The first session of the intergovernmental experts meeting took place from 20 to 24 September 2004. This session saw a general exchange of ideas and a constructive discussion of the content of the preliminary draft Convention which had been submitted to Member States for their consideration in July 2004. The nature and objectives of the meeting were primarily designed to enable the government experts to exchange opinions on the future convention without embarking on a formal exercise of redrafting or amending the preliminary draft of the convention. A drafting Committee was set up by this first intergovernmental meeting. Following the constructive discussions of the first session of the intergovernmental meeting, Member States engaged in an intense process of consultations in order to prepare their written contributions, which were to be submitted by mid-November 2004 at the latest. Despite the very short time available, the deadline was met, and a great number of contributions was received by the  Secretariat.