Public
FTAA.soc/15/Rev.4
February 13, 2004
Original: English – Spanish
Translation: non FTAA Secretariat
FTAA - COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL
SOCIETY
OPEN AND ONGOING INVITATION TO CIVIL SOCIETY IN FTAA PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
- In view of the Quito Ministerial mandate issued to the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society to continue to forward contributions to the FTAA entities
received from civil society, the Committee reiterates, as of December 3, 2002, an open invitation to Civil Society to continue presenting written contributions.
- At their Eight Meeting held in Miami, on November 20, 2003, the Ministers Responsible for Trade of the Hemisphere reaffirmed the commitment to the principle of transparency in the FTAA process and
recognized the need to enhance and sustain participation of the different sectors of civil society in the hemispheric initiative.
- The Ministers considered the importance of the Committee as a mechanism for fulfilling their commitment to transparency and welcomed the Forth Report of the Committee, which described the
activities of the Committee as well as the range of contributions received during the previous stage of negotiations. The Fourth Report of the Committee may be found on the FTAA web site
(http://www.ftaa-alca.org).
- The Committee acknowledges the receipt of the contributions submitted in response to its Open Invitation to Civil Society and thanks all those who took the time and effort to contribute their
views. These contributions were forwarded within days of being received and translated to the corresponding FTAA entities (as listed in the attached Cover Sheet).
- Contributions may be submitted via e-mail, mail, fax, or courier. In the interest of facilitating translation into the working languages, distribution throughout the countries of the hemisphere,
and analysis by the relevant national negotiators, it is highly recommended that contributions be submitted via e-mail or via electronic format (i.e., a 3.5” diskette containing the submission) sent
to the corresponding address. Contributions submitted via other means will be given equal consideration and every effort will be made to process the transmission of these documents expeditiously.
- In order to be considered, each written submission must:
- Identify the respondent(s), specifying name(s) and contact or sender information;
- Make reference to matters relating to the FTAA process and/or second draft FTAA Agreement;
- Be in written form, in one of the FTAA languages (Spanish, English, French, Portuguese);
- Be accompanied by the cover sheet which is attached to this document (also available on the FTAA web site
http://www.ftaa-alca.org), with an indication of the FTAA entity(ies) to which the
contribution pertains;
- If the submission is longer than five pages, include an executive summary, no longer than two pages, which summarizes and identifies the issues considered in the document. (The FTAA Secretariat will
translate executive summaries and contributions of five pages or less. Contributions longer than five pages will only be available to FTAA Entities in the original language of the submission.);
- Be sent directly to the Chair of the Committee of Government Representatives on the Participation of Civil Society, at one of the following addresses:
Via Electronic Mail:
soc@ftaa-alca.com
Via Postal Mail:
Secretaría Administrativa del Área de Libre Comercio de las Américas (ALCA)
Apartado Postal No.885
Puebla, México
CP 72001
Via Private Messenger/Courier Service:
Secretaría Administrativa del Área de Libre Comercio de las Américas (ALCA)
8 Oriente N° 1006
Paseo San Francisco
Centro Histórico, Puebla 72000
México Via Fax:
(52 - 222) 309-0340
- Contributions will be welcomed on an ongoing basis. The Committee will acknowledge receipt of the contributions and forward them to the relevant FTAA Entity(ies). Based on the contributions
received from May 2003 to May 1, 2004, the Committee will prepare a report to the Ministers for their 2004 meeting. The Committee will continue to forward contributions received after May 1, 2004 to
the FTAA entities on an ongoing basis and will prepare a report for the following Ministerial meeting.
- Please note that all contributions received in response to the FTAA Public Invitation may be cited, copied and/or distributed, in part or in its entirety, for consideration by the pertinent FTAA
entities. Further, all information provided within the contribution, including the cover page, (except for postal address, email, telephone and fax numbers) will be made public via the FTAA website
and/or other FTAA documents.
- We again encourage all interested individuals to please consult the FTAA Official Website for the latest information. http://www.alca-ftaa.org
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