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IN THE CORRIDORS

After countless attempts in formal sessions and failed informal consultations on the specification in the rules of procedure (Rule 22, paragraph 1, and Rule 31) on the size and regional distribution of the COP Bureau, negotiators will send the issue to COP-1 unresolved. Some have said that, as a consequence, the COP Chair will not be able to appoint a Bureau to assist him. Some delegates did not believe this presented a serious problem because the Chair can still organize and receive assistance from delegates not formally appointed to the Bureau, such as “friends of the Chair.” Other delegates thought this situation would seriously hamper the work of COP-1. According to them, the number of brackets contained in the texts forwarded to COP-1 suggest a laborious session.