ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL CONCLUDES 1998 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION
Press Release
ECOSOC/5806
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL CONCLUDES 1998 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION
19981216 "Poverty eradication and capacity-building" will be the theme of the high-level meeting of the operational activities segment of the Economic and Social Council's 1999 substantive session, the Council decided this afternoon as it concluded its work for the year.The Council took that action as it adopted a series of decisions and also considered elections, appointments and confirmations in a resumed substantive session.
Also this afternoon, the Council adopted a text, introduced by Vice- President Francesco Paolo Fulci (Italy), that would have it consider before the end of its organizational session in February 1999 the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions.
Speaking after its adoption, the representative of the United States stressed the importance of cooperation between the United Nations and those organizations and said it was disappointing that the reports of the Secretary- General on the topic were not adopted more fully in the resolution. His delegation would prefer the Council go further and faster on the issue. Council President Juan Somavía (Chile) echoed that statement saying that it was odd that the Council had become reticent on the issue of working with the Bretton Woods institutions after saying more cooperation was needed. There should be a continued will of the Council to continue to work with the Bretton Woods institutions, he added.
The Council, adopting a decision on the review of the distribution of seats in the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP), decided to continue consideration of the issue at its organizational session for 1999 to arrive at a recommendation to be submitted to the General Assembly. It also decided to postpone action on the draft resolution entitled "Revision of the General Regulations of the World Food Programme" to its organizational session for 1999.
In further action, the Council, adopting a decision on the participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the work of the Commission on the Status of Women, decided, as an interim measure, to invite those NGOs that were accredited to the Fourth World Conference on Women to attend the forty- third and forty-fourth sessions of the Commission.
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Also this afternoon, the Council approved the nominations of Eugenio B. Figueroa (Chile), Albert Fishlow (United States), Leonid M. Grigoriev (Russian Federation), Jayendra P. Nayak (India), Mari Elka Pangestu (Indonesia), Milivoje Panic (United Kingdom), Eul Yong Park (Republic of Korea), Udo Ernst Simonis (Germany), Ruben Tansini (Uruguay), Maria Agusztinovics (Hungary), Maria Julia Alsogary (Argentina), Makhtar Diouf (Senegal), Essam El-Hinnawi (Egypt), Just Faaland (Norway), Shangquan Gao (China), Patrick Guillaumont (France), Ryokichi Hirono (Japan), Taher Kanaan (Jordan), Louka T. Katseli (Greece), Nguyuru H. I. Lipumba (United Republic of Tanzania), Solita C. Monsod (Philippines), Bishnodat Persaud (Guyana), Akilagpa Sawyerr (Ghana), and Miguel Urrutia (Colombia) to the Committee for Development Policy, for a two-year term beginning on 1 January 1999. In other action, the Council elected the following to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development, for a term of four years beginning on 1 January 1999: Jon Ingimarsson (Iceland), Neculai Pavlovschi (Romania), Hernan Bravo Trejos (Costa Rica), Carlos Alberto Aguilar Molina (El Salvador), Markku Juhani Makela (Finland), Bernard Devin (France), Wilhelmus C. Turkenburg (Netherlands), Carlos Augusto Saldivar (Paraguay), Malin Falkenmark (Sweden), Dmytro Victorovych Derogan (Ukraine), Raymond Marcio Wright (Jamaica), John Michael Matuszak (United States), Zhang Guocheng (China), Sergey M. Natalchuk (Russian Federation), Siripong Hungspreug (Thailand), Paul M. Kodzwa (Zimbabwe), Owen Macdonald Kankhulungo (Malawi), Eddy Kofi Smith (Ghana), Ainun Nishat (Bangladesh) and Ahmad Kahrobaian (Iran).
The Council also elected Tunisia, Indonesia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Romania, Belarus, Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay, Germany, Belgium, Greece and Poland for four-year terms on the Commission on Science and Technology for Development. The Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Cuba, Jamaica, Brazil, Spain, United States, United Kingdom and Austria were elected for two-year terms. Regarding the Programme Coordination Board of the Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Council elected Gabon and the United Republic of Tanzania for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 1999.
The Council elected Sweden to complete the unexpired portion of Finland's term on the Commission on Sustainable Development. It confirmed Jean-Marie Akpoue Brou (Côte d'Ivoire) and Alica Wertheimer Baletic (Croatia) for the Commission on Population and Development, and Edme Koffi (Côte d'Ivoire) for the Statistical Commission. With regard to the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Council postponed decision on a text submitted by Côte d'Ivoire until its next session. It also adopted a decision on the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, deciding that, in the absence of any additional information received from that body, the existing arrangements for that Committee shall continue.
