Premier Drnovšek: Accession to GATT Important Milestone for Slovenia

Geneva, 19 May - WTO/MINISTERIAL/CONFERENCE/GENEVA
Accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was a major stepping stone in Slovenia's economic history. It allowed it to assert its economic independence and gain full citizenship among trading nations, Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek said Tuesday in his address to the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference marking the 50th anniversary of GATT. Premier Drnovšek underlined the contribution of former GATT and present-day WTO to the exceptional growth of world trade, employment and social progress around the world. "WTO is the primary forum for broad-based trade liberalization", Drnovšek said .