The OEWG held its first meeting after the historic September 15, 2008 decision to commence intergovernmental negotiations on reform on the Council. Discussions centered on the continued role of the OEWG and its relation to the negotiating process in the General Assembly Plenary.

Ambassador Camillo Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines stressed that "the process of intergovernmental negotiations must neither wait for nor rely on the results of further consultations in the OEWG."

"In the past, lacking an alternate forum to move the process forward, many member States were tempted to attempt substantive negotiations within the OEWG," said Ambassador Gonsalves. "This is no longer necessary or desirable. The role of the OEWG is to consider and consult, as established in its original resolution and reaffirmed in September's decision."

"We look forward to members' strict adherence to the letter and spirit of our consensus Decision, and to the commencement of substantive intergovernmental negotiations in the GA plenary," said the Ambassador.