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REPORTS FROM THE REGIONAL TECHNICAL MEETINGS

The Chair asked representatives of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to introduce their reports of the two regional technical meetings. Gerald Miles (SPREP) commented on the significance of the meeting: the first chance at the regional level to discuss UNCED's outcomes related to SIDS; the first meeting of islands from these regions on these issues; and the first opportunity to discuss sustainable development for SIDS in the context of this Conference. The meeting found that environmental legislation is a key cross cutting issue.

Herman Roehler (Caricom) said that in identifying the priorities for short-, medium- and long-term action, the meeting helped define the different problems faced by some SIDS, as well as general constraints to sustainable development. He noted that at the international level many SIDS are unable to be fully represented at important negotiations and conferences.