Morocco's candidate for WTO chairmanship calls for rotating leadership

The Moroccan candidate for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Chairmanship called lately for rotation in WTO leadership.

Speaking at a monthly program broadcast over weekend by the Moroccan television Channel 2M, Hassan Abouyoub, who is running for the WTO chairmanship, said that he is not only a candidate of Morocco but also of all developing countries.

The former foreign trade minister said further that he is well-placed to understand the claims, needs and characteristics of the developing world, and affirmed that the WTO should be a neutral instrument capable of forging a consensus and a balanced partnership respecting the interests of both the developed and developing countries.

The developing countries have their say in the international trade negotiations, Abouyoub said, before calling for the consolidation of international cooperation to counter upcoming global challenges.

Relatedly, the weekly European magazine "EuroPolitique" said recently that the image enjoyed by Morocco abroad as well as Abouyoub's political and professional backgrounds are all assets in favor of the Moroccan bid.

The weekly also said that the 15 member countries of the European Union sympathize with the Moroccan candidate, who is backed by the Arab world and Africa.

Three other candidates are running for WTO chairmanship: former prime minister of New Zealand, Mike Moore, former Canadian International trade Minister Roy MacLaren, and Thailand's Vice-Prime Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi.

The mandate of the acting WTO chief, Renato Ruggiero, will expire next April. Ruggiero, who announced that he will not run for another mandate, is the first Director General of WTO which substituted the Gatt in 1995.