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VENEZUELA:

Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Fernando Gerbasi supported Canada's call for the various actors in the process to have the opportunity to participate in the CSD. Governments need to promote their participation in the CSD without abrogating their responsibility as governments. He agreed with Germany on the importance of thematic meetings. Venezuela is establishing a national commission on sustainable development. UNCTAD and GATT should ensure that ecology is not used for protectionism. He said that an important topic is the generation of new, environmentally sound technologies and noted Venezuela's sponsorship of the Bolivar Project that promotes national technological developments.