. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/ST/108
13 September 2003
(03-4895)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth SessionCancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  English
FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Statement Circulated by H.E. Mr Ilija Filipovski
Minister of Economy
The Republic of Macedonia has recently become a Member State of the World Trade
Organization.  I as a Minister of Economy, at this moment, can emphasize that the Republic of
Macedonia as a Member State, through constructive  and responsible approach would do everything to
justify the confidence that the WTO Member countries has given to it.  I would also like to expressmy gratitude for the assistance and the support that the Republic of Macedonia has obtained in the
accession process by the countries participating in the Accession Working Party and the WTO
Secretariat.
The WTO accession is of great importance for the Republic of Macedonia.  In the period of
adjustment to the international trade rules and principles, the Republic of Macedonia will continue to
develop and strengthen the trade relations with the WTO Members.  The realization of the undertaken
obligations from the WTO Membership is not a simple task at all, but it is a process requiring
responsibility and work.
The effects of the entry of the Republic of Macedonia in this multilateral Organization are of
a long-term character for my country and l would like to mention just few of them such as:  increasingthe competition of goods and services, greater transparency and predictability in trade, increasing the
foreign direct investments, providing conditions for free trade and the Macedonian export acquires the
MFN treatment.
Regardless of the difficult conditions and the external problems, such as the political and
economic instability, the conflicts in the region, losing the traditional markets and the big reduction of
the foreign direct investments, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia has shown a great
persistence in its policy of rule of law and parliamentary democracy in the stabilization of the
economy, implementing the structural reforms and determination for WTO Membership.
In the light of that, the Republic of Macedonia, having in mind the undertaken commitments
of its Membership, is strongly convinced that with its active participation in the multilateral trading
system it will contribute for greater economic devel opment of the country.  In that context, I would
like to emphasize that the Republic of Macedonia, in the accession process, has already taken
significant commitments in the market access and du e to that, further new commitments in direction
of additional liberalization would cause serious consequences on the economic development of the
country and would create instability.
For Macedonia as a small economy and economy in transition, very important is also the
issue of development of the regional cooperation. and trade liberalization, which is in factcomplementary to the multilateral trading system.  In that direction, the Republic of Macedonia hasWT/MIN(03)/ST/108
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shown a success in promoting the regional cooperation and has concluded Free Trade Agreements
with its regional partners.  I would like to emphasize the importance of the Stabilization and
Association Agreement with the EU.  Also the Republic of Macedonia has undertaken obligations
with the Memorandum of Understanding for trade facilitation and liberalization, signed by the
countries of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe.
The positions of my Government with regard s to some outstanding issues of the Doha
Ministerial Declaration are result of the situation that the Republic of Macedonia is in.
As an agricultural country, with tradition of employment in the agricultural sector, the
agriculture in Macedonia is an important segment in the overall economic policy, which could
contribute to the economy growth, employment, protection of the national resources and regionaldevelopment.  Thus, we follow negotiations in this field with great interest.
As a result of the accession the Republic of Macedonia has lost the right to provide direct
export subsidies for the agricultural products.  This fact influences the competition of our products in
comparison to the subsidized products.  Thus, the Republic of Macedonia in principle supports theposition, for complete and accelerated elimination of all export subsidies.
We also support the initiative for introduction of multilateral system of notification and
registration of geographical indication for wines and alcohol's and at the same time we support the
idea for establishment of such a system and for the other products, marked by protected geographicindications.
As a country that has recently accessed and undertaken many concessions and commitments,
the Republic of Macedonia will not be in a position to accept new commitments and implement
further measures for additional liberalization on equal level with the countries that has accessed muchearlier.  On the basis of this, we endeavour for exemption of the new accession countries from the
application of the future commitments and future liberalization of the market access, both for
agricultural and non-agricultural products, in a reasonable period of time, i.e. to start implementing
them after implementing the previously taken accession obligations.  We also require special and
differential treatment in direction of lower percentage of tariff reductions and longer period of
implementation in the future liberalization, as well as maintaining the constant level of domestic
support in agriculture.
In the WTO accession process the Republic of Macedonia has not acquired the status of
developing country despite the relatively low level of development and size of the economy.  Due to
that the Republic of Macedonia supports the idea of introducing the criterion for classification of
members according to their level of development, and at the same time supports the discussion fordevelopment of special treatment of the developing countries.
The Draft Text of the Ministerial Declaration and the other documents, for which it is
necessary to enact decision, are solid basis for work here in Cancún.  The Republic of Macedonia will
give its contribution in the finalization of these documents, which would provide for establishment of
a working programme of interest for all Member countries.
I would like to conclude by using this opportunity to once again confirm the intention of the
Government of the Republic of Macedonia to be part of the multilateral trading system, which would
sec its future and protection of the individual interest through one well established legal systemenabled by WTO and by future multilateral trade negotiations.
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