. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/135 
17 December 2005 
 (05-6139) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
LITHUANIA 
 
Statement by HE Mr Antanas Valionis
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs  
  
 It is a big honour and pleasure for me on beha lf of Lithuania to address the Sixth Ministerial 
Conference here in Hong Kong.  On this occasion, I would like to express my congratulations to the 
new Director-General of the WTO Mr Pascal Lamy and to wish him every success in carrying out 
these very important and responsible duties.  I also would like to join other delegations in thanking the 
Government of Hong Kong for its hospitality and excellent organization of the Conference. 
  Let me also welcome the new Members of the WTO, namely Tonga and Saudi Arabia, although it is somewhat regretful not to see more  countries, especially Ukraine, among them.  We 
hope that 2006 will become a final year of  negotiations to many of acceding countries. 
  Lithuania strongly supports the vision and main goals of Doha Developm ent Agenda.  This is 
a broad and comprehensive round of negotiations, which WTO Member countries started four years 
ago.  Every one of us remembers the hard lesson of Cancún.  However, we succeeded to re-launch 
negotiations, we managed to move forward and to reach "July package" (2004) agreement.  We had 
high expectations for Hong Kong, however, reality made us to reassess our possibilities and level of 
ambitions.  We think that decisions important for all the membership sh ould not be forced at any price 
and should not undermine the balance in negotiations or interests of some Members.  At the same 
time it is very important, that we do not lower our ambitions for the overall results in Doha 
Development Agenda as such.  This is not only for the sake of benefits of trade liberalization.  It is 
about credibility of multilateral trading system promoting sustainable economic development all 
around the world.   Despite some changes in our expectations for Hong Kong, today we have a vitally important 
task – to demonstrate our solidarity and to deliv er a development package addressing the needs and 
concerns of the most vulnerable of us.  The meaningful package should include flexibility in 
commitments, aid for trade and access to medicine against a pandemic at low prices.  Moreover, I invite all WTO partners to match the EU in providing duty- and quota-fre e access to all products, 
including agricultural, for least developed countries.  At the same time, we should remain mindful that 
the greatest gains for developing countries will come from a comprehensive DDA package, 
particularly in the areas of agriculture, NAMA, services and trade facilitation, and enhanced trade 
between themselves.   I have great aspiration that the DDA Round will succeed, I am sure it is our common wish.  But in order to succeed we must ensure that nego tiations are built on reciprocity.  I understand that we 
all face tough political decisions, but I am convinced that all parties, with the exception only of the 
most vulnerable ones, should contribute to the liberalization process according to their capacities. 
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  Additionally, I would like to underline that  only a balanced outcome of the DDA Round 
might be acceptable for all WTO Members and, regretta bly, we are far from that today.  Over the past 
two years of negotiations some Members constantly  put very strong emphasis on agriculture and, in 
particular, on market access pillar.  The achieving of ambitious results in agricultural market access 
was permanently presented as the main gain in nego tiations.  However, for the poorest people, living 
in rural areas, the local market is much more importa nt than the international one.  It means we have 
to put our emphasis on other issues other than market access.  The EU has already made its contribution;  notably by offering to eliminate e xport subsidies and reforming its agricultural policy. 
Therefore, I invite other WTO Members to show their adequate level of engagement, eliminating 
other forms of export subsidies and reducing trade distorting support. 
 
 As it was repeatedly endorsed by our chie f negotiator Peter Mandelson, DDA is not a round 
for agriculture only. Adequate progress is necessar y in all areas of negotia tions, including market 
access for non-agricultural products, liberalization of  trade in services, trade facilitation and others. 
Specifically, I would like to stress the significance in im provement of trade facilitation rules.  Lack of 
them proved to be an exclusive obstacle for my co untry's economic operators.  Therefore, I believe 
that only an international set of trade facilitati on rules could solve such problems as long border 
crossing, cumbersome transit procedures and exce ssive charges for customs formalities. Thereby, 
Lithuania would invite Members to ensure high le vel of ambitions in trade facilitation negotiations. 
  Finally, I would like to express my confid ence in the benefits of substantial and 
comprehensive trade liberalization and my strong belief  that WTO Members will be able to realize the 
DDA Mandate contributing to the growth and employ ment as well as creating level playing field in 
international trade.  
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