IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC AWARENESS IN BATTLE AGAINST DESERTIFICATION STRESSED IN NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR CONVENTION

13 January 1997

Press Release
ENV/DEV/396

IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC AWARENESS IN BATTLE AGAINST DESERTIFICATION STRESSED IN NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR CONVENTION

19970113 Committee Chairman Reports on Meeting of Contact Group On Designation of Headquarters for Convention's Permanent Secretariat

The battle against desertification could be won through public awareness, use of appropriate technologies and adoption of long-term strategies envisaged in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Convention was told this morning.

Addressing the Committee, the Minister for the Coordination of Environmental Affairs of Mozambique, Bernardo P. Ferraz, said it was important that the Committee reach a consensus on the Global Mechanism and the Scientific and Technological Committee to ensure the implementation of the Convention. Governments must ensure that all aspects of drought and desertification were properly reflected in national policies on disaster preparedness.

Also this morning the Committee heard an oral report from its Chairman, Bo Kjellen (Sweden), on the designation of a headquarters for the permanent secretariat of the Convention and another oral report by the Executive Secretary of the Interim Secretariat, Hama Arba Diallo, on the use of extrabudgetary funds in activities in support of the Convention.

The chairmen of the two working groups, Mohamed Mahmoud Ould El Ghaouth (Mauritania) and Takao Shibata (Japan), reported on the progress achieved during the session. Mr. El Ghaouth said Working Group I should be able to conclude its work on the function and criteria for choosing a host organization by Tuesday afternoon. With the exception of two rules, Working Group II had achieved a consensus on the issue of rules of procedure for the first Conference of the Parties, Mr. Shibata said.

The representatives of the United Republic of Tanzania (on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, Netherlands (on behalf of the European Union), Germany, Canada, Benin, Spain and Bolivia spoke regarding extrabudgetary funds. A representative of the League of Arab States also addressed the Committee.

The Committee again postponed action on recommendations for accreditation of 23 non-governmental organizations until its next meeting.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 15 January, to discuss actions to implement the Convention in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Northern Mediterranean regions.

Committee Work Programme

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa met this morning to consider issues requiring a decision of the first meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention, scheduled for September in Rome. The issues include designation of a permanent headquarters of the Convention, which Canada, Germany and Spain have offered to host, and arrangements for the functioning of a permanent secretariat.

A comparative table of the major elements of the offers of the three countries is annexed to a note by the Interim Secretariat (document A/AC.241/63) before the Committee. The table covers, among other subjects, privileges and immunities; features of office site and space; conference facilities; rental arrangements; access to health facilities; availability of suitable housing and schools; and facilities for funds transfer by the secretariat and staff members.

Also this morning the Committee was expected to review the situation regarding extrabudgetary funds to implement the Convention, and to consider accreditation of non-governmental organizations.

The Chairmen of the Committee's two working groups were expected to review progress in their work since the tenth session began on 6 January. (For background information on the session, see Press Release ENV/DEV/392 of 3 January.)

Negotiating Committee - 3 - Press Release ENV/DEV/386 3rd Meeting (AM) 13 January 1997

Statements

BERNARDO P. FERRAZ, Minister for the Coordination of Environmental Affairs of Mozambique, said recurring droughts in his country reduced the stability of ecosystems, limited their natural potential and made production increasingly precarious in the drought prone areas. Ultimately, drought affected sustainable development as well as basic human development needs. His Government faced the challenge of saving the environment while ensuring that the rate of production was maintained. Through awareness, education, appropriate technologies, mass participation and the adoption of long-term strategies, as envisaged in the Convention to Combat Desertification, States could win the battle against desertification. The Parties should not let difficulties destroy the current momentum and the good will. It was important that the Committee reach a consensus on the matters related to the Global Mechanism and the Scientific and Technological Cooperation to ensure the implementation of the Convention.

The Mozambique parliament had ratified the Convention in its last session in December 1996, and it was in the process of depositing the instrument of ratification, he said. The Convention to Combat Desertification was introduced at a time when his Government was preparing legislation on natural disasters and it provided a unique opportunity to ensure that all aspects related to drought and desertification were properly reflected in Mozambique's policy on disaster preparedness.

