COMMITTEE APPROVES DRAFT CONCERNING UNILATERAL COERCIVE ECONOMIC MEASURES AGAINST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Press Release
GA/EF/2714

COMMITTEE APPROVES DRAFT CONCERNING UNILATERAL COERCIVE ECONOMIC MEASURES AGAINST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

10 Other Texts Approved; One Recommends Convening UNCTAD IX in Midrand, South Africa, 27 April-11 May 1996

The General Assembly would urge the international community to adopt effective measures to eliminate the use by some developed countries of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries, as a means of forcibly imposing the will of one State on another, by the terms of one of eleven draft resolutions approved by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) this afternoon.

The above draft was approved by a recorded vote of 79 in favour to 27 against, with 19 abstentions. (See Annex for voting details.) All other texts acted upon this afternoon were approved without a vote.

By other trade and development-related drafts approved, the Assembly would decide to convene the ninth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD IX) in Midrand, Gauteng Province of South Africa from 27 April to 11 May 1996 and stress the crucial importance of the ninth session's provisional agenda. Under the unifying theme of "Promoting growth and sustainable development in a globalizing and liberalizing world economy", the provisional agenda includes consideration of international trade as an instrument for development in the post-Uruguay Round world and discussion of UNCTAD's future work in accordance with its mandate.

On a related subject, the Committee approved a draft resolution on the challenges and opportunities of global financial integration. By its provisions, the Assembly would underscore the need for encouraging private capital flows, especially long-term flows, to all countries, particularly developing ones, while reducing the risks of volatility. It would be recognized that in a globalized world, sound fiscal and monetary policy in each country is an essential element in preventing crises relating to capital flows.

Concerning human settlements, the Assembly would decide that the third session of the Preparatory Committee to the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) would be held at Headquarters from 5 to 16 February 1996. It would note with interest the call by the Secretary-General to give

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the Conference the dimensions of a "city summit" and reaffirm that it should be held at the highest possible level of participation.

By a related draft, the Assembly would endorse the report of the Commission on Human Settlements on the work of its fifteenth session (Nairobi, 25 April-1 May), including its resolution on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000.

Under the provisions of another draft, the Assembly would decide to convene a closing event of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction in order to facilitate the full integration of disaster reduction into the substantive efforts for sustainable development and environmental protection by the year 2000.

Other drafts approved this afternoon would have the Assembly:

-- Welcome the decision of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to convene a World Food Summit in Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996 at the level of heads of State and invite organizations and the private sector to cooperate actively with the FAO in preparing for the Summit;

-- Decide that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the elaboration of a convention to combat desertification should continue to prepare for the first session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention and, in that regard, a series of dates and venues of meetings would also be decided;

-- Welcome the efforts of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to strengthen their cooperation in combating desertification through partnership;

-- Endorse the institutional linkage between the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations and request the Secretary-General to review the functioning of that institutional linkage not later than 31 December 1999; and

-- Request the Secretary-General to present to the Assembly, on a biennial basis, a report entitled "State of South-South cooperation". It would include quantitative data and indicators on all aspects of such cooperation and recommendations for strengthening it, keeping in view the importance of the proposal to convene a United Nations conference on South-South cooperation.

The Committee will meet again at a time to be announced.

Committee Work Programme

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this afternoon to act on draft proposals on matters relating to financing of development, trade and development, human settlements, food and agricultural development, implementation of recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), natural disaster reduction and economic cooperation among developing countries (ECDC).

A draft resolution (document A/C.2/50/L.56) submitted by a Committee Vice-Chairman, Max Stadthagen (Nicaragua), on the basis of informal consultations held on the draft contained in document A/C.2/50/L.6 would have the General Assembly stress that global financial integration presents new challenges and opportunities for the international community and should constitute a very important element of the dialogue between the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions. The Assembly would underscore the need for encouraging private flows, especially long-term flows, to all countries, particularly developing ones, while reducing the risks of volatility. It would be recognized that in a globalized world, sound fiscal and monetary policy in each country is an essential element in preventing crises relating to capital flows.

