Statement by H.E. Mr Mehmet Gücük
Ambassador, Deputy Undersecretary of

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Turkey

I would like to start by thanking His Excellency Mr Gita Wirjawan, the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia for chairing the Ninth Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference. Our thanks and gratitude also goes to Government of Indonesia and the WTO Secretariat for their hospitality, excellence and professionalism in organizing such an important event.

Allow me to take this opportunity also to congratulate H.E. Roberto Azevêdo, on his appointment as the new Director General of the WTO. We certainly expect much from his tenure and count on his able leadership and dedication.

I have no doubt that the message WTO Members will signal from glorious Bali dwipa (Bali Island) today and in coming two days, will be extremely important. Global community needs to be assured once again of our collective commitment to the rule-based multilateral trading system.

Indeed, we are here in Bali not only to chart a pathway for the future work of the WTO or take stock of developments since our last gathering. Bali Ministerial Conference should mean more than a regular Ministerial Session, in face of the reality that the global economy and trade continues to struggle to effectively pull themselves out of the tail of protectionism. It also offers us a unique opportunity to tell the world that trade retains its central place in the global economy and governance.

One cannot deny that in today’s international trading environment wherein:

-     global value chains have become a new narrative in international trade;

-        Free Trade and Preferential Trade Agreements add further complexity into the global trade landscape; and

-     variety of non-tariff barriers replace traditional tariff barriers.

We are much more in need of rules that will enable international trade flows on the most competitive and fair ground.

Akin, multiple crisis we have lived through in the global economy in recent years reminded us the critical mission WTO has in keeping trade channels open to the benefit of our own.

Having built on 50 years of GATT experience, WTO has stood the test of time and stands as the towering figure in multilateral trading system and as a guardian of free trade.

No doubt, transformation that is underway in international trade is an irreversible process. Challenges as well as opportunities it entails, require all of us to take a new and more responsible look into the WTO and the mission it represents. As the global economy is heading towards deeper integration and all economies, big or small, are becoming much more dependent on one another, we cannot simply ignore the merits of wider cooperation and openness for multilateral dialogue. WTO stands out as the most suitable platform to this end.

It is no secret that the WTO’s mission will be incomplete if it cannot deliver on Doha Development Round. To fulfill the role of the WTO in the global economy, there is an absolute need to make breakthrough in the Doha Development Round. Rule –making and negotiating functions place WTO far beyond of other international institutions and both should be put back on track. Let me note that intensive engagements that took place in Geneva, prior to Bali were quite encouraging in that regard, even if they have not taken us to where we were willing to be by now.

Thanks to tremendous efforts displayed by each and every member, progress could be made in many areas, though it stands far behind for concluding a small package in its entirety. But we should also be proud ourselves that we could manage to come only steps away from fully agreed texts. Momentum gained should be kept. Efforts to seek convergence where needed should be on going in the post Bali period, with the understanding that any landing zone should be reflecting the balance between market openness and development or binding commitments and flexibilities.

Let me assure all WTO members that Turkey, as a country that truly integrated herself into global markets, is well aware of the positive effects that trade liberalization can bring about. Hence, we stand ready to play our part to engage seriously in all efforts in the post-Bali period, without forgetting the very principles on which the Doha Development Round was built.

While we fully respect negotiating positions of any member, we would like to emphasize that each accession brings a new dynamism and richness to the WTO. Enlargement of WTO Membership not only serves WTO to become truly universal but also the acceding countries as they become truly integrated to world markets.

With these sentiments, I would like to welcome Yemen to WTO family and wish that this membership opens up a new page for Yemeni people for a brighter future.