. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/ST/2
10 November 2001
(01-5585)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth Session
Doha, 9 – 13 November 2001Original:  French
SWITZERLAND
Statement by H.E. Mr Pascal Couchepin
Federal Counsellor for Economy
The Doha Conference is evidence not only of our intention to strengthen the multilateral
trading system, but also our willingness to achieve greater integration of the Middle East within our
Organization by the accession of several of its States in the near future.  The WTO will notaccomplish its mission as a universal organization unless this part of the world, the political,
economic and commercial roles of which are undisputed and gaining increasing significance, is
strongly represented.  The WTO makes it possible for all of its Members, irrespective of size and
strength, to play a part in shaping the multilateral system and to defend their interests on the basis of
law.
I should like to convey our sincere thanks to the Qatari authorities for their warm welcome
and the excellent work in preparing for this important meeting.
A successful outcome to our work would help to improve confidence as between Members
and the public.  The growth of world trade has, for several decades, greatly exceeded that of our
national economies;  the forecasts for this year, howev er, show that such levels can be sustained only
by adapting the multilateral trading system to the current changes.
The problems of integrating developing and transition countries into the global economy, as
already noted in Seattle, have unfortunately been confirmed.  I should once again like to emphasize
that the solution to this problem lies in greater consistency between national and internationaleconomic policies in the commercial, financial and monetary spheres.   This is a prerequisite for any
successful development strategy.
Lastly, the impact of structural changes on individuals and communities has become a source
of great concern, undermining the consensus in our societies in favour of an open trading system.  Theanswer to these concerns is to adapt the system to the new economic and social realities.  During this
Conference, we shall endeavour to lay the foundations  for such action.  Switzerland is firmly resolved
to make a full contribution to this major undertaking.
Switzerland sees three fields for action in the days to come:First, major headway as regards agriculture is possible only with progress in areas indirectly
linked to this sector, namely the environment, geographical indications and rules.  These negotiations
must result in instruments which favour trade, producers, consumers and the environment.
Second, no one can fail to be moved by the public health crises and the ravages caused by
pandemics such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.  Far-reaching efforts to strengthen healthinfrastructures and medicine distribution networks and to step up preventive action are required toWT/MIN(01)/ST/2
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combat these scourges effectively.  Ensuring the protection of intellectual property pursuant to the
TRIPS Agreement is also essential and will encourage research into and development of new drugs
and therapies which meet the needs of all Members, whether they are industrialized or developing
countries.  Switzerland is ready to contribute to this vast effort and to use the flexibility of the
Agreement on intellectual property in order to guarantee access to medicines for the poorest countries.
Third, it is essential for suitable instruments to be created worldwide for both investment and
competition so as to ensure a stable, predictable and coherent framework for economic operators and
governments.
Furthermore, it is vital for all partners concerne d to join forces in the major work on the social
dimension and globalization currently being done by the ILO.  It is therefore only natural for theWTO Secretariat to be actively involved.
Developing and transition countries and especially the least-developed countries stand in need
of effective support to benefit from the multilateral trading system.  This means, in particular, helping
the least-developed countries to play an active role in the work of the WTO.  This is the task ofSwitzerland's Agency for International Trade Info rmation and Cooperation (AITIC) which was set up
in 1998.  We would be very happy to have the support of other partners in backing this initiative.
The Swiss delegation is pleased to cooperate actively over the next few days to make sure that
the Doha Conference is a success.
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