COMMISSION OF THE (PROSPECTIVE) D-8 GROUP
Second Meeting 13-14 March 1997-Antalya

REPORT OF THE MEETING
1.    The Second Meeting of the Senior Officials (Commission) of the D-8 Group convened on 13-14 March 1997 in Antalya. The Meeting was chaired by H.E.Dr.Abdullah Gul, State Minister of Turkey, and attended by the Commissioners of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. The List of Participants is enclosed.

2.    Following the adoption of the Agenda (D-8/COM.2/AG.), the Parties submitted a number of draft projects to the Commission for consideration. Af¬ter merging, a total of 56 projects were identified and are listed according to a sectoral distribution. (D-8/COM.2/WP-I). These sectors are. Trade, Industry, Telecommunications &. Information, Finance & Banking and Privatization, Ru¬ral Development, Science & Technology, Human Resources Development, Agriculture, Energy and Health.

3.    The Commission decided that ad !l9.c Working Groups of experts of the participating countries be established for each sector. The Working Groups of experts will review and examine by the end of April 1997 the draft projects in line with the guidance given by the Commission in D-8/COM.2/WP-4.

4.    The following sectors were offered by the Commission to various member countries to establish, host and chair the ad IIQC. Working Groups with the participation of experts from the D-8 member countries :
Bangladesh    : Rural Development
Egypt             : Trade
Indonesia        : Human Resources Development
Iran                 :  Telecommunications & Information; Science & Technology
Malaysia         : Finance & Banking and Privatization
Nigeria        : Energy
Pakistan       : Agriculture
Turkey        : Industry, Health

5.    The Commission also reviewed the Draft Declaration (D-8/ COM.2/WP-3) to be submitted to the Summit. Various delegations expressed their views in general terms and it was decided to set up a Drafting Committee at the next meeting of the Commission.

6.    The draft document on structure and functioning of the D-8 Group (D-8/COM.2/WP-2) was also discussed in the meeting. Amendments pro¬posed by some countries will be taken into account during further deliberations of the Commission.

7.    The proposal of Turkey to hold the Summit on 14-15 June in Istanbul was confirmed by the Turkish Delegation. It was decided that the member countries would communicate their confirmation as soon as possible.

8.    The Commission decided to hold its next meeting on 12-13 May 1997 in Turkey.
-    Council of Ministers comprising of Ministers in charge of Foreign Affairs as the principle policy and decision-making body of the D-8, which will also meet annually and report to the Summit of Heads of Government/State.
-    Commission comprising of designated Senior Officials which will have a permanent Secretariat and will report to the Council. The Commission may have standing Committees in different areas of cooperation as deemed necessary.
• Member countries will establish a focal point in their Ministries of Foreign Affairs, for purposes of coordination.

VII) Headquarters
The Headquarters of the D-S will be in Istanbul.

5. TIMETABLE
A meeting of Foreign Ministers to be held in the first week of January 1997 to consider the above recommendations and to finalize the date and the agenda of the first summit meeting to be convened in Istanbul within the first quarter of 1997. The exact date of the Foreign Ministers meeting will be determined within two weeks, through diplomatic channels.
The Meeting of the Foreign Ministers should be preceded by a meeting of the Senior Officials.

The Senior Officials expressed their gratitude to the Government of Turkey for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements.

The report was unanimously adopted by the Senior Officials.