|
Pascal Lamy of France, candidate for the post
of WTO Director-General, gives a press conference at the World Trade
Organization in Geneva after a special session of the general
council.(AFP) |
Former European Union trade chief Pascal Lamy of France was confirmed
as the new head of the World Trade Organisation, the WTO said.
A session of the ruling General Council of the 148-member WTO formally
approved a decision made public earlier this month by a selection team, it
said in a statement.
Lamy is scheduled to take up his four-year mandate on September 1, when
current WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand ends his
term.
He said he would spend the next few months preparing for the job.
The WTO, which sets the rules for global commerce,
is largely steered by its members, using a sluggish
system that Lamy once dismissed as
"medieval".
But the director general also plays an important
role, prodding recalcitrant
governments and helping build compromise in an effort to
drive trade talks forward.
"I am honoured that the WTO's 148 members have today decided to appoint
me director general," Lamy said in a written statement.
As trade relations between leading WTO members such as China, the
United States and the EU grow increasingly bad-tempered, Lamy can expect a
tough challenge.
His key task will be to maintain momentum in the three months before
ministerial talks in Hong Kong in December, which are meant to cap the
Doha Round of global trade negotiations.
"I believe we have a crucial task ahead to complete the Doha
development agenda round of trade talks, this will be my immediate first,
second and third priority," Lamy said.
The round, aimed primarily at liberalising global commerce in a manner
that benefits poorer nations, has stumbled repeatedly since it was
launched in 2001, mainly because of discord between rich and poor
countries.
Kenya's trade ambassador Amina Mohamed, who headed the selection
process, said Lamy -- who jogs to relax -- would have his work cut out.
"I hope that by the time the 1st of September comes, Mister Lamy will
have changed from being a marathon runner into being a sprinter, because
we have only three months left from September to December," she told
journalists.
"We will need to have a lot of work done during
that very short period, so we're all very hopeful that by the time he
comes we will on our side have done enough work for him
to run to Hong Kong."
(Agencies) |