GILANI ABDELGAWAD MHIMED, a representative of the League of Arab States, said an Arab Centre to Combat Desertification affiliated to the League since 1971 had carried out a number of studies and published many reports. The League had undertaken contacts to encourage Arab States to ratify the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and consequently 11 had done so. Efforts were continuing to get other Arab States to also ratify the Convention.

He said 98 per cent of 14 million square kilometres of Arab lands were arid and the League was depending on the Convention to help improve the situation. He appealed for Arab representation on the Committee on Science and Technology provided for under the Convention. The Arab Centre had published a 600-page report on issues related to desertification in the Arab countries. He again appealed for international cooperation and assistance to help Arab States overcome their desertification problems.

MOHAMED MAHMOUD OULD EL GHAOUTH (Mauritania), Chairman of Working Group I, said it had discussed, and continued to negotiate, the Global Mechanism and the function and criteria for choosing a host organization. The group took the text from the Committee's last session as its basis for negotiations, and it had already accepted the reference part of the text. However, a certain

Negotiating Committee - 4 - Press Release ENV/DEV/386 3rd Meeting (AM) 13 January 1997

number of paragraphs concerning the Global Mechanism remained outstanding -- which some group members called the keystone to the text -- and those paragraphs were still subject to negotiations. Those problems were not insurmountable, however, and the group should be able to conclude its work on Tuesday afternoon with a compromise that all parties could accept.

Regarding the programme budget, which was a new issue before the group, discussions had been in-depth, informative and positive, he said. The group had already considered a text in form, but not in substance, concerning the permanent secretariat and its links to an existing organization, but it had not been able to choose between the two organizations which had made offers. That question was now being discussed, and a definitive decision should be submitted by the end of the current session. At the end of the Committee's previous session, the question of financial rules was nearly concluded, and the group only needed to iron out a few nuances.

TAKAO SHIBATA (Japan), Chairman of Working Group II, said the group had made tremendous progress on the issue of rules of procedure for the first session of the Conference of the Parties. With the exception of two rules, the group had achieved a virtual consensus. The group would convene this afternoon for informal and open-ended consultations to explore the possibility of further resolving the rule of procedures issues, and a draft decision would soon be introduced recommending a text of the rules for adoption by the Conference.

Working Group II had also concluded its work on the organizational aspects of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST), he said. It had reached an agreement on the proposed terms of reference, the rosters of experts, and organizing panels for the Committee's meeting at the Conference of the Parties. Those aspects of the Committee had already been forwarded as a decision from the Committee's previous session, and Working Group II had focused its current efforts on discussing a draft programme of work. The group had also agreed on the manner and modalities on how further work by the Committee should be carried out in preparation for the Conference of the Parties. A draft decision on those aspects of the initial work programme for the Science and Technology Committee would be submitted no later than Tuesday morning.

Committee Chairman, BO KJELLEN (Sweden), reported on a meeting he had last week with the contact group on the designation of the headquarters of the permanent secretariat of the Convention. The contact group was composed of representatives of Canada, Germany and Spain, which had offered to host the secretariat, chairmen of the Committee's two working groups and representatives of the Interim Secretariat.

Negotiating Committee - 5 - Press Release ENV/DEV/386 3rd Meeting (AM) 13 January 1997

He said the Governments of the three countries had expressed their general satisfaction with document A/AC.241/63, which contained a summary of information of each of the offers. It had been agreed at the meeting that a clarification would be made in the Spanish offer to provide precise description on the situation of its city of Murcia with regard to the United Nations post adjustment calculation.

On the procedure to be followed at the first Conference of the Parties for the selection of the physical location of the secretariat, he said it was agreed to take into account the experiences of the Conferences of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and to the Convention on Biological Diversity of an informal straw voting procedure. It was agreed that the procedure should not take much time and be as low profile as possible during the meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Rome.

He said the procedure to be followed would be developed by the Interim Secretariat in consultation with representatives of the three Governments through their permanent missions to the United Nations in Geneva. A further meeting of the Contact Group would be convened in Geneva, tentatively in May, to finalize discussions on the procedures to be followed at the Conference of the Parties. Representatives of the three Governments which had offered to host the permanent secretariat made formal presentation at the meeting of the contact group, he added.

