COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION SUSPENDS WORK OF CURRENT SESSION, APPROVES DRAFT REPORT TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Press Release
PI/1071
COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION SUSPENDS WORK OF CURRENT SESSION, APPROVES DRAFT REPORT TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
19980515 Also Approves Texts on DPI Activities, Information for Humanity, Expanding Its MembershipThe General Assembly would encourage the Department of Public Information (DPI) to take full advantage of such recent developments as the Internet to improve the dissemination of United Nations information, while continuing to underline the importance of such traditional means as radio, television and print, under a draft resolution approved this afternoon as the Committee on Information suspended the work of its current session.
The text on United Nations public information policies and activities, by which the Assembly would set the course for DPI's activities over the coming year, was approved without a vote. Among its recommendations, it would encourage the Secretary-General to explore ways and means of improving the global access to airwaves of United Nations Radio and, where possible, through partnership with other media services, bearing in mind that radio is one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching media available to the Department.
The Assembly would also express concern over the trend to reduce the resources allocated to the DPI. In addition, it would emphasize that reorientation of the Department should contribute to bridging the information gap between the developing and developed countries and would seek to ensure that Organization's linguistic diversity is reflected in DPI's efforts.
Also approved without a vote was a draft resolution on information in the service of humanity, by which the Assembly would urge all countries, United Nations bodies and all concerned, to cooperate in reducing such information disparities by increasing assistance to develop the communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries.
The Committee also approved a draft decision by which the Assembly would appoint Angola, the Republic of Moldova and the Solomon Islands to the Committee, thus expanding it from 90 to 93 members. Orally amending its draft report to reflect that action, it also approved that report without a vote.
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By other terms of the wide-ranging text on United Nations information activities, the Secretary-General would be urged to exert all efforts to ensure that information disseminated by DPI contained comprehensive, objective and equitable information and maintained editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy, as well as full consistency with the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly.
The Assembly would reaffirm the importance of United Nations information centres, particularly in developing countries and countries in transition, and especially in those countries where there was a need for greater understanding about United Nations activities. It would stress that their integration with field offices of the United Nations system should be carried out in a cost-effective manner and on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the views of the host country and ensuring that their functions and autonomy were not adversely affected.
In establishing the mandate for DPI's activities, the Assembly would call upon the Secretary-General to ensure that it continue to disseminate information about United Nations activities in various areas. Among them would be the issues of international peace and security, human rights, decolonization, the elimination of racial discrimination, the advancement of women, the rights of the child, economic and social development, the campaign against terrorism, international efforts against drug abuse, crime prevention, African development, and the situation in the Middle East.
With respect to the Committee's working methods, the Assembly would decide that, beginning with its next session, preparation of its annual report would take place in an open-ended working group.
Addressing the meeting, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Kensaku Hogen thanked the Chairman for the leadership and guidance which had brought the Committee to a successful conclusion. He expressed appreciation to delegates for their active participation and contributions, leading to the approval of draft resolutions which contained elements of great importance for him and all of DPI.
Jose Alberto de Sousa (Portugal), Committee Chairman, also expressed appreciation for the constructive and cooperative atmosphere in the Committee's deliberations.
The Committee on Information will hold a resumed session at a date to be announced in the Journal, to discuss the Secretary-General's expected progress report on the feasibility of establishing a United Nations direct radio broadcasting capacity.
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Round-Up of Session
During the two-week session, which began on 4 May, much discussion focused on the need to correct the imbalance in information flows between the developed and developing countries. Concern was expressed that the fruits of the information revolution were mainly enjoyed by those States able to afford the costly infrastructures of the new technologies, leading to further marginalization of the developing world. The unequal distribution of technology risked turning the so-called global village into little more than a country club, one speaker said.
The emphasis on levelling the information playing field also arose during discussions on the working methods of the Committee. Following a lively debate over its current negotiating mechanism, it was agreed to create an open-ended working group for the preparation of the Committee's future reports. Several members said that would enable developing countries to express their views on the Committee's substantive work, thereby making it more democratic and transparent.
The Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Information, Kensaku Hogen, addressing the Committee for the first time, said it was essential that DPI come to understand the requirements of today's media culture and respond appropriately to carry the United Nations message to all parts of the world. High priority should be given to incorporating a communications aspect into the planning and implementation of all United Nations-mandated programmes, as recommended by the Secretary-General.
As an example of the new orientation of the United Nations information activities, Mr. Hogen cited DPI's efforts with respect to the Secretary- General's recent report on Africa. As a result of the United Nations first- time use of the Internet and electronic mail to provide press materials, his report had received outstanding worldwide media coverage. The Department would also continue to attach priority to the traditional media, particularly with respect to broadcasts in developing countries, he said.
