WTO ambassadors, representing different informal groupings, thanked
Director-General Mike Moore for his efforts, sense of responsibility
and his commitment to the work of the organization. They were
responding to his farewell speech to the WTO's General Council on 31
July, in which he stressed the need for urgency in the negotiations of
the Doha Development Agenda to raise living standards, in particular
among poor countries.
“Negotiating
structures are in place and substantive work is well underway,” Mr.
Moore, who leaves office at the end of August having completed his
three-year term, told ambassadors and other representatives of Members
of the WTO. “It is now up to negotiators to work with commitment and
flexibility to realise the benefits offered by the multilateral
trading system.”
He
stressed that the Doha Development Agenda was urgent because more than
half of the world's population continued to live on less than US$2 a
day and a successful conclusion to the round can help lift billions of
people out of poverty. “This agenda is about them”, said Mr.
Moore, who became Director-General in September 1999. “Our greatest
motivation is the people we serve.”
Mr.
Moore told delegates he was proud of what had been achieved together
over the past three years. “Confidence in the system is restored
after the setback of Seattle. We have maintained our core focus on
trade liberalization but also placed development issues and the
interests of our poorer Members rightfully at the centre of our
work”.
“Our
outstanding success in launching a new round of trade negotiations in
Doha last year has opened up enormous possibilities to advance the
conditions of people throughout the world.”
Mr.
Moore noted that, since Doha, the WTO had become much more inclusive
to facilitate the participation of the poorer Members through
technical assistance and capacity-building; had become more
transparent and accountable; had developed closer cooperation and
coherence with international and regional agencies, and made real
progress in enhancing the image of the WTO and engaging civil society,
as well as strengthening the Secretariat to better assist Members.
On
behalf of the Asia group, the Ambassador of Indonesia Ms. Halida
Miljani, showed her “deepest appreciation for his impressive
stewardship in giving the WTO a fresh impetus and purpose”.
She
also praised, as Mr. Moore's most notable achievements, “the efforts
he has deployed to develop the focus on technical assistance and
capacity building with a view to assist Least-Developed and developing
countries to better participate in the various negotiations and in the
multilateral trading system”.
The
Ambassador of Zambia, Mr. M.B. Bowa, on behalf of the Least-Developed
Countries, said the WTO had experienced a welcome metamorphosis thanks
to the “tremendous contribution” of the Director-General. He
thanked his “tireless campaign” among donors to mobilize resources
and his “unwavering desire to assist LDCs and elevate their profile
at the WTO.”
The
Ambassador of Panama, Mr. Romel Adames, coordinator of the group of
Latin American and Caribbean countries, expressed his “sincere
expression of gratitude” because during his tenure of office, Mr.
Moore “has made an unforgettable impact in this organization.”
The
Ambassador of New Zealand, Mr. Timothy Groser, on behalf of developed
countries, said that Mr. Moore had led the new round, “the jewel on
the crown” of his mandate. “You can leave this institution feeling
that you have not only done a very good job, but we are going to
succeed with the Doha Development Agenda that you so ably put
together.”
The
new Director-General, Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, begins his three-year
term on 1 September 2002.
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