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RealAudio excerpts of Moi's speech |
Leaving the
UN compound: President Moi saluted a brass band playing the Kenyan
national anthem (right), and was entertained by traditional dancers
(below).
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Plenary
Rule
12 (publicity of debates) generated extensive debate on whether
NGOs should participate in meetings of the committees and working
groups.
The US delegation
stated that accredited observers should participate. On Rule 29
(complaints), the US noted that the Bureau might be bogged down
trying to resolve disputes between observers instead of those
between Parties, and noted a SC proposal to establish a mediator
to resolve disputes between observers. With regard to when a sanction
of expulsion is considered, he said the SC agreed that the COP
should take the final decision, after consideration of the Bureau's
recommendation.
RealAudio excerpts of US intervention and Chair Hepworth's response
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ISRAEL decried the numerous secret votes taken at COP-10 and requested
the SC, in its intersessional meetings before COP-12, review Rule
25 (methods of voting) to ensure transparency and accountability.
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JAPAN expressed its support for secret votes, citing the undue
pressure that comes from the presence of NGOs with "very powerful
influences." He said NGOs should therefore not participate in meetings
of the committees and working groups. |
DENMARK
objected, adding that Japan's suggestion to restrict NGO participation
could tempt them to consider merging parts of Rule 12 text to further
the enhancement of transparency. |
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Election
of the Chair |
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Standing Committee
Chair Robert Hepworth (on the right) announced the SC's nominations
of Bagher Asadi (Iran, center) as Chair of COP-11 >
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Chair Asadi acknowledged the meeting's heavy agenda and said he
expected delegates to adopt a "problem-solving attitude." He added
that the success of the conference means achieving the best optimal
outcomes on issues and disputes. He then introduced, and delegates
adopted, the Agenda (Doc. 11.3 Rev. 1) and the Programme of Work (Doc.
11.4 Rev. 1). |
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Before
introducing several strategic and administrative matters, newly elected
Chair Asadi was presented with a photo album from COP-10 by Simon
Khaya Moyo, Zimbabwe Minister of Mines, Environment and Tourism (left
and above). |
Miscellaneous:
doing the rounds with Dr. Töpfer |
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The
Executive Director of UNEP was a busy man on the first day of CITES-11...
among his callings, clockwise starting above: an early morning
chat with Veit Koester (Denmark), escorting President Moi, receiving
input from Dr. Richard Leakey (who was part of President Moi's entourage,
second from the left) and attending a press briefing.
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From
left to right: Willem Wijnstekers, CITES Secretary-General; Dr. Klaus
Töpfer, Executive Director of UNEP; Bagher Asadi, Chair of CITES COP-11
and Micheal Williams, UNEP Press Officer, during a lunch-time press
briefing. |