GATT/AIR/3133 5 NOVEMBER 1990

SUBJECT: CONTRACTING PARTIES - 46TH SESSION

1. I HAVE THE HONOUR TO INFORM YOU THAT THE FORTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE WILL BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 1990 AT 3 P.M.

2. AS INDICATED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES IN HIS LETTER OF 23 JULY 1990, THE SESSION WILL BE HELD IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD. DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, CONTRACTING PARTIES WILL BE ALLOCATED A LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE COUNCIL ROOM, WHERE PLENARY MEETINGS WILL TAKE PLACE. THEIR ADDITIONAL DELEGATES AS WELL AS OBSERVERS FROM NON-CONTRACTING PARTY GOVERNMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS WILL BE ALLOCATED SEATS IN ROOM D, FROM WHICH THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEEDINGS BY MEANS OF AN AUDIO HOOK-UP.

3. THE CHAIRMAN HOPES THAT WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF DELEGATIONS, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE THE BUSINESS OF THE SESSION ON 13 DECEMBER.

4. KINDLY INFORM ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE OF THE NAMES OF THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT OR ORGANISATION PROPOSES TO SEND TO THE SESSION. CREDENTIALS AUTHORIZING CONTRACTING PARTIES' REPRESENTATIVES TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS INDICATED IN ARTICLE XXV OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT, AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER RULE 7 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARIAT NOT LATER THAN 10 DECEMBER 1990.

5. IN RELATION TO STATEMENTS UNDER ITEM 1, ACTIVITIES OF GATT, STATEMENTS AT SESSIONS OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES HAVE BY PRACTICE BEEN KEPT SHORT. THE CHAIRMAN HAS REQUESTED THAT DELEGATES AIM NOT TO EXCEED FIVE MINUTES.

6. A COPY OF THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA (L/6760) IS ENCLOSED.

A. DUNKEL