. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/GC/134 
27 October 2011 
 (11-5404) 
General Council 
26 October 2011 Item 4(b) Original:   English 
 
  
STATEMENT BY THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 
  
 The following statement made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the General Council 
meeting on 26 October 2011 under "agenda  item 4(b)", is being circulated to Members at the request 
of that delegation. In addition, at the request of the delegation, the letter referred to in the statement is 
also reproduced below.  
_______________ 
  
On Behalf of the Arab Group, I would like to br ing to your attention the Group's letter to your 
Excellency, dated 
24th October 2011, which expresses the decision of the Arab Group Heads of 
Delegations, and I read part of it : 
 
"However , given that the final consideration of the LAS request would be subject to your 
consultations with Members, for whic h a decision would be taken by the 15th of November 2011, the 
Arab Groups clear and unequivocal position on repeating past practices wi th respect to the 
participation of IGO's in the WTO's Ministerial Conferences, inc luding MC8, would be contingent on 
the favourable consideration of the LAS request to dismiss any manifestation that discrimination is 
tolerated in the rules based multilateral trading system. Therefore we would not be in a position, 
before November 16th 2011, to agree to repeat past prac tices until it become s clear that the 
request of LAS has been accepted . 
 
Furthermore, we believe that all Intergovern mental Organizations should be treated on an 
equal footing, and that the process of considering their participation in MC8 should remain a 
technical , transparent and objective one and that the scr eening process be undertaken on the basis of 
Annex III of the rules of procedure of the Ministerial Conference .  
 Finally , we would like to recall that the LAS ha d in fact maintained permanent obser ver status 
under GATT 1947 and plays a mandatory role in coordinating Arab positio ns on trade and trade 
related matters and assumes an important role in harmonizing both economic and trade policy 
amongst its Members. We therefore believe, that  the LAS satisfies the condition that it has the 
competence and oversight over trade policy formula tion as prescribed by the WTO's relevant rules 
and guidelines." 
 
We request that the mentioned letter and this statement be included in the minutes of this 
meeting. 
 
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 WT/GC/134 
Page 2  
 
  LETTER FROM THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 
DATED 24 OCTOBER 2011 
 
 
Dear Ambassador Agah ,  
 
On behalf of the Arab Group Heads of Delegations , allow me to extend our appreciation for 
the consultations that you have held , in your capacity as Chairman of the General Council , in 
preparation for the Eight Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference (MC8) scheduled to be held 
during the period 15-17 December 2011.  
 
In this context , and in view o f the upcoming General Council me eting to be held on the 26
th of 
October 2011 , the Arab Group would like to bring to your  attention that with respect to item (4) of the 
proposed agenda , the Group has , in principle , expressed its support to repeat the past practice to allow 
all Inter governmental Organization s (lGO 's) the opportunit y to attend the proc eedings o f the ne xt 
Mini sterial Conference. To this end, and as indicated during the informal General Council me eting 
held on the 21st of October 2011, the League of Arab States h ad submitt ed a similar reque st to attend 
MC8 alongside with other IGO 's. The Arab Group h as therefore taken a unanimous decision to 
support the LAS request and looks forward to its favourable consideration b y the Members of the 
WTO.  
However, gi ven that the final consideration o f the LAS request would be subject to your 
consultations with Members , for which a deci sion would be t aken by the 15th of No vember 2011, the 
Arab Groups clear and unequi vocal position on repeating past practices with respect to the 
participation of IGO 's in the WTO's Ministerial Conferences, including MC8 , would be contingent on 
the favourable consideration of the LAS request to di smiss any manifestation that discrimination is 
tolerat ed in the rules based multilateral trading system. Therefore we would not be in a position, 
before November 16th 2011, to agree to repeat past prac tices until it become s clear that the 
request of LAS has been accepted . 
 
Furthermore , we belie ve that all Int ergovernmental Organizations should be treated on an 
equal footin g, and that the process of consider ing their participation in MC8 should remain a 
technical , transparent and objecti ve one and that the screening process be undertaken on the ba sis of 
Annex III of the rules of procedure of the Ministerial Conference.   
Finally , we would like to recall that the LAS had in fact maintained permanent observer status 
under GATT 1947 and plays a mandatory role in coordinating Arab positio ns on trade and trade 
related matters and assumes an important role  in harmonizing both economic and trade policy 
amongst its Members . We therefore believe , that the LAS satisfies the condition that it has the 
competence and oversight over trade polic y formulation as prescribed by the WTO 's relevant rules 
and guidelines . 
 Sincerely , 
 
 (Signed)  Ambassador - Permanent Representative to WTO  
 Arab Group Coordinator  Dr. Abdolazeez S. AL OTAIBI 
 
cc: H.E. Ambassador of the League of Arab States, Geneva 
cc: Arab Permanent Missions to WTO , Geneva 
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