WT/MIN(15)/ST/88  
21 December 2015  
(15-6815)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY MR NAGIB A. HAMIM 
ECONOMIC ATTACHÉ 
YEMEN 
Yemen delegation would like, first, to extend sinc ere appreciation to the Kenyan authorities for the 
excellent arrangements extended to hosting this tenth Ministerial Conference, and to congratulate  
H.E. Minister Amina Mohamed for her election as Chairperson of MC10 and the Honorable Deputies, whom we trust shall navigate this Session to a successful outcome. I equally would like 
to commend the WTO Director-General, the General Council Chairman, the three Ambassadors 
facilitators and the WTO Secretariat for their tireless effort and dedication throughout the challenging preparation process in Geneva. 
 
At the outset, Yemen Government renews its commitment to the rules-based Multilateral Trading system represented by WTO. As the most recently acceded Least-Developed Member, Yemen is 
keen to take its share of responsibility to maintain the integrity of this system and organization. 
MC10 is a unique occasion to take stock of different WTO functions, including negotiations under remaining Doha Development Agenda issues. Consequently, MC10 is expected to take actions to enhance work of the WTO on different important issues relevant to its wide membership, as well 
as the operationalization of the decisions of the Ninth Conference in Bali particularly on the LDCs 
priorities. It is quite timely to address some of the most pressing issues, concerns, and interests related to these least advantaged Members. 
 
Although the DDA negotiations have exceeded its or iginal intended time, one should recognize that 
considerable progress has been made over the years on several issues. The non-conclusion of DDA 
has clearly limited LDCs ambition to address some key impediments. Consequently, DDA continue 
to be a relevant unfinished business and needs to deliver on the development mandate. I am confident that with constructive political will, p r o g r e s s  s h a l l  b e  m a d e  t o  w r a p  u p  t h i s  t r a d e  
negotiations round in the very near future. Concluding the DDA would assist in delivering the 
needed trade contribution to world economy an d achieving the recently adopted Sustainable 
Development Goals. This shall also in turn clearly demonstrate the benefits and relevance of the Multilateral Trading System and WTO. 
 
In that respect, Yemen reaffirms the importance of continuing multilateral negotiations in Geneva with a view to finalizing the remaining DDA issues as soon as possible. Second, the focus on 
development and interests of developing and Least Developed Countries should continue to be at 
the forefront of the outcome of such negotiations. To that effect, Yemen associates with LDC Ministers and Arab Ministers declaration and communique, dated 14 and 15 December respectively. Yemen supports the introduction of the Arabic language in the WTO, calls for the 
acceptance of Palestine and the League of Arab States requests as observers to WTO as well as 
actions on different areas of priorities an d interests to members, especially LDCs. 
 
Since Yemen accession in June 2014, Seychelles and Kazakhstan have joined WTO. During MC10, 
two fellow LDCs shall sign their respective protocol  of accessions, namely Afghanistan and Liberia. 
Yemen welcomes the four friendly countries to the WTO family. Likewise, Yemen reiterates support 
for the early accession of other Arab, LDC and developing countries to WTO. We continue to 
believe that acceding countries should not be requested to undertake commitments and concessions that go beyond their respective levels of development and existing WTO principles and rules within a transparent and reasonable timeframe. In the meantime, we firmly believe that WT/MIN(15)/ST/88 
 
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  recently acceded LDCs should be treated equally as original LDC Members, particularly in terms of 
Special and Differential Treatment and the application of waivers in favor of LDCs.  Yemen fully appreciates the assistance of all international, regional and bilateral development 
partners, including through the Enhanced Integr ated Framework Programme which we celebrated 
its extension to a second phase for the benefit of LDCs. Meanwhile, Yemen continues to call for additional targeted technical and financial assistance particularly in the important post-WTO 
accession as well as post-crisis phase. Support to  Yemen, and indeed most recently acceded LDCs, 
is quite vital for commitments’ implementation purp ose that were quite ambitious in the case of 
those respective LDCs. It is equally important for their meaningful integration into the Multilateral 
Trading System and global economy. Yemen looks fo rward to seeing concrete steps in support of 
such crucial stage. For that matter, we welcome WTO Director General integrated initiative for a 
“post-accession Strategy” for Article XII Members, in particular for the newest acceded LDCs. We hope that Yemen shall benefit from this new facili ty, as soon as it overcomes the current adverse 
circumstances. 
 Last, I sincerely wish this Ministerial Conference all the success it deserves, and hope that we can 
accomplish the sought after outcome, with development dimension and concerns of LDCs at the 
heart of its results. Yemen is quite optimistic that the spirit of compromise that prevailed during Paris Climate Change Summit few days ago can inspire all to reaching a significant tangible outcome in Nairobi. This will be the best way to celebrate WTO twentieth anniversary.  
 
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