ECOSOC CONCLUDES DISCUSSION ON REGIONAL COOPERATION

ECOSOC CONCLUDES DISCUSSION ON REGIONAL COOPERATION

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 20 July (UN Information Service) -- The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) this afternoon concluded its discussion on regional cooperation, with the coordinator of the United Nations regional commissions noting that the commissions' executive secretaries had all sought Council input on how effective the interaction was between global and regional perspectives on major development issues.

Presenting a report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields, Jose Antonio Ocampo, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the current coordinator of the five commissions, told the Council that the commissions' dual role sought to ensure that regionalism and globalism were complementary.  However, the United Nations system as a whole and its intergovernmental bodies had to explore more effective ways for the global and regional aspects of development to be considered together in a cohesive way.  At the regional level, the commissions provided forums for serious policy dialogue, analytical reports and normative work, as well as technical cooperation services in a cost-effective manner. 

It had become accepted, Mr. Ocampo said, that the economic and social dimension to peace building entailed social and economic policies that led to growth and development, and the commissions were pleased with the growing recognition of their comparative advantage in providing regional and subregional perspectives to operational activities.

The other regional commissions are the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Government delegations also took the floor, with some maintaining that improved coordination and cooperation between the United Nations system and the regional commissions could contribute better to the understanding by the United Nations agencies of the priorities in the respective regions, as well as better coordination among the agencies at the regional level, and improved ownership of regional programmes.  Other delegations praised the commissions' help in opening up transport corridors which could help economic development in all countries in the region.

Speaking from the floor were representatives of Iran (on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries), Belgium (on behalf of the European Union), Bahrain, Belarus, Romania, China, Russian Federation, United States, Nigeria and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).

The Council will meet again on Monday, 23 July, at 10 a.m. to continue its general segment and discuss the implementation of General Assembly resolutions.

Regional Cooperation

Under this agenda item, the Council has before it a report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields (documents E/2001/18 and Adds. 1-3) which highlights the main aspects of work of the respective commissions; primarily, it updates the Council on actions undertaken by the commissions with respect to the guidance given them by the Council in its resolution 1998/46, annex III.  Addendum 1 informs the Council on regional follow-up action during the period 2000-2001 to world conferences and other global meetings; addendum 2 reviews the arrangements for cooperation and coordination between the commissions and their partners and other intergovernmental bodies in the region; and addendum 3 contains resolutions and decisions emanating from the commissions' recent sessions that require action by the Council or are brought to its attention.

Statements

JUAN ANTONIO OCAMPO, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and current coordinator of the regional commissions, introducing the report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields (documents E/2001/18 and Adds. 1-3), said that the executive secretaries of the regional commissions had sought Council input on how effective the interaction was between global and regional perspectives on major development issues; the commissions' dual role sought to ensure that regionalism and globalism were complementary.  However, the United Nations system as a whole and its intergovernmental bodies had to explore more effective ways for the global and regional aspects of development to be considered together in a cohesive way.

At the regional level, Mr. Ocampo said, the commissions provided forums for serious policy dialogue, analytical reports and normative work, as well as technical cooperation services in a cost-effective manner.  It had become accepted that the economic and social dimension to peace building entailed social and economic policies that led to growth and development, and the commissions were pleased with the growing recognition of their comparative advantage in providing regional and subregional perspectives to operational activities.   The commissions also were continuing measures to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiency in their operations.

NASROLLAH K. KAMYAB (Iran), on behalf of the Group of 77, said the regional commissions could contribute enormously to the debate on the still unfolding process of globalization, particularly through their respective regional perspectives.  There were a number of interpretations about the opportunities and benefits of this process, as well as its challenges and adverse impacts on economic growth and development in developing countries.  However, there was a clear indication that globalization was leading to a widening gap between the rich and poor in nearly all nations, and between the least and most developed countries.  The existing data showed that the number of poor people living in poverty in most developing countries, as well as developing regions, had increased.  Debt servicing was putting a bigger burden on national budgets, which should be allocating funds to health, education and other social services.  In particular, the global exports of least developed countries had declined.  But globalization, with conducive and transparent international policies and environments, could contribute to better opportunities and benefits for the development of all countries.

