TEXTS ON DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE, WORK OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION INTRODUCED IN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE

24 October 1997

Press Release
GA/EF/2773

TEXTS ON DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE, WORK OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION INTRODUCED IN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COMMITTEE

19971024 UN Institute for Training and Research Also Discussed; Institute's Executive Director Describes Restructuring, Need for Resources

The General Assembly would decide to convene a conference on the financing of development before the year 2000 and to establish an intergovernmental preparatory committee to examine related issues, by the terms of one of two draft resolutions introduced this afternoon in the Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

Sponsored by the "Group of 77" developing countries and China and introduced by the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, the draft would also have the Assembly invite intergovernmental bodies of the Bretton Woods institutions to participate, support and collaborate in the launching and realization of the conference. Further, the Assembly would request the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the regional commissions to support the preparatory process.

By another draft introduced by the United Republic of Tanzania on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, the Assembly would endorse the work of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, as supported by the secretariat of UNCTAD. The international community, particularly developed countries and international organizations, would be called upon to fulfil their commitments on transfer of technology, as established in Agenda 21 and the outcome of the Assembly's nineteenth special session.

Also this morning the Committee began consideration of training and research: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The representative of Luxembourg, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated countries, said the restructuring of UNITAR had led to increased cooperation with United Nations agencies and bodies. It should also aid in preventing duplication and ensuring the more efficient allocation of resources for training. The elimination of research activities not directly linked to training would help focus UNITAR's activities in the relevant areas.

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The representative of Nigeria said UNITAR belonged to the United Nations system and should not have to pay rent on its offices in New York and Geneva, nor pay for its use of seminar rooms and conference services. Member States, particularly the developed countries, should voluntarily contribute to UNITAR's General Fund in order to strengthen the institute's work.

Statements were made by the representatives Pakistan, Russian Federation, China, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Guyana and Algeria. The Executive Director of UNITAR, Marcel Boisard, also addressed the Committee.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 27 October, to begin consideration of: renewal of the dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership; and implementation of the programme of action for the least developed countries for the 1990s.

Committee Work Programme

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to begin consideration of training and research and to hear the introduction of two draft resolutions on the following topics: convening of an international conference on the financing of development and science and technology for development.

A note by the Secretary-General transmits the report of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) (document A/52/367), which concerns the restructuring of UNITAR.

According to the report, UNITAR has undergone the following changes: transfer of headquarters from New York to Geneva; establishment of a liaison office in New York; operating with no financial assistance from the United Nations regular budget; downgrading the post of Executive Director from Under- Secretary-General; downsizing and streamlining of staff; phasing out of research functions not related to training; and forging closer cooperation within the United Nations system to respond to the increasing training needs in the most cost-effective manner.

The report also contains results and shortcomings of the restructuring process. It says that the Institute has advanced during the restructuring process and demonstrated its capacity to positively contribute in its field and to the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations. It now had a clearer vision of its role and potential within the United Nations system and the uncertainty over the future of UNITAR is now over. The relevance and purpose of UNITAR had largely been acknowledged by recipients and donors alike, the report states.

The main challenge UNITAR now faces, the report continues, is how to realize its maximum potential and the valuable contributions it can make to

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the United Nations efforts to meet the opportunities in the twenty-first century. Its fuller utilization by the United Nations system as well as assured core funding in order to realize its maximum potential are relevant factors. UNITAR's Board of Trustees has already launched a fund raising campaign to expand its core funding and calls on member States to contribute to its general fund, in particular, industrialized member States which have used UNITAR services.

The Secretary-General's report on UNITAR (document A/52/492) states that at the thirty-fifth session of UNITAR's Board of Trustees, held at Geneva from 24 to 26 March, the Trustees decided that the Institute's role, its networking capacity and its ability to mobilize larger institutions around specific themes should be better explained to member States and potential donors. They encouraged regional and intergovernmental institutions to better comprehend

and ultimately join existing UNITAR programmes. They also requested the Executive Director to provide them with a document exposing the principal axes of cooperation of UNITAR which would be regularly updated.

