In deviation from our usual practice, daily negotiation updates will be sent to all BRIDGES Weekly subscribers during the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, on 9-13 November (see Civil Society Section below). Distribution will return to the weekly schedule after the Ministerial meeting.
The Doha Agenda For The Weekend
As reported verbally from some WTO Secretariat staff and developing country delegations, the schedule for the first two days of the Doha Ministerial is as follows:
9 November 2001 9-10 am: Meeting of the WTO Director-General Mike Moore with NGOs 10 am-12 pm: Ministerial Meeting of Pakistan and the Developing Eight (D8) nations consisting of Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nigeria 12-13.30 pm: Ministerial Meeting of Like-minded Group (LMG) consisting of Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Honduras, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Malaysia, SriLanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Jamaica 3-5 pm: Ministerial Meeting of the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC) comprising India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives The African Group consisting of all African WTO Members is also expected to meet regularly throughout the Ministerial either in the morning or late at night. They will also schedule their own meeting prior to the Ministerial. 5.30 pm: Opening of the Plenary Session by the Emir of Qatar, followed by speakers from Singapore, Switzerland, US, EC and Pakistan
10 November 2001 Morning: The Chair of the General Council will report on the draft Ministerial documents. Ministers will respond by stating the problems they have with the text. The Chair of Committee of the Whole (COW) will start small group meetings. 9am to 10:30am: Meeting of ‘Tentative Friends of the Development Box’ (LMG+) on Agriculture Open to NGOs and Press from 9.45 to 10.30 am
ICTSD will announce any updates of the agenda in its BRIDGES daily coverage as soon there are available and confirmed.