//*********************************************************************** //* APPLICATION : WTO Web Site //* COMPONENT : //* PAGE : //* CREATION : 03/11/2005 //* AUTHOR : Jane M Pickett //* CONTENT : Data and functions for watch this space //* //*********************************************************************** //* UPDATES : //* //*********************************************************************** // ADD NEWS FOR 2006 ITEMS HERE... news_item[310] = { ni_date:"2004.12.13_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Accession working parties established for Afghanistan, Iraq", ni_intro:"The General Council, on 13 December 2004, established working parties to examine, respectively, the membership applications of Afghanistan and Iraq.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"AFG#IRQ", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news04_e/gc_afghanistan_iraq_13dec04_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[311] = { ni_date:"2005.05.24_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"New chair urges Belarus to accelerate accession work", ni_intro:"The seventh meeting of the Working Party for the accession of Belarus to the WTO was held on May 24, 2005 presided by the new chairperson Ambassador Mia Horn af Rantzien of Sweden. The delegation of Belarus was led by Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Andrei Kobyakov.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"BLR", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_belarus_may05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[312] = { ni_date:"2005.10.06_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Working Party head underlines Bhutan’s LDC status", ni_intro:"Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch, at the second meeting of the Working Party on the accession of Bhutan on 6 October 2005, said members must keep in mind Bhutan's special status as a land-locked, least-developed country in the negotiations.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"BTN", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"Summary of the meeting", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_bhutan_oct05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[313] = { ni_date:"2003.02.18_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Dr. Supachai welcomes start of WTO work on Bhutan's accession", ni_intro:"Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi, on 18 February 2003, welcomed the start of serious work on the accession of Bhutan with the delivery of the country's Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime to the WTO. He said that this development signalled Bhutan's keen interest in commencing its accession process.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"BTN", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news03_e/acc_bhutan_20feb03_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[314] = { ni_date:"2005.07.14_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Chairman urges intensification of Cape Verde negotiations", ni_intro:"The Chairman of the Accession Working Party, Mr. David Shark, on 14 July 2005 commended Cape Verde's efforts during the past few months to accelerate its accession process.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"CPV", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_capeverde_july05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[315] = { ni_date:"2005.05.26_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Accession working parties established for Iran, Sao Tomé and Principe", ni_intro:"The General Council, on 26 May 2005, established separate working parties to examine the membership applications of Iran, and Sao Tomé and Principe, respectively.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"IRN#STP", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_iran_sao_may05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[316] = { ni_date:"2005.06.07_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Chairman cites encouraging progress in Kazakhstan talks", ni_intro:"The Chairman of the Working Party on the Accession of Kazakhstan Amb. Vesa Tapani Himanen (Finland) on 7 June 2005 cited the circulation of the first draft report as “a clear signal that this accession has taken an important step forward”. He said progress would not have been possible without key domestic reforms and the enthusiasm of the Kazakh negotiating team.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"KAZ", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_kazakhstan_june05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[317] = { ni_date:"2004.10.28_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Laos: WTO membership will ‘accelerate economic reform’", ni_intro:"The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) kicked off its membership negotiations on 28 October 2004 by outlining the reforms it has already undertaken and calling on members to take account of its status as a land-locked, least-developed country without a representative in Geneva.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"LAO", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news04_e/laos_28oct04_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[318] = { ni_date:"2004.07.27_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Libya given green light to negotiate WTO membership", ni_intro:"WTO members agreed on 27 July 2004 to start talks with Libya on its membership bid, bringing the current number of applicant countries to 25.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"LBY", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news04_e/libya_stat_27july04_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[319] = { ni_date:"2005.10.04_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Montenegro membership talks launched", ni_intro:"Montenegro's International Economic Relations Minister Gordana Djurovic said the first meeting of the country's accession Working Party held on 4 October 2005 marked “an important step in Montenegro's transition to a fully free-market and free-trade oriented economy”.