The Assembly would emphasize the need to explore ways to broaden cooperation and, where appropriate, coordination of macroeconomic policy among interested countries, monetary and financial authorities and institutions, so as to enhance preventive consultations between such institutions as a means of promoting a stable international financial environment conducive to economic growth. It would reaffirm the objective of promoting greater transparency and openness, including increasing participation of developing countries in the work of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It would welcome the steps taken by the IMF and recognize the need for a stronger and central role for the Fund in surveillance of all countries for potential sources of destabilization of capital financial markets and for promoting growth.

The earlier version of the draft would have the Assembly request the Secretary-General to report on the globalization of private capital flows including its effects on developing countries and for recommendations on measures necessary to promote a stable financial environment conducive to sustained economic growth. Stressing that global financial integration presents new challenges and opportunities for the international community and should be placed at the forefront of the dialogue between the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions, the Assembly would underscore the need for encouraging private flows to developing countries while reducing the systematic risk of volatility, particularly in portfolio flows. It would recognize the need for a stronger and central role for the IMF in surveillance, particularly of industrialized countries, with a view to enhancing transparency and predictability in international financial markets

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and promoting economic growth. The objective of promoting greater transparency, openness and enhanced participation by developing countries in the Fund's work would be reaffirmed, and the important contribution that the United Nations can provide in that regard would be recognized.

Under trade and development, the Committee has three drafts for action.

A draft resolution sponsored by the Philippines, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, (document A/C.2/50/L.18) would have the Assembly urge the international community to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use by some developed countries of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries which were not authorized by relevant organs of the United Nations or were inconsistent with the principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations, as a means of forcibly imposing the will of one State on another.

The Secretary-General would be requested to assign to the Department of Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis of the Secretariat, in cooperation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the task of continuing to monitor the imposition of those measures and to prepare possible methodologies or criteria for evaluating their impact on the affected countries, including on their trade and development.

A draft resolution on the ninth session of UNCTAD (UNCTAD IX) (document A/C.2/50/L.50) is submitted by a Committee Vice-Chairman, Conor Murphy (Ireland), on the basis of informal consultations held on an earlier draft on the same subject (document A/C.2/50/L.20). Under its provisions, the Assembly, welcoming with appreciation the offer of South Africa to host UNCTAD IX, would decide to convene the ninth session in Midrand, Gauteng Province, in that country, from 27 April to 11 May 1996, to be preceded by a one-day meeting of senior officials. The crucial importance of UNCTAD IX's provisional agenda would be stressed and the need to achieve through the session a constructive and action-oriented outcome would be affirmed. Governments would be called upon to ensure their full participation at the highest political level in the gathering. The Secretary-General would be invited to establish a voluntary fund for the participation of least developed countries in the ninth session.

The earlier version of the draft would have had the Assembly welcome the offer of South Africa to host UNCTAD IX; decide to convene the ninth session in Midrand, Gauteng Province, South Africa, from 27 April to 11 May 1996 and be preceded by a one-day meeting of senior officials; stress the crucial importance of UNCTAD in advancing the dialogue on international economic cooperation for trade and development; and affirm the need to achieve through the session a constructive and action-oriented outcome. Member States would be urged to take appropriate steps to ensure adequate preparations at all levels and within the framework of the permanent machinery of UNCTAD for the

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purpose of facilitating a positive and action-oriented outcome of the gathering.

The Committee also had before it five texts relating to human settlements.

A draft resolution (document A/C.2/50/L.53) also submitted by Mr. Murphy (Ireland), a Committee Vice-Chairman, on the basis of informal consultations on a draft contained in document A/C.2/50/L.30 would have the Assembly endorse the report of the Commission on Human Settlements on the work of its fifteenth session (Nairobi, 25 April-1May), including its resolution 15/1 on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000, and the report of the Commission on the implementation of the Strategy. The Assembly would take note with appreciation of the contribution of the Commission and of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) to the preparations for the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) (Istanbul, 3 to 14 June 1996). The Centre would be encouraged to submit its contribution to the Preparatory Committee for the Conference at its third session, to be held in New York between 5 and 16 February 1996.

The earlier version of the draft would have the Assembly endorse the report of the Commission on Human Settlements on the work of its fifteenth session, including its decision 15/1 on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000; take note with appreciation of the contributions of the Commission and of Habitat to the preparations for Habitat II, to be held in Istanbul from 3 to 14 June 1996; encourage the Commission and the Centre to submit their contributions to the Conference to the Preparatory Committee at its third session, to be held in New York from 26 February to 8 March 1996. The Secretary-General would be invited to submit to the Assembly's fifty-second session a report on the role of the Commission in the implementation and follow-up of the decisions and recommendations of the Conference.

