Public
FTAA.soc/com/19
January 15, 2003

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

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

Nineteenth Meeting

Panama, December 2- 3, 2002

PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ
 

1. The Nineteenth Meeting of the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society was held in Panama on 2 and 3 December 2002. In attendance were representatives from 14 countries. The countries represented were: Argentina, Bolivia, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, the United States, and Uruguay.
   
   
2. At the Nineteenth Meeting, the newly appointed Dr. Luis Fernando Peredo assumed the chairmanship of the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society. 
   
   
3. The Committee reiterated its open invitation to civil society to continue to submit written contributions as of 3 December 2002. For more information on the “Open Invitation to Civil Society in the FTAA Participating Countries,” please see the FTAA official website (http://www.ftaa-alca.org).
   
   
4. The Meeting approved the Committee’s 2003 Work Plan.
   
   
5. During the meeting, the representatives approved the attached agenda and discussed the items listed therein.
   
   
6. The Committee will meet in Panama City on 27 and 28 January 2003.

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

Nineteenth Meeting

Panama, December 2- 3, 2002

AGENDA

1. Briefing on the mandates of the Quito Ministerial Meeting
   
   
2. Work Plan
   
   
3. Status of the options for fostering a process of increasing and sustained communication
   
   
4. Report on contributions received in response to the permanent invitation
   
   
5. Report on the progress of the regional seminars and on the Civil Society Forums in Quito
   
   
6. Other business