ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL DELEGATES PRAISE REFORMS CARRIED OUT BY REGIONAL COMMISSIONS
Press Release
ECOSOC/5725
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL DELEGATES PRAISE REFORMS CARRIED OUT BY REGIONAL COMMISSIONS
19970716 (Reissued as received.)GENEVA, 15 July (UN Information Service) -- The Economic and Social Council this afternoon continued a dialogue with the executive secretaries of the five United Nations regional commissions, with country delegations welcoming reforms within those organizations and calling for an increase in the resources they received.
Among those addressing the Council was Gert Rosenthal, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), who called the reforms at the regional commissions "a systematic effort to adapt to changing needs and to reaffirm the relevance of the commissions to their respective regions".
The representative of Luxembourg, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the reforms were "noteworthy and deserved support", adding that they should continue and focus on using resources for activities chosen on the basis of objective criteria. The representative of Thailand said regional commissions should continue to play an important role in the promotion of economic and social development, and that the United Nations and the Council should provide them with adequate support and resources.
The representative of the United States also praised the "significant" reforms undertaken, but said that further steps were needed in order to make the regional commissions fully cost-effective. Too much of the resources were dedicated administrative support which had to be streamlined, she said.
The Council also heard statements from representatives of Bangladesh, Ghana, Ukraine, China, Lebanon, Russian Federation, Yemen, Jordan, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Malta, Bulgaria, Sudan, Argentina, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Philippines, Tunisia, Jamaica, Zambia, Czech Republic, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria, Mexico, Indonesia, Colombia, Cuba and El Salvador.
The Council resumes its substantive session Wednesday at 10 a.m. for a panel discussion on integrated and coordinated implementation and follow-up of major international United Nations conferences and summits.
Statements
GERT ROSENTHAL, Executive Secretary of ECLAC, introduced the report of the Secretary-General on "Regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields" (documents E/1997/40 and addendum), as well as the summaries of the economic surveys which were based on the reports of the regional commissions (see Press Release ECOSOC/5725). The commissions had provided the Council with an in-depth focus of their respective reform processes, he said. The reform of the commissions represented a systematic effort to adapt to changing needs and to reaffirm the relevance of the commissions to their respective regions. In section one of the report, the commissions covered all aspects of their reform. Section two sought to shed light on the role of the regional commissions in fostering regional cooperation on the bases of their respective comparative advantages. The commissions served as funnel points for ensuring that regionalism and multilateralism were mutually complementary and compatible. They recognized that the linkages of their technical cooperation activities with the activities of funds and programmes needed to be strengthened, in particular within the framework of the country strategy notes.
JEAN GRAFF (Luxembourg), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said reforms undertaken by the regional commissions were noteworthy and deserved support, as they focused on rationalization of work and on emphasis on the commissions' areas of strength; particular support was expressed for the reform package recently adopted by the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). Efforts should now be put by all into putting the reforms in all commissions into effect. Reform should be a continuing process, furthermore, and should take into account the specific characteristics of each region; should include activities where real added value could be given; and should focus on using resources put at the disposition of the commissions -- which received almost 15 per cent of the regular United Nations budget -- for activities chosen on the basis of objective criteria.
ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) said the informal dialogue with the executive secretaries of the regional commissions helped implement the Council's resolution which called for improved structural relationship between the Council and those organs; this should continue in the future. The report the executive secretaries presented showed comprehensively the process of reform within the regional commissions. It was important that the Council in its decision-making be careful to avoid micromanaging the work of the regional commissions. The Council should recommend that the regional commissions continue to strengthen coordination with regional and subregional bodies and other United Nations organizations. Further, regional commissions had to continue their role and provide services to member countries at cost-effective prices.
