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Second meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam
Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
Rome, Italy | 27-30 September 2005
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PIC COP-2 Elects Bureau, Completes Negotiations
On Friday delegates met throughout the day and adopted decisions prepared
during the course of the meeting including the budget, compliance and a
decision on financial mechanisms. Delegates also adopted the report of
the meeting with a few amendments by parties clarifying their own
interventions.
The COP also elected Bureau members for COP-3, representing the
five UN regional groups. Above: Vice President Helga Schrott, Austria,
for Western Europe and Others; Vice President Azhari Abdelbagi, Sudan,
for Africa; Vice President and Rapporteur Marija Teriosina, Lithuania,
for Eastern Europe; Chemicals Review Committee Chair Bettina Hitzfeld,
Switzerland; Vice President Andrea Repetti, Argentina, for Latin America
and the Caribbean; and President Yue Ruisheng, China, for Asia.
Finally, after two brief pauses to allow delegations and regions time to
discuss issues related to the financial mechanism delegates adopted a
decision on this issue. Brazil and the EU expressed frustrations on the
lack of flexibility on financial matters. Representatives of regional
groups congratulated President Roch wishing him good luck on his future
endeavors, and thanked tthe Secretariat and the Italian government.
President Roche closed the plenary at 6:10 pm.
COP-3 will be held in Geneva from 7-13 October 2006.
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Friday, 30 September
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Plenary
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PIC COP-2 President Philippe Roch, flanked by Secretaries Niek van der
Graaff, FAO, and John Whitelaw, UNEP.
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Denis Langlois, Canada, reported on the outcome of the contact group
on non-compliance.
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Vielka Perez, Panama, requested that Central America be included in
proposed UNITAR pilot projects.
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Oluronke Soyombo, Nigeria, sought clarification regarding delivery of
technical assistance at national and subregional levels.
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Jill Hanna, EU, asked for clarification on a proposal by Brazil to
establish a new voluntary fund for the Rotterdam Convention.
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Mysrsaliev Narynbek, Kyrgyzstan, opposed the consideration of chrysotile
asbestos by the CRC, saying that previous notifications not accepted by the COP
should not be reconsidered.
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Constantine Sarantchuk, Russian Federation, said notifications for which
there has been no consensus have lost their legal significance.
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Hyacinth Chin-Shue, Jamaica, noted that the COP had never reached consensus
on chrysotile asbestos, and that the notification had therefore never been
rejected.
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Bademba Sow, Guinea, expressed disappointment that negotiations on the
financial mechanism had not led to a smaller number of options going forward.
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Maria Celina de Azevedo Rodrigues, Brazil, said she was very disappointed
that consensus could not be reached on the financial mechanism.
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Contact Group on Budget
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In the morning, the contact group on budget for the biennium 2005-2006
reviewed a draft decision prepared by the Secretariat. Minor amendments
were made to paragraphs on the creation of a a special contingency
reserve to provide the annual salary costs of the Secretariat posts
currently covered by in-kind contributions should these contributions be
discontinued.
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Around COP-2
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Delegates from Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
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Lord Bach of Lutterworth, Under-Secretary for Sustainable Farming and
Food in the House of Lords, UK, conferred with Colin Church.
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Klára Quasnitzová, Czech Republic, conferred with Marija
Teriosina, Lithuania.
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Cathleen Barnes, US, Sheila Logan, Secretariat, and Lisa Nardi, Australia,
reviewed a document.
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The Basel Convention table, which was left out of Tuesday's table
photos.
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A representative of the Aves order agreed with many delegates that
the food at the FAO's 8th-floor cafeteria and rooftop terrace was
excellent.
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After pranking Jane Bulmer during an intervention earlier this week,
Colin Church got his comeuppance on Friday morning.
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Your Earth Negotiations Bulletin team: Peter Wood (writer, Canada),
Soledad Aguilar (team leader, Argentina), Noelle Eckley Selin (writer,
United States/Ireland), Alice Bisiaux (writer, France), Paula Barrios
(writer, Colombia), Louise Burke (logistics coordinator, Scotland), and
Dan Birchall (digital editor, United States/Hawaii). Photo by Anne
O'Toole, Canada.
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