WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/118
12December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5290)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
UKRAINE
Statement byMr.Sergiy Osyka
Minister ofForeign Economic Relations andTrade
Firstofall,Iwould liketoexpress mysincere gratitude tothehostoftheFirstWTO Ministerial
Conference, theGovernment ofSingapore, forthewonderful organization ofthisConference.
Iwould alsoliketothank WTO Director-General, Mr.Renato Ruggiero, andtheWTO
Secretariat foranexclusively important contribution theyhave made intothepreparation ofthe
Conference. Thiswillundoubtedly facilitate thesuccess andefficiency ofthisevent.
Itisagreat honour formetospeak atsuchanoutstanding forum, thehistorical importance
ofwhich iswithout anydoubt, because itisgoing tobethefirsttimesince theestablishment ofthe
WTO thatacomprehensive andall-embracing high-level analysis ofdevelopments inworld tradewill
bemade, andwhen thefulfilment ofmultilateral commitments within theframework oftheworld trade
system willbeassessed.
Onthethreshold ofthe21st century webecame witnesses tofundamental historical
transformations bothinthepolitical situation, andinthesphere ofworld economy andtrade. For
thelastfewyears, general trends inthedevelopment ofthissphere were characterized bydramatic
changes intheworld economic system, particularly withglobalization andliberalization oftheworld
trade system.
Thecompletion oftheUruguay Round andtheestablishment oftheWTO opened new
opportunities forthedevelopment ofbothinternational cooperation, andeachcountry individually.
Itaswellbecame theincentive forfruitful partnership inthename ofstability, global development
andfurther liberalization ofworld trade.
Despite thatmycountry isgoing through acomplicated stage ofeconomic development at
present, Ukraine isstriving foranorganic accession totheworld tradesystem, isapplying tremendous
efforts toimplement theprogramme ofconsistent economic reforms, coordinated withtheInternational
Monetary Fund andtheWorld Bank, andaimed atconsiderable liberalization offoreign tradetreatment
inorder toharmonize itwithGATT/WTO requirements.
Recently, important events havehappened inUkraine 'spolitical andeconomic life,andthey
reconfirmed thestability ofdemocratization andmarket transformation policy. TheVerkhovna Rada
hasadopted anewConstitution, andtheGovernmental Programme for1997hasbeenapproved. The
newProgramme, aswiththeprevious ones, determines thatUkraine 'saccession totheWorld Trade
Organization isapriority component oftheprocess ofeconomic transformations.
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Atthepresent stage ofmarket transformations, Ukraine 'smembership intheGATT/WTO
system, which isthemostcomprehensive reform oftheworld trade system everimplemented, isof
anutmost importance forensuring thestability andeffectiveness offoreign trade. Itwillpositively
influence theprocess ofUkraine 'sjoining theworld economic environment, andhelpgetridofthe
"trade outsider" status inrelations withthemost developed countries oftheworld.
Forthispurpose, theGovernment ofUkraine hasapproved a1996-1997 PlanofActions, which
foresees toppriority measures toensure Ukraine 'saccession toGATT andjoining WTO, andonthe
basis ofthisPlan, ministries andagencies worked jointly, inparticular, tofinally bring thenational
foreign economic lawintoaccordance withGATT/WTO requirements.
Iwould alsoliketoinform youthatthree meetings oftheWorking Party havealready been
heldwithin theframework ofUkraine 'saccession totheGATT/WTO system.
Theparties havealready discussed themajor aspects ofUkraine 'sforeign trade treatment.
During thelastmeeting heldinJune1996, theConcept ofTransformation ofCustoms Tariffs ofUkraine
hasbeenaccepted, anditwillbethebasis forfurther bilateral andmultilateral negotiations ontariff
concessions. Proceeding from theresults ofthismeeting, andincompliance withArticle XIIofthe
WTO Agreement, inthenearest future theUkrainian Government willconcentrate onbilateral
negotiations onguaranteed reciprocal access tomarkets ofgoods andservices.
Thus, Ukraine hasentered thefinalphase oftheaccession process, andwehopethatitwill
besuccessfully completed.
Realizing thenecessity ofcomprehensive integration ofdeveloping countries andcountries
withtransitional economies intothemultilateral world system ofrights andcommitments, Ukraine
isapplying efforts inorder toovercome difficulties naturally arising intheprocess ofharmonizing
itsdomestic lawwithrelevant requirements ofWTO Agreements, andundertaking commitments with
respect tomarket access. Andhereweexpect ourtrade partners tounderstand ourdesire tofillthe
notion ofan"economy intransition" withconcrete juridical andeconomic meaning.
Ihopethatfinallythesuccessofcountrieswithtransitionaleconomieswillsignificantlycontribute
tothesettling ofastable andsafeclimate ininternational relations.
Itisdoubtless thattheabove willgreatly depend upon theresults ofthisConference, further
development oftheWTO, implementation ofdecisions taken during theUruguay Round, creation of
guarantees ofthewell-being ofourcountries, promotion ofinvestments andgeneral liberalization of
foreign trade.