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23 February 

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FIRST MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES SERVING AS THE MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY (COP-MOP1)

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 23-27 February 2004

 
Daily Web Coverage |Mon 23| |Tue 24| |Wed 25| |Thu 26| |Fri 27|

Highlights for Monday 23 February 2004


The first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP-1) opened on Monday, 23 February, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Delegates convened in Plenary and working group sessions. Plenary heard opening statements and a report on the work of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP), addressed organizational matters, and considered: procedures for decision making by Parties of import; monitoring and reporting; the budget for the Secretariat; and guidance to the financial mechanism. Working Group I (WG-I) addressed information sharing and the Biosafety Clearing-house (BCH), and Working Group II (WG-II) considered capacity building. A contact group on the budget also met.  

Above photo: Bird's eye view of the MOP plenary with Kirsty Galloway (CBD) and WG I Chair François Pythoud (Switzerland)


Opening Plenary: 




Above photo: Hamdallah Zedan, CBD Executive Secretary, noted the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol and highlighted the successful pilot phase of the Biodiversity Clearing-house.



Above photo: COP-7 President Dato' Seri Law (Malaysia), welcomed delegates to the first COP-MOP of the Cartagena Protocol and noted that the importance of the meeting could not be overemphasized.





Above photo: Ahmed Djoghlaf, on behalf of Klaus Töpfer, payed tribute to the 87 signatories of the Cartagena Protocol and called on others to ratify the first new environmental treaty of the 21st Century.



Above photo: CCP Chair ambassador Philémon Yang (Cameroon) highlighted ICCP recommendations on: information sharing, noting the pilot phase of the Biosafety Clearing-house (BCH); and capacity building, underlining proposed ways and means to operationalize a roster of experts on Biosafety.



Mongolia said non-signatories to the Cartagena Protocol should also be eligible for funding to assist in implementation. Above photo: Navaan-Yunden Oyundar (Mongolia)

 



The Philippines called on the need for clear guidance to the financial mechanism on funding to build capacity for implementation. 

Above photo: Margarita Ibayan (Philippines)





An NGO representative cautioned against subordinating biosafety protection to WTO rules. Condemning the initiative between the US, Canada and Mexico regarding documentation of LMO-FFPs, he stressed that non-Parties should not be allowed to undermine Parties' effort to put the Protocol into effect. 

Above photo: Philip Bereano (NGO Caucus)




The IIFB called for recognizing indigenous rights, and highlighted GMOs' impacts on traditional knowledge, crops and livelihoods. 

Above photo: Lucia Fernanda Jofej (IIFB)


Working Group I:


South Africa said capacity building should include developing countries that have signed, but not yet ratified the Protocol. Above photo: Alf Wills (South Africa)

Mexico highlighted a NAFTA agreement on transboundary movements of LMOs, which

includes information exchange. Above photo L-R: Amanda Galvez and Victor Villalobos (Mexico)


Working Group II: 


LEBANON stressed capacity-building initiatives at all levels are crucial for ratification and effective implementation of the Protocol. 

Above photo: Lara Samaha (Lebanon)


Turkey noted the vulnerability of centers of biodiversity to damage through GMO introduction, calling for specific capacity building and risk assessment in this regard. 

Above photo: Husniye Kiliçarslan (Turkey)


Links


ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of CBD COP-6
ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of ICCP-3
ENB archives of CBD meetings
CBD web site
CBD BS-COP-MOP1 official meeting documents 
ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of SBSTTA-9
ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of ABS-WG2  
ENB Coverage and Summary (HTML, PDF, TEXT) of Article 8(j)-WG3
Global Biodiversity Forum web site