SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ACTING AS PREPARATORY BODY FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES TO RESUME WORK IN SEPTEMBER
Press Release
ENV/DEV/512
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ACTING AS PREPARATORY BODY FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES TO RESUME WORK IN SEPTEMBER
19990430 Recommendation among Texts Adopted As Current Phase of Deliberations ConcludesThe Commission on Sustainable Development would resume its work as the preparatory body for the General Assembly's upcoming special session to review implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Barbados, 1994), according to one of several draft texts acted on this morning.
In order to finish its work for the special session, which will be held on 27 and 28 September, the Commission recommended that the Assembly allow it to meet for two days in September in its capacity as preparatory committee.
Meeting this morning in that capacity, the Commission made that recommendation after two texts on small island developing States that are to be recommended for adoption by the special session were introduced by the coordinator, John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda), who stressed that a number of points had not yet been agreed upon.
Several speakers, including the representatives of Samoa, Saint Lucia, Marshall Islands and Guyana, for the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, stressed the need for a resumed preparatory process to continue consultations. The United States initially did not support that proposal, but after receiving clarification on a number of matters -- such as whether the resumed session was to be a meeting of the Commission, under which bureau and on which dates it would be held, and whether there were budgetary implications -- it joined the consensus.
__________ * The first meeting was held on 23 April (Press Release ENV/DEV/508).
Sustainable Development Commission - 2 - Press Release ENV/DEV/512 Acting as Preparatory Body 30 April 1999 2nd Meeting (AM)
In other action this morning, the Commission adopted the provisional agenda for the special session by acting on an orally amended conference room paper containing it and information on organizational matters for the special session (document E/CN.17/1999/PC/CRP.1*). Included among the organizational matters are decisions about the participation of speakers other than Member States.
By other actions, it took note of a letter from the President of the General Assembly to the Commission's Chairman proposing arrangements for the general debate, such as holding three meetings a day during the two-day session (document E/CN.17/1999/PC/CRP.2).
It also took note of an orally amended conference room paper containing an information note on the establishment of the list of speakers for the plenary debate in the special session (document E/CN.17/1999/PC/CRP.3*). That document contains information on subjects such as speakers' time limits and the inscription of observers in the list of speakers.
In addition, it adopted a document on arrangements for the accreditation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the special session, by which NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and those already accredited to the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, would be invited to participate in the special session (document E/CN.17/1999/PC/L.1).
Also this morning, the Commission adopted the report of its work as the preparatory committee during the seventh session (document E/CN.17/1999/PC/L.2).
The Commission was to meet again immediately after the adjournment of this meeting to take action on all outstanding matters before its seventh session.
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