At Paraguay meeting, Trade ministers from landlocked countries ready

to make ‘critical contribution’ to WTO talks

(Received from a UN Information Officer.)

ASUNCIÓN, PARAGUAY, 9 August -- Ministers and high-ranking trade officials from 31 landlocked developing countries opened a two-day meeting here today, expecting to make a “critical contribution” to the World Trade Organization (WTO) development round of negotiations, according to United Nations Under-Secretary-General Anwarul K. Chowdhury.

“It is of the essence that the landlocked developing countries strengthen their cause by presenting to the WTO a unified position on measures necessary for the effective participation in the international trading system”, Under-Secretary-General Chowdhury told the meeting, if they are not to remain sidelined from the main thoroughfares of international trade.

He called on the international community to take into consideration the economic vulnerability of these countries and grant access to markets, as well as support programmes of technical assistance to overcome handicaps of geographical isolation and underdeveloped infrastructure.

Also today, Mr. Chowdhury read out a message from United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who stressed the commitment of the United Nations to assist landlocked developing countries in surmounting obstacles to development.  (See Press Release SG/SM/10038-DEV/2531 of 9 August.)

Minister of Commerce of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Soulivong Daravong, addressing the meeting as Chairman of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, stated “great concern” regarding the limited participation of these countries in global trade.

“The draft Asunción Platform we are going to endorse at this meeting will serve as a road map”, he said.  “It aims to address issues of most relevance to our Group, namely trade facilitation, small and vulnerable economies, market access for agricultural and non-agricultural goods, accession and technical assistance consistent with the Doha Ministerial Declaration.”

The Asunción meeting is organized by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), headed by Under-Secretary-General Chowdhury, with the support of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Opening day statements were also delivered by Paraguayan Foreign Minister Leila Rachid, and by ECLAC Executive Secretary José Luis Machinea.

“We know what problems the landlocked countries and transit countries face”, Mr. Machinea said.  “What we need to do now is to structure and organize a working agenda.”

The Asunción meeting continues Wednesday, with the final version of a declaration and working platform.

For more information:  In Asunción, contact Jose Maria Amarilla, tel.:  595 21 614443, mobile:  595 971 204541, e-mail:  jose.amarilla@undp.org.  In New York, contact Tim Wall, tel.:  1-212-963-5851, e-mail:  wallt@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record