The Board reviewed that document during its session in September and noted that, though it was not exhaustive, it had considerable informative value for UNITAR's partners. The Board decided that member States should be able to access the document on the UNITAR website (http://www.unitar.org).

According to the report, UNITAR has established and maintained a network of cooperation with departments of the United Nations Secretariat and the funds and programmes, and with most specialized agencies of the United Nations system. Those cooperative links range from occasional events to well structured, long-term joint ventures. Over the last few years, UNITAR has also greatly expanded its network of cooperation with regional and national, public and non-governmental institutes, notably research institutions. That

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has resulted in considerable progress in the development of relevant programmes. Cost-effectiveness was achieved also, since training and capacity-building ventures took place at the country or regional level.

Within the United Nations system, many of the UNITAR training and capacity-building programmes represented joint ventures, both at the level of Headquarters and in the field, the report states. In the field of training and capacity-building for chemicals management, UNITAR developed and is implementing a programme in close cooperation with States members of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety and with a consortium of international bodies that are members of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC). Further cooperation in the development and implementation of programmes, particularly in Africa, will benefit from an in-depth study of training needs and means made by UNITAR in cooperation with the United Nations resident coordinators or UNDP resident representatives.

The experience of UNITAR concerning training methodologies and pedagogical materials will be valuable to the United Nations Staff College project, which was officially inaugurated by the Secretary-General in April, the report states. The Staff College was conceived as a global network of institutions, and partnership arrangements are key to its development. At the first meeting of the Staff College's Advisory Board, emphasis was placed on the importance of the College collaborating closely with, and drawing on the experience and networks of, the research and training institutes of the system. Collaboration has already begun in certain areas and should develop in the coming months, the report adds.

Despite restructuring, the Institute remains vulnerable, owing to the fragility of its General Fund, the reports states. UNITAR was the exceptional case of a United Nations body for which voluntary contributions from

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developing countries outnumbered those of industrialized countries. It is hoped that UNITAR will be placed on a sound financial footing in the near future.

Draft Resolutions

By a draft resolution sponsored by the United Republic of Tanzania on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China (document A/C.2/52/L.2), the Assembly would decide to convene a conference on the financing of development to be held before the year 2000 and under the auspices of the United Nations. It would also decide to establish an intergovernmental preparatory committee of the General Assembly to examine in depth issues relating to the financing of development, and to propose, no later than the end of the Assembly's current session, specific dates and an agenda for the conference.

In addition, intergovernmental bodies of the Bretton Woods institutions would be invited to participate, support and collaborate in the launching and realization of the conference. Regional development banks would be invited to participate in the preparatory process. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the regional commissions would be requested to provide support from their specific perspectives to the preparatory process.

Another draft sponsored by the Group of 77 and China on science and technology for development (document A/C.2/52/L.3) would have the Assembly endorse the ongoing work of the Centre for Science and Technology for Development, supported by the secretariat of UNCTAD. It would also encourage the Commission to expand, to the extent possible, the scope of its deliberations on the theme "Science and technology partnerships and networking for national capacity-building" for the inter-sessional period 1997-1999.

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Also by the draft, the international community, particularly developed countries and international organizations, would be called upon to fulfil their commitments on transfer of technology as established in Agenda 21, as well as in the outcome of the Assembly's nineteenth special session. The Assembly would express the need for continuous and assured provision of financial resources to developing countries for acquiring environmentally sound technologies for development. Relevant bodies of the United Nations system would be invited to provide assistance and promote cooperation in the area of information and communication technologies, and to suggest areas in which they are best able to assist developing countries in the design and implementation of national strategies on such technologies.

Introduction of Draft Resolutions

A. MWAKAPUGI (United Republic of Tanzania), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China, introduced the draft resolutions on financing of development and science and technology for development.

