PRESS RELEASE
PRESS/307
1 August 2002
(02-4285)
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
WTO General Council pays tribute to D-G Mike Moore's leadership
as his term ends
WTO ambassadors, representing different inform al groupings, thanked Director-General Mike
Moore for his efforts, sense of responsibility and his commitment to the work of the organization.
They were responding to his farewell speech to the WTO's General Council on 31 July, in which hestressed the need for urgency in the negotiations of the Doha Development Agenda to raise living
standards, in particular among poor countries.
"Negotiating structures are in place and substantive work is well underway," Mr. Moore, who
leaves office at the end of August having completed his three-year term, told ambassadors and
other representatives of Members of the WTO. "It is now up to negotiators to work withcommitment and flexibility to realise the benefits offered by the multilateral trading system."
He stressed that the Doha Development Agenda was urgent because more than half of the world's
population continued to live on less than US$2 a day and a successful conclusion to the round can
help lift billions of people out of poverty. "This agenda is about them", said Mr. Moore, who
became Director-General in September 1999. "Our greatest motivation is the people we serve."
Mr. Moore told delegates he was proud of what ha d been achieved together over the past three
years.  "Confidence in the system is restored afte r the setback of Seattle. We have maintained our
core focus on trade liberalization but also placed development issues and the interests of our
poorer Members rightfully at  the centre of our work".
"Our outstanding success in launching a new round of trade negotiations in Doha last year has
opened up enormous possibilities to advance the conditions of people throughout the world."
Mr. Moore noted that, since Doha, the WTO had become much more inclusive to facilitate the
participation of the poorer Members through technical assistance and capacity-building; had
become more transparent and accountable; had de veloped closer cooperation and coherence with
international and regional agencies, and made real progress in enhancing the image of the WTO
and engaging civil society, as well as strengthening the Secretariat to better assist Members.
On behalf of the Asia group, the Ambassador of Indonesia Ms. Halida Miljani, showed her "deepest
appreciation for his impressive  stewardship in giving the WTO a fresh impetus and purpose".
She also praised, as Mr. Moore's most notable achievements, "the efforts he has deployed to
develop the focus on technical assistance and capacity building with a view to assist Least-PRESS/307
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Developed and developing countries to better part icipate in the various negotiations and in the
multilateral trading system".
The Ambassador of Zambia, Mr. M.B. Bowa, on beha lf of the Least-Developed Countries, said the
WTO had experienced a welcome metamorphosis thanks to the "tremendous contribution" of theDirector-General. He thanked his "tireless campaign" among donors to mobilize resources and his
"unwavering desire to assist LDCs and elevate their profile at the WTO."
The Ambassador of Panama, Mr. Romel Adames, coordinator of the group of Latin American and
Caribbean countries, expressed his "sincere expression of gratitude" because during his tenure of
office, Mr. Moore "has made an unforgettable impact in this organization."
The Ambassador of New Zealand, Mr. Timothy Groser , on behalf of developed countries, said that
Mr. Moore had led the new round, "the jewel on the crown" of his mandate. "You can leave thisinstitution feeling that you have not only done a very good job, but we are going to succeed with
the Doha Development Agenda that you so ably put together."
The new Director-General, Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi , begins his three-year term on
1 September 2002.
END