Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee

For Third United Nations Conference

 Of Least Developed Countries

2^nd Meeting (PM)

‘DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES INVOLVEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY, PRIVATE SECTOR, MEDIA,’

LDC CONFERENCE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TOLD

Development could no longer be viewed as the business of governments alone, President of the General Assembly Harri Holkeri (Finland) told the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries this afternoon as it continued its second session.

Development was the collective business of the peoples of the United Nations, he said.  Unless the civil society, the private sector, the media, lawmakers and academia got involved in the process, the international community would deprive itself of the enormous potential offered by those entities. 

Many of the recommendations in the draft programme of action on LDCs for 2001-2010 were derived from the outcomes of past United Nations Conferences and Summits.  All of those links provided an opportunity to adopt an integrated approach, where the Millennium Declaration became an overarching theme.  Translating hope into reality would require, among other things, efficient mechanisms for implementation and follow-up at all levels.  The United Nations system would have an important role to play. 

Several speakers in the general discussion that followed stressed the importance of concentrating on achievable goals and involving all the important actors, including civil society and the private sector.  Inter-agency participation in the process was of great importance, as well as assistance by the developed States.

Most delegates agreed that least developed countries themselves should play a key role in the development efforts and have a voice in the preparations for the Conference.  Good governance, peace and political, economic and social stability, as well as institution-building were important preconditions for the development of the LDCs, as was political will on the part of the industrialized countries, they said.

Statements were also made this afternoon by the representatives of the Republic of Korea, Mauritania, Algeria, Norway, and Maldives.

Representatives of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Labor

Organization (ILO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Postal Union, the International Trade Commission (ITC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also spoke.

The Preparatory Committee will meet again at a date to be announced.

Committee Work Programme

This afternoon, the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) was expected to conclude the opening part of its current session and begin the first formal reading of the draft programme of action.

Statements

President of the General Assembly, HARRY HOLKERI (Finland) said the work of the Committee was not a simple technical exercise of agreeing on a common text.  The collective work must engender a sense of hope for a better future in the minds of 700 million people living in LDCs.  The preparatory process must culminate in concrete actions at the Conference, that would help free those millions of people from poverty and deprivation.

As President of the Assembly, he was responsible for following up on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, he continued.  The third conference on LDCs would be the first major conference to take place after the Millennium Summit.  Together with other upcoming events, it was a major mechanism at the disposal of the General Assembly in implementing the commitments of the Declaration.

He said the Millennium Declaration had successfully articulated actions in three critical areas concerning development in LDCs -- trade, official development assistance (ODA) and debt -- where external support could make a major difference.  The world leaders had agreed upon the target of reducing by half the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015.  The other commitments in the Declaration concerning human rights, democracy, good governance, peace and security and protection of the vulnerable were equally important in accelerating development and eradicating poverty.  He was pleased that the draft programme of action captured all those dimensions of the Millennium Declaration by following a holistic and multi-stakeholder approach.  The comprehensive scope of the Declaration reinforced the need for an integrated and coordinated approach within the United Nations in the implementation of its commitments.

There was an urgent need to take action on LDCs, he said.  The primary responsibility in meeting the Millennium development targets rested on the shoulders of the LDC Governments themselves.  They must strengthen the range of national policies by putting people at the centre of activities, improving good governance and taking care of their own destiny.  On the other hand, the international community, the United Nations system and Member States must be prepared to assist in order to achieve those goals.

To create a meaningful dialogue, reciprocal cooperation and a more just world, it was necessary to walk an extra mile, he said.  It was necessary to go beyond rigid positions, to transcend the status quo.  That was being done for the poorest of the poor -- women, men and children living at the margin of existence.

He added that he wanted to echo the strong emphasis made in the draft programme of action on the importance of involving all stakeholders, nationally and internationally.  Development could no longer be viewed as the business of governments alone.  It was the collective business of the peoples of the United Nations.  Unless the civil society, the private sector, the media, lawmakers and academia got involved in the process, the international community would deprive itself of the enormous potential offered by those entities.  The non-governmental partners were also present in the preparatory process. 

The international community, in particular in the industrialized countries, must make stronger efforts to ensure the success of national policies of least developed countries, he said.  The fact that the European Union was hosting the Conference signaled the willingness of development partners to remain collectively engaged in the development of the LDCs.  It was particularly noteworthy that the policies and actions contained in the draft programme were based on the set of universal values enshrined in the Millennium Declaration.  Many of the recommendations of the draft were derived from the outcomes of major United Nations Conferences and Summits.  All of those linkages provided an opportunity to adopt and integrated approach, where the Millennium Declaration became an overarching theme.  Translating hope into reality would require, among other things, efficient mechanisms for implementation and follow-up at all levels.  The United Nations system would have an important role in that. 

JOERGEN ESTRUP, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), said he hoped to have the opportunity to update the Committee on UNIDO’s contribution to the Conference at a later time.  The Conference was of critical importance, as it constituted the first collective contribution of the international community following the Millenium Summit.

