The minutes of the meeting of 20 May have been circulated. Are they agreed?
Business of Joint Committee.
At our previous meeting, the joint committee accepted my proposal to support the case being made for the United Nations Secretary General to compile a report on natural resources and conflict. What action has been taken in this regard?
I will revert to the Senator on the matter.
Has the proposal been submitted to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs?
It has entered the system and we will await a response. The clerk will ascertain what, if any, progress has been made and revert to the Deputy. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed.
A report of a meeting with a Columbian human rights group on 15 May has been circulated and will be noted. We have received correspondence regarding the Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom which will be held in Pennsylvania from 23 to 25 November. If we choose to send representatives, the decision will be subject to the agreement of the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. I propose that we seek support to send one or two representatives and an official to the conference. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The sub-committee received an e-mail dated 23 June 2008 from Mr. David Begg, general secretary of ICTU, requesting a meeting. As I and the clerk only received the e-mail on Monday, it was not possible to accommodate ICTU today. I suggest the sub-committee ask the clerk to arrange a future meeting when one can be accommodated.
That is a good idea.
We will leave the matter to the clerk.