Alþjóðaviðskiptastofnunin - WTO: Samningaviðræður um landbúnað.

WTO Committee on Agriculture
Special Session
31 March 2003

Statement by Iceland

Further to what was said on our behalf earlier by the Delegation of Switzerland, we would like to express our disappointment over the current state of play in our negotiations and our inability to meet the modalitites deadline set by our Ministers in Doha. However, this comes as no great surprise given the very creative, selective and ultimately wishful interpretation of the Doha mandate advocated by a vocal minority of Members.

Iceland has made its position quite clear in these negotiations and this needs no repeating here. But it has to be emphasized that we will only be successful in these negotiations if we collectively recognize that any outcome will have to be based on the interests of all Members. As you have correctly pointed out, Mr. Chairman, Delegations remain as far apart as ever. Our further work must aim for balance and thus be founded on something which promotes this objective rather than exacerbate division.

It is infinitely more constructive to take our cue from the possible rather than the impossible. It should come as no surprise that we should not be prepared to assume commitments which would effectively deprive us of a sustainable basis to engage in agriculture and safeguard a number of non-trade concerns to which we attach great importance. These issues have to be addressed, understood and ultimately negotiated in concrete terms if we are to be able to live up to the provisions of the Agreement on Agriculture and the Doha mandate.

We appreciate as always, Mr. Chairman, your untiring efforts in moving this process forward. Iceland has sought both individually and collectively to provide you with the guidance you have requested and we will continue to do so. We stand ready to work constructively in the days, weeks and months ahead with a view to reaching a fair, equitable and balanced outcome of our negotiations. We hope that at least this position is universally shared.