Intergovernmental Working Group on the Revision of the International Health Regulations
Closing Session
Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,
I would like to thank you all for the hard work you have done and the serious approach you have taken to this extremely important task of revising the International Health Regulations.
It has been a difficult undertaking, given the volume and complexity of some of the issues you have had to deal with. There have been important steps:
- We started with the secretariat's draft proposals and now we have a compilation text that has the imprint of the Member States of WHO.
- States have heard each other's views and in many areas modified their positions in the light of them.
- There is agreement on a range of issues.
- The more difficult issues have been well defined and usefully discussed.
- Most importantly, however, there is agreement on the urgent need for the revision. I urge you to make every effort to resolve the relatively few differences that remain.
With the help of a wise and skilful chairman we have established an effective and hard-working bureau to guide the process to completion.
As I said at the opening, this meeting is our opportunity to make good on the intentions expressed in World Health Assembly and UN General Assembly resolutions.
The world needs a set of Regulations that will allow us to respond confidently and effectively to emerging threats.
We have covered a great deal of ground. There is a little further to go. Let us do everything we can to complete the task in time for the World Health Assembly in May 2005.
Thank you.