. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/45 
15 December 2005 
 (05-6027) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
SLOVENIA 
 
Statement by HE Mr Andrej Vizjak
 
Minister of the Economy  
   Allow me at the outset to appreciate the fact th at we, the Ministers, are here in Hong Kong, 
where the stage is being set for a decisive phase in  the ongoing multilateral negotiations, for a historic 
opportunity to deliver the trade conditions for lo ng-term growth and poverty reduction.  Special 
appreciation goes to this cosmopolitan community's ex cellent organization and hospitality, which will 
no doubt contribute to a great extent to an efficien t Conference.  The work remains in our hands, the 
Ministers.   Hong Kong, China, the Special Administrative Re gion, is an appropriate place for such an 
august forum as the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the WTO.  It is a pre-eminent place to do business as 
the second largest area for foreign direct investment in  Asia, with a record number of regional offices 
of international companies, with the highest rank in the freedom to trade internationally, and excellent 
records in a number of other areas.  It is a flour ishing free market economy, with the best investment 
growth in the region in 2004, seventh globally in fore ign direct investment inflows, one of the world's 
front-runner economies.  It is the best place to develop a global vision of future trade relations under 
the watchful eyes of the world.   This all the more underlines the collective respons ibility of the Ministers gathered here for the 
success of the Conference, where in fact we need  to provide a basis for finishing what remains 
unfinished from the previous R ounds.  We cannot miss the new market access opportunities for both 
the developing and developed countries.  The stak es are too high.  The losses due to a non-conclusion 
of the Round, especially for industrial products would be too great.  Therefore, we need nothing less 
than a clear platform for negotiations in 2006, which should as soon as possible bring us to an 
agreement on full modalities and a final conclusion of the DDA Round, possibly by the end of 2006. 
 
 Many of us would like to have seen agreemen t on the so-called "full modalities" to be already 
on the table, awaiting our approva l.  However, such complex mu ltilateral negotiations, apparently, 
have a life of their own.  It is also clear that th ere is fear of change and political visibility, which 
results in delaying tactics and blockage of certain s ubjects.  The proceedings have to give value to the 
whole process and underscore what has been achie ved and to show the way forward.  Significant 
progress is needed in the extent and quality of  convergence of positions in the key areas of 
negotiation.  This is, therefore, not just an occasion for stocktaking, but for full engagement in serious 
and productive negotiati ons, and secure decisions, to clear the way for the final stage. 
  Slovenia fully supports an open, highly transpar ent and an inclusive process in order to avoid 
the pitfalls of the past.  There is some innovativ e approaches in the current negotiations such as 
reducing industrial tariffs according to a formula appl ying greater cuts to higher tariffs, and perhaps 
some innovative approaches could also be found in  services, rather than the "take it or leave it" 
approach. WT/MIN(05)/ST/45 
Page 2  
 
  I, and members of my delegation, highly appreciate the efforts that you have been making 
towards a clear strategy for the conduct of this Conference and to bring everyone up-to-date on the 
discussions and that the process re mains as transparent as possible. 
  Slovenia, as a member of the European Union,  supports its traditional role as a major mover 
of the multilateral process, as the largest trading bl oc and stakeholder in world trade and what are 
historically the most important negotiations, sin ce the establishment of the WTO.  Future economic 
and world trade relations depend on this process,  not to mention the economic development and 
integration aspects of these negotiations.  Success or  failure means success or failure of future 
coherent economic policies in the world, of cohere nt governance.  Slovenia, like other Member States 
of the EU, is a strong supporter of the multilateral pr ocess as the primary process of trade negotiations 
and for the development of stronger international rules.   In this context allow me to congratulate a ll concerned on the recent adoption of the General 
Council Decision on an amendment to the TRIPS Agreement, which is a good solution to the problem 
of the difficulties that WTO Members face in making  effective use of compulsory licensing under that 
Agreement.  This gives us some confidence in the ability of the WTO as a multilateral institution to 
reach consensus and make decisions.   Slovenia supports specific proposals in favour of developing countries, that are specific to the Least Developed Countries and special and differential treatment proposals. 
 
 The contribution that trade can make to development is widely recognized.  That is why development is at the heart of this Round.  The ai m is and must be to achieve an outcome that will 
genuinely stimulate economic growth across the developing world.  The "development
 dimensions" 
of the Round therefore does not simply add up to  the sum of negotiating positions presented by 
developing countries, but implies across-the-board measures aimed at benefiting the largest number of 
developing countries, especially the least developed.   At the same time, Slovenia expects comprehe nsive and balanced results, that will create 
meaningful trade and business opportunities and is prepared to play its part to assist in the 
development of production capacity in developing countries, so that they may trade and better 
integrate into world trade patterns.  
  For this common ground is necessary to ma intain a productive negotiating momentum 
in 2006, including a basic understanding on relevant issues to allow our negotiators in Geneva to do 
their work towards substantially meaningful agreemen ts on global trade.  Trade is a big issue, linking 
Europe, Asia and America;  it must include a bigger share of Africa and others, so that no one will be 
left on the margins or be left entirely out of the opportunities of expande d and growth generating 
trade.   And finally, at this point I would like to c ongratulate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Tonga 
on the successful conclusion of the accession process to  the WTO and on becoming Members of this 
truly universal Organization. 
   
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