RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/W/258
21 July 1999
(99-3038)
General Council
GENERAL COUNCIL
Appointment of the next Director-General
Draft Decision
The General Council,
Greatly appreciating  the intensive consultations carried out by the Chairman of the General
Council with regard to the appointment of the Director-General of the Organization,
Decides  to appoint:
- the Right Honourable Mr. Mike Moore of New Zealand as Director-General for
3 years from 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2002
to be followed by
- H.E. Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, of Thailand as Director-General for 3 years from 1
September 2002 to 31 August 2005;
Agrees  that neither shall be eligible for reappointment as Director-General, nor shall his
period of office be extended;
Further agrees  that in March 2002 the General Council shall re-confirm the availability of
Dr. Supachai for office and, if Dr. Supachai is not available, the process for the appointment of a new
Director-General shall commence immediately, with one of the Deputy Directors-General to be
appointed by the General Council as acting Director-General if the appointment process is notconcluded by 1 September 2002;
Also agrees  that if Mr. Moore vacates office prior to 31 August 2002, he shall be followed
immediately by Dr. Supachai who shall serve for only 3 years;
Further agrees  that the Director-General shall appoint Deputy Directors-General in
consultation with Members, taking into account the views of the other designated Director-General,
and the need to maintain equitable geographical balance and being bound by any decisions of the
General Council with regard to ensuring continuity at the senior management level of the
Organisation;  and
Affirms  that this decision shall not constitute a precedent for future appointments of Directors-
General, whose term shall be of four years, and resolves that, in order to improve and strengthen the
current rules and procedures, a comprehensive set of rules and procedures for such appointments shall
be elaborated and adopted by the end of September 2000.
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