General Council - Preparatory Process in Geneva and Negotiating Procedure at the Ministerial Conferences - Communication from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Mal[...]Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe
World Trade
Organization WT/GC/W/471
24 April 2002 (02-2340) General Council Original: English
PREPARATORY PROCESS IN GENEVA AND NEGOTIATING PROCEDURE
AT THE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCES
Communication from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe
The following communication, dated 19 April, has been received from the Permanent Mission of India.
_______________
Since the WTO was established in January 1995, four Ministerial Conferences have been held so far. The procedures adopted, both in the preparatory process in Geneva and at the Ministerial Conference itself, have been different. This uncertainty in the process makes it difficult for many Members to prepare themselves for the conferences. Some basic principles and procedures for this Member-driven organization need to be agreed upon, so that both the preparatory process and the conduct of