Committee Work Programme
The Committee on Information met this afternoon to conclude the work of its current session and approve its draft report to the General Assembly. It was expected to approve draft resolutions on information in the service of humanity and on United Nations public information policies and activities (document A/AC.198/1998/L.2), as well as an oral draft decision by which the Assembly would appoint Angola, the Republic of Moldova and the Solomon Islands to the Committee, thus expanding it from 90 to 93 members.
By draft resolution A, on information in the service of humanity, the Assembly would urge all countries, United Nations bodies and all concerned, to cooperate in reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries. Such efforts should aim at enabling those countries and their public, private and other media to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently, increase participation by the media and individuals in the communication process, and ensure the free flow of information at all levels.
They would be further urged to ensure that journalists could perform their professional tasks freely and effectively and to condemn resolutely all attacks against them; to support the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries; to enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as with developed countries, to strengthen communication capacities and improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in developing countries, especially for training and the dissemination of information.
In addition, they would be urged to provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of Communication of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). They would also be asked to aim, in addition to bilateral cooperation, to provide support and assistance to meet the information interests and needs of developing countries and their public, private and other media.
They would also be urged to develop the human and technical resources required to improve the developing countries' information and communication systems; to support the strengthening of practical training programmes; to create conditions to enable those countries and their media to use their national and regional resources, the communications technology suited to their national needs, and the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television. They would be urged to assist in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels
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among developing countries and to facilitate their access to advanced communication technology available on the open market.
By draft resolution B, on United Nations public information policies and activities, the Assembly would emphasize that the reorientation of the Department of Public Information (DPI) should contribute to bridging the existing gap between the developing and developed countries in the crucial field of information and communications. The DPI should maintain and improve its activities in the areas of special interest to the developing countries and others with special needs, including countries in transition.
The Assembly would express its concern over the trend to reduce the resources allocated to DPI and reiterate that all changes or reductions must be in accordance with the existing budgetary rules consistent with Article 17 of the United Nations Charter [by which the Assembly is empowered to consider and approve the budget of the Organization and to apportion its expenses among Member States]. The Secretary-General would be asked to continue to implement fully the mandates as established by the Assembly.
The Secretary-General would be urged to exert all efforts to ensure that DPI's public information products contained comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and maintained editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with the Assembly's resolutions and decisions. Further, the publications should fulfil an identifiable need, not duplicate other publications inside the United Nations system, and be produced in a cost-effective manner.
The Secretary-General would also be encouraged to explore ways and means of improving the global access to airwaves of United Nations Radio and, where possible, through partnership with other media services, bearing in mind that radio is one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching media available to DPI, as well as an important instrument in such United Nations activities as development and peacekeeping. He would be asked to report to the Committee as soon as possible, and no later than at its next session, on his efforts to develop an international radio broadcasting capacity for the Organization, taking account of the linguistic diversity of States.
By other terms of the text, the Assembly would underline the continued importance of using traditional and mass media channels in disseminating United Nations information. It would encourage DPI to take full advantage of recent developments in information technology, such as the Internet, in order to improve in a cost-effective manner the dissemination of such information, taking account of the Organization's linguistic diversity. It would welcome the steps being taken by DPI to strengthen its capacity to maintain and coordinate the United nations home page on the Internet and for providing its
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public information content. It would also encourage inclusion in the United Nations Internet site of United Nations Radio in all available languages.
The Assembly would express its full support for the wide, accurate, equal and prompt coverage of United Nations activities through the continuation of United Nations press releases in both working languages of the Secretariat -- namely, English and French -- and in other languages as required. It would stress the importance of the continued speedy issue and high quality of those press releases in both working languages. The Secretary-General would be urged to ensure the timely production and dissemination of all of DPI's major publications in all languages of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General would be called upon to ensure full and direct access of the representatives of Member States to the briefings organized at United Nations Headquarters by the Office of his Spokesman; to ensure wider dissemination of the outcome of such briefings; and to exert all efforts to ensure that information to be presented to the media is made fully available to delegations in a timely fashion.
The Assembly would reaffirm the importance of United Nations information centres (UNICs), particularly in developing countries and those in transition and where there is need for greater understanding about United Nations activities. It would take note of the relevant proposals in the report of the Secretary-Generals Task Force on the Reorientation of United Nations Public Information Activities (document A/AC.198/1997/CRP.1), including the proposal for the organization of information centre networks and the establishment of regional hubs. It would ask that in developing proposals for the establishment of such hubs, the views of Member States concerned be taken fully into account.
Addressing the trial integration of United Nations information centres with field offices of the United Nations system, the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to take account of the Task Force's observation regarding substantial problems encountered by some of the integrated centres in performing their information and communication functions. It would stress that the future integration exercise should be carried out in a cost-effective manner and on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the host country's views and ensuring that the information functions and the autonomy of the centres were not adversely affected.
