening of interfaces between trade and related issues and policies;
5. achievement of balanced and satisfactory results for all parties.
Allow me now to highlight some issues.
We consider that the evaluation of the implementation  of existing WTO agreements and
realization of their objectives is an important issu e.  The problems encountered in implementation and
the consequent impact on trade and development prospects of Members has to be addressed in our
declaration.  In this respect, it is necessary to take into account the capacities and constraints of
developing countries.  The integration of developing countries into the multilateral trading system has
to be an integral element of our work.
The Slovak Republic provides through the General System of Preferences a duty-free access
to all imports coming from LDCs for many years.  In this respect we would also like to encourage
other WTO Members, especially industrialized countries, to make a similar contribution to the LDCs.
Agricultur e belongs to key issues where we have to find consensus acceptable to each
Member.  Therefore, I would like to reiterate that my country is committed by an obligation clearlylaid down in Article 20 and the Preamble to the Ag reement on Agriculture.  In this context I would
like to stress that it is very important to take into account the experiences and effects of implementing
reduction commitments, as well as non-trade concerns (e.g. food safety and rural development) given
by the specificity of the agriculture sector.
Notable consideration should be also given to the countries in transition , having their own
specific problems.  The number of the WTO Members in a transformation process is increasing. Next,
negotiations should take into account the particular problems of these countries, especially in the area
of agriculture.  Improved market access, as well as a substantial reduction in support, is of vital
interest to us.
The forthcoming negotiations should also cover all non-agricultural products , without
a priori exemptions and aimed at a substantial reduction of tariffs, to achieve further improvement in
market access.  The Slovak Republic is convinced that improved market access can be reachedthrough tariff harmonization and the simplification of the tariff structure, elimination of peaks and
reduced tariff escalation.  It is also necessary to reduce the scope of non-tariff barriers having  a
restrictive or distorting impact on trade.
Trade and environment  policies should play a mutually supportive role in favour of
sustainable development.  Environmental considerations should be taken into account through thewhole process of the future negotiations.WT/MIN(99)/ST/54
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The comprehensive round of negotiations should also involve negotiations related to trade
and investment, competition and trade facilitation .
At the end of my statement I would like to stress, that from the new Millennium prospective
we need to ensure economic growth with po sitive synergies between trade liberalization,
environmental protection and economic development.  We believe that our decisions will lead toincreased trade, investment, employment and prosperity from which all the WTO countries can
benefit.
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