"International trade can play a major role in the promotion of economic development and the alleviation of poverty." DOHA WTO MINISTERIAL 2001: MINISTERIAL DECLARATION WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, 20 November 2001. (http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm) .
We recognize the particular vulnerability of the least-developed countries and the special structural difficulties they face in the global economy. We are committed to addressing the marginalization of least-developed countries in international trade and to improving their effective participation in the multilateral trading system. DOHA WTO MINISTERIAL 2001: MINISTERIAL DECLARATION WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, 20 November 2001. (http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_e.htm ).
Some other African countries (Niger, Cameroon, Guinea, Uganda, Ghana and Rwanda) supported the proposal and said they are also affected. India described the cotton situation as a "bleeding wound on the conscience of the world", Brazil said the G-20 considers this to be a priority issue in Hong Kong, Australia said a breakthrough in the agriculture negotiations is needed to deal with the cotton problem, and the EU appealed to all WTO members to work for a solution, saying it had opened its markets and reduced its subsidies. SUMMARY OF 14 DECEMBER 2005 http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min05_e/min05_14dec_e.htm )
NGO participation in Ministerial Conferences – "For NGOs - When Ministers adopted the Marrakesh Agreement they also decided to include a specific reference to NGOs in Article V:2. On 18 July 1996 the General Council further clarified the framework for relations with NGOs by adopting a set of guidelines (WT/L/162) which "recognizes the role NGOs can play to increase the awareness of the public in respect of WTO activities".
"We renew our resolve to complete the Doha Work Programme fully and to conclude the negotiations launched at Doha successfully in 2006" and "Therefore, we agree to intensify work on all outstanding issues to fulfil the Doha objectives." WT/MIN(05)/DEC - 22 December 2005 DOHA WORK PROGRAMME/Ministerial Declaration. And WTO NOTICIAS: DISCURSOS — DG PASCAL LAMY, 24 de septiembre de 2005 (http://www.wto.org/spanish/news_s/sppl_s/sppl03_s.htm)
