WT/MIN(17)/ST/117  
 
8 January 2018  
(18-0110) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  ANDREI YEUDACHENKA  
FIRST DEPUTY MINISTE R FOR FOREIGN AFFAIR S OF THE REPUBLIC OF  BELARUS  
BELARUS  
(Speaking as an Observer)  
On behalf of the Government of Belarus I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the 
Government of the Argentine Republic for the  warm hospitality and excellent arrangements in 
hosting this 11th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization as well as to the 
WTO Secretariat for smooth and efficient handling of the preparatory process.  
 
The MC11 has a very important role in preserving multilateral trading  system and building up a 
truly universal, inclusive and beneficial to all stakeholders set of international trade rules.  
 
In our view , there is a good potential for achieving concrete results during MC11 in a number of 
areas of the current WTO agenda. Among such areas we would like to highlight proposals on work 
programmes on electronic commerce and on micro, small and medium ent erprises (MSME). 
Belarus in its capacity as a WTO observer would like to express our support to the relevant 
proposals of the Group of Friends of the MSME and of the Russian Federation.  
 
As an acceding country we would like to emphasize again the importanc e of a rules -based and fair 
accession process. The terms of accession should be appropriate to the economic situation and 
development needs of the acceding countries. The accessions concluded under Article XII of the 
Marrakesh Agreement resulted in compreh ensive commitments that enrich the WTO and set new 
benchmarks, yet to be met by original Members.  
 
Taking this opportunity let me to reiterate Belarus'  pledge to  an early conclusion of the 
WTO Accession and becoming a full -fledged WTO Member.  
 
The year 2 017 was remarkable for Belarus'  accession since we believe we moved into a final stage 
of negotiations having produced an advanced version of a draft Working Party Report and having 
concluded 6 bilateral negotiations with the WTO Members. The Government of  Belarus is 
continuing WTO accession efforts and is currently working on a  new set of documents with the 
view to schedule next round of negotiations in early spring 2018.  
 
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our partners in the WTO whose effort s and goodwill 
were essential to secure substantial results in Belarus 's accession track. Let me assure you that 
the Government of Belarus is looking forward to demonstrate our commitment to the WTO and to 
contribute to strengthening of the rules -based mul tilateral trade system. We call upon the 
WTO Members to accelerate the Belarus ' accession process with the view to its conclusion before 
the next Ministerial Conference.  
 
Meantime, being a proud Member of the Eurasian Economic Union, Belarus continues to p lay an 
active role in trade liberalization by concluding preferential trade agreements. In 2017 we 
continued the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement with Vietnam and negotiations on FTAs 
with Israel, Serbia, Singapore, India, Egypt and Iran. A good progress is achieved in preparation of 
the comprehensive Trade and Economic Agreement with the People 's Republic of China. In total, WT/MIN(17)/ST/117  
 
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  around 40 countries have already expressed their interest to start free trade negotiations with the 
EAEU.  
 
Let me conclude  by once again wishing the MC11 a much needed success.  
 
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