The main actors in multilateral negotiations are government officials at the membersХ permanent missions who are responsible for WTO matters, and senior officials from capitals. Countries can either have a dedicated WTO mission or a joint WTO, UN and other International Organizations mission. Not all WTO members have a dedicated mission in Geneva; in particular small members follow the work of the WTO from Brussels or another diplomatic representation in Europe. However, some smaller members, including members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Pacific Island Forum States, have successfully pursued an innovative approach of joint representation to the WTO for purposes of negotiating the Doha Development Agenda, and supporting the implementation of obligations assumed at the multilateral level.
The staff of the missions can be composed of officials from different governmental departments, e.g. those dealing with Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Customs, and Technical Cooperation. Officials working at the missions have to follow the day-to-day operations of the WTO, as well as the negotiations-related activities. They have the role of transmitting their countriesХ positions. For this, they have to maintain informal and formal contacts both with the WTO Secretariat and other members and gather information through documents provided by the WTO. The work of the WTO delegates can be very time-demanding. A study has pointed out that during the first eight months of 2003 the Secretariat serviced a total of 4207 formal, information and private meetings. This makes an average of 120 meetings per week or 24 per working day. Thus, it is estimated that it takes a minimum of five officials in Geneva to participate in the meetings and the negotiations.[28]
In addition to an expert team of negotiators in Geneva, it is very important to constitute an active team of experts in the capitals to backstop the Geneva-based officials and provide instructions and feedback on proposals in a timely manner.
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