ACTION ON REPORTS OF NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND ENERGY COMMITTEE POSTPONED BY ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

12 July 1996

Press Release
ECOSOC/5666

ACTION ON REPORTS OF NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND ENERGY COMMITTEE POSTPONED BY ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

19960712 As it continued its general segment this morning, the Economic and Social Council decided to postpone action on draft texts contained in the reports of the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and Energy for Development, as it continued its general segment. The general segment is one of four segments which comprise the Council's substantive session. In that segment, the Council discusses mainly two items: social, humanitarian and human rights questions; and economic and environmental questions, including reports of subsidiary bodies, conferences and related questions. The representative of the United States called for action on all the draft texts contained in the report of the Committee on Natural Resources to be postponed. The representative of India suggested that action on draft resolutions and decisions on which there were misgivings should be postponed, while the Council should take action on the others and hold informal consultations on the drafts on which there was no agreement. The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, agreed with the suggestions made by the representatives of the United States and India and added that all matters in the report of the Committee on Natural Resources, as well as the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development, should be discussed in an informal meeting. The representative of Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the members of the Group needed time to discuss the matter first. The Council President suggested that, once the problem areas had been identified in informal consultations, groups could discuss issues internally. The representative of Costa Rica agreed to the suggestion. The representative of Ukraine, speaking on the report of the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development, said the Committee was doing useful work. He stressed that it was necessary to retain the present status of the Committee and supported the suggestion to convene a conference on new and renewable sources of energy in the twenty-first century. The Economic and Social Council will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its general segment.

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