SUNS  4362 Thursday 28 January 1999

Geneva, 26 Jan (Chakravarthi Raghavan) -- A meeting of the General Council over the selection of a successor to the WTO Director-General held Tuesday does not seem to have produced any clear movement towards a choice from among the four candidates for the post.
And there were renewed reports in the WTO corridors, among delegations, that if the impasse is not quickly broken, there would be moves by the (United States) either to continue Mr. Renato Ruggiero or to bring in an outsider.

The name of Uruguay's Enrique Iglesias, who is now heading the Washington-based Inter-American Development Bank has again gained currency, with some Latin American sources saying "Iglesias is waiting to be called, and his place at the IDB would be taken by a Brazilian".

The four in the running are Supachai of Thailand, Abouyoub of Morocco, Moore of New Zealand and MaClaren of Canada.

A statement by Mexico's Amb. Alejandro De La Pena, on behalf of the informal developing country group (which itself is divided on the choice among the four) nevertheless made a statement pointing out that they had agreed to extend the time-frame for choice (from December end) to the end of January, with formal decision to be taken at the next regular meeting of the General Council on 16 February.

Since a consensus in the WTO meant that no member opposed the decision, if there were still members not conveying their preference to the facilitators, it must be because they were indifferent as to which of the four should be selected.

The statement by Mexico said that the developing country group felt it "convenient" (a somewhat strange use of the word, and repeatedly in other contexts too in the statement, making it difficult to interpret about the real intended meaning) to stress that if one or several members decide to oppose the selection of any of the four candidates, "the sine qua non condition for reaching consensus would have been broken and, consequently, we should proceed to take a decision in some other way."

And while Members have expressed different ideas on this regard, on this particular issue, the Group does not want to make pronouncements, but everyone knew what the WTO texts say on decision-making and, if need arose, the informal group or its members individually would make
suggestions they deem "convenient" to point out that the successor to Ruggiero must be one of the four candidates, and the only ones nominated in a transparent manner accord to the General Council decision of 15 July last.

"Trying to introduce new candidates without having change the rules adopted by the General Council itself not only would be irregular, but would also be extremely unfair to the four candidates" and the informal group does not see any reason to either change the agreed rules for receiving nominations in the General Council decision nor is it ready that an unfair treatment be given to any of the four.

The statement stressed that the 12 January decision of the General Council had agreed that once the report of the facilitator (Rossier) had bene heard, it would examine the situation and consider any further action considered desirable, and that excepting for what was agreed on 18 December and 20 January "there is no mandate about how to continue the process."

The statement among others pressed for maintaining the momentum for selection in a more dynamic and intensive way; create the necessary means for a more active, continuous and direct participation in the process, and while renewing the mandate of Amb. Rossier, leave open the
possibility that a successor be found as facilitator to Amb. Celso Lafer of Brazil (who has left Geneva to be a Minister).

In various comments and interventions, Egypt's Amb. Zahran said that two-thirds of the membership had supported either Supachai or Abouyoub, and that while it was important to reach a consensus, this should not mean waiting indefinitely. Amb. Hayes of the US that all members should not only answer their first and second preferences, but also the third question posed to them (as to whether any of the four would be unacceptable). Pakistan's amb. Akram supported the Egyptian views, and said it was not right that those who had supported either Supachai or Abouyoub should now be asked whether they would support a third.

The EC a vote on selection was not in the interest of the organization, but that the EU members continued to face difficulties in reaching a choice among the four.

Rossier at the end said there was need for more consultations, and some flexibility from members.

Zahran repeated that consensus should not be used to hold up the process of selection since this would mean that the majority would not have a say.

The Chairman of the Council, amb. Weekes of Canada said that he took note of the points and would reflect on it (before coming back to the General Council)