ENB:04:34
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ARTICLE 25 -- SECRETARIAT:
There was agreement on all of the
functions of the secretariat except two: facilitating assistance to
affected developing country Parties; and providing advice on the
desertification programme and monitoring activities. The issue that
generated protracted debate was the requirement that the COP
designate a secretariat at its first session. Delegates could not
agree on whether the secretariat should be established as new
institution or situated within an existing one, such as UNEP, WMO,
FAO or the Global Monitoring Institutes. The Africans favor a new
institution for two reasons: the lack of capacity of existing
institutions; and the potential conflict between the governing body
of the institution and the COP over desertification matters.