PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES CONFERENCE CONCLUDES CURRENT SESSION

Preparatory Committee for Landlocked

Developing Countries Conference

9^th Meeting (PM)*

PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES CONFERENCE

CONCLUDES CURRENT SESSION

Scheduled for 28 - 29 August in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Ministerial

Conference Will Negotiate Issues of Concern to Landlocked Developing Countries

Concluding its first five-day session, the Preparatory Committee for the first-ever United Nations Conference aimed at addressing the problems of landlocked developing countries reviewed progress achieved, agreed on the provisional rules of procedure for the Conference and adopted its report, summarizing this week’s proceedings. 

To be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 28-29 August, the Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor Community on Transit Transport is expected to negotiate systemic improvements for countries without access to the sea through cooperation with transit nations –- those situated between landlocked countries and the seas -- donors and multilateral agencies.  Among the issues to be addressed during the Conference are improvement of the infrastructure; transit policy issues; freedom of access to the sea; international trade and trade facilitation; and international support measures.

During its session, the Preparatory Committee worked on the draft outcome of the Conference, dealt with organizational matters and held a high-level panel discussion, which focused on transit transportation systems and the impact of geographical disadvantages on the socio-economic development of landlocked developing countries.  Introducing the Preparatory Committee’s report, its Rapporteur, Limakatso Motjope (Lesotho) said the discussion had been intellectually challenging, forward-looking and action-oriented.

Annexed to the Preparatory Committee’s report is the Chairman’s text of the draft outcome of the Conference.  In this regard, it was decided that the Preparatory Committee would further consider the text and take action on it at its second session to be held in Almaty on 27-29 August. 

Anwarul Chowdhury, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, and Secretary-General of the Conference, said that after a week of intensive deliberations, a remarkable achievement of the Preparatory Committee had been increased support, friendship and collaboration.  The Chairman’s text provided an excellent basis for future work.  Having identified the five priority areas -- fundamental transit policy issues, infrastructure development, international trade and trade facilitation, international support measures, and implementation -- one could expect very good results of the Conference.

Also commenting on the session, the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, Pier Benedetto Francese (Italy), said the Preparatory Committee’s work would contribute to efforts to alleviate the difficulties associated with transit transport systems.

In their concluding remarks, representatives of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (on behalf of Landlocked Developing Countries), Greece (on behalf of the European Union), Iran, Japan, Benin (in his capacity as Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau of the Least Developed Countries) and Nepal expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved during the session and reiterated their confidence that the Conference would benefit landlocked developing countries.  They hoped that the event would address those countries’ special needs and advance international partnerships and cooperation to alleviate the difficulties resulting from their geographical situation.  Also highlighted was the need to establish compensatory measures for landlocked countries that were also the least developed.

The representative of Kazakhstan assured the delegates that as a host country, Kazakhstan would do its best to ensure a successful outcome of the Conference.

During the discussion on the provisional rules of procedure –- which the Preparatory Committee recommended for adoption by the Conference –- questions were raised regarding the participation of non-governmental organizations and representatives of the financial sector in the work of the Conference.  In response, Mr. Chowdhury said that rule 64 of the provisional rules of procedure envisioned the participation as observers, of those non-governmental organizations that had consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.  As for the business community, an investors’ forum was being organized by his Office in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce.  It would be held separately from the Conference. 

He added that invitations had been sent to major regional and subregional organizations, which were very much part of the preparatory process and the Conference itself.

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*     The 5^th - 8^th Meetings were closed.