The beleaguered round was dealt yet another blow last week when talks between the G4 - EU, US, India and Brazil - fell apart. The talks were seen as preliminary to talks between all members in Geneva. It was hoped that the agreement of certain compromises could have become the basis for wider negotiation.

But the US and EU blamed the collapse on Brazil and India showing a "lack of flexibility", and not opening up their markets to Western manufactured goods. Brazil and India, for their part, said that the US and EU were demanding too many concessions without making enough leeway in terms of agriculture.

At a swiftly convened informal meeting of the Trade Negotiations committee on Friday, WTO director general Pascal Lamy said that although an agreement would have been helpful, it is not indepensible.

"This negotiation is not a negotiation among just 4 players, it is a collective endeavour among all the participants in the Round - 150 Members and 29 acceding Observers," he said. "It is also a Single Undertaking covering a broad agenda with development at its heart. I think it is timely to reassert these basic principles."

Having spoken to each of the G4 powers, Lamy said they are all keen for the process to continue in Geneva.

"The target has not changed," he said - that is, full modalities in agriculture and NAMA (non-agricultural market access), and a commensurate level of progress in other areas of the negotiations.

"This is your round, you are the owners of this enterprise, and in my view you have a responsibility towards yourselves and your peers to bring it to a successful conclusion," Lamy told the committee, adding that the world will be watching the contribution each member is making to the success of the Doha Development Agency.

In particular, he asked attendees to support the chairs of the agriculture and NAMA groups in working towards revised texts on a practical level.

He asked them to fully engage in the multilateral process led by the chairs, and to put their cards on the table.

"I suggest that from now on the process be conducted by the chairs and myself, playing by ear, adjusting to the pace in your negotiations and making sure everybody is on board."

It had been hoped that a draft would be prepared by the end of July.

Lamy said on Friday, however, that he does not believe the setting of short-term deadlines would be helpful - although he acknowledged that many of the committee members have family commitments for August.

Meetings on agriculture and NAMA scheduled for today have been cancelled, in light of the transparency exercise conducted Friday.