H.E. Ambassador Dr. Lansana GBERIE

South Africa

14 OBSERVER STATUS FOR INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

307.   We would like to, as made by the distinguish delegate of Tanzania on behalf of the African Group, once again express our support for the inclusion of these two entities and we also would like to indicate that our delegation has a great interest in having bilateral discussions with those which are not in a position to join consensus to admit these institutions because we feel it will be useful to have a better appreciation of the reasons and perhaps with the bilateral engagement we could seek to address any obstacles.

It was so agreed.

68. The Chair recalled that the updated list of pending requests for observer status in the TRIPS Council by intergovernmental organizations was contained in document and that information provided by the relevant intergovernmental organizations concerned had been available on the Members' website.
69. The representatives of China; Bangladesh; Indonesia; Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of; the United States; Egypt; Tanzania and South Africa took the floor.
70. The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.
71. The Chair recalled that in November 2012, the Council agreed to grant ad hoc observer status on a meeting-to-meeting basis to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and since then, this invitation had been renewed at each meeting. He suggested that the EFTA be once again invited to attend the Council's next formal meeting as an observer on an ad hoc basis.
72. It was so agreed.

IP/C/M/105, IP/C/M/105/Add.1, IP/C/M/105/Corr.1