GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE APPROVES REPORT, DRAFT RESOLUTION ON UNITED NATIONS DECADE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA

Ad Hoc Committee to Review

New Agenda for Development of Africa

PM Meeting

GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE APPROVES REPORT, DRAFT

RESOLUTION ON UNITED NATIONS DECADE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA

The Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole on the Final Review and Appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s (UN-NADAF) met this morning and approved its final draft report (document A/AC.251/L.3/Part II) as orally amended.

It also approved, as orally amended, a draft resolution on the final review and appraisal of UN-NADAF and support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).  The text will be submitted to the General Assembly for adoption.   

Introducing the draft resolution, the representative of South Africa made several amendments and commended the positive tone of negotiations on the text.

The Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee said it had been able to agree on a final text after seven days of tireless efforts.

Speaking after approval of the draft report, the representatives of the United States, Denmark (on behalf of the European Union) and Venezuela (on behalf of the Group of 77 Developing Nations and China) said that the negotiations, although long and difficult, had been characterized by a constructive spirit at all times.

Egypt’s representative, speaking on behalf of the African Group, expressed his appreciation to the Group of 77 and China for its solidarity with Africa.  He also thanked all other countries participating in the negotiations. 

The General Assembly first discussed NEPAD on 16 September, he said, noting that the initiative had come about after a series of international conferences, the last of which was the World Summit for Sustainable Development.  Looking forward to a decade of hope for Africa, he said the region had full ownership of the initiative.

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