ADOPTING THEME FOR HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF 2003 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL CONCLUDES ITS WORK FOR YEAR

Economic and Social Council

Resumed Substantive Session

45^th Meeting (PM)

ADOPTING THEME FOR HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF 2003 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION,

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL CONCLUDES ITS WORK FOR YEAR

The Economic and Social Council this afternoon concluded its work for

2002 by, among other things, adopting the theme “Promoting an integrated approach to rural development in developing countries for poverty eradication and sustainable development” for the high-level segment of its 2003 substantive session.

In addition, the theme for the coordination segment of the 2003 substantive session would be “The role of the Economic and Social Council in the integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcomes of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits”.

The Council also decided to allow, on an exceptional basis, its President for the 2002 session to preside over its next meeting, on the “Election of the Bureau”, to be held on 15 January 2003.  At that time, the newly-elected President would take over his functions.

Also this afternoon, the Council took note of the report of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations on its 2002 regular session, which is contained in documents E/2002/71 (Part I) and Corr.1 and E/2002/71 (Part II).

Further, the Council adopted a resolution on the report of the Statistical Commission (document E/2002/L.42), by which it requested a separate comprehensive report on the work related to chapter VI, section E, of the report.  The Commission should also provide information on basic indicators for the integrated and coordinated follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits at all levels, including a report on indicators of the means of implementation, to the Council's 2003 substantive session for consideration and guidance.

In adopting a resolution on public administration and development (document E/2002/L.41), the Council decided to review at its substantive session in July 2003, the request of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration that it meet annually, and requested the Secretary-General to endeavour to hold a meeting of that Committee in 2003.

The Council endorsed the Committee's recommendation that the future work of the United Nations Programme in Public Administration should devote priority assistance to the special needs of Africa and that it support initiatives undertaken in the context of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

Prior to its action on that text, the Council was informed that should it adopt the resolution, an additional amount of $43,500 would be required for the travel expenses of the experts.

Further, the Council elected Guyana to the Commission on Population and Development for a term expiring on 31 December 2004.

Also, Dumisani Shadrack Kumalo (South Africa) briefed the Council on the development of the Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, saying it was a means to bring together the international community, donors and the Government of Guinea-Bissau to address issues facing that country.

He noted that Guinea-Bissau had emerged from conflict in 1999, but the political, economic and social situation had forced the country to regress and it was sliding slowly back into conflict.  While the challenge for the United Nations was to determine what to do with such countries, the good news was that everyone involved in Guinea-Bissau wanted to help the country out of the conflict.

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