The Representative of the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP)

The Representative of the Intergovememental Forum on the Chemical Security (IFCS)

The Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Ladies and Gentlemen, delegates from brothers and friends Countries

Honorable guests

We are convened this afternoon to review the results of the reflections carried out during four days of hard work relating essentially on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Through UNEP, we convey our dip acknowledgement to the whole United Nations System for the ever increasing support provided to developing countries in their struggle for ensuring a better future to future generations.

Ladies and Gentlemen

In view of the outstanding communications presented by different multilateral and non governmental organizations regarding the approach of the POPs problem, it makes no doubt that the different participants measured the global magnitude of the POPs effect on health and environment.

We, the developing Countries affected by the worldwide crisis, and in permanent research of an improvement of the living conditions of our citizens, are condemned to look for more secure and cleaner ways to food self-sufficiency, to industrial development with limited and controlled risks and the rational exploitation of our meager resources while preserving the health of our populations.

This is to say, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bamako awareness raising workshop on POPs demonstrated that regional and international cooperation is a current reality, if we want to ensure:

• an exchange of information by the creation of expert networks connected to the Internet;

• a transfer of clear technologies in the utilization of alternative products, and the repackaging of obsolete and expired products according to authorized norms.

The Bamako workshop enabled also to measure actions undertaken by different countries on the national and regional levels.

It is my pleasure at this occasion to convey a pressing call to all African countries to adhere to and to ratify the Bamako Convention related to the import and illicit transport of dangerous products in Africa. Indeed this Convention covers entirely the problematic of the POPs. The Basel Convention must not be forgotten either as it aims at the same objectives of human health preservation.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Before concluding, I would like to exhort all States of the sub-region to work in order to get a consensus between Governments and NGOs, that will be the actors of the future negotiations scheduled for June 1998 and to strive for the elaboration and adoption of a Convention on POPs.

To this end, I would like to ask all participants to look at establishing in their respective countries national committee composed of all stakeholders in order to better manage questions related to the persistent products.

In your name, I thank all countries and organizations that contributed to the present meeting, which, I am sure, reached its objectives.

While wishing to all a good return to your respective countries, I declare closed the works of the sub-regional awareness raising workshop on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

I thank you.