ENB:04:51
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PLENARY
On Monday morning, the Plenary heard statements from four ministers and addressed the programme of work and extra- budgetary funds.
MAURITANIA: Sghair Ould M'Bareck, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, stressed the importance of resolving the outstanding issues surrounding financial resources and mechanisms and the regional implementation annex for Africa. He referred to the failure of the 1977 Plan of Action because of lack of funding.
CHAD: Mahamat Adoum Khalapoum, Minister for Agriculture and Environment, said that more than one-third of the territory of Chad is desertified. The CILSS is a model instrument for regional cooperation. He supported the establishment of a financial mechanism specific to Africa and an independent secretariat with adequate resources.
MALI: Dr. Boubacar Sada Sy, Minister for Rural Development and Environment, supported increased NGO involvement at the grassroots level. The case studies will help in the preparation of national action plans. He said that the success of the Convention will depend on financial resources and mechanisms, speedy ratification and interim provisions.
KENYA: John K. Sambu, Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, and Minister Coordinator for IGADD, stressed the importance of financial resources. The success of this Convention will determine the success of the Climate Change and Biodiversity Conventions. Financial resources can be allocated through debt reduction, reduction of overhead costs and a change in consumption patterns.
PROGRAMME OF WORK: Kjell‚n announced that document A/AC.241/15/Rev.4 was distributed this morning. The major issues to be resolved are financial resources and mechanisms and some institutional and legal matters. Anne de Lattre reported that negotiations are complete on the Northern Mediterranean Annex and virtually complete on the Latin American and Caribbean Annex (with the exception of Article 7.2). Negotiations on the Asian Annex begin in the afternoon.
EXTRA-BUDGETARY FUNDS: Executive-Secretary Arba Diallo introduced the documents on the status of extra-budgetary resources for the voluntary and trust funds (A/AC.241/23 and Add.1). The voluntary fund has paid for representatives from 58 countries to attend INCD-5 at a cost of US$295,000. The following governments announced new contributions: Australia (A$89,000 to the voluntary fund); Senegal (US$2,000 to the Secretariat trust fund); and the Republic of Korea (US$50,000 to the voluntary fund).