GATT/AIR/3584 27 APRIL 1994
SUBJECT: NEGOTIATING GROUP ON BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS
1. AT ITS FINAL MEETING AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL HELD IN MARRAKESH(12-15 APRIL 1994), THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE ADOPTED THE "DECISION ON NEGOTIATIONS ON BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS". THE DECISION ESTABLISHES A NEGOTIATING GROUP ON BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, IT ALSO CALLS UPON THE NEGOTIATING GROUP TO HOLD ITS FIRST MEETING NO LATER THAN 16 MAY 1994.
2. ACCORDINGLY, THE NEGOTIATING GROUP ON BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS WILL HOLD ITS FIRST MEETING ON FRIDAY, 6 MAY 1994 AT 10.00 A.M. IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD.
3. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE PROPOSED FOR THE AGENDA:
A. PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS OF THE NEGOTIATING GROUP.
B. STOCK-TAKING OF THE SITUATION IN THE BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS NEGOTIATIONS.
C. CONSIDERATION OF THE NEED FOR ANY FURTHER TECHNICAL WORK.
D. ANY ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONDUCTING BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS ON SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS.
E. DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS OF THE NEGOTIATING GROUP.
F. OTHER BUSINESS.
4. THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO ALL SIGNATORIES OF THE FINAL ACT OF THE URUGUAY ROUND. HOWEVER IT IS RECALLED THAT, ACCORDING TO PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE MINISTERIAL DECISION, PARTICIPATION IN THE NEGOTIATIONS ON BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS IS OPEN TO THOSE GOVERNMENTS, AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, WHICH HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO PARTICIPATE.
PETER D. SUTHERLAND
94-0751