Patriot: "Emerging markets demonstrate leadership"

Renata Giraldi
Reporter from Agência Brasil

Brasilia – The election of Brazilian ambassador Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo, 55, to the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) represents a “transformation of the international order,” according to Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota. He believes it signifies that developing and poor countries are making progress in their achievements. The Foreign Minister said today (7) that Azevêdo’s victory is due to an intense campaign that mobilized the government and gained support on every continent.

"It is a very important result that reflects a transforming international order, in which emerging countries are demonstrating leadership," the Foreign Minister emphasized, noting that even the countries that voted for the Mexican Herminio Blanco, Azevêdo's opponent, accepted the victory. "Even those who chose the other candidate did not oppose their preferred candidate."

The chancellor recalled that in the WTO, the 159 countries are classified into three main groups: developed countries (the richest), developing countries (among which Brazil is included), and least developed countries (the poorest).

Patriota added that Azevêdo's victory is due to his professional trajectory, based on more than 20 years of international trade negotiations. "One of the aspects that influenced the support for Ambassador Roberto de Azevêdo was the feeling that he didn't need to be trained for the position: he was training for the game and to shoot at the goal," he said.

However, the chancellor avoided mentioning specific numbers. Unofficially, Brazilian government negotiators say that Azevêdo received 93 out of a total of 159 votes at the WTO. For Patriota, there is no room for resentment; the moment calls for building consensus and seeking to resume negotiations on the Doha Round – whose objective is to build a broad trade liberalization agreement, but which has been ineffective for about ten years.

"There is absolutely no reason to harbor resentment," Patriota emphasized. "It is with this spirit that he assumes his new duties, with the importance of moving forward in the Doha Round," he added. "[I read in the] Financial Times that the candidate was good, but the country was also good."

Azevêdo was elected today as the new director of the WTO. He will assume the position on August 31, replacing Frenchman Pascal Lamy. The election was contested until the last minute. The Brazilian had the support of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), as well as Portuguese-speaking countries, and several nations in Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Since 2008, Azevêdo has been Brazil's permanent representative to the WTO and has been directly involved in economic and trade affairs for over 20 years. A career diplomat, he has held various positions related to foreign trade negotiations.

Protectionism

Patriota also refuted criticisms made against Brazilian Ambassador Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo during the campaign for the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), alleging that Brazil adopts protectionist measures. Patriota said that all Brazilian initiatives within the organization respect international rules. "Protectionism is, to a certain extent, somewhat subjective. Brazil is careful on the international stage when it comes to international measures; it respects WTO rules," said Patriota. "Brazil participates very actively. It is a country that works within the rules, questioning the rules."

The criticisms against Azevêdo were made by Europeans, led by the governments of France and the United Kingdom. As a bloc, the European Union and Croatia voted against Azevêdo's candidacy and in favor of his opponent, the Mexican Herminio Blanco.

When asked about the strategy to ensure Azevêdo's election, Patriota said that the strategy adopted has been under construction. The minister said that all sectors of the government were involved – from President Dilma Rousseff, who personally committed herself by making phone calls and sending messages, to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, as well as Finance.

A campaign team led by Ambassador Rui Pereira was assembled at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "There was a great mobilization, and this is built on solid foundations," he said.