Ramsar COP8 DOC. 38:

Letter from the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Uganda

1. Please find attached a photocopy of a faxed letter dated 20 November 2002 to the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention from HE Mr Tom R. Butime, MP, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Uganda, concerning his country's invitation to the Parties to host the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention.

Office of the Third Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs
P.O. Box 7048,
Kampala, Uganda

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

20 November 2002

Mr Delmar Blasco
Secretary General
Ramsar Convention Bureau
Rue Mauverney 28
CH-l 196 Gland
SWITZERLAND

Dear Mr. Blasco,

BID TO HOST THE NINTH CONFERFENCE OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLANDS 2005

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Uganda I am pleased to offer Uganda as a venue for the 9th Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention in 2005. Our decision to host COP 9 is based on the following important reasons:

i) This will be the first time that a Conference of the Parties is held in Africa and in a truly developing country, and will be a boost to the efforts of other African countries;

ii) The COP will be recognition of the considerable pioneering progress made by Uganda in the area of wetland conservation and rnanagement.

As host for the Conference, Uganda would be prepared to provide meeting venues, logistical support and hospitality to the delegates.

It is our sincere hope that this request will be favourably considered at the next Conference of the Parties in Spain where we hope to share our experiences with the rest of the international community.

With best regards,

Tom R. Butime, MP
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS) ALSO HOLDING THE
PORTFOLIO OF MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

c.c. The Right Hon Prime Minister
c.c. Principal Private Secretary to HE the President