The Secretary-General would be called upon to continuing studying ways of rationalizing and equitably disbursing available resources to all the information centres and to report back on that to the Committee at its next session. The Assembly would reaffirm its role in relation to the opening of
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new UNICs, invite the Secretary-General to recommend their establishment and location as he judges necessary, and take note of requests by Gabon, Guinea, Haiti and Kyrgyzstan for information centres or components. It would also recognize the continued enhanced cooperation between DPI and the University of Peace in Costa Rica as a focal point for promoting United Nations activities and disseminating United Nations information materials.
The Assembly would also encourage the Secretary-General to further develop his proposals for the reorientation of United Nations activities in the area of public information and communications, taking account of the views of Member States, and ask him to submit his detailed plan to the Committee for consideration at its next session.
The Assembly would ask DPI to continue ensuring the greatest possible access for United Nations guided tours, as well as to ensure that displays in public areas are kept as informative, up to date, relevant and technologically innovative as possible. It would also encourage the Secretary-General to continue efforts to introduce the latest technological developments into the work of the Dag Hammarskjold Library, to strengthen its role as a broadly accessible information resources on the United Nations.
The Assembly would call upon the Secretary-General to implement fully the recommendations in its 1993 resolution 48/44 B, by which he was to ensure that DPI continue to disseminate information about United Nations activities in a wide range of areas, including: international peace and security; decolonization; human rights; the elimination of racial discrimination; the advancement of women; the rights of the child; economic and social development; the campaign against terrorism; international efforts against drug abuse; crime prevention; African development; and the situation in the Middle East.
The Secretary-General would be encouraged to further strengthen consultative arrangements, as appropriate, between DPI and other substantive departments of the Secretariat, particularly those dealing with development issues. The Assembly would note with appreciation his efforts to strengthen DPI's public information capacity for the formation and day-to-day functioning of the information components of United Nations peacekeeping and other field operations. It would ask the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of DPI at the planning stage of future operations through interdepartmental consultation and coordination.
The DPI would be urged to take the necessary measures, through the provision of relevant and objective information, towards achievement of the major objectives in the Secretary-General's report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa
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(document A/52/871-S/1998/318). The Department would be encouraged to continue taking appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of the consequences of the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
The Assembly would acknowledge the important work carried out by UNESCO and its collaboration with news agencies and broadcasting organizations in developing nations to disseminate information on priority issues. It would call for further expansion of DPI's ongoing programme for developing country broadcasters and journalists, to include a larger number of trainees from developing countries, as well as from countries in transition. It would also ask the Secretary-General to renew his efforts to better meet the needs for wider dissemination of development-related information.
Addressing the working methods of the Committee on Information, the Assembly would decide that, beginning with its next session, preparation of the Committee's annual report will take place in an open-ended working group.
Action by Committee
The draft resolutions on information in the service of humanity and United Nations public information policies and activities were approved without a vote. The Committee's draft report was orally amended to include the draft decision on the expansion of its membership, which was also approved without a vote.
Statements
ROBERT W. ZAAGMAN (Netherlands), speaking for the Western Group and Japan, said he was generally satisfied with the results of the current session and hoped the consensus reached would be durable. The Group was pleased with the constructive atmosphere in which discussions had taken place in the Committee and in the informal meetings of interested delegations.
Nevertheless, it was regrettable that the consensus reached at the General Assembly level regarding the consultative mechanism commonly known as the "extended bureau" had been ignored, he said. If it was decided to change that mechanism after a negotiating process, that would be fine. However, until such time, the existing agreement should be honoured. The Western Group continued to believe that the extended bureau had served the Committee well and the results achieved at the present session did not differ significantly from those reached when the extended bureau had been used.
The Western Group also regretted that it had not been possible to have a full discussion of the paragraph of draft resolution A referring to the so- called new world communication and information order. The results of
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discussions in the Committee should reflect areas of agreement, not those of disagreement. The Western Group did not support the concept of a "new world communication and information order". It belonged to a time long past and could too easily be used to stifle the freedom of the media and, more generally, the free flow of information. Acceptance by the Western Group of the texts approved today should not be taken as agreement with that concept. It would return to that subject at the Committee's next session.
Beginning with the Committee's next session, preparation of its annual report would take place in an open-ended working group, he said. The meetings of such a working group should be conducted in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The learning experience of the past two weeks should enable members to be more successful at reaching an early consensus during the Committee's next session. A setting that allowed for a free-flowing discussion and immediate exchange of views would be conducive to such a result. The formality and physical distance which characterized the informal meetings of interested delegations during the current session should not be repeated.
MASAHIRO KOHARA (Japan) underscored the unique nature and purpose of DPI. Its budget should not be reduced but should be provided as approved by the General Assembly. On the concept of a new world information and communication order, he said that while Japan had supported draft resolution A, it urged developing countries to adopt new approaches to cooperation and consider new ideas at the Committee's next session. The important role played by DPI with respect to developing countries and those with economies in transition should be supported, promoted and further enhanced.
