[26/January/2010]

GENEVA, Jan. 26 (Saba)- The 7th meeting of the special work team of Yemen accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO) was held on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Organization in Geneva.

The Yemeni negotiation team, headed by Minister of Industry and Trade Yahya al-Mutawakil, acquainted the member countries delegations to the meeting with the taken procedures to accelerate the accession process as well as replies to questions raised by the Organization members, in addition to the process of the bilateral negotiations of some of the WTO members countries.

The meeting discussed report of the work team which includes answers to inquiries presented in the previous meetings and the special documents related to commitments of Yemen, work plans and legislations complying with accession requirements.

The minister affirmed determination of Yemen to finalize the WTO accession requirements, saying that "we work to help our partners understand the exceptional need of Yemen for this and wish to touch appreciation of the Organization members positively reflected by the bilateral and multi-parties negotiations in this meeting and in the next months."

He expressed aspiration of Yemen that the London meeting, scheduled on January 27, help support Yemen stability and development issues, including the accession of Yemen into the WTO, to attract investment and reinforce trade to reduce poverty and unemployment.

For his part, head of Work Team Harmout Robin urged the WTO member countries to take into account the situation of Yemen as it is one of the least developing countries to speed up the signing of bilateral agreements with other members in the Organization.

He considered the current situation and challenges Yemen faces an urgent need to joint Yemen to the Organization as soon as possible in order to help it face the overall developmental and economic challenges.

AM/AM

Saba