World Trade Organization WT/MIN(98)/ST/117 20 May 1998 (98-2179) MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Second Session Geneva, 18 and 20 May 1998 Original: Spanish dominicaN REPUBLIC Statement Circulated by His Excellency Mr. Luis Manuel Bonetti Veras, Secretary of State for Industry and Trade I. Introduction As a founding member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947), the Dominican Republic is conscious of the crucial role of international trade in the development of nations. Our membership in the WTO is therefore recognition of a multilateral system that strengthens and increases access for its Members to international markets. We repose faith and trust in the ability of this body to intervene in the international arena to guarantee equitable and marketdriven trade and trade discipline that will make for the optimum use of resources. In the newly emerging international trading environment, we the developing countries have had to institu