A draft resolution (document A/C.2/50/L.57), submitted by Mr. Murphy (Ireland), a Committee Vice-Chairman, on the basis of informal consultations held on a previously submitted draft on Habitat II (document A/C.2/50/L.27) would have the Assembly endorse a series of decisions of the Preparatory Committee for the Conference, including those related to financing. It would decide that the third session of the Preparatory Committee would be held at Headquarters from 5 to 16 February 1996. The Secretary-General would be requested to make the necessary provisions, within existing resources, so that the Committee may decide to establish two working groups to meet in addition to the plenary during the session. The Assembly would note with interest the call by the Secretary-General to give the Conference the dimensions of a "city summit" and reaffirm that the Conference should be held at the highest possible level of participation. The Secretary-General would be invited to report to the Assembly's next session on the implementation and follow-up of

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the outcome of Habitat II by the United Nations system, including the role played by the Centre in that process.

The previous text would have the Assembly endorse the report of the Preparatory Committee for the Conference on its second substantive session, which contains, among others, a decision on the rules of procedure for the Conference; decide that the third session of the Preparatory Committee would be held at Headquarters from 26 February to 8 March 1996 (rather than from 5 to 16 February 1996) to finalize the provisional agenda for the Conference and to formulate the draft global plan of action to be adopted by it, including a statement of principles and commitments as an integrated part of the plan; request the Secretary-General to make the necessary provisions so that the Preparatory Committee might establish two working groups to meet in addition to plenary meetings for the duration of the third session; reaffirm that the conference should have the dimensions of a "city summit" and should be held at the highest possible level of participation; and request the Secretary-General to report to its next session on the role of the Centre and the outcome of the Conference.

A statement on the financial implications of the Habitat II draft (document A/C.2/50/L.44) says that neither facilities nor services are available on the new dates proposed (from 26 February to 8 March 1996 rather than from 5 to 16 February 1996) for the third session of the Preparatory Committee. Under those circumstances, it proposes to maintain the original dates, contained in the draft calendar as proposed by the Committee on conferences. It adds that should the Assembly adopt the draft resolution, no additional appropriation would be required under the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997.

Another draft resolution (document A/C.2/50/L.51) before the Committee -- submitted by Mr. Murphy (Ireland) a Committee Vice-Chairman, on the basis of informal consultations held on a previously introduced draft on the World Food summit (document A/C.2/50/L.21) -- would have the Assembly welcome the decision of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to convene such a summit in Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996 at the level of heads of State or government and invite governments to participate actively in the event. Organizations and the private sector would be invited to cooperate actively with the FAO in preparing for the Summit. The international community would be invited to contribute to the voluntary fund established to facilitate matters relating to the Summit, including the participation of representatives of developing countries at the Summit and at the preparations for it, to be conducted by the Committee on World Food Security of the FAO in January and September 1996.

The earlier version of the draft would have the Assembly welcome the decision of the FAO Conference to convene a World Food Summit in Rome from

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13 to 17 November 1996 at the level of heads of State or government; invite the international community to make substantial contributions to a trust fund established by the FAO in order to facilitate the preparations for and the holding of the Summit.

Under environment and sustainable development the Committee has seven drafts for action.

A draft resolution (document A/C.2/50/L.54) is also submitted by Mr. Murphy (Ireland), a Committee Vice-Chairman, on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolutions contained in document A/C.2/50/L.22 concerning the elaboration of an international convention to combat desertification. By its provisions, the Assembly, welcoming the signing of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification by a large number of States and one regional economic integration organization and its ratification by a growing number of States, would urge States to continue to do so in order that the Convention may enter into force as soon as possible. It would decide that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Convention's elaboration (INCD) should continue to prepare for the first session of the conference of the Parties. It would also decide to convene two sessions of the Negotiating Committee in 1996, each of up to two weeks' duration, the eighth session to be held at Geneva from 5 to 16 February and the ninth session in New York from 3 to 13 September. It would further decide to convene the tenth session of the Negotiating Committee in New York from 6 to 17 January 1997 and, pending the entry into force of the convention, to convene as necessary a further session in 1997, of up to two weeks' duration.

