PREPARATIONS ARE RESUMED FOR NEXT YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
| Press Release DEV/2343 |
Preparatory Committee for the
International Conference
on Financing for Development
1st Meeting (AM)
PREPARATIONS ARE RESUMED FOR NEXT YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
Delegates Are Told Session Is ‘Crucial’ in Plans
For Mexico Gathering to Advance Global Social and Humanitarian Goals
The Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Financing for Development began its resumed third session this morning with the consideration of several organizational matters.
The Conference, to be held from 18 to 22 March 2002 in Monterrey, Mexico, seeks to address broad development concerns, primarily, obstacles faced by developing countries in mobilizing the resources needed to finance their development and to fulfil the social and humanitarian goals set by global conferences of the past decade.
In opening remarks, Committee Co-Chair Ruth Jacoby (Sweden), said that the current session was of crucial importance as it would determine much of the substantial aspects of the upcoming Conference and urged everyone to maintain their commitment and determination in finding and examining all possible ways to finance development.
Following his election as Co-Chair, Shamshad Ahmad (Pakistan), noted that the issue was not one of developed countries versus developing countries. The objective was to build strong partnerships, to maximize cooperation and to work for a system that was both equitable and participatory.
Jana Simonova (Czech Republic), Chairman of the Bureau’s open-ended task force, introduced the proposals on specific format and rules of procedure for the Conference, contained in the fourth report of the Bureau. Also addressing the Committee were Oscar de Rojas, Executive Coordinator of the Financing for Development Coordinating Secretariat, and Therese Gastaut, Director of the Public Affairs Division, Department of Public Information.
Also this morning, the Committee elected Srgjan Kerim (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Chuchai Kasemsarn (Thailand) and Marco Balarezo (Peru) as Vice-Chairmen and adopted its organization of work.
In addition, the Committee decided to accredit two intergovernmental organizations –- the Asian Development Bank and the Common Fund for Commodities --
as well as 20 non-governmental organizations and eight business
Preparatory Committee for Conference - 1a - Press Realease DEV/2343
On Financing for Development 15 October 2001
1st Meeting (AM)
entities/organizations to the substantive preparatory process and the International Conference.
Statements on organizational matters were made this morning by the representatives of Thailand, Iran (on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China), Saint Lucia and Nepal.
Brief procedural comments were made by representatives of Belgium (on behalf of the European Union and associated States), Mexico, Syria, Sudan and Haiti.
The Committee will continue its session at 3 p.m. today.
Background
The Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Financing for Development began its resumed third session this morning. The third session has been split into two periods of one week each; the first part was held from 2 to 8 May and the current session is expected to end on 19 October.
On 23 February of this year, the General Assembly decided that the Conference itself would be held in Mexico in the first quarter of 2002. Representation would be at the highest political level, and the Conference will include a segment at the summit level. At its previous meeting, it was decided that the Conference would be held from 18 to 22 March 2002 in Monterey, Mexico.
Before the Preparatory Committee is the Fourth Report of its Bureau (document A/AC.257/29 and Add.1), which addresses modalities for participation of key institutional and non-institutional stakeholders, arrangements for the Conference, and other organizational matters.
According to the report, the Conference will be divided into three segments -- a segment for high-level officials, a ministerial segment and a summit segment. The Conference will be composed of seven Plenary meetings and twelve interactive round tables. There will be five plenary meetings at the summit segment, one plenary meeting at the ministerial segment and one plenary meeting at the high-level officials segment.
During Monday, 19 March 2002, there will be an International Business Forum that will take place separately from the official proceedings of the Conference. There will also be a Civil Society Forum, organized by the Organizing Committee for the non-governmental organization (NGO) Forum. The United Nations Department of Information (DPI) will be facilitating press evening conferences.
Also before the Committee is a note by the Secretary-General on the Update on activities planned or undertaken in the respective areas pursuant to GA resolution 55/245 B (A/AC.257/26). In that resolution of 25 July, 2001, the Assembly requested the Financing for Development Coordinating Secretariat to monitor and report on various activities being carried out in the context of the preparation for the Conference. The present note provides an update on activities planned or undertaken in the respective areas pursuant to that resolution.
In keeping with the request of the Secretary-General to promote public awareness on financing for development, the United Nations DPI has developed a comprehensive communication plan for the global awareness campaign, covering the critical period following the October session of the Preparatory Committee.
