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LACK OF HIGH-LEVEL INVOLVEMENT:

Finally, INCD-5 did not include the high-level participation that had been anticipated, largely due to the low profile from which the desertification problem suffers in the international arena. This was especially problematic where negotiations tended to slow or indeed break-down for lack of mandates on the part of negotiators, necessitating frequent consultation with national capitals, even around "misplaced modifiers" and other grammatical changes. Perhaps higher political profile and participation would have led to a stronger Convention. On the other hand, a Convention is only as strong as the commitment of national governments to implement it. It will take considerable political impetus at this point to ensure that focus remains on desertification and the Convention during the crucial months to come. Based on the lack of political impetus to date in some developed countries, this could prove to be a major challenge.