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A.Y. AGGREY-ORLEANS (Ghana) said there was a vast potential for regional cooperation for development, and the reforms undertaken by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) were a major step towards achieving that potential; the various reforms, together with restructuring of the secretariat of ECA, had resulted in a sharpening of focus and increased efficiency and greater impact for programmes and activities. Outreach to member States had improved. Those efforts and others at regional progress, however, could not achieve the expected results without complementary support from the entire international community, and Ghana urged the donor community to increase the level of assistance it provided to the System-Wide Special Initiative for Africa to ensure its success. It also urged lead agencies involved in the Initiative to continue to improve the coordination of their actions to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness.
PAVEL GRECU (Romania) said the debate on regional cooperation in the Council was taking place within the context of globalization and reform within the United Nations system. Romania welcomed the idea of dialogue put forward by the executive secretaries of the regional commissions. They should identify what were the reforms specific to each region, and coordination and promotion of regional cooperation should be strengthened. Regional commissions had a fundamental role to play, including avoiding friction between their members.
SERHIY YAMPOLSKI (Ukraine), said the regional component of United Nations economic efforts helped all to respond in a timely way to changing circumstances; the ECE had been helpful in providing focused assistance to transition countries reforming their economies; the reorganization of the ECE recently adopted were intended to enhance the effectiveness and flexibility of the Commission, and should make it possible to take into account the interests of all countries in the region, while giving priority to the transition countries. It was hoped that a new level of cooperation could be achieved within the ECE between member governments and private business.
MELINDA KIMBLE (United States) said her delegation was encouraged by the measures taken to date by the regional commissions, including improvements in terms of transparency, prioritization, good governance, cost-effectiveness and responsiveness to the needs of their members. However, further steps needed to be taken to make them fully cost-effective and even more responsive to the priority needs of their members. Resources dedicated to administrative support generally absorbed too great a percentage of budget resources. Administrative support had to be streamlined, and a larger proportion of resources had to be redirected to high-priority programmes.
TAN JIAN (China) said 1997 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); reforms of the conference structure of the Commission were being carried out, and during the reform process the real needs of the member States should be kept in mind;
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any weakening of ESCAP functions in this regard should be avoided; and the main efforts of ESCAP should be to narrow the gaps in development and economic performance between its member States. Developed-country members were called on to take greater responsibility for economic development of the overall region, including development in the less-wealthy countries.
AMINE EL KHAZEN (Lebanon) said the country was honoured that the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) was moving to Beirut, and that the change would enhance the effectiveness of that body. The same building would house other United Nations organizations, which would help limit duplication of efforts and lead to better coordination.
Y.N. ISAKOV (Russian Federation) said the regional commissions were necessary for translating the efforts and expertise of the United Nations to specific countries, and the activities of the regional commissions were greatly appreciated by their member countries. Countries going through major overhauls in their economies were grateful for the activities of the commissions and depended on them for advice and expertise; the Russian Federation called for strengthening of the regional commissions as part of ongoing United Nations reform. Meanwhile, coordination was essential in Europe, where there existed competing regional organizations in addition to the ECE. The recently adopted of the restructuring of the ECE was a noteworthy and useful step, and it was time now to work in a calm and rational way within the context of the restructuring. Similar reforms by ESCAP were also promising; a major focus of work of both commissions should be developments within the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Russia welcomed the recent cooperation between the two commission in this regard.
ABDULLAH NOMAN (Yemen) said his delegation welcomed the report by ESCWA and the structural and administrative reforms which would help the organization carry out its tasks. The question of resources and trade was an important question; assistance needed to be given to countries of the region to be integrated into global trade. The commission also needed to be provided with adequate finances for it to be able to carry out its work.
JAFAR HASSAN (Jordan) said it was important to integrate the regional dimension of the United Nations approach to development with the international dimension. While it was essential to enhance the analytical and research output of ESCWA, this should be done side by side with practical and fieldwork to ensure optimal results for member States. In the social field it was necessary to give due attention to poverty, social security, and human-resource development while equally enhancing an environment characterized by transparency, accountability, human rights, and effective participation by the people. Jordan had been honoured to host ESCWA's headquarters in Amman for several years, and expressed hope for continued progress in ESCWA's work back in its old headquarters in Beirut.
