A/RES/58/197 Taking note of the report of the Meeting of Eminent Persons on Commodity Issues, held in Geneva on 22 and 23 September 2003, 5 and expressing appreciation for the work of the eminent persons, Recalling that, to benefit fully from trade, which in many cases is the single most important external source of development financing, the establishment and the enhancement of appropriate institutions and policies in developing countries, as well as in countries with economies in transition, are needed and that, in this context, enhanced market access, balanced rules and well-targeted, sustainably financed technical assistance and capacity-building programmes for developing countries also play important roles, Noting the significant contribution of the multilateral trading system to economic growth, development and employment and the importance of maintaining the process of reform and liberalization of trade policies, as well as the importance of rejecting the use of protectionism, so that the system plays its full part in promoting recovery, growth and development, in particular of developing countries, bearing in mind paragraph 10 of resolution 55/182, Recognizing with concern that the benefits from global economic prosperity and trade liberalization have not fully accrued to all developing countries, Recognizing that a number of developing countries have undertaken significant trade and investment liberalization unilaterally, regionally and/or multilaterally, both within and outside the context of structural adjustment programmes, Reaffirming the urgency, subject to national legislation, of recognizing the rights of local and indigenous communities that are holders of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices and, with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices, of developing and implementing benefit-sharing mechanisms on mutually-agreed terms for the use of such knowledge, innovations and practices, Recognizing that countries must take appropriate and necessary security measures, but also underlining the importance of taking these measures in the manner that is least disruptive of normal trade and related practices, Taking note of the in-depth review undertaken by the Trade and Development Board at its fiftieth session with respect to developments and issues in the postDoha work programme of particular concern to developing countries, including the outcome of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Cancún, Mexico, from 10 to 14 September 2003, 6 and its contribution to an understanding of the actions required to help developing countries secure beneficial and meaningful integration into the multilateral trading system and the global economy and to achieve a balanced, development-oriented and successful conclusion of the Doha negotiations, Taking note also of the report of the Trade and Development Board 7 and the report of the Secretary-General, 8 _______________ 5 A/58/401. See A/58/15 (Part V), chap. II, sect. B. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No.15. 7 A/58/15 (Parts I-V). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No.15. 8 A/58/414. 6 2

Select target paragraph3