Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Mike Moore has selected four candidates to serve as his deputies for the next three years, WTO officials said on November 3.

The four deputy directors-general selected by Moore are Ablasse Ouedraogo of Burkina Faso, Paul-Henri Ravier of France, Miguel Rodriguez Mendoza of Venezuela and Andrew Stoler of the United States.

The WTO said that Ouedraogo is the first African and first representative from a least developed country ever chosen as a deputy director-general of the international trade organization or its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Moore, who took office in September, made the selection from a pool of highly qualified candidates following weeks of intensive consultations with dozens of WTO member countries.

He also consulted with his designated successor, Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand, who will take office as WTO's next director-general on September 1, 2002.

"This decision was an extremely tough call, given all the very good people who were nominated by their governments," said Moore, "I have selected a broad mix of people with the wide range of skills we need to ensure smooth and efficient management of the WTO secretariat."

"I want these men in place as soon as possible and certainly by the Seattle Ministerial Conference (from November 30 to December 3) . Precisely when they can take up their duties is up to their governments and employers," he added.

Moore and Supachai have agreed that the four deputies will serve for a month after Moore's term expires on August 31, 2002, so as to ensure a smooth transition when Supachai takes office to begin his three-year term.