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SUSANA RIVERO (Uruguay), speaking on behalf of MERCOSUR, said the grouping was a concrete reality which was coordinating countries of the region and opening them up to the world. This regional integration was aimed, among other things, at collectively reducing tariffs and expanding the trading bloc. The United Nations had a fundamental role to play in regional coordination, and bodies like MERCOSUR could make that coordination more effective. The work of ECLAC deserved a thorough analysis, and the organization needed greater funding.
ESSAM HAMAD AL-MOBARAK (Saudi Arabia) said the rules of the multilateral trading system required enhanced clarity; ideas must be clearly formulated, with the assent of all States members of regional commissions; development issues had to be taken into account; globalization and liberalization had put some major challenges in the paths of developing countries; they needed the help of regional commissions to allow them to fit in, to adapt, to the new international trading system; developing countries needed their fair share of the global economy -- otherwise they might be still more marginalized. The regional organizations should be strengthened, and have their levels of competence raised.
VITAVAS SRIVINOK (Thailand) said regional cooperation was the key in tackling the problems of globalization. Regional commissions brought the work of the United Nations closer to specific development objectives and circumstances of countries and regions. Thailand encouraged ESCAP to continue its reforms, including streamlining its work and using its resources in the most cost-effective manner. It supported ESCAP efforts in promoting subregional cooperation in such areas as trade and investment, poverty alleviation, human resources development and infrastructure development. Regional commissions would continue to play an important role in the promotion of economic and social development, and the United Nations and the Council should provide them with adequate support and resources.
TAHER AL-HUSSAMI (Syria) said the role of ESCWA needed to be strengthened, as it played such an important part in the region's affairs; reforms undertaken by the Commission showed that it was doing what was necessary to stay up to date in the economic sphere; the specific features of each country in the region had to be taken into account, however, not as an objective as such, but as a means of achieving better coordination between socio-economic policies in the member States. Syria was grateful for the assistance the Commission had provided to the country. It wished to draw the Council•s attention, however, to the fact that economic and social development in western Asia was impossible while Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights and other occupied areas continued.
MICHAEL BARTOLO (Malta) said the ECE carried out its reforms in a comprehensive and transparent manner, which took into account all the different priorities of the different member States. That reform should make
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the commission more relevant and efficient. The role of the regional commissions should be strengthened since they could make an important contribution in a reformed United Nations.
PETKO BAEV (Bulgaria) said the decisive efforts of the regional commissions at streamlining their programmes to achieve efficiency and avoid duplication were laudable; Bulgaria had participated actively in the restructuring of the ECE and felt the new reforms made the functions of the organization more transparent, homogenous, and cost-effective. It was Bulgaria's understanding that the Commission would continue to adapt its activities to developments, and also Bulgaria's understanding that different models for market economic reforms in countries in transition deserved the continued and intensified support of the ECE, that transition countries should be at the centre of the ECE's activities, and that their needs should continue to be one of the ECE's main priorities. . ABOUELGASIM ABDEL WAHID (Sudan) said the statistics were perplexing: they reflected an increase in growth in Africa, yet they did not help alleviate the suffering of Africans. For Africa to be a full economic partner, the heavy debt burden had to be removed; the continent had to be given access to world markets, and it had to benefit from technological advances. Regional commissions could play an important role in achieving those objective, hence there was a need to enhance their roles.
MARIANO ENRICO (Argentina) said ECLAC played a vital role in the region; it was necessary to strengthen its operations in various spheres, among them cooperation with ALCA, the Association for Free Commerce in the Americas. Argentina agreed with reforms under way in ECLAC, although it worried that reliance recently on non-in-house services had had some negative effects and it would not like to see the practice expanded.
