Ambassador Al-Otaibi (Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia)

Bangladesh on behalf of Least-developed countries

13 OBSERVER STATUS FOR INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

504. Taking cue from the comments of India, the LDC Group also feels that the legal position and capacity of observers in the WTO are very weak. Still, they could provide important information and inputs to support Members to understand and analyze complex issues. In this respect the LDC Group also supports the application of the South Centre, the CBD Secretariat and International Vaccine Institute whenever there is an opportunity.

The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.

13.1. The Chairman recalled that there remained 12 pending requests for observer status in the TRIPS Council by other intergovernmental organizations. The updated list was contained in document IP/C/W/52/Rev.13.

13.2. In the past few years, the Council had been able to make some progress by agreeing to grant ad hoc observer status on a meeting-by-meeting basis to ARIPO, OAPI, the GCC and EFTA.

13.3. The representatives of India; Bangladesh on behalf of the LDC Group; Ecuador; Indonesia; Nepal; Brazil and the United States took the floor.

13.4. The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.

IP/C/M/79, IP/C/M/79/Add.1