May 17, 1986

DUNKEL REAPPOINTED AS GATT DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR THREE MORE YEARS.

GENEVA, MAY 16 (IFDA/CHAKRAVARTHI RAGHAVAN) -- The GATT Council has decided to renew the term of the Director-General, Arthur Dunkel, for another three years from October 1, 1986, a GATT spokesman announced Thursday evening.

The spokesman said in a separate decision the Council had also decided that details rules and procedures be examined for the appointment of the Director-General in future, and for renewal of such appointments, and that a decision on new rules and procedures would be taken at the next regular session of the GATT Contracting Parties in November.

Third world sources later said that while they had won an important point on settling rules and procedures for the future, they expect it to be a major power struggle, since it involves essentially democratisation of decision-making in the GATT, which run is run as a fiefdom of the U.S. and EEC.

Delegates said for the future the Council had decided:

--That detailed rules and procedures be examined for the appointment to the office of the D.F. in future, and for the renewal of such appointments,

--That consultations be initiated for this purpose forthwith,

--That the chairman of the GATT Contracting Parties (Amb. Chiba of Japan) be invited to discuss with CPS how these consultations could be organised, and

--A decision on rules and procedures be reached at the next regular session of the GATT Contracting Parties in November.

Third world sources said that though Chiba is to "discuss" with CPS how the consultations should be organised, the intention really is to have the consultations done by the chairman of the GATT Council, Amb. Kun Park of South Korea.

An example of the current and holism in GATT, they said, was the fact that though the decision to renew Dunkel's term was made at a session of the GATT Council, the consultations preceding that decision were not undertaken by the chairman of the Council, but by the chairman of the CPS.

Third world countries want to lay down for the future principles and rules and qualifications for the posts of the GATT Director-General and his two deputies, and for the appointment of the Director-General to be made by the GATT Contracting Parties on the recommendation of the GATT Council, and for the two deputies to be appointed by the GATT Council on the recommendation of the GATT Director-General.

Also, they want that no one should hold office as GATT Director-General for more than two terms of four years each.

Consultations over the selection of a GATT Director-General should be undertaken at least one year before the expiry of the term of office of the incumbent.

Third world countries also want the principles of rotation and equitable geographical representation to be followed for such appointments.

Third world sources said that though the processes for the future had been set in motion, the achievement of the objectives for greater democratisation of the institution, and to ensure that the Secretariat functions in the interests of all, and not merely to advance the cause of a few, would involve a major power struggle.