1.
GV EXT International Conference Centre
0.06

2.
SV Delegates arriving
0.13

3.
CU Sign "International Conference Centre"
0.16

4.
GV INT Delegates seated
0.24

5.
SV Delegates listening
0.29

6.
CU Chairman of meeting
0.32

7.
CU Indian delegates ZOOM TO SV others
0.37

8.
SV PAN Delegates seated
0.45

9.
GV Conference in progress
0.50



Initials BJB/1725 BJB/1730



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Finance Ministers from 24 of the world's developing nations met in Paris on Sunday (8 June) to discuss their position in the international monetary field, and to attempt to reach a joint standpoint on development matters.

Chaired by Sri Lanka's Finance Minister, Dr. Nanayakkarapathirage Martin Perera, the meeting involved representatives from eight of each of the continents of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The 24 represented a larger group of 77 developing nations within the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The two major issues facing the conference were the distribution of voting rights in the IMF, and ways in which IMF gold assets can be used to aid development.

A joint communique was expected to emerge from the conference on Sunday, but differences of opinion delayed its presentation by Ministerial deputies.

The talks are in preparation for a full-scales IMF discussion scheduled for 10 and 11 June.