Financial Services Accord to Be Implemented in March 　　Participants to a financial services agreement sponsored by the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed in Geneva on February 15 to implement it on March 1, 1999. 　　But 18 of the 70 participants to the WTO pact reached in December 1997 have not yet ratified the agreement. 　　The 52 participants, including Japan, the United States and almost all of the European Union, decided to allow the 18 participants which have not yet ratified the deal until June 15 to do so. 　　WTO Director-General Renato Ruggiero welcomed the decision, saying that the deal would provide additional stability in the financial sector, particularly in the developing countries. 　　"At a time of instability in the global financial markets, this agreement provides a solid foundation for improvement of financial practices, for enlarging the pool of capital available to business and consumers and for increasing the transparency of financial operations around the world," he said in a statement. 　　Ruggiero also urged those who had not yet ratified the treaty to do so as soon as possible. WorldNews 1999-02-17 Page3 Full Story in Chinese