. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/118 
16 December 2005 
 (05-6118) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
CYPRUS 
 
Statement by HE Mr Andreas Petrondas
 
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism  
   Let me first join other speakers in thanking the Hong Kong Government for their generous hospitality and all those who were involved in the excellent organization of this important 
Conference.  I wish also to welcome the two new Members who acceded to our organization, 
Saudi Arabia and Tonga.   We have gathered here at a very crucial time. 
  Under the present world economic conditions, we cannot ignore the importance of continuing 
progress in the world trade negotiations, nor the serious damage that a possible collapse of this 
Conference would entail for the global economy in general and the multilateral trading system in 
particular.   Cyprus, as a member of the European Union,  subscribes fully to the EU's objective of 
realizing the aims of the Doha Development Age nda, which is the Union's number one trade policy 
priority.  Central to our approach, and to that of the European Union as a whole, is the strong support 
for continued liberalization, reducing trade barrier s and strengthening the multilateral trading system 
under the direction of the WTO.   Cyprus believes that all Members should adopt a broader, more inclusive approach to all 
aspects of the negotiations, reaching an agreement in  the form of a single undertaking which will 
ensure a comprehensive and balan ced package of agreements through parallel negotiation of all issues 
on the table.   The Hong Kong Ministerial should serve as  a springboard to intensify and finalize 
negotiations in 2006, ensuring that all issues are appr oached with a similar level of detail, specificity 
and ambition which will contribute to a successful conclusion of the Doha Round. 
  On Agriculture since 1992, the EU is reforming the CAP almost constantly;  in 2003 the EU 
completed a very major reform, thus making in advan ce a considerable step in the right direction of 
the DDA. 
  Bearing in mind the above, the EU has made  a substantial, well-balanced and far-reaching 
offer on all the three pillars, to eliminate its expor t subsidies completely at the end of a phase out 
period to be agreed, drastically reduce trade distor ting domestic subsidies and substantially cut its 
import tariffs on all agricultural products, on the c ondition that other countries phase out other forms 
of trade distorting export subsidies, practices and supports in parallel. 
 WT/MIN(05)/ST/118 
Page 2  
 
  It appears however that some of our partners take the contributions of the EU, as granted and 
are not willing to contribute anything in return.  It will be a big mistake to ignore these efforts simply because they have been done unilaterally.   For Cyprus, the extension of the protection of  geographical indications to cover products 
other than wines and spirits is part and parcel of the negotiating agenda (as agreed and decided 
to Doha).  We therefore support real negotiations  in this area to be concluded under the single 
undertaking.   On NAMA, Cyprus supports that there is a need for an agreement which can create genuine 
new market access in developed and most advanced de veloping countries, also through cuts in applied 
tariffs.   Services are an integral part of the negotiati ons which reflects their importance in the modern 
world economy.  That is why they should be fu rther liberalized and new sectors like Maritime 
Transport should be included into the negotiations achieving further progress.  As the offers in 
services that have been tabled up to now provide little  new liberalization, we need to create a platform 
for genuine multilateral negotiation, exploring an d agreeing on new complementary plurilateral and 
multilateral approaches which would stand a greater chance of assuring a greater outcome.   The results of the Doha Ministerial were  rightly termed a Development Agenda and 
development must remain central to the negotiatin g Round.  Let us use this Conference to respond 
effectively to the legitimate hopes of the developi ng world to address more vigorously the issues of 
poverty and underdevelopment.  A package should be agreed in Hong Kong helping poorest WTO 
members along the measures that the EU has propo sed, such as:  duty and quota-free access to all 
products from all LDCs, by all WTO Members in a position to do so;  special and differential 
treatment proposals to confirm the flexibilities for the LDCs, that exist in the WTO;  adoption of an 
"Aid for Trade" package.   Trade alone will not however lift developing c ountries out of poverty.  That is why we 
welcome the decision of 6 December 2005 by the World Trade Organization's General Council which will deliver a legal framework allowing poor coun tries, without manufacturing capacities, access to 
affordable pharmaceuticals. 
  We hope that through our cour ageous deliberations, progress can be achieved at all levels.  
Let us work together for an outcome that boosts the world's economy, generates political confidence 
and helps the weakest of our Members to fully inte grate into our Organization.  The possibility still 
exists while the need is urgent.  A ll members must pull together to make it happen.  At the end of this 
Conference everybody must be able to return home with some tangible results and a strong message of hope.  
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