Globalization created opportunities to relieve poverty, but its benefits and costs were unevenly distributed, he said.  In expanding access to ideas, technology, goods, services and capital, globalization could help.  The economic stagnation of most LDCs was intrinsically linked to the insufficient attention paid to the development contribution of industry.  Productive capacities should take a prominent place in the Conference and draft programme.  The focus on the manufacturing sector in the programme should be sharpened.  The concept of globalization was rather narrowly defined and should be expanded.  UNIDO had elaborated detailed comments for Member States and would distribute them later in the day.

KIM BYUNG YUN (Republic of Korea), said the programme of action for LDCs for the 1990s had not seen the desired results.  The principles of shared responsibility and strengthened partnerships, as elaborated in that programme, were still valid in tackling today’s challenges.  The LDCs should continue to do their part in undertaking macroeconomic and structural reforms.  Their development partners also had an important role to play.

The inflow of external resources was needed to maintain sustainable growth in LDCs, he said.  Human resources development was also of utmost importance, as was institution-building.  The international community should provide the necessary support, through among other things, ODA.  He also stressed the need to close the digital divide, which was widening the gap between rich and poor.  Capital, technology and human resources should be provided to beef up the infrastructure of LDCs.  His country was making continued efforts to increase the volume of ODA to LDCs.  It was providing diverse programmes in supporting their socio-economic development.

Mr. OSAKWE, of the World Trade Organization (WTO), said his organization shared the principles and objectives contained in the draft programme of action.  In his opinion, meeting the goal of halving extreme poverty by 2015 required holding a new round of trade negotiations, which were indispensable for achieving high growth rates for all poor countries, including the LDCs.  It was important to take measures against protectionism and to allow for a frank dialogue, so that all countries could address any systemic imbalances, real or perceived. 

The Conference would be helpful in building the consensus for a new round of negotiations, he continued.  Particular point should be placed on the fifth commitment of the draft -- making globalization work for the LDCs.  Last year, the WTO had been given an opportunity to comment on the draft.  While some comments had been taken into consideration, there remained disagreement on some aspects.  Now the draft was in the hands of the international community.  To establish a consensus it was important to ensure a realistic and balanced approach. 

The draft programme of action must be a vital and strategic instrument of change, he said.  It should help alleviate poverty and achieve development of the LDCs, allowing them to take advantage of the international trading system. Last week's inter-agency meeting of the United Nations system had identified certain key areas that needed attention, including mainstreaming, inclusion of trade integration chapters in the relevant documents and ensuring that trade priority areas were included in main policy directions.  Six core agencies were also working on a pilot trade technical assistance initiative.  Progress made in the area of institutional integration of LDCs in the trade system included the completion of an electronic system to allow those who did not have physical representation in Geneva to participate in the work there.

Mr. OULD MOHAMED LEMINE (Mauritania) stressed the importance of today's meeting in preparation of the third conference on LDCs.  The draft needed to identify the main problems and determine the ways and means of improving the situation.  With assistance from the international community, LDCs should have responsibility for their own development.

It was also important to take into account the impact of globalization on the fragile economies of the least developed countries, he said.  Despite the fact that a favourable economic environment was needed for the LDCs to achieve their potential, there were problems of access to markets, the debt burden and reduction in ODA.  The Committee should emphasize the aspects of the international situation which were hampering the development of the LDCs.  Concrete practical objectives needed to be developed, and priorities should be reviewed and improved.

Mr. REDJEL (Algeria) said his delegation associated itself with the statement made this morning on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China.  Algeria firmly supported a programme based on dynamic partnership.  The programme should allow for the mobilization of resources for development.  His delegation supported the proposal to eliminate the foreign debt of LDCs. 

The LDCs had already made considerable efforts at structural reform, and they should be able to expect, among other things, access of their products to northern markets, he said.  South-south cooperation was also an important element in the development of LDCs, and it should be sustained by the international community.  In following the programme’s implementation, he supported the establishment of a mechanism to monitor progress. 

SAMIR RADWAN, International Labor Organization (ILO), said the ILO was fully engaged in the process and fully supported work for the Conference.  There was a very strong feeling that this time around the Conference should make a difference -– by getting away from long “wish lists” towards a real plan of action. 

The ILO had found the draft programme extremely comprehensive, but there was hardly any reference to the role of employment or job creation in the elimination of poverty.  To maximize the “poverty elasticity” of growth, it was necessary to improve the “employment elasticity” of growth.  The skill formation of the labor force must also be emphasized. 

BJORN SKOGMO (Norway) supported structuring the programme of action around concrete ideas.  In the short period before Brussels it was important to concentrate on the achievable plans.  Inter-agency participation in the process was of great importance, as well as involvement of other important stakeholders.  Good governance, peace and political, economic and social stability were important preconditions for the development of the LDCs.  One of the important tasks of the Preparatory Committee was to translate into reality the emerging consensus on the participation of the private sector.  The LDCs should continue to have primary responsibility for achieving development.