Council Work Programme
The Economic and Social Council this afternoon resumed its substantive session. It was scheduled to consider the following items: theme for the high-level meeting of the operational activities segment of its 1999 substantive session; distribution of seats on the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP); participation of non-governmental organizations in the work of the Commission on the Status of Women; elections, appointments and confirmations; implementation of Assembly resolutions 50/227 and 52/12 B; and social and human rights questions.
The Council had before it draft decisions submitted by the Acting President on the basis of informal consultations (document E/1998/L.52).
By the terms of draft decision I, on the theme for the high-level meeting of the operational activities segment of the 1999 substantive session, the Council would decide that the meeting would be devoted to considering "Poverty eradication and capacity-building".
By the terms of draft decision II, on the review of the distribution of seats in the Executive Board of the WFP, the Council would decide to continue consideration of the issue at its organizational session for 1999 to arrive at a recommendation to be submitted to the Assembly. It would also decide to postpone action on the draft resolution entitled "Revision of the General Regulations of the World Food Programme" to its organizational session for 1999.
By the terms of that draft resolution (document E/1998/L.51), submitted by the Russian Federation, the Council would decide, subject to the concurrence of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), that the members of WFP's Executive Board shall be elected on an interim basis for a term of three years from among the States included in the lists set out in the Basic Texts of the WFP, in accordance with a distribution of seats described in the draft.
The Council, by the terms of draft decision III, on participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the work of the Commission on the Status of Women, would decide, as an interim measure, to invite those NGOs that were accredited to the Fourth World Conference on Women to attend the forty-third and forty-fourth sessions of the Commission, including those parts of the sessions in which the Commission acts as the preparatory committee for the Assembly's special session, to be entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century" (June 2000), provided that they have started the process of applying for consultative status in accordance with Council decisions 1996/315 of 14 November 1996 and 1997/298 of 23 July 1997. It would also decide to request the Secretary-General to draw the attention of the NGOs accredited to the Conference to the provisions
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of the present decision and to the process established under Council resolution 1996/31.
By the terms of draft decision IV, on the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Council, in the absence of any additional information received from the Committee, would decide that the existing arrangements for that Committee shall continue.
A note verbale dated 13 August from the Permanent Mission of Côte d'Ivoire to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (document E/1998/97), requests the admission of Côte d'Ivoire to membership of the Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
By a related draft decision (document E/1998/L.53) on the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the UNHCR, submitted by Côte d'Ivoire, the Council would take note of its request and recommend that the Assembly take a decision at its fifty-third session on the question of enlarging the Committee's membership from 54 to 55.
In addition, the Council has before it a report of the Secretary-General on the restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields (document A/53/137-E/1998/66), as outlined by General Assembly resolution 50/227 on that topic. Among the report's recommendations are that the Assembly should continue its informal sessions in the form of an open interactive dialogue, including with civil society, and explore ways of strengthening cooperation between its Second (Economic and Financial) and Third (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) Committees, including the possibility of joint consideration of common issues, such as poverty, women and development, and the right to development. Texts of resolutions could be further streamlined with submission of omnibus ones being encouraged by the Assembly.
Also in the report, the Economic and Social Council is urged to build on progress made on periodic meetings with the secretariats of the functional commissions, and to consider how further progress can be made on its organization and methods of work. Functional commissions, the report goes on, should be encouraged to ensure that the agreed conclusions of the high-level and coordination segments of the Council's session are followed up systematically by the United Nations system.
In other recommendations, the Council is asked to consider further steps that could be taken to implement the Agenda for Development, specifically regarding inter-agency coordination, and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its activities. Possible consolidation of reports requested every year should be further examined. The Council may wish to consider appropriate steps to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions.
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The Council also has before it a report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions (document E/1998/61). According to that report, a multifaceted, extensive and growing partnership exists between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions.
The report examines ways to enhance the partnership through improved communication, cooperation and coordination in implementation of the results of United Nations conferences, collection and dissemination of data, analyses and reports. Efforts to coordinate the use of existing resources in the transition from emergency relief to rehabilitation and development and the provision of technical assistance in the field are also considered.
