Plan of Meetings    

Monday, 18 May

11:00-12:00

Palais des Nations (UN) Inaugural Session: 
Call to order and Address by 
H.E. Mr. Pascal Couchepin, 
Federal Councillor, 
Head of the Federal Department of Public Economy 
of Switzerland 

Adoption of Agenda 
Agreement on organization of work 

Statement by H.E. Mr. John Weekes, 
Chairman of the General Council on the Report of the General Council 

Statement by Mr. Renato Ruggiero, WTO Director-General, on developments in the international trading system, and on the outcome and follow-up of the High Level Meeting on Least-Developed Countries

15:00-18:00

Agenda Item 1:  Overview of Activities of the WTO 

Discussions among Ministers on Implementation of 
WTO Agreements¹ at the WTO (closed meeting)

19:25

Address by US President William J. Clinton on the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary - UN

Tuesday 19 May

14:30 - 17:30

Palais des Nations (UN) 

50th Anniversary Commemoration 
Statements by Heads of State and Government  (programme may begin in the morning) 

19:00

Reception for all Conference participants, journalists and representatives of NGOs offered by the Swiss authorities at the Musée de L'Automobile (near Cointrin airport - departure by bus)

Wednesday 20 May

10:00 - 13:00

Agenda Item 1:  Overview of Activities of the WTO 

Discussions among Ministers on Future Activities of  the WTO at the WTO (closed meeting)

15:00 - 18:00

Palais des Nations (UN) 

Agenda Item 2:  Action by Ministers 
Agenda Item 3:  Date and venue of the next session of the Ministerial Conference 
Agenda Item 4:  Election of Officers 

Closure of the Ministerial Conference 

18:00

Salle XVI (UN) 
Closing Press Conference by WTO Director General Renato Ruggiero, Pascal Couchepin, Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Public Economy of Switzerland and H.E. John Weekes, Chairman of the WTO's General Council