CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT TO BE HOSTED BY MEXICO; GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALSO TAKES ACTION ON JUNE SPECIAL SESSION ON HABITAT

Fifty-fifth General Assembly

Plenary

97^th Meeting (AM)

CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT TO BE HOSTED BY MEXICO; GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ALSO TAKES ACTION ON JUNE SPECIAL SESSION ON HABITAT

The General Assembly this morning adopted, without a vote, two resolutions regarding upcoming international events on financing for development and human settlements.

Acting on the recommendations of the Preparatory Committee for the High-Level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development, the Assembly adopted, without a vote, a resolution (document A/55/L.77) calling for that event to take the form of an international conference, under United Nations auspices, at the highest political level, including at the summit level.  It also accepted with gratitude the offer of Mexico to host the conference, the specific timing and location of which would be determined during the third session of the Preparatory Committee.

According to the text, the Preparatory Committee would hold its third session from 2 to 8 May, and its resumed third session -- for a period of a full week in October/November.  In preparation for that session, the governments were invited to submit, not later than 15 April, their initiatives or themes to be considered by the Preparatory Committee.  The Bureau of the Preparatory Committee was asked to explore ways and means to deepen the participation of all relevant stakeholders, including the civil society and the business sector, in the preparatory process.

Speaking on this agenda item, the representative of Denmark said that, as Co-Chair of the Preparatory Committee, he deeply appreciated the offer by Mexico to host the conference.  He trusted that Mexico would devote much energy and skill to the development of the conference.  He also thanked Kenya and other African delegations whose magnanimity allowed a decision to be taken on the Mexico offer.

The representative of Mexico said that the resolution adopted today constituted an important step forward in the preparatory process for the conference.  Mexico was honoured to host the event.  His Government was determined to contribute to a process of discussions and negotiations that was open and participatory and that was oriented to defining areas of convergence that would enable the entire international community to agree on significant changes in the operation of the world trade and financial systems.

By adopting, also without a vote, the second text before it (document A/55/L.78), the Assembly approved the recommendations of the Commission on Human Settlements acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the

General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on organizational arrangements for the Thematic Committee planned for June.

By the terms of the text, the Thematic Committee would hold five meetings in the period from 6 to 8 June, which would focus on the two main Habitat Agenda themes:  "adequate shelter for all" and "sustainable human settlements development in the urbanizing world".  The annex to the draft also includes information on the composition of the Bureau of the Thematic Committee.

The Assembly will continue its work at a date to be announced.

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