Late Breaking News from CSD-5

Updated 21 April 1997

CSD-5 delegates met in two Drafting Groups and two informal groups to negotiate the draft outcome of the Special Session. Drafting Group I, chaired by Derek Osborn (UK), is dealing with sectoral issues and Drafting Group II, chaired by Amb. Celso Amorim (Brazil), is dealing with the cross-sectoral issues. Informal consultations took place on forests and institutional issues.

Members of the EU delegation were reportedly feeling less than comfortable Monday after they found themselves countering an attempt by the G-77/CHINA to get them to drop their Factor 10 initiative on productivity efficiency. Bilaterals are expected and the EU will stress the lead role of industrialized countries in the initiative. The threat to the ministerial-led initiative will also heighten the importance of an EU non-paper due out Tuesday.

UNGASS UPDATE

Delegations were not sure they liked the "first come first serve" policy established by General Assembly President Razali Ismail to inscribe their names on the speakers' list for the Special Session. Although the list was not opened until Monday morning, the line on the 36th floor reportedly began at 4:30 pm on Friday, 18 April. Led by Brazil, delegates, including ambassadors, spent the entire weekend camped out on the 36th floor waiting for the General Assembly Secretariat Services Branch to open this morning. When the delegations from Benin arrived at 9:00 am on Monday morning, he was 66th overall on the speakers list.

Tuesday's issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin summarizes Monday's meeting. You can also download the Earth Negotiations Bulletin in either text or PDF format.