13. In late July, my Special Envoy, Ambassador Edouard Brunner, visited the region for discussions with both parties to the conflict as well as with officials from the Russian Federation.

2. Accordingly, in order to undertake the study, the Department of Administration and Management sought the assistance of a Panel of experts, which consisted of Mr. Colin Wooles, of the Government of Canada, and Mr. Edward B. Bergh, from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.

It is also right to recognize, as many other speakers have done, the Chairman of the Third Committee, Ambassador Eduard Kukan of Slovakia, for his great patience, understanding and wisdom in capturing the timely moment when it was necessary to establish the open ended Working Group of the Third Committee.