HAMA ARBA DIALLO, Executive Secretary of the Interim Secretariat of the Convention, introduced notes of the secretariat contained in documents A/AC.241/69 and Add.1 and 2. He drew attention to the pledges and contributions to the Committee's Trust Fund and the Special Voluntary Fund which had enabled a number of activities to be carried out in 65 affected countries. Two representatives from a number of least developed countries had been assisted to participate in the work of the Committee.

He said resources from the Trust Fund continued to finance a number of activities at local, national and subregional levels. National awareness seminars had proved to be an invaluable tool in making the Convention known. He also reported on the various activities carried out in Africa, Asia, Latin American and the Caribbean, and the Northern Mediterranean regions.

The Interim Secretariat had continued to develop information programmes on the Convention, he said. The Convention had been translated into a number of languages and promotional materials had been prepared to inform and educate the public about the Convention. To date, 263 non-governmental organizations had been accredited. The Interim Secretariat had provided support for non- governmental organizations, including strengthening their capacities at the

Negotiating Committee - 6 - Press Release ENV/DEV/386 3rd Meeting (AM) 13 January 1997

local, national and subregional levels. The Interim Secretariat had been able to finance the participation of 37 of the 90 non-governmental organizations at the tenth session.

He noted that during the crucial period of the Committee's work the Interim Secretariat must count on its staff to meet the work of implementing the Convention. Canada and Switzerland had offered to sponsor two officials to work in the secretariat. Participation of least developed countries in the work of the Committee had been made possible by contributions to the voluntary funds. He urged the Committee to ensure their participation at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

KATINDA KAMANDO (United Republic of Tanzania), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, expressed appreciation for the generosity of all the countries and agencies that had contributed to the extrabudgetary funds. Many of the Group of 77 countries had been able to utilize extrabudgetary funds in their preparation for the implementation of the Convention. He appealed to non-governmental organizations and also to countries to continue to contribute generously to the extrabudgetary funds. The mandate of the Interim Secretariat should be to utilize resources available under extrabudgetary funds to allow developing countries to participate at the first Conference of the Parties.

HANS HOOGEVEEN (Netherlands), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the activities undertaken by the Interim Secretariat had been helpful in advancing activities at the national level and in gaining momentum for the achievement of the objectives of the Convention. The elaboration of national action programmes were well under way and awareness raising activities had been successful, but with the entry into force of the Convention, it was important to keep in mind the demand-driven approach of the treaty.

The ownership of the implementation process belonged primarily to the countries concerned and their regional and subregional organizations, he said. Input to the national and regional processes from the outside should take the form of a stimulus and they should not be the driving force for the implementation of the Convention. The European Union fully supported the secretariat in its important role of servicing the Conference of the Parties, which would give more guidance on the ways and means it should perform that role.

HANS PETER SCHIPULLE (Germany) said he endorsed the statement made by the representative of the European Union and stressed that the question of sustainability of programmes was important. Now was the time for players at the national level and from international organizations to play a more active role in the process. Once agreement on the global mechanism had been reached, the Committee must ensure that there was no overlapping of responsibilities.

Negotiating Committee - 7 - Press Release ENV/DEV/386 3rd Meeting (AM) 13 January 1997

His Government had provided many important contributions during the negotiation process which had been channelled through bilateral programmes and therefore were not reflected in the document before the Committee, he said. Germany continued to support other subregional organizations because it considered them key institutions in the preparation of regional and subregional action programmes. So far, his Government had donated more than $4 million to help foster implementation matters, and it would provide more information about those matters on Wednesday, 15 January, when urgent action for Africa would be discussed.

CLIFFORD LINCOLN (Canada) said his Government had been a strong supporter of the Convention from the very beginning and it had made numerous contributions to the extrabudgetary fund. He drew attention to Canada's most recent contribution of 100,000 Canadian dollars to the special voluntary fund to allow developing countries to participate in negotiations. To facilitate further consultations, Canada intended to contribute an additional 100,000 Canadian dollars to the Pan-African Conference in Burkina Faso this March. The Pan-African Conference would supply an important opportunity for parties to exchange information and plan future action in Africa. Additional contributions for conferences in other regions would also be forthcoming.

