Disputes within the World Trade Organization (WTO) between the developing and the developed countries over a new round of negotiations in Doha are “of no concern to Qatar,” according to Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, the chairman of the organizing committee of the Doha conference.
The top official was quoted by the Gulf Times on Monday as saying that Qatar would do its best to render the November ministerial meeting in Doha a success.
He pointed out that there had never been a 100 percent guarantee that a new round of negotiations would be launched in Doha. Qatar’s stand on this is the same as that of other Arab countries, as was expressed in Cairo recently, another official said.
The Cairo meeting called on countries to look into a new round.
Looking at the possibilities at the Doha conference, Fadi Makki, advisor on the WTO at the organizing committee, said that Qatar, as chairman of the conference, could play a pivotal role in making the conference a success.
“Qatar, as a neutral entity on many of the issues at stake, could play a leading role, unlike, for instance, the United States, which was the chairman of the failed Seattle meeting. There, it was a party and the judge. It doesn’t work.”
Qatari Minister for Finance, Economy and Trade Yousef Hussein Kamal, as the chairman, will attend all meetings and can take a conciliatory role, they said.
The minister could use diplomacy and play a major role in last-minute negotiations and haggling, Makki claimed.
Developed countries like the US, EU and Japan are demanding a new round of negotiations, while developing nations, with India, Pakistan and Malaysia at the forefront, are insisting on implementation of previous agreements before starting anything anew – Albawaba.com