He said follow-up of major conferences should be done in the context of regional priorities and needs, and the work programme of the regional commissions should be adjusted in order to enable regional countries to achieve those objectives.  Although there were some common challenges for regional commissions to cope with, the major issues and priorities in their respective regions should nevertheless constitute the work programme. Improved coordination and cooperation between the United Nations system and the regional commissions could contribute better to the understanding by the United Nations agencies of the priorities in the respective regions, as well as better coordination among the agencies at the regional level, and improved ownership of regional programmes.

JEAN-PAUL CHARLIER (Belgium), speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said the major United Nations conferences had clearly shown the usefulness and, indeed, the necessity of regional cooperation; during preparations for the conferences, the studies and consultations carried out at the regional level had ensured that the specific situations of each region were taken into consideration.  As a result, the approaches adopted were suitably tailored to circumstances and did not remain too abstract.  It was necessary to ask how best to incorporate the results of regional work into proceedings in New York and Geneva.  In the follow-up to major conferences, the regional level provided an ideal intermediary between the conferences and follow-up exercises within United Nations bodies.  The regional level was also important for implementation of many aspects of various action programmes, particularly with regard to analysis, research and technical cooperation.

The European Union felt strongly that the regional economic commissions were a reservoir of talent and expertise which was all too often under-exploited, and it welcomed the efforts some commissions had already made to revitalize, refocus and update their tasks.  In general, regional approaches were often the best answer to out-and-out globalization.

KHALID AL-KHALIFA (Bahrain) said his country believed in the importance of regional cooperation and had joined many regional organizations, among them ESCWA, which had contributed a great deal towards promoting regional cooperation.  During its last session, ESCWA had adopted many resolutions relevant to Western Asia and dealing with such matters as cooperation between States, energy, science, infrastructure, transportation and regional development.  Bahrain hoped that ECOSOC would adopt ESCWA's draft resolution on establishment of a consultative committee on scientific and technological development without a vote, as Bahrain believed the measure would contribute positively to regional cooperation.

Bahrain was delighted to see that ESCWA activities were focusing on Arab regional integration, on studying mechanisms, and on the review of the existing organizational structure of the Commission.  It hoped that the Commission would initiate more activities and would receive more support and commitment from the United Nations system.

VLADIMIR MALEVICH (Belarus) said his country considered that the globalization process did not hinder regional cooperation.  Referring to a report by the ECE, he said the strengthening of regional approaches was seen in many areas.  Regional approaches helped in areas such as transportation corridors and environmental protection.  In recent years, the majority of regional commissions had been involved in activities to implement inter- and intra-regional projects.  The regional commissions in recent years also had worked with other United Nations bodies.  In particular, Belarus noted ECE's efforts to solve problems that were outlined at the Millennium Summit. The ECE also worked with regional organizations to open up transport corridors, which helped spur economic development for all parties.  It was important to expand opportunities in transitional countries, and to help foster relationships with the private sector.

He noted that the expansion of the ECE's mandate had not been followed by the appropriate allocation of resources.  Belarus supported creating a special fund for the ECE so that it could help countries in transition deal with their problems.  Belarus was interested in expanding interaction with the ECE, and it had been pleased to receive the Executive Secretary of the Commission earlier this month.  It hoped the ECE would continue to make successful contributions to international forums.

PETRU DIMITRIU (Romania) said financial liberalization was continuing, along with the march of technology, leading to faster change; withdrawing behind walls was no longer viable.  The "closed" economic approach of the past had not worked in Eastern and Central Europe and a number of other regions.  The empires of today's world would be built by intelligence, creativity and the effective use of resources.  Globalization was often vilified, but it was necessary to examine why problems of globalization occurred; governments could perhaps learn from the efficient, focused operations of transnational corporations which had done well through globalization.  At a regional level, States could pursue innovative strategies to better use their resources; regionalization could aid international integration while mitigating its risks.

Countries should not be marginalized; there should be an effort to reconcile and marry national, regional and global economies.  Romania played a full role in many forms of regional cooperation and was working especially hard in the field of European economic integration.  For countries in transition, the process of enlargement of the European Union was a unique opportunity to finish the transition from planned-economy, authoritarian governments to market economies and democracy.

