ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ADOPTS TEXTS RECOMMENDED BY REGIONAL COMMISSIONS
Press Release
ECOSOC/5674
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ADOPTS TEXTS RECOMMENDED BY REGIONAL COMMISSIONS
19960718 Concluding its consideration of regional cooperation in the economic and social fields, the Economic and Social Council this afternoon heard calls for support for the United Nations regional commissions and adopted, without a vote, several texts recommended by those bodies. Before action, several speakers stressed the important role of the regional commissions in the follow-up to the global conferences convened under United Nations auspices in recent years. Concern was expressed over the fact that proposals had been put forward in various United Nations forums to diminish the role of the regional commissions. While acknowledging the need for reform, a number of delegates emphasized that adequate resources should be provided to the regional commissions to allow them to fulfil their growing mandates. On the recommendation of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Council decided to amend ESCAP's terms of reference so that references to "Hong Kong" would be changed to "Hong Kong, China", effective 1 July 1997. In addition, the terms of reference would reflect the fact that Palau has become a full member of the Commission, and that Turkey has been recommended for admission as a member within the Commission's geographical scope. The Council also approved the holding of the twenty-seventh session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Aruba in 1998. Adopting a resolution on the future directions of the work of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Council endorsed the new orientations for the Commission outlined in the document entitled "Serving Africa better: strategic directions for the Economic Commission for Africa". Statements were made by the representatives of Colombia, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania, Russian Federation, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Egypt, Nigeria, Philippines, Jordan, Guyana, India, Iran, United States, Canada, China and Yemen. A representative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union also spoke. The Executive Secretaries of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) responded to questions raised during the discussion. The Council will meet again at 10 a.m. tomorrow, 19 July, to continue its general segment.Council Work Programme
The Economic and Social Council met this afternoon to continue its consideration of regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields. The Council has before it the report of the Secretary-General on that matter (document E/1996/45 and Add.1), as well as summaries of surveys on the socio-economic situation in Europe (document E/1996/46), Africa (document E/1996/47), Asia and the Pacific (document E/1996/48), Latin America and the Caribbean (document E/1996/49), and western Asia (document E/1996/50). (For background on those reports, see Press Releases ECOSOC/5671, of 17 July, and ECOSOC/5641, of 21 June.)
Statements
YVES BERTHELOT, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), said that the regional commissions were not represented in all of the various task forces which had been set up on implementation of the recommendations of the various world conferences. Rather, the commissions were represented on different task forces in accordance with their respective areas of concern.
There were many examples of cooperation among the regional commissions, he said. The ECE had closely collaborated with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in such fields as the environment, trade and transport. The two commissions also coordinated their assistance to central Asian countries. The membership of the ECE had expanded in recent years, but its budget had not expanded. "It is impossible for a secretariat to do its job properly by dispersing its resources among too many activities in too many countries. Either we get more resources or we need to focus our activities."
PAOLA BETTELLI (Colombia) said the regional commissions made valuable contributions to the implementation of decisions taken at international conferences. They had helped to identify economic trends, carry analysis, and provide technical cooperation. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) had been a prime example of such activities. It had shown its importance by adapting to changing circumstances and formulating innovative programmes. Concern arose over the fact that proposals had been put forward in various United Nations forums to diminish the role of the regional commissions. The Council must provide unambiguous support for the regional commissions and the important role they played.
KRISANA CHADRAPRABHA (Thailand) expressed appreciation for the useful role played by ESCAP in promoting economic and social development in the region, especially in the least developed, land-locked and Pacific island countries. The United Nations should invest more in conflict prevention measures through the regional commissions. Budgetary constraints had hampered the work of ESCAP. Thailand understood the ongoing reform process, but it was
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critical to note that the ESCAP was inhabited by 60 per cent of the world's population, including a majority of the world's poor. That fact must be taken into account in the reform process.
KATINDA KAMANDO (United Republic of Tanzania) said his country associated itself with the statements of Costa Rica and Uganda, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China and the East African Community, respectively. He suggested that the relations between the regional commissions and the rest of the United Nations system, especially at the country level, should be re-examined with a view to exploiting avenues of cooperation amongst them. The United Nations should consider providing the regional commissions with necessary resources to execute their programmes. The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) should play a pro-active role in assisting subregional and regional cooperation groupings to overcome the problems they faced, including the weak link in intra-African trade. Trade promotion must be singled out for priority action.
