Assembly/AU/Decl.3 (VIII)1 Page 2 Hereby: 1. EXPRESS our deep concern and disappointment at the stalling of the negotiations on the DDA, which has been due largely to the failure of major players in the WTO process to demonstrate the necessary flexibility in their negotiating positions. 2. RE-AFFIRM our support for a rules-based multilateral trading system. 3. CALL for a prompt resumption and a speedy and successful conclusion of the Doha Round, with its development dimensions given high priority as agreed in the 2001 WTO Declaration. 4. REQUEST the major players in the WTO and our development partners to contribute to the attainment of this objective by translating their expressions of support for Africa’s development into concrete development-oriented commitments in the WTO negotiations. 5. RE-AFFIRM the need for this Round of negotiations to yield real development results, as promised in the Doha Declaration and the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). 6. URGE our trade partners, especially the major players, to provide the necessary flexibilities that will enable African countries to use trade as an engine for promoting development, reducing and eliminating poverty. 7. STRESS therefore the need to improve and make workable, the rules, principles and mechanisms of multilateral trade, for African countries, in particular the least developed among them. 8. UNDERSCORE the importance of technical support and financial assistance for the building of supply capacity and the promotion of trade and development in African countries. 9. REQUEST therefore the developed countries and the international organizations to make real contributions in the allocation of adequate resources and appropriate technical assistance, through effective channels and mechanisms, for attainment of these objectives. 10. COMMEND African Trade Ministers and Negotiators for their continued steadfastness in the defense of Africa’s interests in the WTO negotiations. 11. RE-ITERATE our position that any outcome of the current Round of WTO negotiations that fails to adequately deliver on the development promises of the DDA will be unacceptable to Africa.