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IN THE CORRIDORS

Nandan's decision to hold an "open-ended" meeting with restricted attendance caused considerable uproar from both delegates and NGOs at the end of yesterday's session. NGOs were quick to point out that as part of the trend towards greater transparency in the UN system, NGOs have been allowed to observe informal negotiating sessions at the UN since UNCED, including the Commission on Sustainable Development and the Second PrepCom for the International Conference on Population and Development. Several delegates also questioned the decision to hold a single smaller meeting when time was short and progress should be made toward a negotiated text.