Economic and Social Council

2003 Organizational Session

4^th Meeting (PM)                    

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE

OF AD HOC ADVISORY GROUP ON GUINEA-BISSAU

The Economic and Social Council this afternoon extended the mandate of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau until the Council’s substantive session in July.

By adopting a resolution on the Group, introduced by the representative of Portugal, the Council further decided to invite the participation of the Permanent Representatives of Guatemala, in his capacity as Council President, of the Gambia, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Group of Friends of Guinea-Bissau, and of Angola, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Security Council on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.

The Council also requested the Secretary-General, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as other relevant United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to continue to assist the Group in accomplishing its mandate, and invited the Bretton Woods institutions to continue to cooperate to that end.

Further, the Council invited the Government of Guinea-Bissau, the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions, the donor community and the international community to give full consideration to the recommendations formulated by the Group and to take specific and concrete steps to give effect to the partnership approach, with a view to addressing the short-term needs and implementing a long-term programme of support.

The representative of Burundi, expressing satisfaction with the work of the Group, said the outcome gave hope to other African countries also emerging from conflict, Burundi among them.  He reminded the Council he had not received a formal answer to a letter he had written its President on 26 September 2002, in which he had asked formally that Burundi also receive the focused attention of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group.

Speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, the representative of Morocco, supporting Burundi’s request, said the Council should give a favourable follow-up to the matter.  The Council should also send a message welcoming the recent positive developments in the country.

The Council’s President, Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala), replied that the Bureau would take up the matter as soon as possible, after which it would refer the request to the Council.

Regarding the theme for the operational activities segment of its substantive session in July, the Council decided to continue consultations on that issue and return to it at its next organizational meeting. 

The Council also decided to consult further on its Millennium Award for good practices in promoting the implementation of internationally agreed development goals, including those in the Millennium Declaration.

The representatives of Greece (on behalf of the European Union and associated States), Egypt, France, Jamaica, Japan, United States and Russian Federation also made short interventions.

The Council will meet at a date to be announced.

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