ENB:04:55
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LACK OF HIGH-LEVEL INVOLVEMENT:
Finally, INCD-5 did not
include the high-level participation that had been anticipated,
largely due to the low profile from which the desertification
problem suffers in the international arena. This was especially
problematic where negotiations tended to slow or indeed break-down
for lack of mandates on the part of negotiators, necessitating
frequent consultation with national capitals, even around
"misplaced modifiers" and other grammatical changes. Perhaps higher
political profile and participation would have led to a stronger
Convention. On the other hand, a Convention is only as strong as
the commitment of national governments to implement it. It will
take considerable political impetus at this point to ensure that
focus remains on desertification and the Convention during the
crucial months to come. Based on the lack of political impetus to
date in some developed countries, this could prove to be a major
challenge.