Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee

For Third United Nations Conference

 On Least Developed Countries

2^nd Meeting (PM)

FINAL PREPARATORY SESSION FOR LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES CONFERENCE MAKES PROGRESS,

BUT CONCLUDES WITHOUT COMPLETING DRAFT OUTCOME DOCUMENT

The Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee which is laying the groundwork for the forthcoming Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) concluded its third session this afternoon, hearing progress reports on negotiations on the final document to be adopted by the Brussels Conference scheduled from 14 to 20 May.

The Brussels Conference will assess the results of the programme of action adopted at the Second Conference on LDCs held in Paris in 1990.  It will also review international support measures for the sustainable development of those countries and their integration into the world economy.  The European Union is sponsoring the conference.

The representative of Norway, Chairperson of the first working group, said progress was achieved on the portions of the text concerned with issues such as enhancing productive capacities, role of trade in development and reducing vulnerability and protecting the environment.

The representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic told the meeting that there was progress on a provision of the draft programme of action covering the fostering of a people-centred policy framework and the building of human and institutional capacities.

Among its final actions this afternoon, the Committee adopted the draft provisional report on its third session, which began on Monday, 2 April.  It also heard a statement by a representative of a non-governmental organization, the second during the session.  

Reports by Chairmen of Working Groups

INGA MAGISTAD (Norway), Chairperson of Cluster One, said her working group, during its second reading of the texts, completed consideration of most of the issues for which it was responsible.  The issues were those related to building productive capacities to make globalization work for least developed countries.  There were very few brackets left in the text on enhancing the role of trade in development and reducing vulnerability, and in the text on protecting the environment.  There was still a lot of work to be done on mobilizing financial resources for least developed countries, she said.

ALOUNKEO KITTIKHOUN (Lao Democratic People’s Republic), Chairman of Cluster Two, said his working group was able to agree on most of the language of the texts

on two of its three issues -- fostering a people-centred policy framework, and building human and institutional capacities.  There was a lot of work to be done on the third text relating to good governance.  The working group had also cleared a large number of provisions in the introductory part of the draft programme of action.  He hoped the outstanding issues would be resolved at the conference in Brussels.

JACQUES SCAVEE (Belgium), Chairman of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee, expressed regret that time did not allow for review of arrangements for implementation, follow-up and monitoring and review of the draft programme of action.

The Committee formally agreed to the official transmission of the text of the draft programme of action to the Brussels Conference for finalization by its Committee of the Whole.   

Action on NGOs

The Committee then approved a request by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) without status in the Economic and Social Council for accreditation at the conference.  The extensive list of those organizations is contained in document A/CONF.191/IPC/CRP.7.

Statement by NGO

The Representative of the Liaison Committee for Development NGOs demanded complete debt cancellation for all the least developed countries.  The May conference should establish concrete deliverables, and countries should agree to give free market access to all LDC products.  In addition, donor countries should implement the official development assistance (ODA) target of 0.07 per cent of the global gross national product (GNP) for aid and between the 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent for LDCs.

She said that one very positive approach to gender mainstreaming that had been used in a growing number of African countries was the development of gender budgets.  That approach allowed partnerships between NGOs and governments and could lead to the allocation of resources for the most pressing needs of women and families.  The parties to the May conference should take over all responsibility for implementing the mainstreaming strategy, which should rest with the highest levels of governments and their organizations, including the United Nations.

She stressed that protection of workers was important for the domestic enabling environment.  The HIV/AIDS pandemic should be treated with urgency.  She therefore recommended that the May conference coordinate its efforts with the United Nations special session on HIV/AIDS to be held in June to address, among other things, prevention of the disease.  Non-governmental organizations also recommended that development partners immediately halt the sale of arms to least developed countries and called for harsh sanctions against those individuals, group and countries supplying weapons to those nations.

Structure of Conference

The Chairman then drew the attention of members to a final change to the structure and format of the conference that had been previously approved by the Committee.  The Bureau recommended the insertion of a panel on intellectual property in the interactive debate on the creation of wealth and intellectual property.  The Committee approved that recommendation.

Drawing of Lots for First Seat at Conference

Somalia was chosen to occupy the first seat of the conference.  All seating after that would follow the French alphabetical order.

Report on Progress of Conference Preparations by Host Country

HERMAN PORTOCARERO (Belgium) briefed the Committee on the preparations for the conference so far and the facilities and services that would be offered.

Adoption of Report

RICHARD T. DOGANI (United Republic of Tanzania), Rapporteur, introduced the draft report of the Committee (document A/CONF.191/IPC//L.7).

The Committee then adopted the report.

The Chairman informed the Committee that the report of the final proceeding would be completed under his authority.

The representatives of Iran (on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China), Nigeria, Sweden (on behalf of the European Union and associated States), Yemen, United States, and Japan all thanked the Chair, the Bureau and participants, and expressed hope that the conference would be a success and address the needs of LDCs.

Background

The 48 least developed countries, with a combined population of about 610 million, are said to be ill-equipped to develop their domestic economies which are vulnerable to external shocks or natural disasters.

The first session of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee, held from 24 to 28 July 2000, considered a draft provisional agenda and the draft provisional rules of procedure of the conference, as well as its organizational issues.  The second session, held from 5 to 9 February, examined the draft programme of action expected to be adopted at the conference.

The first resolution on the subject of the least developed countries was adopted at the UNCTAD II Conference in 1968, during which a provision for special measures in favour of those countries was included in the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade.  During the 1970s, it became evident, according to an UNCTAD document, that least developed countries were lagging further behind, and in some cases moving backwards.  It was decided that the fifth UNCTAD session should consider launching a comprehensive and substantially expanded programme of action for the 1980s.

The First United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries was convened from 1 to 14 September 1981 at which a Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for those countries was adopted with guidelines for domestic action to be complemented by international support measures.  However, despite major policy reforms initiated by many of them, and international support

measures, the economic situation of those countries as a whole worsened during the 1980s.

Lack of progress in the 1980s led to the convening by the General Assembly, upon the recommendation of UNCTAD VII, of the Second United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Paris in 1990, at which a Declaration and a Programme of Action was adopted.  In those documents, the international community committed itself to urgent and effective action, based on the principle of shared responsibility, to reverse the deterioration in the socio-economic situation in the least developed countries and to revitalize their growth and development.

A number of regional and other preparatory processes have taken place in the run-up to the Brussels Conference.

The UNCTAD Secretary-General Rubens Ricupero has been designated by the General Assembly as Secretary-General of the Conference, with John Cuddy, Acting Special Coordinator for LDCs, as Executive Secretary.

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