A recent review showed over 300 examples of cooperation, the report states. The record of collaboration between the two entities is based on specific activities within the contexts of sustainable development, macroeconomic policy dialogue, poverty eradication and environmental protection. In the global context, both partners agree that a strategy for strengthening the relationship between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions must reflect the changing political and socio-economic environment in which they work.
The report notes that both entities must face global transformation. The report highlights the changing global political and economic situations; movement towards pluralism, democratic systems and decentralized government; the growing role of civil society and the private sector in socio-economic life; and the increased global focus on human rights, gender issues, and economic development. In addition, both bodies must reckon with the decline in official development assistance (ODA); the need to preserve the benefits of open financial markets while reducing crises; and advances in global communications and information technology.
Against this background, the World Bank and the United Nations have undertaken organizational reforms, including the decentralization of decision-making authority and staff, the Secretary-General reports. Also, the World Bank is giving more responsibility to its country missions. Reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is being driven by changes in the global economic environment and by changing needs of its members. Reforms of the Fund include a new emergency financing mechanism. New data dissemination standards and the liberalization of the capital account were more long-term initiatives being undertaken to strengthen surveillance and assistance.
The Secretary-General recommends that the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) member organizations commit themselves to pooling policy approaches and to giving new impetus to collaborative actions of the United Nations system in the area of poverty eradication. Both the Bretton Woods institutions and the Organization could gain by an exchange of ideas and experiences on the link between human rights and development. The United
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Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions should seek to increase collaboration on information, especially in the developing countries.
The report also states that the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions should work with the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in the elaboration and use of standard socio-economic indicators for monitoring progress. They should also continue to strengthen collaboration in humanitarian assistance, in reconstruction and in crisis and post-conflict recovery and development.
Elections, Appointments, Confirmations
A note by the Secretary-General on the election of 24 experts to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development (document E/1998/L.1/Add.18) states that the current membership of the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and on Energy for Development will terminate as of 31 December and the two Committees will be merged into a single expert body named the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development comprising 24 members, in two sub-groups of 12 experts each, nominated by Governments and approved by the Council. One sub-group is to deal with issues relating to energy and other with issues relating to water resources.
The Council decided that it would hold elections for the 24 members of the new Committee for a term of four years beginning on 1 January 1999. It also decided that the terms of office of all the members would be concurrent and according to the following geographical distribution: six members from African States; five members from Asian States; three members from Eastern European States; four members from Latin American and Caribbean States; and six members from Western European and Other States.
A related note (document E/1998/L.1/Add.20), states that the Secretary-General has received the following nominations for election to the Committee: Jon Ingimarsson of Iceland and Neculai Pavlovschi of Romania. The candidates' terms of office will start on 1 January 1999. The biographical information on the candidates is annexed.
Additional nominations are contained in document E/1998/L.1/Add.21, as follows: Hernan Bravo Trejos of Costa Rica, Carlos Alberto Aguilar Molina of El Salvador, Markku Juhani Makela of Finland, Bernard Devin of France, Wilhelmus C. Turkenburg of the Netherlands, Carlos Augusto Saldivar of Paraguay, Malin Falkenmark of Sweden and Dmytro Victorovych Derogan of Ukraine.
Further nominations (document E/1998/L.1/Add.23) are: Raymond Marcio Wright of Jamaica and John Michael Matuszak of the United States. And in document E/1998/L.1/Add.24 the following: Zhang Guocheng of
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China, Sergey M. Natalchuk of the Russian Federation, Siripong Hungspreug of Thailand and Paul M. Kodzwa of Zimbabwe.
A note on the election of 33 members of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (document E/1998/L.1/Add.19), states that the membership of the Commission is to be reduced from 53 to 33 and the current membership will terminate as of 31 December. The Council, at its resumed session, was to hold elections for the 33 members for a term of four years according to the following geographical distribution: eight members from African States; seven members from Asian States; four members from Eastern European States; six members from Latin American and Caribbean States; and eight members from Western European and Other States.
The Council decided that there would be a drawing of lots for all seats, whether vacant or not, to stagger the terms of office of the new members according to the following pattern: four members for four years and four members for two years from the African States; four members for four years and three members for two years from the Asian States; two members for four years and two members for two years from the Eastern European States; three members for four years and three members for two years from the Latin American and Caribbean States; and four members for four years and four members for two years from the Western European and Other States.
A note on the appointment of members of the Committee for Development Policy (document E/1998/L.1/Add.22) contains the names of the 24 experts for appointment for a term beginning on 1 January 1999 and expiring on 31 December 2001. Some of the experts are being nominated for reappointment. Biographical information on the nominees are annexed.