NIKOLAI CHULKOV (Russian Federation) expressed satisfaction with the work of regional commissions on behalf of member countries. He stressed the need for closer collaboration with the Bretton Woods institutions. The Russian Federation was a member of both the ECE and ESCAP. He emphasized that the ECE's efforts to help countries in transition could be aided by enhancing its collaboration, among others, with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Union. He welcomed the positive changes in the programme activities of ESCAP, which were directed towards increased cooperation and sought to promote subregional and interregional cooperation.
SYED RAFIQUL ALAM (Bangladesh) said ESCAP and such other autonomous instruments of regional collaboration and integration, which had been weakened by both internal and external developments, should be strengthened. That objective could be served if adequate resources were diverted to the support of those organizations and their activities. Simultaneously, the continuing utility and effectiveness of the Commission must be evaluated and sharpened further in close collaboration with the governments of the region.
RAIKO S. RAICHEV (Bulgaria) said that with the establishment of peace in the former Yugoslavia, new opportunities for cooperation had emerged. A conference on stability, security and cooperation in the Balkans had been held recently in Sophia. The conference had stressed the need for cultural exchange and economic cooperation among the countries of the region. Foreign investments could contribute to the region's economic growth. Consideration should be given to the establishment of a Balkan cooperation bank as well as other initiatives aimed at promoting a favourable economic environment. The region was confident of its potential to move towards growth and stability given sufficient international support.
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ADEL ABDELLATIF (Egypt) agreed with the Secretary-General's observation in his report that regional commissions could not be reformed in a vacuum. Stressing the need for technical cooperation, he said regional questions should be discussed at the international level. The ECA's task was particularly difficult due to the many socio-economic problems of Africa. Referring to the economic and social activities of Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), he said the Commission had been moved several times in the last few years and that had adversely impacted its functioning. He stressed that the transition and globalization of the world economy had made the work of the commissions all the more important.
SAM A. OTYELU (Nigeria) said additional resources should be provided to the regional commissions to fulfil their mandates. The ECA had played an important role in the regional preparation for recent global conferences, and it should be provided with adequate resources to implement the decisions taken at those events. The United Nations development system should cooperate with the regional commissions on programmes falling within their areas of competence. That would serve to optimize resources. The expansion of cooperation among the regional commissions should be further encouraged. The executive secretaries of the regional commissions should be invited to participate in future meetings of the high-level segment of the Council.
CECILIA B. REBONG (Philippines) joined others in stating that the regional commissions should have the opportunity to participate in the Council's sessions. The Asia and Pacific region was the most economically dynamic in the world, but not all people or countries of the region had benefited. The ESCAP was committed to bringing the countries of the region together, and it had the full support of the Philippines in that regard.
FARIS AMMARIN (Jordan) said regional cooperation was a vital issue in the enhancement of South-South cooperation, which was an essential means to move towards South-North cooperation and dialogue. The ESCWA had been working diligently in confronting the various challenges and obstacles under harsh financial conditions that were facing the United Nations and its systems. Commenting on the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, he said it had gone beyond ending the state of war between the two countries. It had constituted a model of regional cooperation in the region where growth and development had been adversely affected for many years by conflict.
GEORGE TALBOT (Guyana) said his delegation associated itself with the statement of Costa Rica, on behalf of the Group of 77. The regional commissions played a crucial role in global consensus building and development. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) had shown active interest in the establishment of the association of Caribbean States. He stressed that regional commissions' in their efforts at cooperation had to keep in mind the particularities of each region.
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The ECLAC had proved extremely useful to the region in many areas, including those of food and agriculture and trade and development, he said. However, new opportunities and challenges had presented themselves in the wake of globalization. There was fear of marginalization of small economies. In such an environment, it was imperative that every encouragement be given to regional commissions.
NANDINI IYER KRISHNA (India) said regional commissions could serve as catalyst to an environment conducive to development. She supported programmes of ESCAP, including its regional export credit facility and the tourism directory. Stressing that its regional action programmes on space application and sustainable development were notable, she said the work of ESCAP in the follow-up to the recommendations of United Nations conferences had been commendable. The ESCAP had also held regular consultations with subregional groups and India would examine the review process of ESCAP with interest.
HAMID NAZARI TAJABADI (Iran) called attention to references in the ESCAP report to railways in Iran. He said ESCAP's committee on transport and communications was to continue its work until 1997. Concern arose over how work in the areas of transport and communication would continue beyond 1997, given the budgetary constraints. He also asked for information on how ESCAP guided subregional cooperation. Given the links between environmental problems, population and poverty and the need for international support to deal with those issues, he asked how ESCAP could be strengthened to respond to those challenges.
DAVID SHAPIRO (United States) expressed support for the efforts of the regional commissions to reform their work programmes. Although much progress had been achieved, efforts could not stop. Far-reaching improvements were needed to achieve commissions that operated efficiently, did not overlap the work of other United Nations bodies and reflected the priority needs of its member States.
