98. The representative of the European Communities, referring to the synergy of the system for the protection of intellectual property with other international systems, agreed with previous speakers that the Council should not start its discussions from the wrong assumption that there was necessarily a conflict between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity. In his delegation's view, these instruments were mutually supportive. Whether or not work on indigenous knowledge was to be covered by the TRIPS Agreement and, if so, how and what type of protection should be available, were issues that required careful examination and reflection. His delegation was looking forward to receiving more details with regard to some of the proposals put forward by India.
