WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(98)/ST/68
18May1998
ORGANIZATION(98-2083)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Second Session
Geneva, 18and20May1998
SUDAN
Statement Circulated byH.E. Ahmed Eltigani Salih,
(AsanObserver)
Onbehalf oftheSudanese delegation andonmyownbehalf Iwishtoexpress ourindebtedness
totheGovernment andpeople ofSwitzerland forthewarm hospitality thatwehaveenjoyed since our
arrival inGeneva. Wealsoextend ourdeepthanks toDirector-General oftheWorld Trade Organization
forhiskindinvitation tousandfortheexcellent preparations hisablestaffhavemade toensure a
productive andfruitful outcome forthisConference.
Today wecelebrate the50thAnniversary ofthemultilateral trading system. While weare
committed totheideals ofWTO andthegoals enshrined intheMarrakesh Agreement, wefeelthat
thebenefits formany African countries, especially theleast-developed countries inthiscontinent, from
theWTO 'sMultilateral Trade Agreements areyettobefulfilled. AsAfrican countries continue to
bebypassed bythebenefits ofeconomic andtradegrowth resulting fromtheglobalization oftheworld
economy, weregret tonotethatwitheachpassing daytheybecome further marginalized.
This 50thAnniversary ofthemultilateral trading system should beanoccasion forthe
internationalcommunity,particularlyourtradeanddevelopmentpartners,fordeepandgenuinereflection
onthechallenges andobstacles thatcontinue tostand inthewayofAfrica 'sactive participation in
global trade, withaviewtostrengthening theimpact oftheinitiatives already taken inawaythatwill
ensure timely andspeedy implementation.
Mydelegation welcomes theHigh-Level Meeting onIntegrated Initiatives fortheLDCs 'Trade
Development, heldinOctober 1997. Weappreciate thegreat efforts oftheWTO incollaboration
withother international agencies intheconvening ofthatmeeting, theoutcome ofwhich westilllook
forward tobeing fullyrealized. Wefeelthatalotmore needs tobedoneasregards thefullandspeedy
implementation oftheresults andcommitments emanating fromtheHLM, andthis,webelieve, will
onlyberealized ifthenecessary adequate budgetary andextrabudgetary resources aremade available.
WecallontheWTO andother trade-related agencies toassist usandtheother LDCs intheconvening
ofthecountry round tables todiscuss howtoimplement theresponse ofthesixagencies toourtrade
needs listpresented toHLM lastyear. Webelieve thatthese needs willonlybeofbenefit tousif
theyaretranslated intotangible andaction-oriented programmes.
LDCs 'goods andproducts should receive freeaccess inworld markets asrightly proposed
bytheSecretary-General oftheWTO inhisinaugural speech. They should berelieved from the
strenuous burden offoreign debts andfrom thehardships ofstructural adjustments. Furthermore,
theircapacity building efforts tocompete should bestrongly supported anddeveloped.
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Sudan iscurrently exerting serious efforts toaccelerate itsaccession process totheWTO.
Webelieve thattheWTO should attempt towork outmeasures toensure facilitation oftheaccession
ofallcountries wishing tojointhemultilateral trading system, especially theleast-developed countries.
Givenourinstitutionalandhumanresourceweakness,wefeelthatspecialandmoretransparenttreatment
should beaccorded toLDCs seeking accession, andthatevery effort should bemade toensure that
theyarenotover-burdened withmore obligations thanthose originally undertaken byWTO Member
countries.
Inconclusion, letmeemphasize thatglobalization entails challenges andopportunities forall
countries. Itisnecessary thatweshould endeavour toensure thatthebenefits accruing from
globalizations should bemaximized toinclude those threatened byfurther marginalization, andthat
every genuine effort must beexerted tominimize thelosses thatmight affect them.
There isanAfrican saying thatsays: "Cross theriverinacompany, andthecrocodile will
noteatyou". Letushopethatwewillstand together tofacethechallenge ofglobalization inthenext
Millennium.
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