UNITED STATES INTRODUCES DRAFT ON COLLABORATION BETWEEN BRETTON WOODS INSTITUTIONS AND UN SYSTEM IN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Press Release
ECOSOC/5669

UNITED STATES INTRODUCES DRAFT ON COLLABORATION BETWEEN BRETTON WOODS INSTITUTIONS AND UN SYSTEM IN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

The Economic and Social Council would look forward to the implementation of several General Assembly recommendations on strengthening collaboration between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions, by the terms of a draft resolution introduced this morning by the representative of the United States, as the Council continued its general segment.

The Council would also look forward to the scheduling of a high-level meeting proximate to the semi-annual gatherings of the Bretton Woods institutions and request the Secretary-General to consult the heads of the financial institutions by early 1997 in order to explore the possibilities and practicalities of scheduling such a meeting. At a session of the Council, to be held in early 1997, the format, timing and possible agenda for the first such meeting would be discussed, according to the draft.

Also this morning, the Council continued its consideration of economic and social repercussions of the Israeli settlements on the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territory. Speakers said that Israel's settlements policy called into question its sincerity with respect to the Middle East peace process. Statements were made by the representatives of Jordan, Yemen and Guyana.

The Economic and Social Council will meet again at 3 p.m. today to take up international coordination in the field of informatics, as well as population questions.

Introduction of Draft Resolution

LESLIE LEBL (United States) introduced the draft resolution on strengthening collaboration between the United Nations development system and the Bretton Woods institutions (document E/1996/L.22). She said she looked forward to the informal consultations, which she expected would be convened shortly on the item.

Under the provisions of the draft, the Council would look forward to the report and accompanying recommendations, to be prepared jointly by the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions, which had been requested by Assembly resolution 50/227, on further measures to restructure and revitalize the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields, adopted on 24 May. The report is to contain an exploratory review to assess mechanisms, programmes and relationships at the field, headquarters and intergovernmental levels, with a view to identifying areas in which communication, cooperation and coordination could be improved.

The Council would also look forward to the scheduling of a high-level meeting proximate to the semi-annual meetings of the Bretton Woods institutions with a view to benefiting from high-level ministerial participation and from the participation of heads of financial and trade institutions, as called for by resolution 50/227. The Secretary-General would be requested to consult the heads of the financial institutions by early 1997 in order to explore the possibilities and practicalities of scheduling such a meeting. At a meeting to be held in early 1997, the Council should discuss the format, timing and possible agenda for the first such meeting, according to the draft.

In addition, the Council would decide that, prior to its annual high- level policy dialogue with heads of the international financial and trade institutions, the Secretariat should send them a report summarizing the relevant issues and questions to be discussed at the session, focusing on an agreed theme. That communication should be prepared in part based on contributions which Member States could be invited to suggest to the Secretariat, which would then be taken into account in the preparation of the report.

Israeli Settlements in Occupied Territories

The Council has before it a note by the Secretary-General on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli settlements on the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territory (document E/1996/51), annexed to which is a report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) which covers the period April 1995 to March 1996.

The report states that, according to the Palestinian Land and Water Agency, Israeli authorities had confiscated 230,000 dunums of land between the signing of the Declaration of Principles in September 1993 and the end of 1995. (One dunum equals 1,000 square metres.) Those confiscations took place under various pretexts relating to the establishment of natural reserves, the construction of Israeli bypass roads, the expansion of settlements and the construction of a "security wall" surrounding an area 360 kilometres long by two kilometres wide. (For a summary of the report, see Press Release ECOSOC/5668, of 15 July.)

Economic and Social Council - 3 - Press Release ECOSOC/5669 35th Meeting (AM) 16 July 1996

The first speaker on Israeli settlements this morning, BASHEER ZOUBI (Jordan), said his Government had called for peace in the Middle East for many years. The Jordanian and Israeli treaty signed in October 1994 had set a model for regional cooperation in the region. Jordan believed that peace was the only option in the region. The peace that was hoped for was a comprehensive and just peace, a peace based on international norms. The building of Israeli settlements in occupied territories was not a legitimate practice and was a serious obstacle to peace.

The Assembly had recognized the social and economic implications of Israeli settlements on the Palestinian people, he continued. However, despite the 1993 Declaration of Principles between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Government of Israel to defer certain matters to the future, the Israeli Government had continued the practice of settlements. He called on the Government of Israel to put a hold on settlement and the confiscation of land in occupied territories, including Jerusalem and the Arab Golan. The present settlements on occupied territories and the Israeli policy of expanding settlements threatened peace.

ABDULAZIZ KAID (Yemen) said that the Israeli settlement policy was proof of that country's true attitude towards the peace process. The report of the Secretary-General had made clear their expansionist mentality. Israeli settlements today were being expanded without regard for the needs of the Arab population. Israeli settlement policies were being carried out in violation of numerous Assembly and Security Council resolutions. The Arab world was adapting to new realities in the Middle East. The international community should take a firm attitude towards any who would ignore its resolve.

GEORGE TALBOT (Guyana) said that the negative repercussions of the Israeli settlement policies on the Palestinian people was of grave concern to the international community. The Council should insist upon the return to the Palestinian people of their legal rights, particularly as regards their resources, in pursuit of the peace process.

* *** *