PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR HIGH-LEVEL EVENT ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT CONCLUDES ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION
Press Release
DEV/2244
PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR HIGH-LEVEL EVENT ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT CONCLUDES ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION
20000530The Preparatory Committee for the High-level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development this morning concluded its organizational session. It will begin its substantive work tomorrow.
The Committee decided that its second and third substantive sessions should be held respectively from 12 to 23 February 2001 and 30 April to 11 May 2001. It also took note of the programme of work on preparations for the Event. Oscar de Rojas, Executive Coordinator of the Financing for Development Secretariat, introduced the report of the Secretary-General (document A/AC.257/9).
A second report (document A/AC.257/8) covered consultations with institutional stakeholders - the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Issues raised this morning included preparations for participation in regional consultations, within which there would be hearings with representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the business sector. Another question discussed was how the visibility of the Event could be raised, including through media coverage and publicity.
There were suggestions that the Secretary-General might be asked to send letters to Member States with the relevant General Assembly resolution on the Event (A/RES/54/196), and/or a separate letter from him appealing for contributions to a trust fund for the Event. All those issues will be discussed at the forthcoming substantive session of the Preparatory Committee, with a decision to be taken on Friday.
Representatives of the United States, Nigeria (on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China), Portugal (for the European Union), Egypt, Cuba, Turkey, Indonesia, Guatemala, Czech Republic, Belarus, Venezuela, Sudan, St. Lucia, Kenya, Chile, New Zealand and Guyana also spoke.
[The Preparatory Committee was established by the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session to consider, based on the results of consultations held with relevant stakeholders, innovative ways and mechanisms to facilitate their active involvement in both the preparatory process and the high-level intergovernmental event (document A/RES/54/196).]
Preparatory Committee for High-Level - 2 - Press Release DEV/2244 Event on Financing for Development 30 May 2000 7h Meeting (AM)
The Preparatory Committee will begin its substantive work at 10.a.m. tomorrow, 31 May.
Preparatory Committee Work Programme
The Preparatory Committee for the High-level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development met this morning to resume consideration of the consultations of its Bureau with all relevant stakeholders on the modalities of their participation in the Event, as well as the creation of a joint task force.
Before the Committee is a report (document A/AC.357/8) dealing with consultations its Bureau had with institutional stakeholders - the World Bank, IMF, WTO and UNCTAD on the modalities for their participation. In a letter annexed to the report, Sven Sandstrom, Managing Director of the World Bank, names Mats Karlsson, Vice-President of the Bank for United Nations Affairs, as the focal point for ongoing consultations with the Bureau. The letter states that Mr. Karlsson (or his designate) would represent the Bank at the three proposed sessions of the Preparatory Committee.
The report indicates that it had not yet been possible for it to arrange the desired meeting of the Bureau and the Executive Board of the IMF, at which a discussion on possible modalities for the Funds participation in the financing for development process would take place.
The Bureau members had talks in Geneva on 19 May with the permanent representatives of the WTO and senior officials of its secretariat. The three- hour meeting was chaired by Kare Bryn of Norway, Chairman of the WTO General Council, and attended by more than 100 delegates from the Geneva missions of the WTO member States.
On the specific issue of design of modalities for an intergovernmental participation of the WTO in the financing for development process, most speakers said the matter required further study, especially given the sui generis, contractual nature of the WTO. It was suggested that the issue be referred to the WTO Committee on Trade and Development, which would report back to the General Council with recommendations.
Although the WTO secretariat did indicate that owing to financial considerations it might not be in a position to consider full-time secondment of staff to the New York Coordinating Secretariat, it expressed interest in interacting and staying in close touch with it.
While in Geneva, the Bureau had an in-depth exchange of views with the Chairman and other members of UNCTAD on how UNCTAD could further facilitate and enrich the process of financing for development. The Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General and other senior officials of the UNCTAD secretariat were also present. The discussions also highlighted UNCTADs important role in assisting developing countries in preparing for the financing for development deliberations, and in organizing the forthcoming consultations to be held at the regional level. Similar talks were held with officials of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The Bureau had begun to receive registration applications from non- governmental organizations, which would be referred to the membership of the Preparatory Committee. The coordinating secretariat had begun the work of categorizing and drawing up lists of the different types of private stakeholders to organize the hearings scheduled to take place in the last quarter of this year. The Bureau intended to consider in due course other possible modalities for participation and involvement of the private sector in the financing for development process.
Statements
OSCAR DE ROJAS, Executive Coordinator of the Financing for Development Secretariat, said that the process for participation of NGOs was clear: those already with Economic and Social Council accreditation had nothing further to do; they could participate freely in the preparatory process. NGOs wishing to participate but without Council accreditation, could apply to the Bureau at any time. The Preparatory Committee had even placed notices welcoming applications on its Web site. He said that research and academic institutions wishing to participate in the event would receive a less strenuous ad hoc accreditation, which could be provided quickly by the Bureau.