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"CGR", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_montenegro_oct05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[320] = { ni_date:"2005.02.15_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"General Council accepts separate applications from Serbia and Montenegro", ni_intro:"", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"CGR", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/news05_e.htm#gc_serbia_montenegro", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[321] = { ni_date:"2005.06.24_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Russia calls for flexibility as chair expresses concern about amount of work left", ni_intro:"Russian Economics Minister German Gref asked members on 24 June 2005 to understand Russia’s difficulty in trying to transform itself quickly into a market economy and complete its membership agreement by the end of the year. But a large amount of work remains, according to the membership negotiations’ chairperson and current members.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"RUS", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_russia_june05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[322] = { ni_date:"2005.04.20_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Russia concludes goods negotiations with 29 members", ni_intro:"The Russian Federation, at the 27th session of its Working Party on 13 and 15 April 2005, reported the completion of bilateral negotiations on goods with a total of 29 WTO members (the EC counting as one), which represents 50% of members of the Working Party and 87% of total Russian imports.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"RUS", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"Summary of the meeting", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_russia_apr05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[323] = { ni_date:"2005.02.21_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Russia's membership talks make good progress", ni_intro:"The 26th meeting of the Working Party on the accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO, held on 16-17 February 2005, made good progress on substantial issues although the chairman, Ambassador Stefán Jóhannesson of Iceland, said that there was “still a lot of work has to be done”", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"RUS", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"Summary of the meeting", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_russia_21feb05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[324] = { ni_date:"2002.12.18_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"WTO accelerates work on Russia's accession", ni_intro:"The WTO Working Party on the Accession of the Russian Federation, on 18 December 2002, agreed on an accelerated programme of work during the first half of 2003. The Chairman, Ambassador Kåre Bryn, said this response to the Russian delegation's call for urgency was made on the understanding that “genuine efforts will be made on all sides to engage quickly on the negotiating issues”.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"RUS", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"Chairman's concluding remarks", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news02_e/accession_russian_18dec02_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[325] = { ni_date:"2005.10.10_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Serbia's membership negotiations now underway", ni_intro:"Serbia's Foreign Economic Relations Minister Milan Parivodic, at the first meeting of the country's accession working party on 7 October 2005, declared that WTO membership is a “sine qua non” for Serbia's competitiveness and integration into the world economy.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"SRB", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_serbia_oct05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[326] = { ni_date:"2005.12.15_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"WTO Ministers successfully approve Tonga’s membership at Hong Kong Conference", ni_intro:"The WTO Sixth Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong today (15 December) approved Tonga’s terms of accession. This decision paves the way for the South Pacific Island nation to become the 150th member of the Organization. “The Kingdom of Tonga is pleased that its sustained efforts and commitment to a transparent and predictable trading environment have led to its successful membership of the WTO and, through it, to a fuller integration with the world economy,” said Minister for Labour, Commerce and Industries, Dr. Feleti Sevele.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"TON", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"Press release", nl_url:"/english/news_e/pres05_e/pr431_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Report of the Working Party (WT/ACC/TON/17)", nl_url:"/english/thewto_e/acc_e/wtaccton17_e.doc", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"65", nl_kb:"555", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods (WT/ACC/TON/17/Add.1)", nl_url:"/english/thewto_e/acc_e/wtaccton17a1_e.zip", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"1774", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Schedule of Specific Commitments in Services, List of Article II MFN Exemptions (WT/ACC/TON/17/Add.2)", nl_url:"/english/thewto_e/acc_e/wtaccton17a2_e.doc", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"20", nl_kb:"223", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[327] = { ni_date:"2005.12.01_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"The Working Party negotiating Tonga's accession concludes its mandate", ni_intro:"The Working Party on Tonga's accession, on 1 December 2005, adopted the draft Schedule of specific commitments in services, the last remaining document necessary to complete its work on Tonga's membership to the WTO.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"TON", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_tonga_dec05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[328] = { ni_date:"2005.10.03_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Yemen underlines commitment to WTO entry", ni_intro:"Yemen's Industry and Trade Minister Khaled Rajeh Sheikh, at the second meeting of the country's working party on 3 October 2005, said that WTO membership is “a necessary step and an important component in our efforts to integrate into the world economy”.