CONSCIOUS of the need to maintain flexibility and adaptability in the management of the CITES Secretariat and in the provision of services to the Parties to the Convention;

AWARE that the responsibilities and functions of the Standing Committee and the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with regard to the implementation of Articles XI and XII of the Convention need to be clarified;

RECOGNIZING that the decisions of the Conference of the Parties shall guide the Implementation of CITES and management of its Secretariat;

DESIRING to further improve the relationship between CITES and UNEP; and

RECOGNIZING that the 37th meeting of the Standing Committee recommended that the Agreement between the Standing Committee and the Executive Director of UNEP, signed in June 1992, be revised;

The CITES Standing Committee and the Executive Director of UNEP agree as follows:

Basic Principles

1. 1. The Executive Director will act in conformity with the provisions of Articles XI and XII of the Convention and the rules and regulations of the United Nations on these and other functions as may be entrusted to the Secretariat by the Parties. The Executive Director shall ensure that the Secretary General implements the policy guidance of the Standing Committee in exercising the functions of the Secretariat in accordance with Articles XI and XII of the Convention, and other functions as may be entrusted to the Secretariat by the Parties.

2. 2. The Executive Director will inform the Standing Committee in advance of any significant action with respect to the Secretariat which may affect the interests of the Parties or the efficient administration of the Convention, and will consider carefully the views the Standing Committee presents to him/her on such actions.

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