The third meeting of the Negotiating Group on Dispute Settlement of the FTAA (NGDS) was held in Miami between May 4 and 7. A list of the delegates is attached to this communiqué. Some of the delegates represented their respective sub-regional groups. The NGDS deliberations followed the items of the agenda, also attached.

On May 4^th pursuant to the mandate, a seminar was held in relation to the ways that governments could promote and facilitate the use of arbitration to settle private international commercial disputes within the FTAA region. The seminar was organized by the Tripartite Committee (OAS) and included the distinguished participation of Fernando Mantilla-Serrano, Donald F. Donovan, Bernard Hanotiau, and José I. Astigarraga.

During its meeting, the NGDS spent much of its time analyzing the elements of a dispute settlement system, in particular the dispute settlement bodies and other relevant topics. Furthermore, the Tripartite Committee (OAS) informed the Group about the status of the Inventory on dispute settlement systems within the Hemisphere. The Inventory will be presented to the Group for its approval at its fourth meeting, in July 1999.

The NGDS will meet again between July 7 and 9.

AGENDA