7. Regional Preparatory Meetings
Subject to the availability of financial resources and pursuant to paragraphs 19 (a) and (b) of decision VIII/31 of the Conference of the Parties, the Secretariat will assist in the convening of COP-9 preparatory meetings by the regional groups for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and Central and Eastern Europe. These regional preparatory meetings would take place over the weekend prior to the official opening of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. More information will be provided in due course.