°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ DIRECTOR-GENERAL SELECTION PROCESS 2005: CANDIDATE
Statement by Carlos Pérez del Castillo
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Biography by Pérez del Castillo
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ General Council
Geneva, 26 January 2005
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates,
I would like to start by expressing my most sincere solidarity towards
the peoples and governments affected by the recent tragedy caused by
the tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The loss of lives, the material
damage and the suffering and hopelessness to which millions of people
of the region have been subject represent a new challenge to
international cooperation.
I fully share the Director General’s views when he said that the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
must also contribute through trade measures to the generous effort
undertaken by the international community in the face of this tragedy.
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I would like to express my satisfaction to be once again in this house
and to have the possibility to share with the General Council my
vision of the challenges facing the multilateral trading system and
the reasons that have prompted me to be a candidate for the post of
Director General of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ.
The first reason is my strong belief in the irreplaceable role that
this institution has in growth, development and human welfare. The
second is that I think — with modesty but also with a strong
conviction — that my background, my experience and vocation for
international public service will allow me to make a positive
contribution to the enormous task of building a more just and
equitable multilateral trading system (MTS).
In my opinion, the organization will face a number of important and
urgent challenges in the next years.
The first one is to reaffirm and guarantee the central role of
multilateralism in international trade. This requires us to confront
the growing fragmentation and disarticulation of the MTS characterized
by a proliferation of Preferential Trade Agreements of various types
and the progressive erosion of the non-discriminatory treatment
enshrined in the Most Favored Nation Clause, a fundamental °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
principle. It also requires the accession of those countries that are
not yet members of the organization in order to guarantee its complete
universality. Furthermore, steps must be taken to ensure that the MTS
offers equal opportunities to all its members, whether rich or poor,
large or small — who must find in this system concrete opportunities
for trade and development.
Finally, it will be necessary to strengthen the effectiveness of the
monitoring mechanisms and to ensure that the dispute settlement system
— a fundamental cornerstone of this institution — continues to be an
objective and efficient tool to guarantee an impartial framework where
all members, regardless of their size or power, may be able to defend
their legitimate interests.
A second challenge, equally important, will be to transform into
reality the development dimension in all agreements, disciplines and
rules negotiated in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ. This organization must be ready to
respond positively to needs that are not only real but that cannot be
further postponed. It must also provide the space in which developing
nations, in particular the least developed ones, can implement their
objectives, instead of limiting their capacity to achieve them. But
words are not enough. To be able to give a concrete meaning to the
development dimension beyond S and D treatment is one of the most
important responsibilities that the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ currently has. The achievement
of this goal will be a fundamental factor in facilitating the full
integration of Developing Countries in the MTS and I will commit my
utmost effort to it.
The third challenge is to make all necessary efforts to change the
public image of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ. We all know the extent to which a distorted
view of the objectives, activities and role of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ prevails in
large segments of public opinion. In my view, much of the criticism
levelled at this organization is unfair and does not correspond to
reality. I think, at the same time, that as we continue to improve our
working methods, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the decision
making process, the time has also come for the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ to make an
additional effort to face this criticism and dispel doubts and
uncertainties. Trade, far from being a threat to developing countries,
can become an engine for economic growth, development and well being
for our societies, as well as a vital tool to fight poverty.
This shared effort will also certainly require a renewed dialogue with
civil society.
Fourthly, we face institutional challenges. We must ensure that the
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ continues to evolve and adapt to the changing realities of
international trade. In the last years important progress was made in
respect to transparency and inclusiveness in the negotiating process.
We cannot be complacent — we must continue to move forward in that
direction. Having chaired the most important bodies of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ,
including the General Council, I have a clear idea of how this
organization works. My opinion is that the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ is an institution that
does not require radical changes, although undoubtedly there is room
to improve its efficiency and procedures. I have no doubt that in the
decision making process we must preserve the principle of consensus.
Whenever the need arises for the formation of smaller groups in the
negotiating process, we should maintain a certain degree of
flexibility in order to ensure the participation of all interested
members according to the subjects being discussed.
These are, in my judgment, the major challenges looming in the future
of this organization. To be able to successfully tackle them, I would
like to share with you the priority actions that I will take if I am
selected as Director General.
The first task is to finish the current round of negotiations in 2006,
at the latest, by reaching a balanced package of results that reflects
the interests of all members and that faithfully respects the Doha
mandate. But above all, we must ensure that those results live up to
our expectations, so that they are worthy of being called “The
Development Round”. The time to achieve this goal is short. That makes
it imperative that the next Director General has not only the
necessary political stature for the post but, also, substantive
knowledge of the issues and proven experience on °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ negotiations, so
that he can move things forward from his first day on the job. I have
been involved in this effort from the beginning of this Round, first
as Uruguay's negotiator and later as Chairman of the General Council,
and I can assure you that I will dedicate my utmost efforts to ensure
the successful outcome of the Doha Round.