The candidates for appointment are Eugenio B. Figueroa of Chile, Albert Fishlow of the United States, Leonid M. Grigoriev of the Russian Federation, Jayendra P. Nayak of India, Mari Elka Pangestu of Indonesia, Milivoje Panic of the United Kingdom, Eul Yong Park of the Republic of Korea, Udo Ernst Simonis of Germany and Ruben Tansini of Uruguay.
The candidates that are nominated for reappointment are Maria Agusztinovics of Hungary, Maria Julia Alsogary of Argentina, Makhtar Diouf of Senegal, Essam El-Hinnawi of Egypt, Just Faaland of Norway, Shangquan Gao of China, Patrick Guillaumont of France, Ryokichi Hirono of Japan, Taher Kanaan of Jordan, Louka T. Katseli of Greece, Nguyuru H. I. Lipumba of the United Republic of Tanzania, Solita C. Monsod of the Philippines, Bishnodat Persaud of Guyana, Akilagpa Sawyerr of Ghana and Miguel Urrutia of Colombia.
On confirmations (document E/1998/L.2/Add.3), the Secretary-General submits to the Council for confirmation the following names: Jean-Marie Akpoue Brou of Côte d'Ivoire and Alica Wertheimer Baletic of Croatia for the
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Commission on Population and Development; and Edme Koffi of Côte d'Ivoire for the Statistical Commission.
Action
First, acting without a vote, the Council adopted draft decision I, on the theme for the high-level meeting of the operational activities segment of the Council's 1999 substantive session.
Next, the Council took up the review of the distribution of seats in the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP).
VASSILI A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation), speaking on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States, introduced the draft resolution on the revision of the General Regulations of the World Food Programme (WFP) (document E/1998/L.51). He said that that text was not reopening any previous agreement, but represented another attempt at compromise. It would be a mistake for the Council not to come up with any draft resolution summing up the year of work. The draft represented a basis for a compromise solution aimed at accommodating the concerns of all groups of States. It also reflected his principled position, the most important element of which was that the Eastern European Group could not take as the basis for a compromise the rejection of the arrangements clearly spelled out in the relevant provisions of consensus Assembly resolutions 48/162 and 50/8. He strongly appealed that the proposal be considered very seriously. The Group was prepared to consider the draft with its partners to reach an agreement by the 1999 organizational session of the Council.
ALEKSANDRA DUDA (Poland) said her country's efforts since 1989 had enabled it to join the OECD and to enter the preparatory phase of joining the European Union. Subsequent to those developments, Poland had made the commitment of rendering support to developing countries. At the current state of negotiations concerning the number of seats in the Executive Board of the WFP for the Eastern European Group of States, her delegation considered it unacceptable to withdraw, for procedural reasons, from the previously taken decisions contained in resolutions 48/162 and 50/8.
The Council adopted draft decision II, on the review of the distribution of seats in the Executive Board of the WFP, without a vote.
Next, the Council considered the participation of NGOs in the work of the Commission on the Status of Women, and adopted draft decision III, on the matter, without a vote.
The Council then took up the question of elections for the Committee for Development Policy.
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SETH WINNICK (United States) said he wanted a brief explanation of the logic applied by the Secretary-General in choosing the list.
A representative of the Secretariat said a survey was undertaken within the Secretariat for suggestions for nominations in the areas of social and sustainable development. There were also private consultations undertaken outside the Secretariat. It found that there was not a favourable response to serve on the Committee. Many had reservations about serving on a pro bono basis. There was also concern about the function of the Committee under its new arrangements. Hence, for the sake of continuity it was decided to nominate some members for reappointment.
ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDURY (Bangladesh) said that it had not been possible to provide new talents and gender balance. He suggested, if possible, that the list of candidates be elected for two years, providing enough time to get a full Committee in January 2001, which would serve for a three-year term.
FERNANDO CHOMAR (Mozambique) said that the agreement would be a provisional one for the time being, but next time the term should be for three years.
