ENB:14:10
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THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY
WELCOMING CEREMONY: The Government of the People's Republic of China has issued invitations to a welcoming ceremony in The Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, at 10:00 am.
PLENARY: The opening Plenary will meet at 3:00 pm in BICC Hall No. 1. Tickets will be required for admission. Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kittani, will give the opening address. Chen Muhua, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the PRC, is expected to be elected President of the Conference. As recommended by the 2-3 September Pre-Conference Consultations, delegates are then expected to adopt: the rules of procedure (A/CONF.177/2 and 177/3); the agenda and other organizational matters (A/CONF.177/1); election of officers other than the President (A/CONF.177/3); and organization of work, including the establishment of the Main Committee of the Conference (A/CONF.177/3). They will also appoint members of and receive a report from the Credentials Committee (A/CONF.177/3). Patricia Licuanan (Philippines) is expected to be elected chair of the Main Committee. Secretary-General of the Conference Gertrude Mongella will then address the Plenary. The general exchange of views will commence following her address, and is expected to continue until Thursday, 14 September. Many speakers are expected to announce commitments to take action in support of the Conference objectives during their seven minute statements. Some evening sessions may be necessary to accommodate all the speakers. The first speakers in the general exchange of views will be Prime Minister Bhutto (Pakistan), President Finnbogadottir (Iceland), Prime Minister Zia (Bangladesh), and Vice-President Kazibwe (Uganda).
MAIN COMMITTEE: The Main Committee will begin negotiations on the draft Platform for Action Tuesday morning. Two working groups are scheduled to examine the outstanding issues. Two contact groups may be necessary to negotiate the Declaration and the draft section on health. The Main Committee is expected to begin by considering the report of the Informal Contact Group on Gender (A/CONF.177/L.2) and the Non-Paper (A/CONF.177/L.3) that was transmitted to the FWCW from the August informal consultations.
UN WORKSHOPS: Agencies of the UN have organized a series of workshops and panels on Conference-related issues, which will be held in the Securities and Exchange Building, opposite the BICC from 5 to 14 September.