This is a historic fact. Fifth , as noted a moment ago, the General Council of the WTO is now in the final month of its preparatory work for the Seattle Ministerial Conference. This process began in September last year, pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Geneva Ministerial Conference. The preparatory process is now in an advanced stage. Preparations include the drafting of a Ministerial Declaration for Ministers to adopt at Seattle.
Much work still remains to be done.
Active negotiations are underway, including in this period that you will be here. The Seattle Ministerial Conference will set the trade policy agenda for the new Millennium by adopting a Ministerial Declaration, and launching a new Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. For the Declaration and for the scope of a new Round of Trade Negotiations, all Members have emphasised the fundamental importance of implementation of past Agreements negotiated under the Uruguay Round. Under implementation, basic and fundamental issues of systemic importance have been raised. These are being negotiated.