WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(99)/ST/89
2 December 1999
(99-5280)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Third Session
Seattle, 30 November - 3 December 1999Original:  English
GREECE
Statement by H.E. Mrs. Rodoula Zissis ,
Deputy Minister of National Economy
First, I would like to thank the United States Government for hosting the third WTO
Ministerial Conference, here in the very beautiful city of Seattle.
At the very outset, on behalf of the Greek delegation and on my own behalf, I would like to
convey our deep appreciation to the people of the United States, the authorities of the State of
Washington and the Seattle Host Organization for the generous hospitality extended to us and the
excellent arrangements made for this important meeting.  (Moreover, personally, I feel delighted to be
in this beautiful state, having a capital, with the Greek name).
We have gathered here, to launch the Millennium Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations,
by further trade liberalization and strengthening the world trading system, to the maximum degree to
the sustainable development, to the welfare of our citizens, to the achievement of full employment, to
the protection of the environment, to all other obje ctives that are enumerated in the preamble of the
agreement establishing the WTO, as well as to any other emerging new issues.
From the outset, I have to underline, that if we are going to have fruitful negotiations, the
Millennium Round must be comprehensive subject to a single undertaking.  Only in this regard, we
can secure that the interest of all participants, will be taken into account and that the intended results
will be balanced and equitable, taking into consideration the recent economic and technological
developments and the actual economic environment.
In my view, it is amazing how many lobbying groups and trade unions and NGOs have come
to Seattle, looking to the WTO Ministerial Conference to agree to launch a new comprehensive round
of negotiations, including the priorities of the investments, the services, the environment, the
competition and the labour standards, as the human and social face of the WTO.
Since the world's contemporary problems – war and conflict, mass migration, environmental
degradation – are rooted in poverty and inequality, we have to discuss the biggest moral issue facing
the world and the greatest threat to the future security and stability of the planet.
Due consideration should be given to the needs of developing countries and especially LDCs.
We shall make any possible effort to ensure that these countries get a due share in the growth of
international trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development.  Emphasis should be
given to the provision of the appropriate technical assistance and to the enhancement of their capacity
building.  Equally it is important for the well fu nctioning of the world trading system the accession to
the WTO of all candidate countries, as long as they fulfil the necessary conditions.
Allow me, Mr. Chairman, to make a couple of brief comments on some particular issues.WT/MIN(99)/ST/89
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In relation to agriculture, there are several points that I would like to stress.  The continuation
of agricultural policies reform, is a fundamental objective.  However, as we all have accepted, this is a
long-term objective.  Therefore, it has to proceed at the appropriate pace and gradually so as to be
sustainable, valuable and acceptable by civil society in general and by agricultural producers in
particular.  In this regard, it is important, on the one hand to retain a certain level of flexibility inconducting agricultural policies, and on the other to secure that farmers will be able to develop their
activities within a stable environment with regard to the evolution of agricultural policies.  It is for
that reason, that we consider the issue of legal security, as being of high significance.  Another
equally important issue that should be taken fully into account, is the specific characteristic of
agriculture and especially its multifunctional role, in particular with regard to rural development, food
quality and safety, food security and the protection of the environment.  Food safety and food quality
are two important objectives in the area of agricultural policies.  Radical technological innovationsand income growth raise the concerns of civil society, about the safety of food and the ways food is
produced.  Governments must react as appropriate to these legitimate consumers concerns and this is
an important issue, that has to be addressed during the negotiations.
Agriculture contributes to rural development by various ways.  A powerful instrument to
enhance this contribution and indeed the food quality, is the establishment of an effective system to
protect geographical indications, including the protection of traditional agricultural products.  By this,
we may offer considerable opportunities to rural peop le to remain in rural areas, to diversify their
agricultural production, to develop new activities, based on the local processing of high quality
products and therefore to set rural areas on a sustainable development path.
With regard to the services sector, its further liberalization constitutes a key issue.  The
sectoral coverage of many schedules is small and many of the commitments which do exist, are
subject to important limitations.  To obtain the fu ll benefit of the Agreement on Trade in Services, we
must work towards great expansion concerning the number and the coverage of commitments,including the possible removal of existing limitations.
Greece maintains a general trade liberalizing policy in the services sector.  We consider that
the removal of trade barriers, promotes the competition and thus the efficiency in the production and
supply of services, as well as the overall improvement of economic efficiency.  Therefore, we hope
that this round will focus overwhelmingly to higher levels of commitments both on market access and
national treatment.  The negotiations should also aim at strengthening of GATS disciplines with the
objective of ensuring transparent and predictable regulatory environment.
Further liberalization and globalization must be manageable.  The improvement of market
access, only, is not enough to achieve social and economic development.  Therefore, for the new
issues that are emerged, new rules and disciplines are needed.  Certainly, before agreeing on new rulesand disciplines a deep examination of all aspects involved has to take place.  We understand the
concerns expressed by several partners and we believe that exploratory work is necessary before
starting negotiations for the establishment of new rules.  Indeed, new rules must not be a pretext for
protectionism.
Concerning trade and core labour standards, we believe that it is necessary at this stage to
create a joint ILO/WTO forum of dialogue to bett er understand each others concerns.  However, in
relation to the environment, we believe that after many years of intensive exploratory work, we are in
a position to start now negotiations.WT/MIN(99)/ST/89
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In this respect we would tend a particularly receptive ear to the views of NGOs.  Their
massive presence here, on the occasion of this conference, underlines the increasing attention that
civil society and our citizens are paying to the issue relating to the protection of the environment and
to the sustainable development.  Investment and competition issues are, also, two other areas, on
which we are ready to undertake negotiations, with a view to ensure transparency and consistency inthe application of domestic regulations.
As final "users" of the multilateral trading system, we are all determined to see WTO succeed
in its mission, which is to prove that the framework of rules is indeed to create fair competition and to
allow all the partners to carry on their activities and develop new ones and to ensure that liberalization
of trade and investment maximizes realization of the aspirations shared by all, as citizens and
consumer, in terms of a free and fair international trade, can improve living and working conditions,health and safety and sustainable development.
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