In addition, the Assembly would recommend that, upon the entry into force of the convention, a session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention be convened in the second and third weeks of June 1997 or, alternatively, in the second and third weeks of August 1997, the exact dates and venue to be determined. It would decide that the work of the Negotiating Committee and the interim secretariat should continue to be funded through existing United Nations budgetary resources and through voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by the Assembly for that purpose. The Chairman of the Negotiating Committee would be requested to submit progress reports on the work of the Committee to the Assembly, through the Commission on Sustainable Development and other appropriate bodies of the United Nations.

The earlier version of the draft would have the Assembly welcome the signing of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification by a number of countries; and decide that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee should continue to prepare for the first session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, and, for that purpose, should convene two sessions in 1996, each of up to two weeks' duration, the eighth session to beheld at Geneva from 5 to 16 February and the ninth session in New York from 3 to 13

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September. In addition, another two sessions would be convened in 1997, each of up to two weeks' duration, the tenth session to ge held in New York from 6 to 17 January and the eleventh session in April, the exact dates and venue of which are to be determined at a later stage. The Assembly would recommend that, upon the entry into force of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties would be convened in the second and third weeks of June 1997 or, alternatively, the second and third weeks of August 1997, the exact dates and venue of which are to be determined at a later stage. It would decide that the work of the Negotiating Committee and the interim secretariat should continue to be funded through existing United Nations budgetary resources, without negatively affecting its programmed activities, and through voluntary contributions to the trust fund established for that purpose.

A draft resolution (document A/C.2/50/L.52) submitted by a Committee Vice-Chairman, Mr. Murphy (Ireland), on the basis of informal consultations held on draft resolution A/C.2/50/L.29, concerns desertification and drought. By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would welcome the efforts of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to strengthen their cooperation in combating desertification through partnership. It would renew its appeal to governments and organizations to make contributions to relevant United Nations bodies, including, the UNDP Office to Combat Desertification and Drought, to strengthen their capacity to support activities to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in all affected developing countries and regions. The Secretary-General would be requested to submit to the Assembly's fifty-second session a report on the implementation of the draft to be considered under one unified sub-item on environment and sustainable development: implementation of decision and recommendations of UNCED.

The previous text would have had the Assembly welcome UNEP/UNDP efforts to strengthen their cooperation in combating desertification. It would renew its appeal to governments and organizations to make contributions to relevant United Nations bodies, to strengthen their capacity to support activities to combat desertification and mitigate drought in all affected developing countries and regions.

A draft resolution (document A/C.2/50/L.33) submitted by a Committee Vice-Chairman, Mr. Murphy (Ireland), on the basis of informal consultations, would have the Assembly endorse the institutional linkage between the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations. The Secretary-General would be requested to review the functioning of that institutional linkage not later than 31 December 1999. The Assembly would not that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention decided to accept the offer of the Government of Germany to host the Convention secretariat and express its appreciation for the support of the future host Government for the relocation and effective functioning of the secretariat.

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In addition, parties to the Convention would be urged to pay promptly and in full their 1996 and 1997 contributions required for the trust fund for the core budget of the Convention to ensure continuity in the cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, its subsidiary bodies and the Convention secretariat. The Assembly would decide to include in the calendar of conferences and meetings for 1996-1997 the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies envisaged for that biennium, entailing twelve weeks of conference-servicing facilities. The Secretary-General would be requested to make arrangements to include in the calendar of conferences and meetings for the biennium 1998-1999 sessions

of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies that the Conference may need to convene in that period.

According to a statement on the financial implications of the above draft (document A/C.2/50/L.49), no provision for conference servicing for the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies was made under section 26 (administration and management) of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997 at the time of its preparation. The Secretary-General believes that the 1996 programme of meetings of the Convention bodies should be included in that calendar. An appropriation of $3,522,200 would be required under section 26E (conference services) of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1996-1997 in order to finance the conference-servicing costs of those meetings. Such an appropriation would be subject to the guidelines for the use and operation of the contingency fund established by Assembly resolutions 41/213 and 42/211. (The fund accommodates additional expenditures relating to the biennium derived from legislative mandates not provided for in the proposed programme budget.)

