WT/MIN(17)/ST/118  
8 January  2018 
(18-0111) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original:  French  
 
  
STATE MENT BY H.E.  MR SULTAN CHOUZOUR  
AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF  THE UNION OF THE COMOROS  
IN GENEVA  
COMORO S 
(Speaking as an Observer)  
Like previous speakers, we wish to express our appreciation to  the Government and people of the 
Argentine Republic for their warm welcome  and for the significant efforts made to facilitate our 
work, reflecting their commitment to the WTO and its objectives.  
 
It is, moreover, encouraging to note that th is commitment is widely shared by the international 
community . This in itself is a great victory for multilateralism  within the framework of a global 
trade organization based on fair, equitable and agreed principles and rules . 
 
The Union of the Comoros adheres to those principles and has confidence in  the WTO as their main 
vector . We will therefore be leaving Buenos Aires with a sense of reassurance and optimism, and 
with a n even  stronger resolve to become a part of this great WT O family, whose official  accept ance 
of Comoros was a possibility  on the occasion of this Eleventh Ministerial Conference . However, 
since this is not yet the case, we will continue working towards achieving our objective during the 
course of 2018.  
 
In so do ing, we address a solemn appeal to all our partners,  and in particular the European  Union, 
to overcome the latest obstacles that have just recently appeared on the road to our accession.  
 
The Government is already working to put in place the legislative an d regulatory reforms that are 
required under the multilateral rules, and to modernize its administrative procedures and its 
economy in the interests of sustainable development.  
 
Bilateral negotiations have already resulted in the conclusion and signature o f bilateral agreements 
with Japan, Brazil and the Sultanate of Oman, while further negotiations are under way to secure 
the early signature of other bilateral agreements.  
 
These decisive results are the fruit of a firm and ongoing commitment on the part of  the 
Government of Comoros, led by the President of the Union of the Comoros, 
H.E. Mr Azali Assoumani, whose aim it is to make the WTO a lever for ensuring the emergence of 
the Comoros by 2030.  
 
However, in the interests of achieving this objective, and of  making progress  towards accession, 
we reiterate our appeal to all the partners, particularly those who are already supporting us.  
 
We are thinking in particular of Oman, China, the WTO, the UNDP, the Enhanced Integrated 
Framework, Switzerland  and Sudan , and of  Peru, through its Ambassador , 
H.E. Mr Chavez Basagoitia , the Working Party's able and valued Chairperson . We should also like 
to express our warm thanks to the Director -General, Mr Azevêdo , who has at all times been an 
attentive and accessible discu ssion partner.   WT/MIN(17)/ST/118  
- 2 - 
  We also know that we can now count on the support of the G7+ Accessions Group, a subgroup  
inaugurated , here in Buenos Aires on 1 0 December  2017, by a Ministerial Declaration of the Trade 
Ministers of the a cceding countries.  
 
And because we are convinced that our accession to the WTO will enable us to be more effective in 
combating poverty and pursuing sustainable economic development, every effort will be made to 
attain that objective.  
 
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