A/RES/51/167
Page 4
Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on
Least Developed and Net Food-importing Developing Countries,3 as well as the
recommendations adopted at the Mid-term Global Review of the Implementation of
the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s and at
the ninth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,
as they relate to trade and trade-related issues of the least developed
countries;
14.
Emphasizes the importance of the strengthening of, and the
attaining of greater universality by, the international trading system,
welcomes the process directed towards accession to the World Trade
Organization of developing countries and countries with economies in
transition, and emphasizes the necessity for World Trade Organization member
Governments and relevant international organizations to assist non-World Trade
Organization members so as to facilitate their efforts with respect to
accession in an expeditious manner on the basis of World Trade Organization
rights and obligations and for the United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development to provide technical assistance, thereby contributing to their
rapid and full integration into the multilateral trading system;
15.
Also emphasizes the importance of the inaugural Ministerial
Conference of the World Trade Organization, to be held at Singapore in
December 1996, in regard to reviewing the implementation of the Uruguay Round
agreements and their built-in agenda, stressing that the pursuit of that
agenda, as well as the international community's handling of new issues
affecting the conduct of international trade relations, should be carried out
in a balanced manner which takes into account the concerns of all countries,
including developing countries;
16.
Further emphasizes that the dispute settlement mechanism of the
World Trade Organization is a key element with regard to the integrity and
credibility of the multilateral trading system and the full realization of the
benefits anticipated from the conclusion of the Uruguay Round;
17.
Deplores any attempt to bypass or undermine multilaterally agreed
procedures on the conduct of international trading by resorting to unilateral
actions over and above those agreed in the Uruguay Round, and affirms that
environmental and social concerns should not be used for protectionist
purposes;
18.
Emphasizes the need for a balanced and integrated approach to
environment, trade and development issues;
19.
Reaffirms that Governments should have as their objective to
ensure that trade and environmental policies are mutually supportive so as to
achieve sustainable development and that, in doing so, their environmental
policies and measures with a potential trade impact should not be used for
protectionist purposes, and reaffirms also that positive measures such as
market access, capacity-building, improved access to finance and access to
transfer of technology, taking into account the relationship between traderelated agreements and technology, are effective instruments in assisting
developing countries to meet multilaterally agreed targets, while noting that
trade measures can, in certain cases, play a role in achieving the objectives
of multilateral trade agreements, while safeguarding a non-discriminatory and
equitable multilateral trading system;
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