2. The Chairperson informed the Council that new requests for observer status had been received from the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity based in Montreal and from the South Centre based in Geneva.
3. In the light of informal consultations held on the pending requests for observer status1 the Chairperson suggested that further informal consultations be held on this matter and that the Council revert to it at the next meeting. While appreciating the existence of horizontal issues, he said that it would be desirable to see if any of the requests for observer status could be dealt with in a way that would not impact on these issues. It was his intention to consult Members on this point before the next meeting. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the South Centre would be requested to provide information relevant to the criteria contained in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the procedures relating to the grant of observer status for international intergovernmental organizations (Annex 3 of document WT/L/161).