He said that in the draft resolution on science and technology reference was made to the "Centre for Science and Technology for Development". It should read: the "Commission on Science and Technology for Development".

Statements

MARCEL A. BOISARD, Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), said that UNITAR's financial situation was not encouraging, despite growing demand for its programmes. Many developing countries and those in transition wanted UNITAR to expand its programmes, but

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UNITAR could not meet their requests because of the low level of funding.

He said that UNITAR had been restructured and encouraging progress had been made. The Institute provided effective and valuable services and should be supported with the resources necessary to fulfil its mandate. Positive changes had been made and should be recognized and rewarded. UNITAR was ready to make greater contributions, but it needed concrete support from Member States. Training contributed to the strengthening of society worldwide. Improving professional know-how and the transfer of technology were vital to sustainable development.

KHALID AZIZ BABAR (Pakistan) reading out a statement by Ahmad Kamal, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UNITAR, said UNITAR could be systematically utilized by the United Nations in the execution of training programmes. The Institute could also be considered a partner by United Nations agencies for conducting research, particularly in the fields of international affairs, sustainable development and capacity building.

He said that UNITAR did not have sufficient resources. Thus, its capacity to systematically develop new programmes, share its innovations and have effective synergy with other institutions was limited. If UNITAR was to build upon its reservoir of efficiency and expertise, it needed resources in its General Fund.

VASILY NEBENZYA (Russian Federation) said his Government supported measures to increase the efficiency of UNITAR. Due to the restructuring process, the Institute was in a financially sound position and operated with no financial assistance from the United Nations regular budget. The subjects of UNITAR's training programmes in New York must understand the reorganization problems of the United Nations, particularly its "information restructuring". Those training programmes should be coordinated with the course offered on the

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utilization of computer technology in diplomatic work, offered by the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Library.

The coordination of training programmes initiated by various bodies and institutions of the United Nations system was of paramount importance, he said. That was vital in light of the possible development of a comprehensive training programme, including a common training programme on using the Internet for international institutions of the United Nations system. That network could provide training materials and teaching tools for on-line use. For the purpose of utilizing videoconference facilities, special training courses for diplomats on the use of video technology should be considered.

His Government was interested in establishing more efficient mechanisms of cooperation between UNITAR and Russian institutes of higher education specializing in international relations, he said. He hoped that UNITAR would take steps to implement the proposal of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences to establish, in cooperation with UNITAR, an international training and research centre to promote environmentally sound technologies for sustainable development.

BAI YONGJIE (China) said that, because of its restructuring, UNITAR no longer faced an uncertain future. It was now more practical, efficient and financially balanced. The United Nations agenda had greatly expanded in the 1990s and strengthening capacity-building was especially important in ensuring follow-up action. Developing countries, in particular, needed the support of international agencies. The UNITAR was acting in cooperation with other agencies and had become part of an organic whole. In serving Member States, UNITAR should give full play to its expertise, particularly in the fields of international affairs and sustainable development. The Institute should continue to coordinate its work with other related agencies and strengthen cooperation with them.

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Her Government endorsed the Board of Trustees' decision that UNITAR should be considered the executing agent in training related programmes, she said. Since opening its liaison office in New York, UNITAR's multilateral training had been strengthened and that office's achievements should be recognized. UNITAR's ability to develop and implement projects, however, was directly related to financial support. All Member States should increase their contributions to UNITAR.

AMBROSE OJIMBA (Nigeria) said UNITAR had demonstrated its capacity to positively contribute training and research, in order to achieve the main objectives of its mandate. UNITAR's vision today was clear. Member States, especially the developed countries, should support and strengthen it. Effective collaboration and cooperation between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNITAR, was needed. In that way, in-house training and expertise building would be properly utilized rather than the systematic recruiting of private consultants from industrialized countries.