Concerning the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction a draft resolution (document A/C.2/50/L.5) would have the Assembly decide to convene a closing event of the Decade, through coordinated sectoral and cross- sectoral meetings, in order to facilitate the full integration of disaster reduction measures into the substantive efforts for sustainable development and environmental protection by the year 2000. Other provisions of the draft address details of the preparatory process for that event.

A further draft resolution (document A/C.2/50/L.48) submitted by a Committee Vice-Chairman, Max Stadthagen (Nicaragua), on the basis of informal consultations held on a text contained in document A/C.2/50/L.24, would have the Assembly endorse the recommendations contained in the report on new directions for technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC) (document TCDC/9/3). Those recommendations include calls for the adoption of a more strategic orientation for TCDC focusing on priority issues, such as trade and investment, debt, the environment, poverty alleviation, production and employment, and macroeconomic policy coordination, as well as education, health, the transfer of technology and rural development. The decision of the

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UNDP Executive Board to increase the allocation of resources for technical cooperation among developing countries during the next programming cycle would be welcomed.

Governments and United Nations organizations would be called upon to consider increasing allocations for economic and technical cooperation among developing countries and to identify new funding modalities to promote South- South cooperation, such as triangular cooperation and private sector funding. The UNDP would be invited to establish a voluntary trust fund for the promotion of South-South cooperation. Developing countries and their institutions would be called upon to increase joint efforts in technology cooperation, such as information networks that are demand-oriented and involve participation by users of technology. The UNCTAD decision to address at its ninth session the issue of new approaches to South-South economic cooperation, as well as the role and potential impact on development of regional economic groupings in the globalizing and liberalizing world economy would be welcomed.

The Secretary-General would be requested to present to the Assembly, on a biennial basis, a report entitled "State of South-South cooperation" containing a comprehensive overview and analysis of South-South economic and technical cooperation worldwide and international support in that regard. The report would include quantitative data and indicators on all aspects of South- South cooperation and recommendations for strengthening such cooperation, keeping in view the importance of the proposal to convene a United Nations conference on South-South cooperation.

The draft's earlier version would have the Assembly endorse the recommendations contained in the report on new directions for TCDC; request the UNDP to establish a trust fund for the promotion of South-South cooperation; call upon developing countries to increase joint efforts in technology cooperation; and request the Secretary-General to present to the Assembly on a biennial basis a report entitled "State of South-South cooperation". The report would include quantitative data and indicators on all aspects of South-South cooperation as well as recommendations for strengthening it, keeping in view the importance of the proposal to convene a United Nations conference on South-South cooperation no later than 1997.

Action on Drafts

MAX STADTHAGEN (Nicaragua), a Committee Vice-Chairman, introduced the draft resolution under financing of development. He introduced additional oral amendments to it, including reference in the preambular part to the decline "in real terms" in the last "three" years in the overall level of the official development assistance (ODA). The text was approved without a vote as orally amended and an earlier draft was withdrawn by its sponsors.

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CONOR MURPHY (Ireland), a Committee Vice-Chairman, said agreement had not been reached during informal consultations on the draft on economic coercive measures.

The Committee Chairman, Goce Petreski (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), said a recorded vote had been requested.

The draft resolution was approved by a recorded vote of 79 in favour to 27 against, with 19 abstentions. (See Annex for details of the vote.)

The representatives of Nigeria and Tunisia said they would have voted in favour of the draft.

Mr. MURPHY (Ireland), a Vice-Chairman, introduced the draft on UNCTAD IX, which was approved without a vote. An earlier draft was withdrawn by its sponsors.

Mr. MURPHY (Ireland) also introduced the draft on the Commission on Human Settlements, which was approved without a vote, as orally revised. An earlier draft was withdrawn by its sponsors.

Mr. MURPHY (Ireland) further introduced the draft on Habitat II as orally amended.

The CHAIRMAN drew attention to a statement on the financial implications of the draft.

The text was approved without a vote as amended and an earlier draft was withdrawn by the sponsors.

The representative of Turkey welcomed the adoption of the draft by consensus. He said Habitat II would be a major vehicle for addressing problems facing human settlements, and Turkey was taking appropriate measures to ensure its success. He invited full participation in the preparatory meeting to be held next February.

