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AGENDA ITEM 4 - DATES AND VENUES OF FUTURE MEETINGS

The Secretariat reported that Conference Services had approved the dates of 11-22 March 1996 in Geneva. The cost for the proposed one-week extension of the meetings will be reported to the General Assembly. The Chair suggested that the Panel should recommend to ECOSOC that it approve a one-week extension.

The PHILIPPINES, on behalf of the G-77 and China, stated that Geneva was an acceptable venue and submitted a request that provision be made for the travel of two representatives for the meetings outside New York. The Co-Chair stated that it had been agreed that the travel expenses of one representative for each country would be supplied, but noted the request.

SPAIN, on behalf of the EU, said that the question of duration of the meeting should be discussed later in the meeting, and took note of the G-77 statement. The EU said the meetings should be extended to two weeks if necessary, but a definite decision should not be taken at this meeting. The PHILIPPINES replied that a definite extension was needed. JAPAN expressed strong reservations regarding an extension, noting that the Panel should finish its work in the allotted time.

SWITZERLAND, supported by CANADA and AUSTRALIA, favored the extension of the meeting and will supply a substantive contribution to facilitate the participation of forest experts from developing countries. SPAIN proposed leaving the decision to the discretion of the Co-Chairs once the specific agenda for the meeting is determined and added that the proposals for the third session should be clarified before taking a decision. The US agreed with Japan that one week may be sufficient for the second session, particularly if two working groups were to meet separately. Mindful of the workload for the third session, he proposed that the second session last for one week and the third for two weeks.

The PHILIPPINES opposed the US position and re-emphasized the need to extend Panel sessions, stating that five days was not enough for either the second or the third session. JAPAN suggested the Panel not make a definite decision regarding duration at this time and that the Co-Chairs discuss the issue and provide the Panel with its recommendations soon after the close of this session. This suggestion was accepted.