Stressing that UNITAR's work was being seriously affected by inadequate resources, he said the Institute belonged to the United Nations system and should not have to pay rent on its offices in New York and Geneva, nor pay for its use of seminar rooms and conference services. He attached the utmost importance to the training and research activities of UNITAR. Member States, particularly the developed countries, should voluntarily contribute to UNITAR's General Fund in order to strengthen the Institute's work.

JEAN GRAFF (Luxembourg), speaking on behalf of the European Union and Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Cyprus, said it was deplorable that, once again, the reports on the item were not available on time. It was particularly regrettable that the study on the programmes and activities of the training institutes within the United Nations system had not been made available to delegations prior to the debate. Information on all the training activity programmes would have made it

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possible to assess the distribution of work between the different activities and to avoid duplication.

The United Nations had developed its own means for disseminating information to meet its specific needs, he said. It was important that the various operators within the United Nations system in the area of training should continue to cooperate, so that their actions could be better targeted. The restructuring of UNITAR had led to increased cooperation with United Nations agencies, which should prevent duplication and help ensure a more efficient allocation of resources for training.

The decentralized implementation of the Institute's programmes, in cooperation with local, national and regional operations, would help target its actions in areas where it had comparative advantages, he said. The elimination of research activities not directly linked to training would help refocus UNITAR's activities in the relevant areas. In that way, it would operate in parallel to the United Nations University. The European Union urged UNITAR to continue its rationalization measures, to ensure that training requirements could be developed and long-term capacities strengthened at a lower cost. The pursuit of sound financial management was essential to guarantee programme continuity.

DINO BETI (Switzerland) said his Government was convinced that UNITAR had an increasing role to play in the implementation of United Nations training programmes. The resolution of major issues facing the international community called for worldwide cooperation and UNITAR had expertise in the fields of the management of national affairs and sustainable development. The Institute's training efforts contributed to conflict prevention, as well as economic, social and sustainable development. Most of the programmes were conceived and designed in collaboration with the recipients and donors.

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He said the General Fund was inadequate to provide for the development of new programmes and the sharing of experience with other institutes, since it was limited to funding the administration and management of the Institute. In light of the Institute's restructuring, Member States should be encouraged to consider making voluntary contributions to UNITAR, particularly to its General Fund. His Government was one of the five largest contributors to UNITAR and that support would continue.

TETSUO KONDO (Japan) said UNITAR had made significant progress and had urgently taken the measures required of it. It was necessary to recognize and support UNITAR's role in training. His Government would continue to support UNITAR. He hoped that those members that had threatened to withdraw their support for UNITAR would reconsider their position, in view of the changes the Institute had thus far made.

AMANDA HAWKINS (Australia), reading out a statement by Penny Wensley, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of UNITAR, said her Government had been pleased to support the reform and restructuring of UNITAR, which was an important element of the United Nations system. She congratulated Mr. Boisard for completing the successful restructuring and pledged its continuing support for UNITAR's important work.

GEORGE TALBOT (Guyana) said the restructuring of UNITAR had been a notable success. The impact of UNITAR's work, particularly of its liaison office in New York, had been tangible and manifestly positive in many aspects. His Government strongly supported further strengthening the Institute. All Member States should provide greater support, financial and otherwise, for the work of UNITAR.

ABDERRAHMANE MEROUANE (Algeria) said his country applauded the restructuring efforts of UNITAR and the dynamism of its New York liaison office. Member States needed to be made more aware of the financial situation of the Institute with numbers, because numbers were often more telling than

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words. Member States had not been fair in their treatment of UNITAR. They needed to support its efforts in the field of training and research. His Government would continue to support UNITAR.

Mr. BOISARD, UNITAR's Executive Director, said UNITAR had restored its credibility. If UNITAR was now regarded as an Institute that could perform a valuable service for Member States, both developed and developing, it should be given the necessary means to carry out its activities. UNITAR's General Fund lacked the necessary resources. Adequate funding would ensure continuity and responsiveness to the most acute needs. All Member States should reconsider the way in which they were participating in the General Fund.

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