WU ZHENENG (China) said that among the five regional commissions, ESCAP had the widest area and the greatest economic differences between Member States.  There was a serious issue of poverty, and attention was needed from the international community.  Eight hundred million people lived on less than $1 a day in the region, comprising 67 per cent of the poor people of this world.  HIV/AIDS was also a problem -- 7 million people -- and that would wreak havoc on economic development in the future.  Still, little attention was being paid to the epidemic in this region. 

NICOLAI TCHOULKOV (Russian Federation) said the regional commissions had a special role to play in helping countries achieve economic growth, regional integration, and full entry into the globalized economy.  The commissions should accept a regional leadership role in coordinating activities based on United Nations system activities, such as meeting the goals set by the Millennium Declaration.  They also could enhance efforts to improve capacities for information and communications technology and other forms of technology, for establishing favourable frameworks for trade and investment, and for creating such benefits as transportation corridors.

The ECE and ESCAP had done commendable work in providing help to countries in transition.   Considering the limited financial capacities and the expanding workload faced by the regional commissions, the Russian Federation supported the idea of giving the ECE authority that would allow it to attract additional extra-budgetary resources.  However, the Russian Federation was somewhat concerned about certain counterproductive trends in ECE work, such as in shifting the focus of the ECE's annual session from reviews of activities and situations in the region to collections of panels and round tables; the Russian Federation supported keeping the ECE annual session's focus on intergovernmental dialogue.

DOUGLAS GRIFFITHS (United States) said regional commissions could help member States increase the benefits of globalization.  Countries less prepared to face the challenges and grasp the opportunities of globalization were realizing fewer benefits, and here the commissions could help by reviewing the lessons of regional success and failure and by analysing and disseminating best practices.  In recent months, the United States had participated in coordination sessions of the ECE, ECLAC, and ESCAP in the Conference on Least Developed Countries; the General Assembly’s special session on HIV/AIDS; and other meetings.  It strongly supported the commissions' work in these areas and was pleased the commissions were striving to absorb these added duties through their internal reform efforts.

The United States encouraged further reform, particularly streamlining of priority work areas.  This should include eliminating some activities, as resources were limited and the commissions were constantly asked to do more; there were necessarily some activities that should be phased out.  The United States challenged the regional commissions to focus on setting performance targets and clear objectives for their activities, and following this up with comprehensive analysis and evaluation.  Member States should join in helping the commissions to do this.

OLESEGUN AKINSANYA (Nigeria) said his country felt that regional cooperation and a regional approach were effective mechanisms to trigger development.  Nigeria welcomed the current efforts of the G-8 to allow some developing countries to brief them on the effectiveness of building regional organizations.  Globalization had created tremendous opportunities.  The world economy had witnessed record fast-growth rates.  However, it was fair to say the benefits had been uneven.  The regional commissions could play a vital role in creating a more even benefit.  Regional commissions could help regions pool their resources.

In the Western African subregion, there were success stories, as well as weaknesses.  Nigeria, together with 15 other countries, had expanded the process of integration of microeconomic coordination.  The economies of the subregion were being liberalized so that they could fully realize their potential.  At the national level, Nigeria had established a one-stop shopping area to centralize investment processes.  The New African Initiative and the endorsement of the new African Union were possible new dimensions, and Nigeria shared the optimism about the potential they held.  It was crucial that urgent and decisive action be taken by the international community to cancel foreign debt.  The United Nations should play an important role in designing these rules.  Humanity could not be failed.

M.T. BELLAMY, of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), said globalization brought many benefits, but it also increased the intensity of competition and the mobility of capital.  Regions should set out to promote effective strategies for local development to create stable businesses and jobs; education and vocational training efforts also should be enhanced to improve regional capabilities for competing in the global economy.  Social cohesion and inclusion had to be pursued -- these were a prerequisite for economic success, and not simply a consequence of development

Cooperation and coordination by different players could create synergy that resulted in balanced and stable development.  Education, training, job creation, social stability, technology transfer, respect for human rights, respect for labour rights, and respect for acceptable standards of health and social security were vital.  These things needed to be safeguarded by a social charter in all regions.  Respect for fundamental labour standards in all regions was a guarantee against the extreme forms of labour and worker exploitation, such as child labour.  It also protected workers against the unfair vagaries of economic competition and helped promote a fairer distribution of wealth.  HIV/AIDS also had to be addressed at a regional level.

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