SEE ALSO:
press releases
WTO news
Mike Moore's speeches
Renato Ruggiero's speeches,
1995-99
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“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my countryman and friend, Chris Beeby. Chris'
record of public service both to New Zealand and to the WTO was one of outstanding
achievement and integrity. We will all miss him terribly”, Mr. Moore said.Mr. Beeby was appointed in December 1995 as one of the
original seven Members of the Appellate Body. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body in December
1999 re-appointed him for a further four-year term. He served as Chairman of the Appellate
Body in 1998. He was very active on the Appellate Body, serving on the very first appeal
brought under the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding in United States –
Standards for Reformulated and Conventional Gasoline. Since that time, Mr. Beeby has
served on 15 appeals and one arbitration hearing.
Before his appointment to the Appellate Body in
1995, Mr. Beeby had a long and distinguished career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade in the Government of New Zealand, culminating in his appointment as
Deputy-Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1985 to 1991, and his appointment in 1992 as New
Zealand Ambassador to France and Algeria, as well as Permanent Representative to the OECD.
Mr. Beeby was a highly recognized public
international lawyer who participated in eight sessions of the United Nations General
Assembly, in the United Nations Law of the Sea negotiations and in a wide-range of other
international meetings on legal and political issues involving subjects such as marine
pollution, fisheries, human rights, international humanitarian law, environment, arms
control, Antartica and climate change. He was Counsel for New Zealand before the
International Court of Justice in the Nuclear Tests Case from 1973 to 1974, as well as
agent for New Zealand in the Rainbow Warrior arbitration from 1989 to 1990.
The Chairman of the Appellate Body, Judge Florentino
Feliciano, made this statement about Mr. Beeby:
“Mr. Beeby was fully involved in the life and
work of the Appellate Body, from its very beginning. He has contributed significantly to
the work of the Appellate Body during its first four years of service. He is remembered by
his colleagues for his unfailing courtesy and willingness to listen and consider the views
of others, and for the seriousness and open-mindedness with which he approached and
engaged in the work of the Appellate Body. He will be missed by all the Members of the
Appellate Body both as a colleague and collaborator, and as a personal friend”. |
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