Belgium associates itself with the statement made by Portugal on behalf of the European Union.

Belgium welcomes the signing of the Cartagena Protocol today by several countries. The Cartagena Protocol is a milestone in the Multilateral Environment Agreements. To us, it is as important as other Protocols like for example the Montreal Protocol or the Kyoto Protocol.

For this reason Belgium calls upon all countries to ratify the Protocol as soon as possible, this of course would ensure an early and global implementation.

On implementation we see risk assessment as maybe, the most important issue in this matter. To allow risk assessment to be done in a considerate manner, capacity building will be crucial. I can therefore inform you that Belgium has already been very instrumental in providing assistance for capacity building.

For example, Belgium funded the SADC preparations for this COP 5 meeting in Harare and a regional African meeting on Environment in Dakar.

Moreover, Mr. Chairman,

Belgium is providing partnerships on the Clearing House Mechanism with several African countries. This is a collaboration to which the Belgian government is very committed and which therefore will be increased in the course of this year, including training and capacity building for webmasters.

Mr. Chairman,

Belgium is of the opinion that the necessary Clearing House Mechanism, foreseen in the Cartagena Protocol, could and should be operational by as many Focal Points as possible. Belgium has already developed a national biosafety server which is an integral part of the earlier established Belgian Clearing House Mechanism.

I thank you Mr. Chairman