UN, UNCTAD CHIEFS WELCOME ROUND CONCLUSION, FOCUS ON IMBALANCES

5:14 AM Dec 20, 1993

UN, UNCTAD CHIEFS WELCOME ROUND CONCLUSION, FOCUS ON IMBALANCES
Geneva 17 Dec (TWN) -- UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and the UNCTAD Secretary-General Kenneth Dadzie, in two separate statements, have welcomed the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations, but have called for actions for countries that might be disadvantaged by the outcome.

Boutros-Ghali also emphasized the UN's readiness to cooperate fully with the proposed World Trade Organization for promotion of economic and social advancement of all peoples.

The Uruguay Round agreement on the WTO, the institutional framework for the post-Uruguay Round multilateral trading system, in Art III.5, specifically calls for cooperation with the IMF and the World Bank, makes no reference to the United Nations.

A separate provision, in Art.V, enables the General Council of the WTO to provide for relations with other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations:

The General Council of the WTO, it says, "shall make" appropriate arrangements for effective cooperation with other intergovernmental organizations that have responsibilities related to those of the MTO and "may make" appropriate arrangements for consultation and cooperation with non-governmental organizations concerned with matters related to those of the MTO.

In his statement, Dadzie viewed the outcome of the Round as a "major achievement" and congratulated the participating governments and the present GATT head and his predecessor.

"It is the most important landmark thus far in the international endeavour to strengthen the multilateral trading system and bring about further liberalization and expansion of world trade to the benefit of all countries," Dadzie said, adding: "The results as they take effect will generate greater business confidence, create improved market access conditions, stimulate new investment and promote renewed growth in the world economy".

"In the nature of things," Dadzie continued, "an undertaking of such magnitude and complexity as the Uruguay Round is bound to yield benefits to countries within different time-frames."

The UNCTAD Trade and Development Board, as agreed at UNCTAD-VIII, would be undertaking an analysis and assessment of the outcome in particular in areas of interest or concern to developing countries and its impact on the international trading system.

"It may be noted," Dadzie continued, "that a number of issues remain to be addressed both in the runup to and in the wake of the April 1994 Ministerial Meeting. It should also be noted that many countries have meanwhile expressed concern about the balance from the standpoint of their respective national interests between the likely benefits and shortcomings of the outcome of the Round.

"Any such imbalances will need to be redressed through action in appropriate contexts including additional trade preferences, development assistance and debt relief. In addition, arrangements will be required to assist countries, especially developing countries and those in transition to a market economy, in taking full advantage of the results of the Round. UNCTAD stands ready to contribute fully to this effort."

Boutros-Ghali in a statement in New York relayed through his press spokesman, viewed the outcome as a major contribution to strengthening of the multilateral trading system and, thus, to the predictability and security of international trade relations. Its implementation, he suggested, should improve market access conditions, generate greater business confidence and stimulate new investment. It should bring renewed growth to the world economy and increase international trade.

In a negotiating process of such immense scope and activity, Boutros-Ghali said, the resulting package could never give complete satisfaction to all parties, but it was an outcome to which all could rally.

However, Boutros-Ghali added, the impact on particular groups of countries was still to be fully analyzed and "it is to be hoped that appropriate action will be taken to enable countries, especially developing countries and those in transition to a market economy, to take full advantage of the gains achieved and to benefit in areas where they can be disadvantaged".