PROCEDURE FOR DEVELOPING AND APPROVING ASIA-PACIFIC TELECOMMUNITY

(APT) COMMON POSITIONS AND PROPOSALS OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

FOR ITU WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDIZATION ASSEMBLIES

1        Introduction

1.1     The objective of APT preparatory meetings for the ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (APT-WTSA) is to develop proposals and positions that have a greater chance of success at the WTSA through the support of a number of APT Members.

1.2     This document outlines the procedures and approval process for an APT Common Proposal (ACP) of the Asia Pacific region for WTSA, and APT Common Positions at WTSA.  An ACP of the Asia Pacific Region is a multi-country proposal to which the approved Working Procedures for the APT have been applied during its development.  An APT Common Position is an agreed position to assist APT Members in negotiations or discussions at the WTSA on a particular issue or contribution.

1.3     An ACP is developed in a two-stage process:

	The first stage is the development by APT members of preliminary proposals, on the basis of input and discussion by Members for inclusion in a APT-WTSA meeting output documents; and
	the second stage is where each APT Member is invited to approve the proposal by adding its name to the document that is submitted to the ITU for consideration by the ITU WTSA (ie. adoption by correspondence following an APT-WTSA meeting). (refer to Figure 1)

1.4     It is not the intention of the APT to bind all Members to particular positions at international conferences.  Therefore, any ACP of the Asia Pacific region must clearly identify those APT Members who have chosen to sign up to it.

2        Process for Development and Approval of an ACP

Stage One: Development of a Preliminary APT Common Proposal (PACP)

 2.1     Proposals are developed via the Correspondence Group (CG) or Working Party appointed  by APT-WTSA.  The working method for development of PACPs is primarily by discussions through e-mail reflectors and at the correspondence group meetings during the APT-WTSA meetings, prior to being presented to the Plenary sessions of the meetings.

 2.2     If there is consensus at the Plenary of an APT-WTSA meeting, a proposal becomes a PACP.  The Plenary shall also nominate a country to take the lead role for the proposal.  This role includes responsibility for presenting the contribution at WTSA (if it is approved as an ACP).  The Plenary shall also nominate other countries to assist the lead country.

 2.3     If there is a difference of opinion at the Plenary and further discussion cannot produce a consensus then, the Chairman can, as a last resort, forward the proposal to Stage 2 of these procedures, provided that:

a)  the proposal is supported by at least one quarter (25%) of the APT Members present at the Plenary meeting and;

b)  the proposal is not opposed by a number of Members present at the Plenary greater than the number of Members at the Plenary who support it.

Stage Two: Development of an APT Common Proposal (ACP)

2.4     On confirmation of a proposal as a PACP, all APT Members will be asked, by correspondence, to consider inclusion of their country name as a signatory to that proposal.  A PACP becomes an ACP provided that:

a) the proposal is supported by at least one quarter (25%) of all the APT Members and;

b)  the proposal is not opposed by more than 50% of the number of Members who support it.

          Joint proposals

2.5     If a proposal does not meet the requirements in paragraph 2.4 to be submitted as an ACP, the countries supporting the proposal may submit the proposal to the WTSA as a joint country proposal.  The process for submission of a joint country proposal will depend on each individual supporting country's national procedures for developing WTSA contributions, and is not covered by this document. 

2.6     Joint country proposals can be upgraded to the status of an ACP if, at a later date, they meet the level of support as indicated in paragraph 2.4.

          APT Common Positions

2.7    The APT-WTSA may also consider development of a APT common position (without a formal APT common proposal) on:

	a contribution submitted to WTSA by another country or region; or
	an issue that is being, or will be, discussed at the WTSA.

2.8    The purpose of developing an APT common position is to assist APT Members in negotiations or discussions at the WTSA on a particular issue or contribution.  An APT common position may also be the basis for an APT common proposal developed and submitted during the WTSA.

3.      Result of consultation

3.1    The APT secretariat, in conjunction with the Chairman of the APT-WTSA, shall prepare a result of the consultation(s) mentioned above with respect to ACPs.  Before submitting any proposals to the ITU, APT Members shall be informed of the results of the consultation, and those proposals which have satisfied the criteria mentioned in paragraph 2 above shall be identified. The relevant format for consultation with APT Members is contained in Annex A to this document.

4.      Procedure for regional cooperation at WTSA

4.1    ACPs shall be presented at the WTSA by the country nominated as the lead country for the proposal.  If the lead country is absent from the meeting, the contribution shall be presented by the country nominated to assist the lead country.

4.2    The lead country shall have primary responsibility, a coordination role and carriage of the proposal at WTSA, including in relation to discussions on related proposals submitted by other countries or regions. 

4.3    Regional coordination meetings shall be held on a regular basis during each WTSA.  The purpose of these regional coordination meetings shall be to:

	monitor and report on progress of ACPs and common positions;
	discuss APT member views on proposals that have been submitted during the WTSA from other countries or regions, and which had not been previously considered by APT-WTSA;
	identify possible new ACPs for submission to the WTSA;
	consider the need to withdraw an ACP, or review the APT attitude; and
	develop new common APT positions, and adaptations to existing positions, in response to the ongoing debates and discussions at the WTSA.

4.4    The APT Secretariat shall be responsible for organising a time and venue for regional coordination meetings at WTSA 2004.

4.5    At WTSAs, a country that has previously given its support for an ACP submitted to WTSA, and which decides to withdraw or change its support, shall notify the APT Secretariat of its withdrawal of support as soon as practicable. 

4.6    It is likely that countries will need to consult with national administrations before being able to offer country support at the WTSA for a proposed new or amended ACP.  National delegations are encouraged to consult with national administrations on proposed ACPs as soon as possible after a regional coordination meeting.  The Head of Delegation for each country shall notify the APT Secretariat as soon as practicable if it supports a proposed ACP.

4.7    To be approved as an ACP at a WTSA, a proposal must meet the requirements for approval in paragraph 2.4. 

4.8    If, during a WTSA, a number of countries withdraws support for an ACP that has been previously submitted to the WTSA, and the remaining support for the proposal means that the proposal no longer has the support required for an ACP (as required under paragraph 2.4), the proposal shall be re-submitted to the WTSA as a joint country proposal (or an individual country proposal where appropriate).