WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/103
12December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5295)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Statement byH.E. Mr.Karol Cesnek
Minister ofEconomy
Firstofall,Iwishtothank theGovernment ofSingapore foritsexcellent organization ofthis
Conference andforitswarm hospitality.
Ithasbeenaremarkable achievement reached inMarrakesh andnowweareheretomake
thefirstevaluation ofUruguay Round results which hasledtoestablishment ofWTO, anOrganization
oftrulyglobal importance.
ForSlovakia, asasmall country extensively dependent onforeign trade, ithadbeenaclear
signal ofthenewly born sovereign State tofirmly anchor amultilateral trading system intoits
fundamental trade policy objectives based onaliberal trade regime andhighlevels ofmarket access
commitments. Webelieve thatthese aretherightmeans forefficient resource allocations andproper
toolsforprogressive andeffective integration oftheSlovak Republic intotheregional aswellasthe
global economy.
Ourprincipal taskhereistomake athorough review oftheimplementation ofrespective WTO
Agreements, andanalyse thepositive impact ofnewly created rulesaswellasproblems Members may
befacing. Despite thecomplex andonerous transformation process, Slovakia issparing noefforts
toapply allWTO rules incorporated intodomestic legislative architecture.
Webelieve thatthebuilt-in agenda provides anexcellent opportunity toaddress further anumber
ofissues. Weunderstand theconcerns ofsome Members attheacceleration ofnegotiations envisaged
forthenextcentury andsupport those convinced thatthetime-frame agreed upon should bekept, to
enable thefullimplementation ofalready adopted commitments. Slovakia iscurrently mandated to
apply theoriginal implementation period forallcommitments, asageneral rule.
However, wewould liketostress thatthisisinevitable toconclude negotiating elements of
thestillpending agenda, particularly negotiations infinancial andbasic telecommunication services,
whichwouldsendaclearpositivesignalofourabilitytofindcompromisesevenforthemostcomplicated
andcontroversial matters. Theactive roleofSlovakia inthesenegotiations, where quality commitments
arebeing offered, isfurther confirming ourtrustinthepositive roleofliberal multilateral system.
Countries currently intheaccession process could substantially contribute totheuniversal nature
ofthisOrganization byaccepting theWTO rules andbyproviding meaningful market access
commitments.
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Weshare theviewofthesupportive roleofregional trade agreements, which areofessential
importance ofintensive integration efforts ofsmaller trading Members, including transition economies,
andmaybeconsidered asbuilding blocks contributing tonewliberalization initiatives where thewhole
multilateral system canbenefit. Since Slovakia isthepresiding country oftheCEFTA forthisyear,
Iwish, onbehalf ofitsmember countries, namely theCzech Republic, Hungary, Poland andSlovenia,
toexpress ourcommon positive assessment ofregional cooperation based ontheCentral European
FreeTrade Agreement. Weareconvinced thatCEFTA hasproved tobeagood example ofmutual
complementarity between regional andmultilateral trade liberalization.
Inspiteofthefactthatourprioritiesshouldbeconcentratedonaproperreviewofimplementation
aswellascontinuation andcompletion ofunfinished negotiations, weconsider avision tothefuture
asasignificant element ofWTO 'sability toreact promptly totherealities ofglobal economic
developments. Inthiscontext weshare theviewthatsome relevant issues aretobeaddressed with
theaimtokeepmomentum ofWTO, atleastindiscussing openly andexamining broadly those issues
which arefundamental formobilizing tools toreach globally sustainable growth.
Thereisundoubtedlyaclearlinkagebetweentradeandinvestment,whicharemutuallysupportive
andareplaying anever-growing roleintheongoing integration oftheworld economy. Asuitable,
extensive anddetailed analysis oftheeffects ofinvestment ontrade andeconomic growth, willbein
favour ofallMembers.
Theglobalization oftrade isleading togrowing concerns about barriers imposed by
anti-competitive practices limiting tradeliberalization achieved through multilateral negotiations. We
share theopenapproach topursue analytical work onmultidimensional competition policy aswellas
trade facilitation.
Slovakia recognizes fundamental human rights andisagainst theirmistreatment. Thisissue
requires deeper analysis oflabour standards, taking intoaccount macroeconomic relations prevailing
inindividual countries. Now, there istheresponsibility oftheInternational Labour Organization to
continue inmaking extensive examination, where aspecific working party isalready established for
thatpurpose.
Inconclusion, allow metoexpress ourreadiness toseekpositive solutions tocomplex and
controversial issues brought bygrowing universality ofthisOrganization, where consensual support
onsometimes different interests istobefound. Itis,however, amatter ofprinciple toaddress concerns
inatrulybalancedwaywiththesenseforcompromise,whereeachMemberwouldfind,atleastpartially,
reflections ofitspriorities.