1. The Chairman of the Commission, welcoming the Commissioners to the XX. Session of the Commission, explained the work to be done concerning various agenda items. In this connection he referred to the crucial importance of the two Agreements to be signed at the Summit, namely the Preferential Trade Agreement and Multilateral Agreement on Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters.
2. As the outgoing Chairman, the Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Iran handed over the Chairmanship of the Commission and congratulated Ambassador M. Slamet Hidayet for assuming the Chairmanship.
3. The Commission then adopted the draft Agenda as amended.
4. The Executive Director briefly referred to various agenda items, namely the work of the HLTO, the Strengthening of the Secretariat and the draft Bali Declaration including the events planned for the current year and 2007.
5. The Commission considered the draft Bali Declaration, covering international events, D-8 activities since the last Summit as well as planned activities for the current year and 2007. The Commission then adopted the text with amendments to be submitted to the Council of Foreign Ministers for approval.
6. The Commission undertook extensive discussions on the strengthening of D-8 Secretariat in view of the additional tasks conferred upon and reached the following conclusions as a recommendation to the Council of Foreign Ministers :

a. The status of the Head of the Secretariat will be upgraded to become Secretary General
b. Secretary General will be seconded. However, a consensus could not be reached as to whether he should come from the incoming or outgoing chair country. Therefore, the final decision on this point is left to the Council of Foreign Ministers.
c. Deputy Secretary General will be seconded by Turkey on a permanent basis in order to ensure continuity.
d. An economist will also be seconded. He will first be recruited for a term of three years by drawing lot among the member countries (excluding the chair country and the country seconding Deputy Secretary General) and then on rotation in alphabetical order, on the basis of the criteria set out by the Secretary General. (*)
e. The scale of contributions: According to the new arrangements mentioned hereabove, the annual budget of D-8 Secretariat is estimated to be around USD 100.000. This amount will be shared on an equal basis.

1. The Commissioners also considered the draft Agenda of the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Summit and recommended them for approval.

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(*) One Delegation needed to consult with its Minister on the issue of Secondment.