Among other activities, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will discuss the reform of the international financial architecture at its next session later this month, and it plans to hold a two-day seminar on market access in January 2002. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAI) is in the process of organizing an event on "Financing for Alleviation of Poverty and Food Insecurity" in the context of the financing for the development process. The event is expected to explore traditional and innovative mechanisms of financing.
Also before the Committee is a note by the secretariat on the list of NGOs recommended by the Bureau of the Committee for accreditation in the substantive preparatory process and the International Conference on Financing for Development (A/AC.257/10/Add.4).
That list includes these following organizations: Shelter Rights Initiative; Social Alert; Environment 2000 Foundation; Foundation for Democracy, Governance and Endowment; VIVAT International; Organization of Pakistani Women in Development; Coordination SUD; International Development Conference; Rural Area Development Programme; North-South Institute; Nautilus Institute; Medicus Mundi; State of the World Forum; Coordinadora Indegena Campesina de Agroforesteria Comunitaria; Consumer Unity and Trust Society; United Nations Association Dominican Republic; Asociacion Lola Mora; Network Institute for Global Democratization; Hydra Project International; and La Liga Policy Institute.
The committee also had before it a list of business entities/organizations recommended by the bureau for accreditation in the substantive preparatory process and the Conference (A/AC.257/30).
That list includes these organizations: Samuels Associates; Money Matters Institute; Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services, Limited; CIEMEX-WEFA; Institute of Canadian Bankers; Soros Fund Management; Monte Cristo Investments, Inc.; and Bangladesh Association for Development of Trade and Finance.
The Committee also had before it a proposed organization of work for its resumed third session (A/AC.257/L.7), as well as a provisional annotated agenda and organization of work (A/AC.257/21).
Statements
RUTH JACOBY (Sweden), Co-Chair of the Committee, said the current session was of crucial importance as it would determine much of the substantial aspects of the upcoming Conference. She urged all those involved to keep up their commitment and determination in finding and examining all possible ways to finance development. She hoped that the Committee would make substantial progress in the current session.
Following his election as Co-Chairman, SHAMSHAD AHMAD (Pakistan) thanked the Committee, and said everyone had to work as a team. It was not a North/South matter, or one of developed countries versus developing countries. Rather, it was a collective task to address the formidable challenges being faced today. The objective was to build strong partnerships, maximize cooperation and work for a system that was both equitable and participatory. The Conference was not an end in itself and financing for development was not an event but a continual process.
CHUCHAI KASEMSARN (Thailand) thanked the Committee for electing him to the Bureau as Vice-Chairman and pledged his full cooperation to the work of the Committee.
JANA SIMONOVA (Czech Republic), Chairman of the Bureau’s open-ended task force, introduced the proposals on specific format and rules of procedure of the Conference, which were contained in the fourth report of the Bureau. The format, she said, was designed for intergovernmental deliberations of a broad cross-sectoral topic, which embraced development, finance and trade issues and required the participation of the respective ministries. At the same time, it was designed to reflect the innovative nature of the Financing For Development process, particularly the fact that a number of various stakeholders had been involved in the entire preparatory process.
She said that as previously decided, the Conference would be divided into three segments –- a high-level segment, ministerial segment and summit. At each segment, a different combination of plenary meetings and interactive round tables was scheduled. Unfortunately, the issue of whether there should be specific themes for discussion at the ministerial round tables had not been resolved yet. That issue required further consideration and a decision would be taken in January 2002. The Bureau decided that the theme of the round tables at the summit level would be “International Conference on Financing for Development: looking ahead”.
Turning to the rules of procedure, she said the Bureau was submitting to the Committee a proposal that was based on the rules of procedure commonly used for United Nations conferences with some minor changes. First, the Bureau was proposing that the General Committee be composed of the President, 23 Vice-Presidents and a rapporteur, making a total of 25 members, whereby each region would have five representatives in the General Committee. Also, the Bureau added rules 64 and 65 to specify participation of NGOs and business sector entities and it slightly amended rule 67 to provide for an equal treatment to both civil society and business sector entities.
She added that many side events were planned separate from the official proceedings of the Conference, including an International Business Forum and a Civil Society Forum.
OSCAR DE ROJAS, Executive Coordinator of the Financing for Development Coordinating Secretariat, introduced the report on the update on activities planned or undertaken in the respective areas pursuant to General Assembly resolution 55/245 B. He said that a number of countries had responded to the invitation to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to use the Financing For Development Trust Fund. UNCTAD had prepared a list of events they intended to put together. In addition, several funds and programmes, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the FAO and the WFP, had also envisaged a number of activities, which were also mentioned in the report.
