GENEVA, Switzerland, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Pascal Lamy officially took over as head of the World Trade Organization Thursday.
Lamy said in a prepared statement he had already begun consultations with all the members of the Secretariat and chairs of the negotiating groups.
"On the first day of September, like many people in this country, we are starting our work, knowing there is a lot of work ahead of us," said Lamy.
Lamy said his top priority will be to complete the Doha negotiations on agricultural trade reform by the Hong Kong ministerial meeting in December, suggesting that the 148 members of the trade body have the power to make progress.
"We can catalyze, we can broker. Sometimes, sometimes we can lead, but at the end of the day they take the decision, and that's why I have to start this series of contact," said Lamy.
Lamy was appointed to the European Commission in July 1999. In September 1999, the European Parliament confirmed him as Trade Commissioner.
