DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-720-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             07 October  2005

AMBASSADOR MANALO STEERS WIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF ITS WORK, WIPO SETS WORK PROGRAM
FOR NEXT BIENNIUM INCLUDING DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE TO PROTECT RIGHTS OF BROADCASTING ORGANIZATIONS

Geneva, 5 October 2005—Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, gaveled today the report of the 41st Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), thus bringing the meeting to a successful conclusion.  He is the first Asian to be elected President of the Assembly.

The meeting had at times bordered deadlock on a number of controversial issues, and appeared at times that consensus on several important items would not be reached.  Many delegations noted that Ambassador Manalo’s experience, steadfast and diplomatic conduct of the meeting lead to the conclusion of successful negotiations on the most contentious issues.

In his report to the Department, Ambassador Manalo said the assembly was able to pass the organization’s proposed budget, assuring that WIPO would be able to proceed with its work for the next biennium.  It also approved the extended mandate of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, thus enabling it to continue its work in that field.

The Assembly also decided to accelerate discussions in the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, and to make progress in finalizing a date for convening a Diplomatic Conference on the protection of rights of broadcasting organizations, and agreed to continue focused discussions on a new work program of the Standing Committee on Patents.

Most importantly, the assembly agreed to move forward on the elaboration of a development agenda for WIPO through the creation of Provisional Committee, thus reflecting the need for development to be integrated in the work of WIPO.

The WIPO is a specialized agency of the United dedicated to promoting the use and protection of intellectual property.  The General Assembly is the organization’s highest governing body and will discuss the organization’s budget and other important aspects relating to WIPO’s work in the next few years. END
 

/jay