Minutes - TRIPS Council - View details of the intervention/statement

Mr. S. Harbinson (Hong Kong)
1. In opening the meeting, the Chairman noted that non-voting participants and government observers to WTO bodies had been invited as agreed by the General Council at its meeting of 31 January 1995. In addition, WIPO had been invited in accordance with the recommendation made to the Preparatory Committee and the General Council. As provided for in document WT/GC/COM/2, invitations to this first meeting had been extended to the United Nations, UNCTAD, IMF and the World Bank. He noted that the Chairman of the General Council was holding consultations about more permanent arrangements regarding observer status for relevant intergovernmental organizations. He also noted that invitations to observers did not preclude the Council from holding meetings without their presence if it should so wish.
IP/C/M/1