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SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE ISTAC:

The Chair noted consensus among delegations that any subsidiary body should be set up on an interim basis. He referred to the divergence of views about the size and scope of the body's activities. The UK stated that ISTAC must be of a manageable size and geographically representative. She also suggested that it should be limited to providing advice to the COP. Brazil insisted that the size of the interim meeting should not be smaller than the STAC, when it is established after the first meeting of the COP. He noted that the Convention calls for an open-ended body, a point echoed by Mexico. The UK noted that the open-ended requirement in Article 25 applies only to the subsidiary body to be set up under the COP, and not the interim body. The IUCN noted the many scientific meetings that address biodiversity, and stated that the main objective of the interim meeting would be to assess how this information can be applied to the substantive issues.

Belgium, on behalf of the EC, said that although they preferred a small, workable body, they were prepared to demonstrate flexibility and to accept an open-ended body. The EC's main concern was to proved a manageable agenda and, to this end, they made several recommendations that would limit the scope. After further discussion, it was agreed that there should be one open-ended meeting with tightly defined terms of reference.