Building alliances with like-minded states is another part of the Government's response to the Convention. This work is carried out at a number of levels. I represent the Government at the regular meetings of national representatives from both the current and accession states which take place in advance of Convention plenary sessions. I chaired the last meeting of the group in the absence of the chairman, Mr. Katiforis. The smaller member states meet at dinners that take place the night before plenary sessions. I hosted the first of the dinners which I invited some of the accession states to attend. In a response to a suggestion which I made, the group has held a number of informal working sessions aimed at establishing common ground on key issues.