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WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY AT UNCED

FINANCIAL RESOURCES: As copies begin circulating of the proposed G-77 amendments to the Chair's draft text of the Financial Resources and Mechanisms chapter, the G-77's direction in these negotiations will become clearer. The contact group will convene this morning at 10:00 am behind closed doors. Several diplomats have commented that the timing of the Summit session actually hinders negotiations on financial resources since commitments of money to "prime the pump" are needed now and not when the Heads of State and Government arrive this weekend. It is possible that signals may be given that will indicate what financial commitments to Agenda 21 will be announced this weekend.

FOREST PRINCIPLES: Ambassador Liburd will continue to lead this group through more bracketed text today. Meetings begin at 10:00 am and will probably continue through the day and into the evening, possibly breaking up into more sub-contact groups to deal with particularly intractable text. Look for long sessions and the inevitable "bust-up" over the "right to develop" phrase in the preamble. Brackets still remain on paragraphs dealing with "lost opportunity costs", technology [transfer] [cooperation], as well as trade barriers and other impediments hindering free trade in forest products.

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY: When discussions resume today, the contact group is expected to complete its negotiations of Chapter 34 of Agenda 21 and to begin to address a number of bracketed paragraphs that deal with technology transfer in other chapters. These paragraphs have been referred to the contact group by the Main Committee. This afternoon's meeting is the last one scheduled for this contact group, but it is uncertain whether the group can finish its work today.

ATMOSPHERE: The Atmosphere contact group will meet for the last time today. At this point, it appears unlikely that it will succeed in resolving the debate surrounding Programme Area B "Promotion of Sustainable Development" since the Arab group continues to reserve its right to retain the entire chapter in brackets until the sections pertaining to energy efficiency and conservation are resolved to their satisfaction.

LEGAL INSTRUMENTS: A small drafting group will meet this morning at 10:00 am to continue negotiations on the nuclear safety convention paragraph. The contact group will meet tonight to attempt to resolve outstanding issues such as compliance with international agreements and the environmental crimes provision. Watch for a very heated debate to unfold between those countries who support the broader language, such as the EC and the Nordics, and those countries, such as the US and several G-77 countries, which prefer to have the provision restricted to times of war only.

IN THE CORRIDORS: Look for movement today around the various "like-minded-countries" declarations calling for stronger targets and timetables for reductions of CO2 emissions. There has been some talk of an EC declaration being announced despite strong diplomatic pressure against such an initiative. Look for possible concessions to be made by certain states in order to encourage several industrialized nations to sign the Biodiversity Convention.

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