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INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX

Negotiations began for the first time on the draft regional implementation annex for Latin America and the Caribbean, under the chairmanship of Anne de Lattre (France). It was decided that the draft text submitted by the Latin America and Caribbean Group (A/AC.241/CRP.11) in Geneva would serve as the basis for negotiation. Article 1 (purpose of the annex) was accepted without discussion. References at the beginning of Article 2 to the particular conditions of the region, which the EU felt were repetitive of the main body of the Convention, were bracketed. Sub-paragraph (a) (scope and magnitude of the problem) was accepted with "very temporary" brackets around "cumulative and intensifying process," pending new wording from Peru. The EU suggested replacing sub-paragraph (b) (causes of the problem in the region) with most of sub-paragraph (b) the Secretariat's text (A/AC.241/24). It was agreed to use the entire paragraph as a substitution with the change to reflect that markets are "disturbed" and not "distorted" by various factors.

In Article 3 (programmes of action), discussion focused on whether countries "must," "shall," "may" or "shall as appropriate" prepare and implement national programmes. Canada, supported by the EU, suggested including paragraph 2 of Article 3 from the Secretariat draft, which includes local communities and NGOs in a consultative and participatory process. The Group then adjourned for lunch.