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LOCATION OF THE SECRETARIAT:

Australia, supported by Japan, the UK, Switzerland and others, proposed the idea of "co-location" of the secretariats for the Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification. Australia also recommended co-locating these secretariats in a UN headquarters city to facilitate coordination, cut costs and increase ease of access. Sweden recommended that the COP select the location. Sri Lanka stated that physical proximity of the three secretariats is less important given the "information super highway." Spain, supported by Costa Rica, Uruguay and others, stressed decentralization.