Several delegations asked questions about the modalities for participation of NGOs in the regional hearings recommended by the Bureau. There was concern that the accreditation process was not sufficiently explained in the documents before the Committee. Delegations also expressed the importance of active and broad NGO participation at the high-level event.
Many delegations pointed to the need for regional participation in the preparatory process. It was necessary to ensure the presence of representatives of all Member States within a particular region, to ensure that the hearings presented a fair and balanced approach to addressing their concerns. Several representatives wondered if there was any way that the regional meetings could be linked, so that the varied discussions could be shared or acted upon by members from other regions in a timely manner.
Mr. DE ROJAS said that there was currently a proposal to send three members of the Bureau and one member of the Secretariat to each of the five regional meetings. A final decision on that issue would be reached during the Committee's substantive session.
He also said that since the Preparatory Committee had made no decision as to the proposed outcome of regional meetings, it was understood that sufficient flexibility would be given to all regional participants to develop and present their own outcome documents, whether in the form of agreed conclusions or as executive summaries. The various regional commissions, in coordination with UNCTAD, would possibly oversee that process.
ASDA JAYANAMA (Thailand) Co-Chairman, said that at present, it appeared that the respective host countries would decide the issue of the participation of observers in the regional meetings.
Many delegations highlighted the importance of media participation in the upcoming high-level event. It was felt that increased media exposure would raise the visibility of the issue of financing for development within the United Nations community in general, but could, most importantly, spark interest in the Event among the wider international community. The Preparatory Committee might also learn publicity techniques from presentations given by representatives from the mass media. While it was acknowledged that a lack of funding might hamper awareness-raising campaigns, it might prove possible to explore avenues that required little or no funding.
Mr. DE ROJAS said that broad media participation had been considered, and that the Bureau would welcome any further input on the issue from delegations.
Mr. JAYANAMA welcomed the Committees spirited discussion about media participation in the Event. He said that activities not encumbered by financial concerns -- such as exposure on national news programmes, or presentations about the high-level event during the Spokesmans noon briefing at United Nations Headquarters -- would certainly not pose a problem. It was suggested that the Preparatory Committee look more closely at the issue during its substantive session.
The representative of Sudan proposed that the Preparatory Committee decide on the modalities of participation of civil society organizations in the Event.
A number of delegations said that the Committee had already approved guidelines on the subject and that there was no need for Sudans proposal. Sudan was asked to prepare a text for consideration by the Committee during its substantive session.
The representative of St. Lucia proposed that the Secretary-General should send letters to Member States with the text of the General Assembly resolution on the Event. Some delegations thought the letter should also contain an appeal to governments to contribute to the trust fund for financing for development.
The representative of Nigeria, speaking for the Group of 77 and China, said visibility of the preparatory process was of the essence. The Secretary-Generals letter with the resolution attached could also contain a reference to the agenda. The Department of Public Information could continue to give publicity to the Event. Publicity could be carried out in two ways: the Secretary-Generals letter with the resolution, or a second letter promoting the Event.
Preparatory Committee Membership
The 15 members of the Preparatory Committee are Jorgen Bojer (Denmark), Co- Chairman; Asda Jayanama (Thailand), Co-Chairman; Ivan Nimac (Croatia); Jana Simonova (Czech Republic); Hazem Fahmy (Egypt); Kwabena Osei-Danquah (Ghana); Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala); Hideaki Kobayashi (Japan); Shamshad Ahmad (Pakistan); Daul Matute (Peru); Julian Hunte (Saint Lucia); Mubarak Hussein Rahmtalla (Sudan); Ruth Jacoby (Sweden); Michael Gallagher (United States); and Naste Calovski (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).
During its resumed organizational session held in March, the Preparatory Committee approved its Bureau's recommendations on participation, both in the preparatory process and the Event. Those included the Bretton Woods institutions, the WTO, intergovernmental organizations and NGOs, specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations and other relevant organizations, as well as the business sector. It also approved recommendations for continued consultations
with the IMF and the WTO, and had requested that the Bureau convey to the World Bank its desire for the Bank's active participation in the preparatory work.
Concerning the participation of NGOs, the Preparatory Committee had requested the Bureau to submit for its approval the applications of those which did not already have consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, for accreditation to the Preparatory Committee.
The high-level intergovernmental event, scheduled to be held in 2001, would consider national, international and systemic issues of financing for development in the context of globalization and interdependence. It is also expected to address the mobilization of financial resources for full implementation of the outcome of major United Nations conferences and summits held during the past decade.
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