. /. RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  GPA/M/23 
26 July 2004 
 (04-3220) 
Committee on Government Procurement  
   
 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16 JULY 2004 
 
Chairman:  Mr. Niklas Bergström (Sweden)
 
  
 
1. The Committee adopted
 the following agenda, as outlined in Airgram WTO/AIR/2356/Rev.1 
of 14 July 2004: 
A. Draft Decision on Modalities for the Negotiations on Extensio n of Coverage and 
Elimination of Discriminatory Measures and Practices 
 
B. Request for Observer Status 
C. Other Business 
A. DRAFT DECISION ON MODALITIES FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS ON EXTENSION OF COVERAGE AND 
ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATOR Y MEASURES AND PRACTICES  
2. The Chairman  noted that, at informal consultations  on 13 July, delegati ons had had another 
brief exchange of views on the draft decision on modalities for the negotiations on extension of 
coverage and elimination of discriminatory me asures and practices.  In the light of these 
consultations, he proposed adoption of the draft d ecision set out in Job No. 3067/Rev.1 (4741), dated 
13 July. 
3. The Committee adopted  the Decision.1 
4. The representative of Israel  welcomed the Decision on moda lities adopted by the Committee.  
Although his delegation was a small delegation re presenting a developing country with limited 
resources, it allocated a lot of resources to the issu e of government procurement.  It would have hoped 
to have finished negotiations on the text and th e horizontal issues regarding specific commitments 
before entering into bilateral negotiations on the ex tension of coverage.  Th is would have not only 
reflected a logical process but would have better enabled his delegation to manage its resource 
constraints.  He assured the Chairman and other delegations that his delegation would continue to 
work with them in order to reach a su ccessful conclusion to the negotiations. 
5. The representative of the European Communities  also welcomed the decision on modalities.  
He recalled that under the mandate provided for in Article XXIV:7(b) and (c) of the Agreement on Government Procurement, a significant increase of  coverage should be achieved.  All necessary 
efforts should be made by Parties to meet this objec tive rapidly.  His delegation considered that the 
Decision on modalities adopted by the Committee shoul d be understood as aiming at attaining this 
objective. 
                                                     
 
1 Subsequently circulated as document GPA/79, dated 19 July 2004. GPA/M/23 
Page 2  
 
6. The Committee took note
 of the statements made. 
B. REQUEST FOR OBSERVER STATUS  
7. The Chairman  noted that the Republic of Armenia had submitted a request for observer status 
(GPA/W/293, dated 18 June 2004), having regard to the commitment it had made, in the context of its 
accession to the WTO, to initiate negotiations  on accession to the Agreement on Government 
Procurement. 
8. The Committee approved  Armenia's request for observer status. 
9. The representative of the United States  welcomed Armenia as an observer and looked forward 
to its accession to the GPA. 
10. The representative of the European Communities  also welcomed Armenia as an observer. 
11. The Committee took note  of the statements made. 
C. OTHER BUSINESS  
12. The Chairman  noted that during its recent informal meetings the Committee had had several 
opportunities to look into the question of meeti ng dates for the second half of 2004.  There was 
agreement on the principle of holding two meetings.  As regards the precise dates of the first meeting, 
it looked as if all delegations' preferences could not be accommodated.  However, there was a 
willingness to show flexibility, for which he thanked one delegation in particular.  He proposed that 
the Committee agree on the following dates:  5 to 8 October and 16 to 19 November. 
13. The Committee so agreed . 
14. The representative of Israel  said that his delegation would not be able to participate fully in 
the meeting scheduled for 5-8 October, and hoped that  the meeting would be kept in a more formal 
mode, so that full and substantive record s of the meeting would be available. 
15. The Committee took note  of the statement made. 
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