Brussels, 18/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - Pascal Lamy of France is currently ahead in the race to the directorship of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the first round of consultations which took place in Geneva last Friday. Mr Lamy got the most “preferences” and the most varied support from the continents and the groups of the 148 countries represented at the WTO. The former European Commissioner for Trade nudged ahead of the Mauritian foreign minister, Jayen Cutteree, (whose hearing is set for Tuesday in Brussels before the committee on international trade of the European Parliament, chaired by Enrique Baron Crespo, and the former Uruguayan ambassador to the WTO, Carlos Perez Del Castillo). Luis Felipe Seixas-Correa of Brazil, who was supported by Brasilia, Venezuela, Cuba, China, and others, has withdrawn from the race. A second round, to last around ten days, started on 18 April.