Public
FTAA.soc/com/18
August 15, 2002

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

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

Eighteenth Meeting

Panama, July 29-30, 2002

PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ

1. The Eighteenth Meeting of the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society was held in Panama on 29-30 July 2002. Representatives of 18 countries attended the meeting. The countries represented were: Argentina, the Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
   
   
2. During the meeting, the representatives approved the attached agenda and discussed the items listed therein.
   
   
3. The Committee analyzed the draft of the “Report of the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society in the FTAA Process,” the final version will be considered at the next meeting of the TNC.
   
   
4. The Committee followed up on the activities aimed at encouraging increased and enhanced communication with civil society, including follow up on the open invitation to civil society, national and regional seminars on the FTAA, and the design of the official FTAA website. The Committee received a report from the delegation of Mexico on the North American regional seminar titled “FTAA Opportunities and Challenges for North America” that it hosted in coordination with the governments of the Canada and United States. This seminar took place on 18 July 2002 in Mérida, Yucatán.

Eighteenth Meeting

Panama, July 29 – 30, 2002

AGENDA

1. Discussion and final preparation of the report of the Committee to TNC Santo Domingo
   
   
2. Status of options to foster broader and more sustained communication with civil society
   
   
3. Report on the contributions received as part of the third invitation
   
   
4. Report on the progress or results of regional seminars
   
   
5. Other business