Mr. Chairman, the Philippines wishes to thank the co-sponsors particularly Argentina and Brazil for their important initiative.  We also associate ourselves with the statement made by the representative of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Asian Group.  The Philippines believes that the General Assembly should consider the initiative of Argentina  and Brazil as a means of enhancing WIPO’s contribution towards attaining the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and enhancing the contribution of intellectual property rights to the development process.

We view the proposals contained in the appendix of document WO/GA/31/11 as not exhaustive but a good starting point for a constructive and detailed dialogue.  In this regard, the Philippines favors the establishment of a Working Group tasked to consider these and other proposals as possible elements of a framework of a development agenda for WIPO to be realized through and integrated in WIPO’s programs and activities.  Such Working Group or any similar arrangement should report on its work at next year’s General Assembly.  We are glad to note that this idea is reflected in the draft decision distributed yesterday by the co-sponsors.  We believe this draft is a good basis to work on for reaching a decision on this item during this session.

Mr. Chairman, the Philippines recognizes that WIPO is a generous source of technical assistance to the developing world.  The development cooperation projects WIPO undertakes in developing countries have undoubtedly contributed to the overall strength and stability of the intellectual property regime.  However, public policy considerations remind us that the protection of intellectual property rights should not be an end in itself.  We thus believe that a clear and coherent development agenda in WIPO would be an effective way of ensuring that WIPO’s technical assistance programs and activities fully take into account development needs.  For this reason and considering that intellectual property rights cut through many disciplines, more and sustained constructive engagement between WIPO and other multilateral organizations including civil society would be useful.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.