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Tuesday
25 January 2000 :
 On
Monday 24 January, delegates heard opening statements from COP4 President Laslo
Miklös [right], CBD Executive Secretary Hamdallah
Zedan [left], and ExCOP President Juan Mayr [centre]
encouraging fruitful deliberations, and underscoring the expectations of a
strong Protocol being adopted by the end of the week. Organizational
matters were outlined at this brief Plenary session, and then the Vienna
setting convened to discuss the work of Contact Groups. Contact
Groups on Commodities and Scope met in the afternoon and evening sessions.
 In
opening speeches, COP4 President Laslo Miklös
urged the resolution of outstanding issues for the adoption of the
Protocol; potentially the first international environmental treaty of the
new millennium. Attention was drawn to the invitation of Ministers to
a ministerial dinner he is hosting on Wednesday 25 January to encourage
their participation.
CBD Executive Secretary Hamdallah
Zedan emphasized the significance of these negotiations to the
Convention and sustainable development, by way of ensuring that humanity
enjoys the benefits of biotechnology, science, and trade, while protecting
the environment. Specific appreciation was given to those Parties
providing financial support for the participation of developing countries,
and countries with economies in transition.
 Juan
Mayr, Chair of the ExCOP makes his opening
remarks to the Plenary.
Hamdallah
Zedan, Executive Secretary of the CBD delivers his opening
remarks, underscoring the importance of a Protocol for the world.
He also announces the Ministerial reception on Wednesday night.
Photos from Monday night's
evening reception:
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 Marc
Auer and Beatriz Torres of the CBD Secretariat and its Clearing House
Mechanism with Managing Director of IISD's Earth Negotiations
Bulletin. >
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Members of Greenpeace
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< Dr. Helen Marquard of the UK Department of the Environment smiles with ENB
Managing Director, Kimo Goree.
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