Turning to the draft before the Committee, he said the commitments must be made shorter and more focused.  Indicators of achievement were needed to measure implementation of obligations in both the LDCs and in developed countries.  Norway fully supported emphasis on social development.  It was also satisfying that the upcoming Conference had an emphasis on health.  The Brussels Conference must ensure clear commitments in combating HIV/AIDS, for the epidemic was no longer purely a health issue -- it was a development one.  

He said his delegation fully recognized that more assistance was needed for the LDCs to achieve progress.  A more favourable trade regime was important in that respect, as was finding a solution to the problem of declining ODA.  Adequate follow-up measures must be stressed at the intergovernmental, international and national levels.  It was crucial that LDCs themselves got involved in the discussion. 

S. L. N. RAO, Director, Strategic Planning and Coordination Division, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said that in the majority of LDCs, rates of population growth were not in balance with productive capacities and were rather incompatible with environmental sustainability.  The development of LDCs had also been hampered by gender inequality and the low level of women’s empowerment. 

In dealing with population and reproductive health issues and in strongly advocating for gender equality, the UNFPA had historically placed great emphasis on LDCs, he said.  They were members of the highest priority group in the Fund’s resource allocation system.  The Fund’s overall strategy in population and development was guided by the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (1994).  Further key actions endorsed by the General Assembly at the time of that Conference’s five-year review also guided the UNFPA’s strategy of assistance. 

The Fund was pleased to note that the draft programme of action already included commitments and actions that would address population and reproductive health needs of LDCs, as well as concerns regarding women’s empowerment.  Nonetheless, to further strengthen the population aspect of the draft and make it fully consistent with the language of previous United Nations conferences, he wished to circulate some suggestions to modify the text.

AYNUL HASAN, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said he was happy to report that, in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), ESCAP had held a meeting to formulate recommendations for revitalizing the economies of LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region.  The meeting had adopted recommendations on areas of vital concern to LDCs, addressing specific actions to be taken by LDCs and their development partners.  He had brought copies of the meeting’s report and he hoped it would taken into account in formulating the draft.

He said ESCAP felt the draft was comprehensive and well-focused -- it addressed the crucial issues, and provided major goals and targets in many critical areas.  While the programme had identified major issues, two other issues deserved further attention –- the modality for achieving objectives and targets, and the ownership modality of the programme of action.  

HUSSAIN SHIHAB (Maldives) said the draft before the Committee would be one of the main documents coming out of the Conference.  He informed the Committee that the first draft of the national programme of his country was ready and would be sent to the Secretariat as soon as possible. 

Turning to the main areas of attention, he said that some of them required additional details regarding their objectives and implementation.  Action by development partners was critical for success, and it should be clear from the document before the Committee.  The programme of action must address a multitude of developmental problems.  It should include measures with clear objectives and measurable targets.  One of the fundamental factors that had impeded implementation in the past was a lack of political will on behalf of the developed countries to live up to their part of the bargain.  He hoped the

situation would change in the future.  He looked forward with enthusiasm to the Conference, which, he hoped, would usher the era of sustainable development for all.

RU DELU of the United Nations Postal Union (UNPU) said it was important to draw attention to the role of postal services, which were often underestimated in development plans.  However, they were an important part of the countries' basic infrastructure.  He hoped that the development of postal services would be included in the programme of action.  The UNPU had carried out a study on the level of postal services in the LDCs, according to which the number of dispatches in the LDCs was only 1 per person annually, while in industrialized countries that indicator reached up to 400.  He hoped that the development of postal services would receive due attention of the Preparatory Committee.

ANANT VIJAY, International Trade Commission (ITC), said the ITC completely supported the creation of an all-encompassing plan of action for LDCs for the coming decade.  It was particularly dedicated to addressing the subject of deliverables at the round-table event to be held on the third day of the Conference.  Problems faced by entrepreneurs in LDCs together with possible solutions would be discussed. 

The objectives set out for the current action programme –- particularly the goal of reducing poverty by half by 2015 –- were laudable, he said.  The ITC had several decades of experience, which it stood ready to extend.   The draft could be further strengthened in the area of opening up new markets in a competitive way, with greater involvement of the private sector.

NASREDIN HAGELAMIN, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said the draft programme constituted an excellent framework for devising a global plan for LDCs to accelerate growth and development and reduce poverty.  However, the draft needed to address more adequately some issues related to agriculture and food security.  In that regard, he said that the role of rural development in the eradication of poverty and food insecurity was crucial.  In addition to agriculture, a thriving non-farm sector was needed for the well-being of rural communities and that should be highlighted in the text.

Capacity-building in agro-based industries as an important component of agriculture-led development must also be included in the text, he said.  The FAO also believed that increased investment and external assistance should be channeled to the agriculture sector of LDC economies. 

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