GENEVA: Pascal Lamy of France has won the race to lead the World Trade Organisation, his last rival – Carlos Perez del Castillo of Uruguay – said yesterday.
“I would like to congratulate Pascal Lamy and to wish him the best of luck in his job ahead,” Perez del Castillo said after giving up his bid. “I accept the result,” he said. “I have requested my government to withdraw my candidacy.”
Lamy could not be reached immediately because he was in the Caribbean.
Stephane Schorderet, spokesman for the French Mission in Geneva, declined to comment until the formal decision is made by the ruling WTO General Council on May 26.
Perez del Castillo said he had learned from the Uruguayan ambassador to the WTO that Lamy garnered the strongest support among the 148 members of the body that supervises global trade.
The ambassador, Guillermo Valles Galmez, had just met with Kenyan Ambassador Amina C. Mohammed to learn the results of the polling she has been conducting as head of a three-member panel at the center of the selection process.
Perez del Castillo said he expected no obstacles would keep Lamy from the taking up the post.
“Now, let’s get on with the job,” Perez del Castillo said, adding that he was eager to work with Lamy as he takes over at the body, which is currently supervising a new round of global trade talks.
Mohammed was expected to give the results to all WTO delegations later yesterday, with a formal announcement to come after that, trade officials said.
In two previous rounds of consultations, mediators said Lamy had the greatest support from WTO members. Two other candidates _ from Mauritius and Brazil _ withdrew after the panel reported to delegates that they were least likely to attract consensus.
Lamy was the European Union’s trade chief until last year, while Perez del Castillo is Uruguay’s former ambassador to the WTO and a former chairman of the trade body’s ruling general council.
Lamy now looks set to succeed Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand, who steps down Aug. 31.
Mohamed’s panel has been holding two months of closed-door consultations with WTO delegations to help select the next head. Instead of formal polling, the selection is to be made by consensus after back-room discussions.                              – AP




photo: Lamy ... rival pulls out

Last update on: 14-5-2005