20. The representative of Colombia thanked the Chairman for the work he had carried out, and in particular for the excellent report that highlighted areas of convergence on an issue where the two groups of Members had very divergent positions. His delegation wished to highlight the Chairman's positive contribution in suggesting principles that would guide their future work. Several of these principles, such as the one stating that the register should not impose undue financial and administrative burdens on Members, and the need to have special and differential treatment that was precise, effective and operational, found Colombia's full support. Consequently, Colombia would continue discussions based on the objectives of facilitating protection of GIs, having a useful and significant register, and preserving the territorial nature of GIs. It was important that Members' internal procedures for recognizing geographical indications were not changed. While the information on the register should be taken into account, a request for GI or trademark protection would have to be made in accordance with national procedures. He also said that pursuant to paragraph 19 of the Doha Declaration, the TRIPS Council was tasked to examine the relationship between the CBD and the TRIPS Agreement and protecting traditional knowledge. In light of this, his delegation wished to state that the modalities proposal in document TN/C/W/52 was a positive contribution aimed at closing the gap among a large group of Members and at proposing a way forward. He pointed out that the three issues contained in the proposal were all TRIPS-related and that Ministers had asked Members to find appropriate solutions for all these three issues. Colombia's indigenous and local communities could not accept a conclusion to the Round that did not enable them to benefit in a fair manner from the use of the great biological wealth of Colombia and the knowledge associated with it.
