ENB:09:13
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PLENARY
Amb. S.E.M. Arezki Cherfa (Algeria), Chair of G-77 and China, spoke on the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the G-77. Given the dramatic upheavals in international relations, it was remarkable that the Group could maintain its cohesion and solidarity. UNEP's Executive Director Elizabeth Dowdeswell noted that the creation of the G-77 has served to give life to the principle of universality.
REPORT OF WORKING GROUP I: The Chair, Prof. S. Ongeri (Kenya), reported on the progress made on the following agenda items: 4.1.5 on the Clearing-house mechanism for technical and scientific cooperation has been finalized; 4.1.3 on the selection of a component international organization to carry out the functions of the Secretariat of the Convention is ninety percent complete (Document L.1. Add.1); 4.3.2 (now 4.3.3) on the Subsidiary Body, on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and 4.2.2 on the consideration of, the need for, and modalities of a protocol on biosafety, which was advanced for discussion last week, are available as CRP.3 and CRP.4, respectively.
REPORT OF WORKING GROUP II: The Chair, V. Koester reported that Working Group II had discussed all agenda items referred to it. Due to the complexity and highly political nature of many items, two Contact Groups have been convened. The first Group is addressing agenda item 4.1.2 (previously 4.1.3) and the second is addressing items 4.1.5, 4.1.6 and 4.1.7 (previously 4.1.6, 4.1.7, and 4.1.8). Both groups are still negotiating.
REPORT OF THE INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON RULES OF PROCEDURE: The Group, comprising 14 countries, met under the Chair of Patrick Sz‚ll of the UK to scrutinize document UNEP/CBD/IC/2/3. The changes are reflected in document UNEP/CBD/IC/2/3/CRP.3. Some of the pending issues are: Rule 6.1 on whether to include the financial mechanism referred to in Article 21 of the Convention as an observer; Rule 21, paragraph 1 on the size of the Bureau; Rule 40, paragraph 1 providing for decision-making either by consensus or by a two-thirds majority; whether this last proposal should also apply for other protocols; and a reduction in the number of working languages, from six to three. Agreement was reached on several issues including; the COP's periodicity of meetings; representation and presentation of credentials; the voting procedures for the Bureau members; and the quorum necessary to start a meeting.
ORGANIZATION OF WORK: Amb. S nchez introduced the organization of work for the second week as contained in document UNEP/CBD/IC/2/1/Add.2/Rev.2, which was adopted without debate.
ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE FIRST WEEK OF THE ICCBD: The Rapporteur, J. Hussain of Pakistan, introduced his draft report as contained in documents UNEP/CBD/IC/2/L.2, UNEP/CBD/IC/2/L.1/Add.1 and UNEP/CBD/IC/2/L.2/Add.2. Hussain asked the delegates to read through the documents and bring any translation problems to the attention of the "Friends of the Rapporteur." With minor amendments by the Secretariat, the documents were adopted.