HOLY SEE NOTE ON WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE IN QATAR

VATICAN CITY, OCT 30, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was "A Note of the Holy See on the preparation for the Doha Ministerial Conference" of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which will take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 9 to 13.

"In the current situation," says the Note, "the policies of the WTO influence the possibilities of developing countries to guarantee their populations, especially the poor, a lasting economic and human progress. Diverse parties hope that this ministerial conference will place the dimension of development at the center of the reflections of the WTO and its members. In particular it is hoped that the ministerial conference will offer a new impetus for developing a multilateral system of trade which is more equitable and participatory.

"The Holy See, desirous of offering its own specific contribution to the debate underway concerning the project of the Final Declaration of the ministerial conference, has distributed a Note on the "Development Dimensions of the World Trade Organization."

"Having as its starting point the important ethical principle enunciated by His Holiness John Paul II in the Encyclical 'Centesimus Annus', in which he affirms that 'the economy is only one aspect and one dimension of complex human activity', (the Note) proposes several indications which urge that the policies of liberalization of international trade be better placed at the service of the dignity of the human person and the constitution of a true family among nations, founded on solidarity."

The Holy See note focusses on eight points: 1. Unsatisfactory progress for the poorest countries; 2. The development framework of the WTO; 3. Eliminating trade-distorting protections; 4. Developing countries should adopt consistent development policies; 5. Implementation and technical assistance; 6. Intellectual property; 7. Increased transparency, and 8. Towards a broader development agenda.

The Holy See Note was distributed to WTO authorities, to all Holy See missions accredited to the U.N. in Geneva and to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

SS;WTO MINISTERS CONFERENCE;...;DOHA;VIS;20011030;Word: 320;