Public
FTAA.soc/com/16/Rev.1
July 2, 2002

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA - COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY

Sixteenth Meeting

Panama, April 4, 2002

PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ

1. The Sixteenth Meeting of the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society took place in Panama on 4 April 2002. Representatives of 17 countries attended. The countries represented were: Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States of America and Uruguay.
   
   
2. During the meeting, the representatives approved the attached agenda and discussed the items listed therein.  
   
   
3. Civil Society is reminded that approval was granted for extending, as of 1 November 2001, an open and permanent invitation for civil society to submit its contributions. Contributions are received on an ongoing basis. The Committee would also like to report that it approved an expeditious procedure for the distribution of contributions to the corresponding entities. Based on contributions received up to May 1, 2002, the Committee will prepare a report to the Ministers for their meeting in Quito in October 2002. For additional information on the “Open Invitation to Civil Society in FTAA Participating Countries” please check the official FTAA website (http://www.ftaa-alca.org).
   
   
4. The SOC is expected to meet two more times before the next ministerial meeting. However, the Trade Negotiations Committee will determine the precise dates.
   

FTAA - COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY

Sixteenth Meeting

Panama, April 4 – 5, 2002