The ECE should continue prioritizing its work and should refrain from starting new initiatives. He applauded ESCAP's priority-setting exercise and called on it to study what could be done for the least developed countries in the region as well as how to attract private investment there. The ECA and ECLAC had also undertaken welcome reform efforts. The ESCWA had not embraced the efforts to launch a priority-setting exercise and undertake a reform programme. Such efforts must be pursued.
ROLANDO BAHAMONDES (Canada) said his country had a long-standing relationship with ECLAC, and found its contribution valuable to regional cooperation. The ECLAC's report should have devoted more attention to the Caribbean region. The Council should endeavour to give more attention to the substantive measures put forward by the regional commissions. An effective response to the important concerns raised by the executive secretaries was needed.
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BAI YONG JIE (China) said the Asia and Pacific region had taken the lead in economic growth in recent years. The ESCAP had undertaken a number of critical programmes. It enjoyed unique advantages because of its wide-ranging membership. In order to improve its work, ESCAP had implemented a variety of reforms in order to meet the dynamic needs of the region. Reform must strengthen and not weaken the role of the regional commissions. He welcomed ESCAP's decision to focus on rural poverty, which was of particular importance given the large number of rural poor in the Asia-Pacific region.
ABDULAZIZ KAID (Yemen) said his country associated itself with the statement of Costa Rica on behalf of the Group of 77. It approved of the work done by regional commissions. He stressed that regional commission should be given adequate resources to perform their activities.
ANDRE VARCHAVER, of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, said a little known aspect of his organization was that it was involved in security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region. An inter-parliamentary conference on regional cooperation in the Mediterranean region had been held in early 1992. It was decided that a mechanism should be created to meet twice a year to continue parliamentary level discussions focused on both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The third inter-parliamentary conference on security and cooperation in the Mediterranean would be held in Monaco, which would be followed by another in Tunis.
K.Y. AMOAKO, ECA's Executive Secretary, said the Commission had done much to follow-up to the recent global conferences, including by setting up an African leadership fund for women in support of the recommendations in the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995). An African Human Development Report had been prepared for the first time, and another was planned for 1997 to review what had been done to implement the decisions taken at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development. Regional conferences had also been held on implementation of Agenda 21, the blueprint for sustainable development adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).
The ECA's greatest impact was at the country level, he said. It was thus incumbent upon the Commission to strengthen its collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and others at the country level, especially in the context of the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa.
GERT ROSENTHAL, Executive Secretary of ECLAC, said the comments of delegates had been useful and would be implemented by the Commission as it sought to revitalize its work.
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ADRIANUS MOOY, ESCAP's Executive Secretary, said he was encouraged by the desire voiced by speakers for greater dialogue with the executive secretaries of the regional commissions. Interaction should be provided for during the Council's high-level segment. The ESCAP would continue to promote subregional cooperation in such areas as transport linkages and the environment. It would also continue to cooperate with non-governmental organizations and members of the private sector in a number of fields.
Responding to the concerns raised by Iran, he said that it was too soon to predict the outcome of the reform process, but transport was likely to continue to receive due attention, given its importance. The ESCAP region was dynamic because it had both developing countries as well as newly industrialized States, he said. The latter could set up cooperation funds to help other States in the region.
HAZEM EL-BEBLAWI, Executive Secretary of ESCWA, said the Commission had undertaken an extensive restructuring exercise in 1993 and 1994 and had greatly focused its work based on a thematic and multisectoral approach. He said he had not mentioned that in his opening statement because he had chosen to focus instead on the activities of the past year. "The ESCWA has already done its restructuring. We are now concentrating on the substantive aspects of our work."
Action on Draft Texts
Acting without a vote, the Council adopted three resolutions recommended for adoption by the ESCAP concerning, respectively, amending its terms of reference to change the name "Hong Kong" to "Hong Kong, China", effective 1 July 1997; admission of Palau as a full member of the Commission; and admission of Turkey as a full member of the Commission.
Also without a vote, the Council adopted the decision on the convening of the twenty-seventh session of ECLAC in Aruba in 1998.
The Council then adopted the resolution on new directions for the ECA, also without a vote.
The Council then took note of the following documents: report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation (document E/1996/45 and Add.1); summary of the economic survey of Europe (document E/1996/46); summary of the survey of economic and social conditions in Africa (document E/1996/47); summary of the survey of economic and social conditions in Asia and the Pacific (document E/1996/48); summary of the economic survey of Latin America and the Caribbean (document E/1996/49); and summary of economic and social development in the ESCWA region (document E/1996/50).
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