Cuba Decries Lack of Consensus in WTO Documents

Geneva, Dec 17. -Cuba repudiated the lack of a legitimate consensus in drafting the document to be submitted for approval during the 8th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization.In his speech at a plenary session, head of the Cuban delegation, Ambassador Rodolfo Reyes, said that the text about political guidelines was negotiated by a reduced group of members and most developing countries were prevented from including their just concerns.

"We have a document that has been the result of the most flagrant disregard for the principles of full participation, transparency and inclusion," said Reyes, and therefore, Cuba does not feel any commitment to all its content.

The Cuban ambassador also denounced that the Doha Round has not concluded because several industrialized countries have refused to assume the minimum commitments that these negotiations entail.

"A successful conclusion of the Doha Round will not be reached by resorting to formulas that violate the principles and forms of negotiation which have been the pillars of this organization," he said. (Prensa Latina)