Mr. MURPHY (Ireland) then introduced the draft on the World Food Summit as orally amended. The draft was approved without a vote and an earlier text was withdrawn by the sponsors.

The representative of the United States said it would join the consensus and withdraw its opposition to the FAO World Food Summit. It had taken the decision because it wished to make clear that the United States continued to support the Summit. The United States' reservations to the draft resolution had been due to its concern that a General Assembly draft on the subject could obscure the fact that the World Food Summit was an FAO event. Although it was

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withdrawing its opposition, its concerns remained valid. He said the Summit required identifiable objectives, and should yield practical results to be successful.

The CHAIRMAN put the draft relating to the Convention to Combat Desertification before the Committee for action.

MARGARET KELLEY, the Committee Secretary, read out a statement according to which the adoption of the draft would entail no financial implications.

Mr. MURPHY (Ireland), continuing, introduced the draft, which was approved without a vote and its previous version withdrawn by the sponsors.

The representative of Benin asked what the Secretariat's attitude would be if a country volunteered to host the Conference of the Parties.

The representative of Mauritania, echoing the statement, said the Conference need not take place in Geneva, and that the Negotiating Committee could determine where the venue should be.

Mr. MURPHY (Ireland) then introduced the draft on desertification and drought, which was approved without a vote. The draft's earlier version was withdrawn by the sponsors.

The representative of Canada said matters relating to the Convention on and to desertification and drought in the future should be dealt with under the same agenda item to strengthen efforts in combating desertification.

The CHAIRMAN then put the draft on climate change before the Committee for action and drew attention to a statement on its financial implications.

Mr. MURPHY (Ireland) then introduced the draft on climate change.

The representative of New Zealand said his country reserved its position on the draft resolution although it would not stand in the way of consensus. New Zealand did not support the institutional linkage proposed between the Climate Change Secretariat and the United Nations. The draft would establish two lines of accountability -- one to the Secretary-General and one to the Conference of the Parties. Experience showed that it would not work in an acceptable manner.

He said that if placing the Convention's administrative and conference servicing costs entirely within the Convention's budgets resulted in an increase in assessed contributions for States Parties, New Zealand would meet its increased contributions. Alternately, it would support funding from the regular budget, but only on the condition that the secretariat was fully accountable within the United Nations structure.

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The representative of the United States said it was compelled to disassociate itself from the language in the draft resolution which referred to the unique funding arrangements that had been proposed to support the secretariat for the Framework Convention on Climate Change. The United States had a serious problem with the funding solution delegations had accepted for the Climate Change secretariat.

She said the political commitment of her Government to the Framework Convention remained strong. Equally strong, was its commitment to ensure that it was part of the solution to the United Nations' burgeoning budget crisis. Deciding at a high-level conference to have the United Nations system subsidize a Convention secretariat was not an effective solution. The United States would not lend its support to a funding mechanism -- regardless of how "provisional" it was intended to be -- that resulted in adding expenses to the United Nations general budget rather than reducing them.

The draft was approved without a vote.

The representative of Trinidad and Tobago hoped the collective commitment to the climate change process evident at the first meeting of the Conference of State Parties would be exhibited when the General Assembly considered the draft.

Mr. MURPHY (Ireland) introduced the draft on the International Decade on Natural Disaster Reduction, which was approved without a vote.

Mr. STADTHAGEN (Nicaragua), a Vice-Chairman, introduced the draft resolution on TCDC which was approved without a vote. An earlier draft was withdrawn by the sponsors.

The representative of Japan stated for the record that he would have joined the sponsors of the draft.

Other Matters

The representative of Qatar said he would have voted in favour of the draft on Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, which was approved by a recorded vote on 30 November.

(annex follows)

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Second Committee Press Release GA/EF/2714 41st Meeting (PM) 5 December 1995

ANNEX

Vote on Unilateral Coercive Economic Measures

The draft resolution on unilateral coercive economic measures (document A/C.2/50/L.18) was approved by a recorded vote of 79 in favour to 27 against, with 19 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalaam, Burkino Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Slovakia, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States.

Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Buglaria, Burundi, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Kazakstan, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Spain, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey.

Absent: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chad, Congo, Croatia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Domenica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea- Bissau, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Monaco, Nepal, Nigeria, Palau, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Zaire.

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