PREPARATORY BODY FOR ASSEMBLY"S SPECIAL SESSION ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES BEGINS RESUMED SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS

Press Release
ENV/DEV/516

PREPARATORY BODY FOR ASSEMBLY’S SPECIAL SESSION ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES BEGINS RESUMED SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS

There is agreement on approximately 99 per cent of the draft declaration scheduled to be submitted to the special session of the General Assembly for the review and appraisal of implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, the Commission on Sustainable Development was told this morning, as it resumed its work acting as the preparatory body for the Assembly session.

But the outstanding balance contains some knotty issues, John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda), facilitator of informal consultations, told the Commission. The special session is scheduled to take place at Headquarters on 27 and 28 September.

In the first meeting of the two-day resumed session, the preparatory body began discussions on the updated texts of the draft declaration, a state of progress document, and the recommendations of the Commission and its decisions approved at its previous meetings, held on 23 and 30 April this year.

Reporting on the outcome of the informal consultations since the conclusion of the last meeting of the Commission, Mr. Ashe also said that most of the draft’s 21 paragraphs had been agreed upon. The unresolved issues included a paragraph calling on the international community to provide adequate financial resources to support small island developing States -- in particular the most vulnerable ones. Also, the proposed paragraph on a series of broad initiatives for the programme of action was still under consideration.

Commenting on the state of progress and initiatives, he said that there was major disagreement on the right of small island developing States to regulate the importation of products containing non- biodegradable and hazardous substances and the transboundary movement of hazardous and radioactive wastes. On the positive side, there was little disagreement on resource mobilization and finance. While substantial progress had been achieved on language referring to

Preparatory body for special session - 2 - Press Release ENV/DEV/516 Of General Assembly 9 September 1999 1st Meeting (AM)

globalization and trade liberalization, there was disagreement on what could be requested and agreed upon. More work needed to done on regional monitoring and assessment and the participation of small island developing States in the Global Environment Outlook.

The representative of Guyana. speaking on behalf of "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said that while it was true that the brackets were the thorniest part of the draft, she was convinced that a solution would be found by tomorrow evening. The Group of 77 and China needed more time to consider the options available.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, the representative of Finland said that considerable progress had been achieved in the Union’s consultations held prior to today’s meeting. He also noted that further progress had been achieved in informal consultations held in New York. The Union had reached agreement on most major issues. Differences in the preparatory committee, however, were still significant and were of mutual concern. He drew attention to the need to continue work on the risks in transboundary shipments of hazardous waste across territorial boundaries. Such practices had implications on human health on a global level. His delegation was prepared to continue work on text that would satisfy mutual interests.

The representative of Samoa, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), emphasized the importance of the questions being negotiated that were of grave concern to his group. Small island States would endeavour to find solutions that were acceptable to all.

The Commission is scheduled to meet again at 3 p.m. today.

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