Turning to civil society, he said that a questionnaire had been sent to various civil society groups on their activities in the financing for development process and their responses were also contained in the report. In addition, the activities of the business sector entities were also included. Three such entities were in the process of organizing the International Business Forum, to be held in Monterrey during the Conference.
THERESE GASTAUT, Director of the Public Affairs Division of the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), speaking on the report on General Assembly resolution 55/245 B, introduced a number of DPI initiatives to raise global public awareness of the Conference and its goals. She began by inviting the Co-Chairs to unveil the official poster for the Conference.
She said the Conference would be only one stage in the financing for development process. However, the topic of financing for development was not an easy headliner so there would have to be additional efforts to mobilize interest in the topic. The DPI had organized the production of basic publicity materials for worldwide consumption. Among those materials were a brochure on the Conference, a multilingual poster and the Web site. There would also be a press kit, and radio and television broadcasts, and the Conference would be highlighted in the promotional programme “the United Nations Works”.
She said the DPI would also mobilize interest in the Conference by the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as by governmental and non-governmental organizations. All delegations should encourage, within the appropriate mechanisms within their countries, the broadest possible publicity for Financing For Development. Working together, all actors would be able to have a true “opinion movement” accompany the Conference and contribute to its success.
SHAMSHAD AHMAD (Pakistan), Committee Co-Chair, said he welcomed the actions on the part of the DPI in seeking to put the important process of financing for development on the global media screen. Until now that process had been altogether missing. There was time and determination now to clarify many things in the minds of people who may have doubts about the integrity and goals of the Conference. The DPI had an important responsibility to clarify and underscore the importance of the process, which was meant to lead the world toward new patterns of cooperation for development. The Secretary-General also must draw attention to the goals of the Conference. There could be no better person to put that item on the global agenda.
SONIA R. LEONCE (Saint Lucia) asked whether other stakeholders had been approached, so that the task force on information could be more representative. Also, she noted that much publicity had been given to the report of the high-level panel on financing for development, which was only one input of many inputs to the process. She asked about publicity also being given to the other various inputs. She also asked for clarification on the themes represented on the poster, which was just unveiled.
Responding to those questions, Ms. GASTAUT said that the working group held its first meeting last Thursday and had invited information officers from all the organizations within the United Nations system –- about 30. A video-conference was held to enable the participation of the information heads of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the UNCTAD, among others. The group would continue to meet once a month.
On the publicity given to the high-level panel’s report, she assured delegates that importance would be given to all the contributions to the Financing for Development process. The panel had provided a good opportunity to publicize the process as it consisted of several high-level personalities in the field of finance and economics.
She said the three planets represented on the poster were meant to symbolize that financing for development was a process which required partnership and emphasized the interdependence of the continents.
Mr. ZARIE ZARE (Iran), speaking for the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, asked whether any endeavours had been undertaken to give the various stakeholders –- NGOs, business sector and civil society groups –- space on the Financing for Development Web site to express their views. He also stressed that equal attention should be given to all inputs that contributed to the process.
BIMAL PRASAD KOIRALA (Nepal) said that financing for development was very important, particularly to the least developed countries. The final outcome should be a departure from the usual rhetoric and contain concrete measures. The public awareness campaign would not be effective without knowing what the final outcome would entail.
Ms. GASTAUT said that the publication, “UN Chronicle” would also be used to spread information on the process. The next issue would highlight the current presidency of the European Union’s views on the financing for development. An upcoming issue of the publication would do the same for the chairmanship of the Group of 77.
With regard to putting the views of other stakeholders on the United Nations Financing for Development Web site, she said that the Web site featured official discussions and did not contain interactive areas. However, the Department would look into the use of a “chat room” format, as has been done during the special session on HIV/AIDS.
Ms. JACOBY suggested giving consideration to how the Committee could enrich the work of the DPI in its awareness campaign. If the campaign were to be successful, it would require the support and participation of members of the Committee.
EDMUND CAIN, Director of the Carter Center in the United States, said the Center planned to hold a high-level forum on financing for development to be held in February of 2002, in preparation for the Conference. The forum would be co-chaired by former United States President Jimmy Carter and former United States Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin. The forum would include a number of other United States policy-makers and members of Congress.
He said the forum would draw attention to the challenges faced in the development processes. There were clearly major disagreements and a reluctance of some partners to cooperate in those processes. There was a need to build on progress made so far, and in that regard the Center had made a comprehensive assessment of good practices based on the experience of four countries. Policies in regard to trade, debt relief and corruption were analyzed, as well as the extent to which those policies were nationally owned and driven.
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