Geneva referendum backs WTO extension

GENEVA: Geneva inhabitants on Sunday approved a plan to extend the World Trade Organisation headquarters overlooking Lake Geneva.

The extension was approved by 62 per cent of voters and rejected by 38 per cent.

The backers of the referendum, supported by extreme left wing members of the city council and Geneva's mayor, had opposed the project because they said it would stop walkers using the shores of Lake Geneva around the building.

WTO director general Pascal Lamy welcomed the result however.

"The result of this referendum allows us to advance beyond this important stage of the project of renovation/extension of the WTO headquarters in Geneva," he said in a statement.

"The debate on this referendum has brought us closer to the Geneva population and we intend to pursue our efforts in this respect," he added.

The WTO employs about 800 people in Geneva. The extension will allow the WTO to add the space for 300 staff and a 200 vehicle car park. The Swiss government and the WTO are between them to spend 130 million Swiss francs (86 million euros/$126 million) on the extension.