Brussels, 27/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Underlining their “longstanding commitment” to free and open markets and re-affirming the “critical role” the WTO, a fundamental part of the global multilateral system, plays in preventing protectionism, the leaders of the G8 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom and United States), meeting in Deauville on 26-27 May, noted “with great concern the unsatisfactory progress in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations”. “We reiterate our commitment to advance the process of trade liberalisation and rule-making to strengthen the multilateral system, and are ready to explore all negotiating options to bring the Doha Round to a conclusion, including with regard to the priorities of the least developed countries (LDCs)”, they stated. (E.H./transl.rt)