MOREPRESS RELEASE
PRESS/240
10 August 2001
(01-3960)
647 NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND THE
DOHA MINISTERIAL
The Director-General of the World Trade Organi zation, Mr. Mike Moore, today sent letters to
647 Non-Governmental Organizations confirming their eligibility to attend the 4th WTO Ministerial
Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November.  The NGOs have until 17 September to complete and return
their registration forms to the WTO Secretariat.
"I greatly welcome the serious and broad interest civil society is showing in the work of the
WTO", said Mr. Moore.  "Based on the information provided by NGOs before the official deadline of
2 July, and in line with criteria established by WTO Members, 647 organizations are eligible for
registration. These include NGOs from all parts of the globe and with interests spanning the full range
of WTO activities. I urge eligible NGOs to complete  the registration process as soon as possible and I
look forward to their positive contribution to the meeting in Doha."
"The Doha meeting takes place at a critical moment for the WTO", said Mr. Moore.  "It is a
key opportunity to build on the huge achievements of the multilateral trading system over the past
fifty years.  It is a chance as well to make the WTO stronger and more open, ready to play a fuller rolein international trade relations.  The input and involvement of NGOs is important to our shared
objective of a successful meeting. I welcome scrutiny from civil society, it is healthy and makes us
more accountable.  I welcome their engagement, it informs us and encourages us to do a better job."
The Director-General said the presence of NGOs in Doha would build on similar initiatives to
encourage greater interest and involvement in WTO work from political and civil society.  Mr. Moore
referred to a recent WTO Symposium in Geneva which gathered together more than 400 civil society
representatives to discuss issues confronting the world trading system.  He said this meeting showed
clearly that NGOs want to engage constructively and that they have important insights to offer.
Mr. Moore added that NGOs' enthusiasm could be an important source of strength for the multilateraltrading system.PRESS/240
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ENDMr. Moore expressed regret that only one representative per eligible NGO would be able to
attend the Doha Ministerial Conference.
"The high level of civil society interest in the Doha meeting is gratifying but left us with a
very difficult choice, either to limit the number of NGOs attending or limit the number ofrepresentatives per organization. In the end we decided to make arrangements so all eligible NGOs
could have a presence at the Conference."
"We will continue working closely with NGOs between now and Doha", said Mr. Moore.
"We will be seeking their comments and advice on appropriate activities at the Ministerial Conference
and beyond.  I want to encourage a debate on possible rules of engagement so we can enhance the
dialogue between civil society, international institutions and Governments. I know NGOs will haveideas they want to place in front of us too.  I look forward to a constructive engagement with NGOs in
Doha."
Notes:  The Members of the WTO have agreed that the 4
th WTO Ministerial Conference will be held in
Doha, Qatar, from 9 to 13 November 2001.  The Mi nisterial Conference is the topmost decision-
making body of the WTO.  It meets at least every two years and brings together all Members of the
organization.  The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters under any of the WTO
Agreements.  Previous Ministerial Conferences were held in Singapore (1996), Geneva (1998), and
Seattle (1999).
At its meeting on 8 May 2001, the General Council agreed specific procedures for registration and
attendance of Non-Governmental Organizations at  the Doha Ministerial Conference.  These
procedures were immediately circulated for the information of Members and were also placed on the
WTO website to inform interested NGOs on how to register for the Conference.  The information was
also disseminated widely in the Secretariat's re gular bulletins to NGOs and through other initiatives.
The deadline for NGOs to submit their requests for registration was 2 July.
The WTO's official webpages for the Conference can be found at www.wto.org.