FAKHRALDIN RACHAN HUSSAIN (Iraq) said Iraq stressed the need to enhance the role of the regional commissions in the social and economic fields. The commissions enabled their member States to communicate ideas to international forums. But the sanctions imposed on developing countries for political reasons had become a major hurdle for social and economic development in those countries, including Iraq. The continued embargo against Iraq meant persistent deterioration of the economic situation. That would affect cooperation on the regional and international levels. The embargo on Iraq was no longer justifiable
MOUNIR ZAHRAN (Egypt) said more cooperation and integration was occurring at the regional and subregional levels at this time of expanding international trade and economic development; the two trends -- towards globalization and regionalization -- were not contradictory and in fact should be made complementary, to avoid overlapping. The UN's reforms should be aimed at this objective. Egypt was an active participant in ESCWA and ECA.
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Regional commissions should undertake analytical studies, not just from the point of view of studies, but to focus on prospects and opportunities. Egypt was watching the reform processes of ESCWA and ECA and would continue to make its views known as the reforms progressed. Meanwhile, cooperation should be strengthened between the regional commissions and such actors in the development field as the banks -- finance was the most important element if projects were to be implemented in the field, and that included increased financing from all sources, including donor countries. Cooperation also should be sought by ESCWA and ECA with the ECE in the region of the Mediterranean.
JILLALI CHAFIK (Morocco) said his country supported the ECA's reforms, and that it hoped necessary resources would be made available to the organization. On a regional level, the Barcelona Conference had established a milestone for cooperation between European Union and Mediterranean Third countries, calling for among other things, a free trade zone between those countries by the year 2010. Transportation networks were vital for these aims. A link across the strait of Gibraltar (see Press Release ECOSOC/5724) would have a social effect, because of the number of jobs it would create; it would also be a key tie in North-South development.
ANGELINA STA. CATALINA (Philippines) said that the United Nations, through its regional commissions, had the capacity to deal with a wide array of economic, social, and environmental matters; the system allowed the injection of specific regional dimensions into the global setting, and the granting of specific characters to specific countries, while still allowing a common policy approach and a system of management intended to build consensus. The reforms undertaken by the regional commissions to adjust to changing circumstance were well-informed and well-advised; to effectively address socio-economic development in its widest sense, there should be enhanced cooperation between the regional, subregional, and international levels; there also should be further cooperation of the regional commissions with other United Nations agencies and with other actors in the fields of development and various other economic concerns. South-South cooperation also could be enhanced by regional commissions.
HABIB KAABACHI (Tunisia) said that despite economic and social efforts and positive economic performances in almost all African countries, the continent was still unable to get its economy off the ground. This situation could be remedied if the international community mobilized its efforts and offered assistance for the development, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Africa. The ECA had to play a leading role in consolidating the potential of Africa, and it should be able to count on necessary funds and human resources to carry out its task.
VILMA McNISH (Jamaica) said regional commissions were vital for the development process -- they were a unique mechanism within the United Nations
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system for intergovernmental cooperation and for meeting a number of the United Nations' global commitments. The reforms undertaken by the commissions, including ECLAC, had been significant; the intent was to be more efficient and effective, and ECLAC considered to be recognized as a centre of excellence in accordance with its mandate. It was to be hoped that the benefits of ECLAC's reforms would accrue sufficiently to the Caribbean area, and Jamaica sought assurance that the needs of the Caribbean would continue to be provided for, and that sufficient finances would be allocated. Reporting on economic trends in the Caribbean continued to be given unsuitably short shrift in the region-wide reports of the Commission; while most Latin American countries had received a chapter each in the most important report, the 14 countries of the Caribbean had been grouped into one chapter. Jamaica hoped this situation would be rectified.
MATHIAS DAKA (Zambia) said ECA should be commended for the reforms it had undertaken so far. The challenges that lay ahead for ECA were many, especially in assisting African countries to eradicate poverty through rural based programmes. While most African countries were undergoing economic reforms, the debt crisis continued to be a nightmare. A solution had to be found to solve that crisis, which was an hinderance to economic development. ECA faced many challenges, and it had to be allocated adequate funding from the United Nations regular budget in order to meet them.