SUDJADNAN PARNOHADININGRAT (Indonesia), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, welcomed the overall result of the Committee's work. The adoption of its draft report was the result of extensive common efforts, which took place in a spirit of cooperation and flexibility. The open-ended informal consultations this year had proven extremely meaningful in terms of implementing the Committee's mandate. Apart from reflecting the principle of transparency, it served as a useful mechanism for achieving tangible results. That working method should be maintained in future deliberations.
In 1979 the General Assembly had called for a new, more equitable flow of information, he said. Draft resolution A was deemed to be of particular importance in the effort to achieve a better balanced dissemination of information, taking into consideration the needs of developing countries, including the need to improve their infrastructures and to make advanced technology more accessible to them. Draft resolution B stressed that the DPI was essential for the dissemination of information about the United Nations.
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It was significant that it contained language which addressed the issues of development, peacekeeping and the interests of developing countries and those with economies in transition.
The Group of 77 and China was aware of the difficulties with respect to such issues as United Nations information centres and the United Nations international radio broadcasting capacity, he said. Although the draft resolutions approved today had not been fully satisfactory to all members, the consensus reached was a departure from the disagreements of the past.
WAYNE ST. JOHN McCOOK (Jamaica) said that at the end of the Committee's prior session, Jamaica had been concerned over its working methods and outcome and had called for a constructive approach to the Committee's work. The current session had been both constructive and effective; a spirit of cooperation had prevailed and was appreciated.
ANTONIO JOSE FERREIRA SIMOES (Brazil) said the Committee had made history in its agreement on establishment of an open-ended working group. That was important not only for the Committee on Information, but for all United Nations bodies in the current period of reform. That success had proven that when members came together and made a greater effort, they really could do better. They possessed the courage to make that effort, in order to achieve the positive goals of change, which were essential for the future.
FAYSSAL MEKDAD (Syria) expressed his appreciation to the Chairman for his personal efforts in ensuring the results achieved in the approving of today's texts. He also thanked all other members who had shared the common objective of changing the Committee's methods of work, thereby making it more democratic and transparent. The Committee's future sessions should reap the fruits of that cooperation. Expressing appreciation to the Under-Secretary- General for Communications and Public Information for his assistance, understanding and determination in contributing to the Committee's success, he said that Syria would support the further consolidation and empowerment of DPI.
The idea of a new international communication order was never intended to curb the free flow of information, he said. Rather, it meant equality between the developed and developing countries. It meant access to all to information for developing countries and a mass media which reflected their concerns. The existing imbalance required that the Committee strive to establish a more equitable order.
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ANDREW LLOYD (United Kingdom), speaking on behalf of the European Union, expressed appreciation to the Chairman and the Secretariat staff and to the Under-Secretary-General. The Committee managed to achieve consensus, while bringing to light some of the issues that divided it. Member should not be ashamed of that. It had been a very productive session, and everyone should be proud of the draft resolutions it had produced.
SEBASTIANO CARDI (Italy) said his country fully appreciated efforts of Chairman, the Secretariat staff and the Under-Secretary-General, to whom he wished every success.
BERNARD TANOH-BOUTCHOUE (Cote d'Ivoire) congratulated delegations for their open-mindedness and expressed appreciation that the draft resolutions approved today took account of the aspirations of the African Group.
KENSAKU HOGEN, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, thanked the Chairman for the leadership and guidance which had brought the Committee to a successful closing. He also expressed appreciation to delegates for their active participation and contributions during the two- week deliberations, leading to the approval of draft resolutions which contained elements of great importance for him and all of DPI.
He said this had been his first experience as part of the Committee's session, and he had learned many things. Expressing appreciation for the cooperation and camaraderie among the delegates, which truly reflected the spirit of the United Nations, he thanked everyone for their support, cooperation and friendship and said he looked forward to working together with them throughout the year.
JOSE ALBERTO DE SOUSA (Portugal), Committee Chairman, said the discussions in the Committee, particularly over the past two days, had registered a constructive and cooperative atmosphere, for which he thanked the members. He also expressed appreciation to the regional groups, the Committee Secretary, and the other members of Secretariat for their cooperation and commitment.
The CHAIRMAN then suspended the current session, announcing that he would call a resumed session to discuss the Secretary-General's upcoming progress report on the feasibility of a United Nations direct radio broadcasting capacity, at a date to be announced.
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Officers, Membership
The officers of the Committee for the current session are: Jose Alberto de Sousa (Portugal), Chairman; Holger Martinsen (Argentina), Abdullahi Abubakar (Nigeria) and Salman Abbasy (Pakistan), Vice-Chairmen; and Alyaksei Skrypko (Belarus), Rapporteur.
Its 90 members are: Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire and Zimbabwe.
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