Brazilian diplomat Roberto Azevedo took the helm of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Sunday as the sixth director-general. Azevedo was appointed to a four-year term by the organization's General Council on May 14 after three rounds of selection, replacing Frenchman Pascal Lamy, who stepped down on Aug. 31 after two consecutive terms. The General Council will hold a special meeting on Sept. 9 to welcome the new Director-General and listen to his inaugural speech and Azevedo's first international appearance will be at the G-20 Leaders' Summit in Saint Petersburg from Sept. 5 to 7. Azevedo said in his welcome message that the organization and the multilateral trading system were at an important crossroad.