SECOND COMMITTEE HEARS INTRODUCTION OF TEXTS ON EXTERNAL DEBT, TRAINING AND RESEARCH, GLOBALIZATION AND INTERDEPENDENCE

Press Release
GA/EF/2942

SECOND COMMITTEE HEARS INTRODUCTION OF TEXTS ON EXTERNAL DEBT, TRAINING AND RESEARCH, GLOBALIZATION AND INTERDEPENDENCE

The General Assembly would request the Secretary-General to appoint an independent panel of experts, not exceeding 10, with proper geographical representation, to make a comprehensive assessment of the external debt problem and proposals for its solution, by one of three draft resolutions introduced by the representative of Nigeria, on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, this afternoon in the Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

By further terms of the text on enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problem of developing countries (document A/C.2/55/L.38), the Assembly would call for effective, equitable, development-oriented and durable solutions to external debt and debt-service burdens of developing countries, which could contribute substantially to the strengthening of the global economy and to the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development.

The Assembly would also call for the full and speedy implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Debt Initiative and stress the need for providing new and additional necessary resources by the donor community.

A draft resolution, on the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (document A/C.2/55/L.35), would have the Assembly reaffirm the importance of a coordinated United Nations system-wide approach to research and training, and underline the need for the United Nations training and research institutions to avoid duplication in their work.

It would also have the Assembly request the Board of Trustees of the Institute to intensify its efforts to attract experts from developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the preparation of the relevant training materials for its programmes and activities. Further, it would request the Secretary-General to supply the necessary offices to the Institute in Geneva and New York free of rental and maintenance costs as requested by the Board, taking into account that similar United Nations institutions enjoy such privileges.

By the terms of a draft resolution on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence (document A/C.2/55/L.36), the Assembly would re-emphasize the urgency of

Second Committee - 2 - Press Release GA/EF/2942 35th Meeting (PM) 20 November 2000

coordinated action by the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization (WTO) to ensure even and wide sharing in the benefits of globalization, taking into account the specific vulnerabilities, concerns and needs of developing countries.

The Assembly would also call for effective addressing of globalization through, inter alia, the democratization of international economic and financial policy decision-making, the integrated consideration of trade, finance, investment, technology transfer and development issues by international institutions, the reform of the international financial system and progress towards liberalization and enhanced market access in areas and for products of interest to developing countries.

In addition, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to establish a commission of eminent personalities with due regard to geographical representation to prepare, in close collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a comprehensive, analytical and action-oriented study on the impact of globalization. It would also ask the Secretary-General to suggest concrete measures or a framework to promote development in the context of globalization and interdependence and the role that the United Nations should play to this end.

Also this afternoon, the representative of Lebanon stated that if he had been present during the vote on the resolution on the permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, which took place on 15 November, he would have voted in favour of the text.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 22 November, to hear the introduction of, and take action on, a number of draft resolutions. In addition, subject to the conclusion of the resumed session of the Preparatory Committee for the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development, the Committee will also consider financing for development.

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