ROGATIEN BIAOU (Benin) said he fully supported the statement by the representative of the Group of 77 and China and thanked all countries which had contributed to the extrabdugetary fund, adding that those funds allowed the Interim Secretariat to carry out its activities, and developing countries and non-governmental organizations to participate in various sessions of the Committee. Those contributions were positive because they enabled delegations to exchange views, negotiate and arrive at a consensus acceptable to all parties.

None of the provisions in the Convention stated that the permanent secretariat should play a subsidiary role after the entry into force, he said. His Government believed it should play an important role for all States parties, especially those affected countries which were parties to the Convention. Whatever actions were taken at the national, regional or subregional levels, it was through the permanent secretariat that all activities could be announced to the international community.

The problems of drought and desertification were worldwide and effected more than 100 countries, he said. It was more important to agree to implement the provisions of the Convention than to try to interpret them. The permanent secretariat needed the support of all States, non-governmental organizations and individuals. Without that support, the permanent secretariat would not be able to implement its mandate.

Negotiating Committee - 8 - Press Release ENV/DEV/386 3rd Meeting (AM) 13 January 1997

ARTURO SPIEGELBERG (Spain) said his Government was committed to international cooperation to combat desertification. It recognized that desertification was an international problem, and had participated in a number of conferences and seminars on issues related to it. Spain had so far contributed a total of $500,000 for activities and programmes sponsored by the Interim Secretariat of the Convention in Africa and Latin America, and would support the planned meetings on desertification scheduled for Havana, Cuba and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

ERWIN ORTIZ-GANDARILLAS (Bolivia) expressed appreciation for the work of the Interim Secretariat and its effective use of resources. National programmes and projects being undertaken with the support of the Interim Secretariat would require additional assistance in the implementation stages. Combating desertification should become part of the political agenda of governments, he said, adding that the problem of desertification was a global one. Awareness seminars on the Convention had been held in his country and other Latin American States. He hoped that the first Conference of the Parties would lead to the establishment of a truly Global Mechanism which would make a difference in the implementation of the Convention.

MR. DIALLO, Executive Secretary of the Interim Secretariat, responding to the comments of the representatives, said that the Committee should consider the question of resources for participation in the Conference of the Parties scheduled for next September in Rome. The roles of the Convention secretariat and the proposed Global Mechanism should be properly defined. The Committee would have to decide whether the work of public information and awareness-raising undertaken by the Interim Secretariat should be continued until the establishment of the Global Mechanism. Many countries had testified to the benefits gained from programmes and activities undertaken by the Interim Secretariat.

He pointed out that about 80 per cent of the financial support received by the Interim Secretariat for those activities had come from the member States of the European Union. Canada's contributions would make possible the holding of activities in Africa and Latin America. He similarly hoped Spain would also strengthen its contributions. Observing that desertification ignored frontiers, he hoped that developed countries would continue to support the Interim Secretariat in its work.

Committee Chairman Mr. KJELLEN (Sweden) paid tribute to the Executive Secretary and his staff for their dedication and the useful work they had been doing. He also expressed gratitude for the generous contributions by countries which had made possible implementation of activities and programmes and the participation of some countries in the work of the Committee.

Negotiating Committee - 9 - Press Release ENV/DEV/386 3rd Meeting (AM) 13 January 1997

He reported that he had met with a women's caucus last Friday on the follow-up of a panel discussion on the role of women in the Convention which took place during the Committee's last session, and stressed that women's role in the implementation of the Convention was of capital importance. He noted that in many parts of the world, particularly Africa, women played an important role in agricultural production. In that particular context, he had discussed with the women's caucus the issue of land ownership, and development. He had also discussed with them the possibility of another panel discussion on women's role in the implementation of the Convention during the first Conference of the Parties. He would meet with representatives of non- governmental organizations tomorrow, he added.

BEAUMONT C. McCLURE (United States) announced that an international workshop entitled "Combating desertification: Connecting Science with Community Action", would be held next May in Tucson, Arizona.

* *** *

Negotiating Committee - 10 - Press Release ENV/DEV/386 3rd Meeting (AM) 13 January 1997