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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - One month after its historical launching on
June 28th, 2005, the OECS Geneva Technical Mission has reportedly been well
received by other Caribbean missions, already established in Geneva.
Caribbean countries are increasingly setting up missions in Geneva where the
World Trade Organization - WTO is headquartered, with the hope of providing
territories with more effective representation at the WTO level.
The small OECS mission has been given the tremendous responsibility of becoming
the vehicle by which the sub-region will have a stronger voice at WTO
negotiation sessions.
Senior Communications Officer of the OECS Secretariat Mr. Kendol Morgan says,
the commissioning of the Geneva Technical Mission is vital to the long term
welfare of smaller and weaker nations.
“There are lots of meetings, lots of discussions taking place and countries of
the OECS have a small capacity for taking part in these negotiations. So they‘ve
decided to work jointly. OECS countries decided they would set up a joint
mission to interface with the WTO, engage in discussions and articulate their
positions”.
Director General of the OECS Secretariat Dr. Len Ishmael recently called for the
recognition that countries of the world are at different levels of development
and that the playing field is not level.
The Communications Officer says the mission was launched with financial and
other support provided by the European Commission, the Commonwealth Secretariat
and the OECS Mission in Brussels.
Mr. Morgan said countries no longer have the luxury of having an option about
having a physical presence on the global scene. “It is a question of absolutely
having to take part in the negotiations because it is going to have an impact on
the way that we live and work in these islands. One cannot opt out. That’s the
key issue. Can you afford to opt not to participate? You need to take part
effectively, so you pool your resources to do it.”
The OECS Geneva Technical Mission is currently headed by Charge d’Affaire
Elliott Paige.
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