Preamble

The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD);

Pursuant to Decision I/4 of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the CBD which designated the UNEP to carry out the functions of the Secretariat of the Convention while ensuring its autonomy to discharge the functions referred to in Article 24;

Recalling Decision 18/36 of the Eighteenth Session of the Governing Council of the UNEP which welcomed the designation of the UNEP to carry out the functions of the Secretariat of the Convention while ensuring its autonomy to discharge the functions referred to in Article 24;

Aware that Decision II/19 of the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties accepted the offer of Canada to host the Permanent Secretariat of the CBD in Montreal;

Recalling Decision III/23 of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties invited the Executive Director of the UNEP and the Executive Secretary of the CBD to develop procedures, making an effort to conclude by 27 January, 1997, with respect to the functioning of the Permanent Secretariat of the CBD, to clarify and make more effective their respective roles and responsibilities;

Cognizant that Decision III/23 stressed further that the procedures must be in accordance with the United Nations financial and staff rules and regulations and with decision I/4 of the Conference of the Parties and should as far as possible, and where appropriate, follow the Personnel, Financial and