While the completion of the Round is an important objective for
strengthening the credibility of the system and reaffirming the
central role of multilateralism, the task does not end there.
We must also have a longer term vision, and together with all members
I will work to identify a substantive agenda for the future of the
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ.
My second task will be to equip the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ with sufficient operational
capacity to comply with its mandate, including the implementation,
within the agreed time frames, of the outcome of the Round. For this
purpose it will be necessary to undertake an evaluation of the
analytical and technical assistance resources, as well as the
infrastructure that the Secretariat currently has, in light of these
new realities.
The third task on which I will focus is to further develop and
strengthen coherence and coordination with other international
organizations. This will mean that the valuable existing cooperation
with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund moves to a
more operational phase, involving joint actions designed to solve a
number of sensitive issues we are currently dealing with. A clear
example would be to strengthen cooperation with the World Bank on
assistance for the adjustment process resulting from the
implementation of the results of trade negotiations, including the
problem of the erosion of preferences.
I also intend to strengthen and broaden cooperation with UNCTAD, ITC
and WIPO, as well as with regional organizations in appropriate areas
linked with development, taking advantage of the clear existing
complementarities.
These challenges and action priorities — which I do not pretend to be
exhaustive — require a joint and coordinated response from all
Members. If I am selected I will work with all the tools at the
disposal of the Director General to help find those answers.
During my entire professional career I have dealt with the type of
problems that the DG of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ will have to face. I have dedicated
more than 30 years of my professional life to trade and development. I
have actively participated in the last three rounds of multilateral
trade negotiations representing the interests of my country. I have
also had the honor to chair in the last few years the most important
bodies of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ, including this one, the General Council, and served
the interests of all its members. In brief, I know the system from the
inside.
But the enriching phase of my professional experience is that which
has allowed me to get intimately involved with development matters. I
worked for many years in UNCTAD, ITC, ECLAC and SELA in direct contact
with every aspect of today's development challenges. During those
years I had the privilege to visit more than 30 African countries-many
of them least developed-in search of solutions to concrete problems on
commodities such as cotton, tropical woods, meat, hides and skins as
well as cereals. I also visited Asian countries, working hand in hand
with the private sector in trade promotion activities. Having been
elected Permanent Secretary of SELA (Latin American Economic System),
I contributed in the search of solutions to trade and finance problems
of all Latin American and Caribbean countries in trying times for
their economies.
The point of this outline of my professional life is to highlight that
the sole purpose behind my candidacy is my firm conviction that I have
the necessary credentials that, in my judgment, Members require from
the Director General.
There are two additional elements that I would like to underline
before finishing and that I think are essential for the selection of
next DG.
In the extensive participation that I have had in the multilateral
system I think that there is a distinctive character trait that I have
always demonstrated. That is the constant search for common ground and
understanding, the identification of convergence and the building of
consensus without which no agreement is possible.
Probably that trait can be traced back to the country whose interests
I have represented. Uruguay, a small developing country, has made the
search for consensus its raison d’être. In the same way, I have
striven to generate the necessary respect and trust for my proposals
to be always perceived as constructive and independent contributions,
always in search of understanding among Members.
And it is because I come from Uruguay that to me the issue of
development does not respond to a theoretical or academic vision, but
an empirical one, forged through the daily contact with a reality that
is often harsh and to which I remain committed to find the best
possible solutions.
Likewise my commitment to multilateralism does not come from an
abstract view of international relations. It is born out of a deeply
rooted conviction that this principle is the best guarantee to achieve
a respectful, harmonious and cooperative coexistence among members of
the international community, as well as the best defence for the
interests of developing countries.
Finally, Dear Friends, as of today, a selection process will be opened
to determine which of the four candidates can attract the consensus of
the members. I do not visualize this process as a confrontation
between candidates from North and South. I see the process as the
selection of an individual who has the best attributes to lead an
organization based on the principles of international cooperation and
multilateralism and I sincerely think that I can be the consensus
candidate that the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ needs.
To me the post of Director General is not a job or a mere place of
employment. It is a commitment to you to strengthen the MTS. And it is
also a commitment bringing with it my own profound aspiration to see a
fairer and more just world where each one could see his own interests
duly reflected. I am committed to a system in which trade is not an
end in itself but an instrument to improve the human condition. A
system that promotes stability, that is capable of resolving conflicts
reasonably and that cares and tends to the needs of its least favored
members. Such a system will be an invaluable contribution to a safer
world, a world with less tension, where the best possible solutions
can be found to improve human welfare, rights and dignity.