WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/43
10December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5212)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Original: English
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
KUWAIT
Statement byH.E. Mr.Jassem Abdullah Al-Mudhaf
Minister ofCommerce andIndustry
Itgives megreatpleasure toextend toyou,onbehalf oftheGovernment oftheStateofKuwait
andmyself, mysincere congratulations onyourelection totheChair oftheFirstMinisterial Meeting
oftheWorld Trade Organization. Ialsowishtooffer mycongratulations totheOfficers ontheir
election, wishing youevery success inyourendeavours.
Iampleased tooffer mycongratulations totheWTO Secretariat foritsstrenuous efforts in
theexcellent preparation ofthisConference. Ialsowishtoconvey totheGovernment ofthefriendly
Republic ofSingapore anditshospitable people theappreciation oftheGovernment andpeople ofthe
State ofKuwait forhosting thisimportant Conference.
WemeethereatthisConference ontheeveofanewyear, anoccasion celebrated bytheentire
world, anditismypleasure towishyouonbehalf ofourdelegation andmyself averyhappy and
prosperous year, ayearfullofblessings andpeace forallpeoples oftheworld.
TheState ofKuwait acceded totheGATT Agreement in1963, prompted byitsfirmbelief
intheimportant roleofinternational organizations andworld cooperation intheliberalization and
globalization oftrade, abelief heldbytheStateofKuwait sinceitsindependence in1961. Ouradherence
totheprinciple offreetrade wasanembodiment ofthisbelief, andanapproach which realized for
thepeople ofKuwait thegreater partoftheiraspirations. Ithasalsoled,since independence, tothe
establishment ofnumerous economic institutions whose far-reaching activities transcend thefrontiers
ofthecountry. Popular control isexercised byMajlis ElUmma (Parliament), withrepresentatives
ofallsegments ofsociety, freely elected bythepeople inaccordance withtheConstitution promulgated
in1961. AConstitution which guarantees andsafeguards thefreedoms thatallpeoples strive toenjoy.
TheParliament isplaying asignificant roleinmaintaining thisapproach, ofwhich theutmost benefit
isthedistribution ofwealth andservices toallcitizens andresidents ofvarious nationalities inKuwait
inanequitable manner, andeveryone wasabletoearnadecent living andleadalifeofdignity.
EventshaveprovedKuwaitrightinadoptingthisapproach,astheworldwitnessedintheeighties
andearly nineties howcountries were pursuing theprinciple offreeeconomies asasubstitute for
economic theories thatfailed inthepreceding fiftyyears toachieve theaspirations ofthese nations
inleading alifeofwell-being andprosperity.
TheStateofKuwaithadthehonourofbeingsignatorytotheUruguayRoundandtheDeclaration
Establishing theWorld Trade Organization inMarrakesh on15April 1994; itembarked, along with
therestoftheworld, onanewerawhere theimportance ofthemarket ofproducts andservices assumed
moreglobaldimensions.TheStateofKuwait,adevelopingcountry,recognizedfromtheverybeginning
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theimportance ofenhancing cooperation inthefieldoftrade withcountries andpeoples oftheworld,
especially thedeveloping countries. Itconcluded bilateral andregional agreements, issued lawsand
legislation, andestablished institutions toconsecrate thisapproach.
Ourpresent meeting isconvened onlyafewmonths aftertheNinth United Nations Conference
onTrade andDevelopment heldinthefriendly Republic ofSouth Africa, which called initsFinal
Statement fortheenhancement oftheroleofWTO andthetradesystem based onsupporting economic
liberalization andstrengthening theprinciple ofpartnership andcooperation between developing and
developed countries.
Wehavetotakeacloser lookatourprogress overthepasttwoyears, andtorecall whatwas
achieved attheMarrakesh Meeting sothatwecould work together toconsolidate thegains realized,
patiently address theweaknesses andshortcomings, consider thecauses thereof andalleviate the
consequences.We,asadevelopingcountry,hopetorealizesomeadvantagesfollowingtheestablishment
ofWTO, butweshould understand thattheliberalization ofworld markets hastobeamajor incentive
fordeveloping countries torevise theirtrade system andlegislation withtheaimoffacilitating the
development oftheireconomic institutions soastopartake ofworld trade, andtoupgrade theirindustrial
output andproducts inorder tocompete withforeign products intheirdomestic markets. Wepinhopes
onsupport fromdeveloped countries fortheendeavour ofdeveloping onestoenhance, byallavailable
means, theircapabilities, particularly theirtechnological capabilities toachieve these goals.
TheStateofKuwait isanactive member oftheCooperation Council oftheArab GulfStates,
founded through theunanimity ofSixArab States oftheArab Gulfin1980. Thebelief ofthe
governments andpeople ofthese States inthesystem offreeeconomy derives fromourTrueReligion
andourlongheritage, which ledtotheconsolidation ofourlongheritage, which ledtotheconsolidation
ofourcommercial linkswiththepeople oftheancient world, linksthathavecontinued intothepresent.
Theresponse ofourStates injoining theOrganization wasonlynatural, therefore, andinkeeping with
theaspirations ofourpeople andwiththeirpasthistory; inaddition totheState ofQatar, theState
ofUnited ArabEmirates hasalsojoined theOrganization. WehopethattheKingdom ofSaudi Arabia
andtheSultanate ofOman would alsobecome Members oftheWTO soon.
Please allow meinthename ofhumanity toaskyouthatwework together inorder tofree
ourPOWS whoarebeing heldintheIraqiprisons without justification, andastheyears passbytheir
suffering grows along withtheirsonsanddaughters whoarewaiting fortheirfathers, andwives who
arewaiting fortheirhusbands.
TheGovernor ofKuwait willnever forget yourgovernments 'stands during theIraqioccupation.
Iamcalling uponyoutoday aswearenearing theendofthisyeartoputanendtooursuffering
sowecancelebrate together thenewyearwiththereturn ofourPOWS anddetainees andallthestolen
properties totheirrightful owners.
Iwishyouallevery success, andpeace beupon you!