MIROSLAV SOMOL (Czech Republic) said trends towards globalization had not reduced the importance of regional cooperation; for many countries in the ECE region, especially "transition countries"; regional cooperation remained a basic mechanism for their integration into the world economy; regional commissions had specific services to offer, specific capacities that their member countries needed. Where commissions overlapped, interregional cooperation was needed, and Economic and Social Council could play a leading role in this matter. There was a need for clear-cut definition of the different tasks and responsibilities of the regional commissions and the global United Nations agencies, such as the UNDP.
NICKEL CHANDAVARKAR, of the UNDP, said there was a task force on collaboration with the regional economic commissions which sought to promote cooperation both at the policy level on regional issues and at the operational level in terms of project and programme implementation. The major vehicle of cooperation with the regional commissions in the present programming cycle was the regional cooperation framework of the UNDP for each region. The regional commissions continued to play a significant role as execution agencies for UNDP regional projects. Under UNDP's new programming and support cost arrangements, the regional commissions would have access, along with other executing agencies, to funding for substantive studies and project support through the programme development and technical support windows, something they did not have before.
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BASHIR MUSA (Nigeria) said ECA was a vital agency for responding to the needs of Africa; the continent continued to pose problems and challenges for the rest of the world community; there had been dozens of programmes of initiatives at all levels aimed at Africa, involving large amounts of money; and the results had been limited at best. African countries continued to have poor economic performances and so indicated that the efforts to date had not dealt with the true problems. Africa could not be expected to break out of its vicious cycle of poverty and underdevelopment without vast amounts of resources, not only from within Africa, but from without. There was need to invest in a massive programme to develop its science and technology, improve its transport and communication links, develop energy infrastructure, and build other infrastructure; it also was necessary to foster inter-African trade, to allow countries to build economies of scale and then to aid them in entering the world economy. The ECA should be the lead force for setting the base for such a process.
GERARDO LOZADO (Mexico) said ECLAC provided important operational services that should be maintained and strengthened. The ECLAC had adjusted its work programme to the different and changing challenges in the region, and it should be commended for that.
SLAMET HIDOIYAT (Indonesia) said progressive change and fluctuation in the world economy continued -- a part of globalization -- and there was no question that the functions of the regional commissions were vital to helping countries, and especially developing countries, to cope. Regional commissions needed to adapt themselves to changing times, and it was noteworthy that all regional commissions had begun reforms; they appeared committed to adjusting as necessary to meet the mandates assigned to them. The restructuring they had carried out was all the more impressive given the heightened pressure on resources; greater resources were needed -- the current cuts in finances had resulted in cuts in services and output despite the greater efficiency achieved; that harsh financial reality could not continue; one important aspect of reforms that had to be confronted was that sufficient support should be provided for the operation of the regional commissions.
MIGUEL CAMILO RUIZ (Colombia), speaking also on behalf of Venezuela, said the regional commissions were responsible for international cooperation at the regional level: that was an excellent approach to achieve development. The commissions enabled their member States to look at their prospects at the global level and provided neutral forums for their ideas. The commissions also provided more accurate pictures of the needs and requirements of each region. To help it continue doing that, ECLAC had to be provided with the necessary funds.
PEDRO LUIS PEDROSO (Cuba) said the reforms undertaken by ECLAC to adjust to the development priorities of the its member States were worth studying by other regional organizations; the pilot management plan developed by ECLAC
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sounded promising, although it needed to undergo further revision. Financial management and accounting procedures proposed for ECLAC required further study, Cuba felt, as they might contravene United Nations standards or regulations; as for the work programme proposed for 1998-99, Cuba did not agree with some reservations mentioned in the relevant report; Cuban concerns expressed had not been taken into account in some cases. A summit-forum held in the region, furthermore, had been exclusive -- it had not been open to all ECLAC member States. Still, Cuba supported the efforts being made by ECLAC to develop a list of priorities reflecting the true needs of the countries of the region.
RICARDO FLORES (El Salvador) said that for small countries trying to join the globalization process, it was important to have the help of regional commissions. The commissions raised awareness of issues worldwide and discussed implementation questions. It was important that in the reorganization of the United Nations system, ECLAC was strengthened.
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