Welcome to COP 9

COP 9 - Information for Participants

Full version (This revision is issued to to reflect the name and coordinates of the newly designated focal person for NGOs.)

3. Registration

3.1 Registration and accreditation of Parties

In accordance with rule 18 of the rules of procedure, and pursuant to recommendation 1 contained in the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services audit report of the CBD Secretariat (UNEP/CBD/COP/8/INF/44), Parties to the Convention are urged to submit their credentials to the Secretariat if possible no later than twenty-four hours after the opening of the meeting. The credentials of representatives of Parties to the Convention must be issued by the Head of State, Head of Government or the Minister for Foreign Affairs. A model for the preparation of credentials is contained in annex E below.

Questions regarding the accreditation procedure can be directed to:

Mr. Lyle Glowka
Senior Legal Advisor
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
World Trade Centre
413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y IN9 Canada
Tel: +1-514-288-2220
Email: secretariat@cbd.int

Registration of representatives from Contracting Parties is subject to the receipt by the Secretariat of an official notification. The official notification shall be sent through the diplomatic channel and must be received as soon as possible but no later than 1 May 2008.

The notification, which must indicate the names, titles and contacts of delegates nominated to attend the meeting, should be sent to the attention of the Executive Secretary at the address below:

Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf
Executive Secretary
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800
Montreal, Quebec
H2Y 1N9 Canada
Fax: + 1-514-288-6588
Email: secretariat@cbd.int

3.2 Observers

3.2.1 Observer States

Rule 6.1 of the rules of procedure applies to States not Party to the Convention that wish to be represented as observers in the meeting.

The registration of these representatives is subject to the receipt by the Secretariat of an official written notification. The notification must be received as soon as possible, but no later than 1 May 2008, and must indicate the names, titles and contacts of the delegates to the meeting.

The notification should be addressed to the Executive Secretary at the address indicated in item 3.1 above.

3.2.2 Observers from the United Nations and its specialized agencies

Rule 6.1 of the rules of procedure also applies to the United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency that wish to be represented as observers in the meeting.

The registration of these representatives is subject to the receipt by the Secretariat of an official written notification. The notification must be received as soon as possible, but no later than 1 May 2008, and must indicate the names, titles and contacts of the delegates to the meeting.

The notification should be sent to the attention of the Executive Secretary at the address indicated in item 3.1 above.

Please note that pursuant to rule 6.2 of the rules of procedure, these observers may participate in the meeting, without the right to vote, unless at least one third of the Parties present at the meeting object.

3.2.3 Bodies or agencies qualified in the fields of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use

Rule 7.1 of the rules of procedure applies to bodies or agencies qualified in the fields of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use wishing to be represented as observers in the meeting.

The registration of these representatives is subject to the receipt by the Secretariat of an official written notification. The notification must be received as soon as possible, but no later than 1 May 2008.

The notification, to be sent to the attention of the Executive Secretary at the address indicated in item 3.1 above, must take the form of an official letter from the Chief Executive or President of the organization, and must indicate the names, titles and contacts of the delegates to the meeting.

Please note that pursuant to rule 7.2 of the rules of procedure these observers may, upon invitation of the President of the Conference of the Parties, participate without the right to vote in the proceedings of any meeting in matters of direct concern to the body or agency they represent unless at least one third of the Parties present at the meeting object.