INFORMAL TNCMEETING STATEMENT-THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
(10:00, Thursday, 3June 2013, WTO CR)
1. Thank you, Pascal, for convening a TNC meeting today. I share your assessment on the overall state of play, which are mixed with both positive and disappointing elements. We could view where we stand with regard to the MC9, as being similar to the Geneva weather this spring. Though we should have been enjoying sun and warmth by this time of the year, we have been met with a weather pattern that seems extremely hesitant to make its mind up. It is already June but we are way behind for both the season and the overall Bali process.
2. It is true that Members had a significant amount of consultations in Geneva. In particular, I would like to thank the three Chairs and Friends of the Chair for their hard work and facilitation of those consultations. Their efforts have helped us move forward.
However, we are not at a satisfactory point concerning the speed of progress and the quality of consultations so far. Due to the lack of sufficient trust and political will, we are not able to improve the quality of our consultations in the three pillars. I believe that Trade Ministers made the same assessment in Paris last Thursday, and shared the view that they instruct Geneva based Ambassadors to enter into serious negotiating mode with guidance of flexibility.
3. In this regard, I believe that we should start a conceptual exercise of horizontal consultations at political level which bring the three areas together as a whole rather than maintaining more of a tactical approach. We are still at the point of outlining what we want on scratch paper and it is necessary to sketch a conceptual contour of MC9 deliverables with a fresh look and genuine flexibility as well as without a prejudice base.
4. Considering time constraint, I refrain from repeating our positions on the three negotiating pillars.
5. In conclusion, June and July are a crucial and valuable period that we cannot afford to waste. Time is of essence. The Bail process should also shift gears and go into a mode of serious and substantive negotiation as soon as possible by utilizing warmer political inputs.
6. Thank you. ///