The talks gathered momentum in the final weeks, but failed to meet a final deadline before next week's World Health Assembly -- the annual gathering of the World Health Organization's 194 member states. "The world still needs a pandemic treaty and the world needs to be prepared," he commented. The talks co-chairs Roland Driece and Precious Matsoso told AFP that countries clearly wanted to reach a final agreement. "It’s not the end," stressed Matsoso, noting that the same ministers who decided they wanted a pandemic agreement would be the ones deciding on the next steps. Most member states want to carry on and lock in the gains," an Asian diplomat in the talks told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
