WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/L/393
29 March 2001
(01-1566)
Original:  English
THE NINTH ISLAMIC SUMMIT CONFERENCE
Doha, Qatar
12-13 November 2000
Resolution No. 3/9-E(IS) on Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System
Communication from Qatar
The following communication, dated 26 March 2001, containing the text of Resolution
No. 3/9-E(IS) on "Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System", adopted by the Ninth Islamic
Summit Conference, has been received from the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar with the
request that it be circulated to Members.
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Resolution No. 3/9-E(IS) on Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System
The Ninth Session of the Islamic Summit Conf erence, Session of Peace and Development
"Al-Aqsa Intifada" held in Doha, State of Qatar, from 16 to 17 Shaban 1421H
(12-13 November 2000),
Recalling Resolution No. 6/8-E(IS) adopted by the Eighth Session of the Islamic Summit
Conference;
Recalling Resolution No. 3/27-E adopted by the Twenty-Seventh Session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers;
Reaffirming member States' commitment to progressive trade liberalization and cooperation
in strengthening the multilateral trading system;
Recalling the related decisions of the COMCEC which have the subject on its agenda as a
permanent item;
Appreciating the efforts of IDB and ICDT in assisting and appraising the member States on
matters related to WTO.
Recognizing that the effective functioning of the multilateral trading system is pivotal in
contributing towards enhancing growth and development;
Taking note that the Third WTO Ministerial Conference held in Seattle from 30 November to
3 December 1999, and the fact that the WTO has thus failed to adopt such measures as to resolveWT/L/393
Page 2
problems of concern to the developing countries for implementation of the Uruguay Round
Agreements;
Desiring that the multilateral trading system provide equitable benefits for all Members
through trade liberalization and fair rules;
1. Calls on OIC member States who have acceded to the WTO to support and facilitate
negotiations for the accession of the other member States which have not yet joined the WTO.
2. Urges the WTO and its member States to:
(a) facilitate the accession of all States to membership to ensure its globalization in
decision-making, emphasize the importance of clarity and transparency of
membership procedure, and avoid requiring states wishing to adhere to meet unfairrequirements or conditions beyond the commitments of member States with equal
status on the development scale;
(b) stress the need to ensure that political considerations should not impede the process of
accession to WTO;
(c) accord priority and urgency in addressing implementation problems;
(d) ensure that the agenda for further negotiations remains focused, balanced and
manageable, taking into account the limited resources and the level of development of
many developing countries, in particular the LDCs;
(e) strengthen the development dimension in multilateral trade agreements, including
operationalizing the special and differential treatment provisions such as extending
the transitional period in implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreement;
(f) reject the inclusion of non-trade issues, such as labour and environmental standards,
into the work programme of the WTO, give n its detrimental effects to the evolution
of a just, free and fair trading environment as reiterated by most WTO Members;
(g) ensure the availability of sufficient resources for technical cooperation activities to
assist developing countries implement WTO agreements and decisions;
(h) review the structure of the decision-making process of the WTO to ensure greater
transparency of the WTO process and ensuring effective participation of Members in
this process;
(i) ensure that technical assistance by WTO shall also contribute to capacity building in
developing countries, in particular the LDCs.
3. Commends the IDB for its sincere efforts to raise awareness among OIC member States of the
wide-ranging impact of the Uruguay Round agreements on economies.  In this respect, it calls on the
IDB to intensify its efforts to reinforce the building of the capabilities of member States including its
negotiating capabilities and preparing them fully for the negotiations of the coming multilateral trade
exchange system in the context of the WTO.
4. Urges the UNCTAD to undertake studies on the necessary measures to bring about a balance
in cost and benefits for the developing countries in adopting the new trade and economic regimes
taking into account their different levels of development and ability to compete.WT/L/393
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5. Calls on member States to consolidate their efforts and coordinate their position in
international organizations, in particular in WTO, World Bank and IMF.
6. Requests the ICDT as well as other competent organs of the OIC to further consider the
matter and submit periodic reports to the COMCEC and the related OIC fora.
7. Requests the OIC General Secretariat to convey the resolution to the WTO Director-General
and the Director General of UNCTAD and to report the developments arising therefrom, to Tenth
Session of the Islamic Summit Conference.
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