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"YEM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_yemen_oct05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[329] = { ni_date:"2004.02.11_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"WTO members extend Cambodia’s ratification deadline", ni_intro:"The General Council today (11 February) agreed to give Cambodia another six months to ratify its membership agreement and join the WTO. The decision extends the deadline from 31 March to 30 September 2004.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"KHM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news04_e/gc_cambodia_11feb04_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[330] = { ni_date:"2003.09.11_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Ambition achieved as ministers seal Cambodia membership deal", ni_intro:"WTO ministers approved Cambodia’s membership agreement today (11 September 2003), putting the Southeast Asian country in line to become the WTO’s 147th member and the first least-developed country to join the WTO through the full working party negotiation process.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"KHM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"Press release", nl_url:"/english/news_e/pres03_e/pr354_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[331] = { ni_date:"2003.07.22_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Working party completes Cambodia’s membership negotiation", ni_intro:"The WTO working party handling Cambodia’s membership negotiation completed its work Tuesday 22 of July, leaving a final decision approving membership for the Cancún Ministerial Conference, in September.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"KHM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news03_e/acc_cambodia_23jul_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[332] = { ni_date:"2003.04.17_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Cambodia moves closer to membership by Cancún", ni_intro:"A tight schedule was agreed at the 16 April 2003 working party meeting for Cambodia’s WTO membership negotiation to end in July. This would allow the possibility for all the formalities to be completed by the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancún, 10–14 September 2003, but a lot of work remains on completing bilateral negotiations and the final multilateral package.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"KHM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news03_e/cambodia_membership_16ap03_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[333] = { ni_date:"2002.11.04_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Cambodia aims for membership by Cancún meeting", ni_intro:"Cambodia’s bid to join the WTO has moved into a final phase following a meeting of its WTO Accession Working Party on 14 November 2002. The Secretariat has been asked to draft the working party’s report in time for a meeting in the spring of 2003. Cambodia and WTO members in the working party said they aim to complete the membership deal by the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancún, 10-14 September 2003.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"KHM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news02_e/cambodia_membership_14nov02_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[334] = { ni_date:"2003.08.18_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Nepal set to join WTO at Cancún Ministerial Conference", ni_intro:"Nepal’s membership negotiation ended on 15 August when the WTO working party wrapped up its work. Following closely behind Cambodia, Nepal is set to be the second least-developed country to join the WTO through the full working party process. Both countries’ membership is likely to be approved at the Cancún Ministerial Conference in September.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"NPL", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news03_e/acc_nepal_15aug_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[335] = { ni_date:"2005.12.11_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Saudi Arabia raises WTO membership to 149", ni_intro:"Saudi Arabia becomes today (11 December 2005) the 149th Member of the WTO. It is the world's 13th largest merchandise exporter and the 23rd largest importer. Director-General Pascal Lamy, at the conclusion of Saudi Arabia's negotiations last month, said its membership “paves the way for a stronger multilateral trading system”.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"SAU", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/news05_e.htm#saudi1", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[336] = { ni_date:"2005.11.11_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"WTO General Council successfully adopts Saudi Arabia’s terms of accession", ni_intro:"The General Council formally concluded, on 11 November 2005, negotiations with Saudi Arabia on the terms of the country’s membership to the WTO. The General Council Chair, Ambassador Amina Mohamed of Kenya, said “Members have taken not only a major step towards better international economic cooperation but they have also allowed the WTO to become more universal.” Director-General Pascal Lamy said that “Saudi Arabia is on its way to becoming the WTO's 149th Member, paving the way for a stronger multilateral trading system.” ", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"SAU", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"Press release", nl_url:"/english/news_e/pres05_e/pr420_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Statement by the Director-General", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/stat_lamy_11nov05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Statement by the Chairman", nl_url:"http://workingserver/english/news_e/news05_e/stat_chair_11nov05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Statement by H.E. Dr. Hashim A. Yamani", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/stat_yamani_11nov05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Report of the Working Party (WT/ACC/SAU/61)", nl_url:"/english/news_e/pres05_e/wtaccsau61_e.doc", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"141", nl_kb:"1211", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods (WT/ACC/SAU/61/Add.1 part 2)", nl_url:"/english/news_e/pres05_e/wtaccsau61add1_e.zip", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"10424", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Schedule of Specific Commitments in Services, List of Article II MFN Exemptions (WT/ACC/SAU/61/Add.2)", nl_url:"/english/news_e/pres05_e/wtaccsau61add2_e.doc", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"31", nl_kb:"224", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[337] = { ni_date:"2005.10.28_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Lamy welcomes conclusion of Saudi Arabia's WTO negotiations", ni_intro:"Director-General Pascal Lamy, on 28 October 2005, welcomed the conclusion of the Working Party negotiations on the accession of Saudi Arabia to the WTO. “This is a very important step in Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO. I am glad to see that the tremendous amount of work done by Saudi Arabia has now brought it closer to WTO entry. We look forward to confirmation by the General Council in the days to come,” he said.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"SAU", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/news05_e.htm#saudi2", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[338] = { ni_date:"2005.02.25_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Meeting of the Working Party February 25, 2005", ni_intro:"The eighth meeting of the Working Party for the accession of Algeria to the WTO was held on 25 February under the chairmanship of the ambassador of Uruguay, Mr. Guillermo Valles, and with the delegation of the Government of Algeria under the leadership of H.E. Mr. Noureddine Boukrouh, Minister of Commerce, who was accompanied by a large team of experts representing all areas of trade matters in Algeria. The meeting reviewed the state of play in the bilateral market access negotiations. Algeria submitted initial offers on goods and services in March 2002, and revised offers were circulated on 18 January 2005. The meeting also examined the revised elements of a draft Report of the Working Party and the latest legislative developments.
Algeria's Working Party was established on 17 June 1987 and met for the first time in April 1998.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"DZA", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/news05_e.htm#algeria", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[339] = { ni_date:"2005.09.15_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Working party examines first revision of Viet Nam’s membership report", ni_intro:"Viet Nam’s membership negotiations have taken a substantial step forward with the working party looking in detail on 15 September 2005 at the first revision of the document that is a core part of the deal.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"VNM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/vietnam_15sep05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[340] = { ni_date:"2005.05.20_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Chair says Viet Nam must complete bilaterals quickly to meet ambition", ni_intro:"The chairperson of the working party negotiating the country’s membership said Viet Nam and its trading partners should finish their bilateral talks in “a couple of months” if it is to join by December. He was speaking at an informal working party meeting on 20 May 2005, where Viet Nam’s vice minister and chief negotiator highlighted Hanoi’s new commitments and latest legislative programme.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"VNM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_vietnam_20may05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" }, { nl_text:"Vice minister’s statement", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news05_e/acc_vietnam_stat_20may05_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[341] = { ni_date:"2004.12.15_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Accession moves forward as members examine the terms", ni_intro:"Viet Nam’s membership negotiations progressed further on 15 December 2004 as the working party examined the first draft of the report it will issue at the end of the negotiation.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"VNM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news04_e/acc_vietnam_15dec04_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[342] = { ni_date:"2004.06.15_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Members praise Viet Nam’s new offers, but seek improvements and more clarification", ni_intro:"The 63 WTO members negotiating a membership package with Viet Nam praised the Southeast Asian country on 15 June 2004 for considerably improving its market access offers for goods and services, and its programme for applying WTO agreements.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"VNM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news04_e/acc_vietnam_15june04_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[343] = { ni_date:"2003.12.12_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"Viet Nam starts its ‘quantum jump’ but still some way to go", ni_intro:"Vietnam’s membership negotiations entered a new phase as its working party started work on key points of draft “elements” of a working party report on 10 December, but members warned that a lot of work still remains.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"VNM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news03_e/acc_vietnam_12dec_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; news_item[344] = { ni_date:"2003.05.12_17:00:00", ni_pos:"", ni_embargo:"", ni_embargo_langs:"", ni_head:"‘Quantum jump’ needed if Viet Nam is to join in two years", ni_intro:"Viet Nam reported progress, on 12 May 2003, in its membership negotiations, but several delegations said much more needs to be done, and the working group chairperson told members that “success will depend on a quantum jump” in efforts if Viet Nam is to meet its goal of joining by 2005.", ni_image:"", ni_subject:"ACC", ni_country:"VNM", ni_cases:"", ni_xlinks:"", ni_links:[ { nl_text:"News item", nl_url:"/english/news_e/news03_e/viet_nam_member_nego_12may03_e.htm", nl_lang_id:0, nl_pages:"", nl_kb:"", nl_dol:"", nl_image:"", nl_quality:"" } ] }; //-->