The Council elected Eugenio B. Figueroa of Chile, Albert Fishlow of the United States, Leonid M. Grigoriev of the Russian Federation, Jayendra P. Nayak of India, Mari Elka Pangestu of Indonesia, Milivoje Panic of the United Kingdom, Eul Yong Park of the Republic of Korea, Udo Ernst Simonis of Germany, and Ruben Tansini of Uruguay. Reappointed were Maria Agusztinovics of Hungary, Maria Julia Alsogary of Argentina, Makhtar Diouf of Senegal, Essam El-Hinnawi of Egypt, Just Faaland of Norway, Shangquan Gao of China, Patrick Guillaumont of France, Ryokichi Hirono of Japan, Taher Kanaan of Jordan, Louka T. Katseli of Greece, Nguyuru H. I. Lipumba of the United Republic of Tanzania, Solita C. Monsod of the Philippines, Bishnodat Persaud of Guyana, Akilagpa Sawyerr of Ghana and Miguel Urrutia of Colombia.
They were elected for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 1999.
Next, for the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development, the Council elected Jon Ingimarsson of Iceland, Neculai Pavlovschi of Romania, Hernan Bravo Trejos of Costa Rica, Carlos Alberto Aguilar Molina of El Salvador, Markku Juhani Makela of Finland, Bernard Devin of France, Wilhelmus C. Turkenburg of the Netherlands, Carlos Augusto Saldivar of Paraguay, Malin Falkenmark of Sweden, Dmytro Victorovych Derogan of Ukraine, Raymond Marcio Wright of Jamaica, John Michael Matuszak of the United States, Zhang Guocheng of China, Sergey M. Natalchuk of the Russian Federation, Siripong Hungspreug of Thailand, Paul M. Kodzwa of Zimbabwe, Owen Macdonald Kankhulungo (Malawi) and Eddy Kofi Smith (Ghana) to the Committee for terms beginning on 1 January 1999.
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The representative of Bangladesh proposed another candidate, Ainun Nishat, to fill a vacancy from the Group of Asian States.
The representative of Iran proposed another candidate, Ahmad Kahrobaian, to fill a vacancy from the Group of Asian States.
Those candidates were subsequently elected subject to approval from the Group of Asian States.
For the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the representative of Indonesia proposed his country to fill a vacancy from the Group of Asian States.
Next, the Council elected Tunisia, Indonesia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Romania, Belarus, Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay, Germany, Belgium, Greece and Poland for four-year terms.
The Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Cuba, Jamaica, Brazil, Spain, United States, United Kingdom and Austria were elected for two-year terms.
For the Programme Coordination Board of the Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Council elected Gabon and the United Republic of Tanzania for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 1999. Election for the vacancy from the Group of Asian States was postponed.
For the Commission on Sustainable Development, since Finland was unable to fulfil its term of office on the Commission after 31 December, the Council elected Sweden, endorsed by the Western European and Other States Group, to complete the unexpired portion of Finland's term.
Next, the Council confirmed Jean-Marie Akpoue Brou (Côte d'Ivoire) and Alica Wertheimer Baletic (Croatia) for the Commission on Population and Development, and Edme Koffi (Côte d'Ivoire) for the Statistical Commission.
On the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the UNHCR, the Council postponed action on the draft decision until its next session.
The Council then adopted a draft resolution submitted by its Vice-President, Francesco Paolo Fulci (Italy), on implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227 and 52/12B (document E/1998/L.54). By the text, the Council decided to consider before the end of its organizational session in February 1999 the reports of the Secretary-General on restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields and on the "Joint exploratory review of cooperation between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions", as well as the report to be
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submitted by the Secretary-General in response to paragraph 69 of annex I of Assembly resolution 50/227.
Speaking after action, SETH WINNICK (United States) said the resolution adopted could have been much more. The Council over the last several years had played a leading role in bringing the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions closer together. That had been an extremely successful year in terms of meetings between the organizations. Given the world financial crisis, it was important that the organizations worked together to address pressing world problems. It was disappointing that the reports of the Secretary-General on the topic were not adopted more fully in the resolution. His delegation would prefer the Council to go further and faster on the issue in that regard.
JUAN SOMAVIA (Chile), President of the Council, said this had been a fruitful year in terms of meetings between the Bretton Woods institutions and the United Nations. That success pointed to the fact that the potential and possibility of working together had opened enormously. Events in the world were drawing those institutions together. The world was moving towards a new financial architecture and institutions needed to work together to find stable solutions for the future. No single international institution could really contribute to the stability of the world economy alone. It was odd that the Council had become reticent on the issue of working with the Bretton Woods institutions after complaining for years that more cooperation was needed. There should be a continued will of the Council to continue to work with the Bretton Woods institutions.
Next, the Council adopted draft decision IV, on the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
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