SECOND COMMITTEE, CONCLUDING SESSION, APPROVES TEXT URGING GREATER EFFORTS FOR CONCLUSION OF DOHA TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

Fifty-eighth General Assembly

Second Committee

40^th Meeting (AM)

SECOND COMMITTEE, CONCLUDING SESSION, APPROVES TEXT URGING GREATER

EFFORTS FOR CONCLUSION OF DOHA TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

Delegates Also Approve Drafts on External Debt,

Small Island States, Financing for Development, Biodiversity

Expressing concern over the setback to the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the General Assembly would stress the importance of redoubling efforts for the successful conclusion of the Doha negotiations by 1 January 2005, according to one of seven draft resolutions approved without a vote today as the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) concluded its session.

By other terms of that draft, on international trade and development, the Assembly would call on the WTO to reduce or eliminate high tariffs, tariff peaks and tariff escalation, as well as non-tariff barriers on non-agricultural products; substantially improve market access; reduce, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; substantially reduce trade-distorting domestic support in agriculture; and expeditiously adopt appropriate modalities for reducing commitments in agriculture negotiations.  It would also call on the WTO to seek an effective solution to problems reflected in the cotton initiative proposed by a group of African countries.

Another text, on external debt crisis and development, would have the Assembly emphasize that the international financial system, enhanced official and private external financing, official development assistance and foreign direct investment were key elements for a durable solution to external debt problems in developing countries.  It would also stress that sustainable debt financing was an important element in mobilizing resources for public and private investment, and that comprehensive national strategies to monitor and manage external liabilities embedded in domestic preconditions for debt sustainability were key to reducing national vulnerabilities.

The Assembly would, by further terms of that text, stress the need for all creditors to vigorously and expeditiously pursue debt-relief measures.  It would also stress the need to speedily and fully implement the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, which should be fully financed through additional resources; and consider measures to address any fundamental changes in the economic circumstances of those developing countries with unsustainable debt, including those caused by natural catastrophes, severe terms-of-trade shocks or conflict.

According to a draft resolution on the international financial system and development, the Assembly would recognize with concern that developing countries made net outward transfers of financial resources in 2002 for the sixth consecutive year, while underscoring the need for national and international measures to reverse that trend.  It would also stress the importance of strong domestic institutions to promote business activities and financial stability to achieve growth and development through sound macroeconomic policies and strong corporate, financial and banking regulatory systems.

Also by that text, the Assembly would underline the importance of promoting international financial stability and sustainable growth, with a view to the early identification of problems and risks; of providing adequate precautionary support for external crises; and of further improving the transparency of macroeconomic data and statistical information on international capital flows.  Further, it would emphasize the need to ensure the effective participation of developing countries and those with economies in transition in current efforts to reform the international financial architecture, as well as the effective and equitable participation of developing countries in the formulation of financial standards and codes.

By a draft on further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, the Assembly would decide that the International Meeting to Review Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States would be held from 30 August to 3 September 2004.  It would also welcome the offer by the Government of Mauritius to host the Meeting, and include a high-level segment to fully review implementation of the Programme of Action.

The Assembly would decide, by other terms, that the Meeting would seek renewed international political commitment, and focus on practical actions to further implement the Programme of Action.  It would also endorse the Economic and Social Council’s decision to convene an interregional preparatory meeting for small island developing States in Nassau, Bahamas, from 26 to 30 January 2004, as well as its decision to convene a preparatory meeting for the International Meeting from 14 to 16 April 2004, during the twelfth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development.

Other draft resolutions approved without a vote concerned the follow-up to and implementation of the outcome to the International Conference on Financing for Development; implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT); and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

And in its only recorded action -– by 146 votes in favour to 3 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, United States), with one abstention (Nauru) -- the Committee approved a draft decision on its draft programme of work.

Committee Chairmperson Iftekhar Chowdhury (Bangladesh) and Vice-Chairpersosns Irena Zubcevic (Croatia), Henri Raubenheimer (South Africa) and Ulrika Cronenberg-Mossberg (Sweden) introduced all the draft resolutions.

Mr. Chowdhury said in closing remarks that the Second Committee could no longer approach its work ideologically, and was now infusing its activities with fresh ideas from genuine human experience.  It must continuously strive to improve its programme of work, and temporary setbacks must never deter it from accomplishing its mandate.

Others speaking today included the representatives of Eygpt, United States, Morocco (on behalf of the Group of 77 and China), Italy (on behalf of the European Union), Mauritius (on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States), Russian Federation, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Republic of Korea and Benin.

The Second Committee will present its reports to the General Assembly plenary at a date and time to be announced.

Background

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to continue taking action on various draft resolutions and decisions before it.

By the terms of a draft on the international financial system and development (document A/C.2/58/L.17), the Assembly would stress the importance of cooperation among all countries and institutions to cope with financial instability, and of ensuring a strong and steady recovery.  Also by the text, it would express concern that developing countries posted outward financial transfers for the sixth consecutive year, reaching a record $192 billion in 2002, and underscore the need for national and international measures to reverse this trend.

Also by that text, the Assembly would stress the importance of strong domestic institutions to promote business activities, financial stability, growth and development through sound macroeconomic policies and strong corporate, financial and banking regulatory systems.  By further terms, it would underline the importance of promoting international financial stability and stabilizing short-term capital flows, as well as improving crisis prevention and the transparency of statistical information on international capital flows.

By other terms, the Assembly would emphasize the need to ensure developing countries fair and equitable participation in international decision-making and norm-setting for financial standards and codes, as well as to implement such codes in warding off financial crisis and contagion.  Also by the text, it would encourage the development of innovative public and private-sector development financing mechanisms, as well as urge the International Monetary Fund to urgently consider the proposal set forth in the Monterrey Consensus to allocate special drawing rights funding for development.

Another draft resolution, on external debt crisis and development (document A/C.2/58/L.18), would have the Assembly emphasize that an equitable international financial system and increased levels of official and private external financing, official development assistance and foreign direct investment are needed to resolve the external debt problems of developing countries.  It would also stress that debt sustainability depends upon several factors, such as the availability and cost of private and official financing, and underscore that no single indicator should be used to make judgments about debt sustainability.

By further terms of the draft, the Assembly would stress the need for all creditors to vigorously and expeditiously pursue debt relief measures.  It would stress the need to speedily implement the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt initiative, which should be fully financed by additional resources; reduce the unsustainable debt burden of developing countries through such actions as debt relief or cancellation; and ensure that resources provided for debt relief do not detract from official development assistance resources intended for developing countries.

Also by the text, the Assembly would emphasize the need to help bring about initial recovery in heavily indebted poor post-conflict countries, and call upon the international community to support efforts towards that end.  It would also stress the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of developing countries in debt management.

By a text on international trade and development (document A/C.2/58/L.32), the Assembly would stress the need to place developing-country concerns at the heart of the international trading system and revive their faith in the Doha work programme.  That draft would also have the Assembly call on World Trade Organization (WTO) members to redouble their efforts to achieve a speedy resolution of all outstanding implementation issues; a complete and irrevocable phase-out of all textile quotas by the end of 2004, and a commitment not to replace them with other protectionist measures; the prompt review of all provisions of special and differential treatment with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective, operational and mandatory; and the full reflection of special and differential treatment in new agreements.

In a like manner, the Assembly would call on the WTO to achieve a substantial reduction in high tariffs, tariff peaks and tariff escalation, the elimination of all forms of export subsidies and trade-distorting domestic support in agriculture, and to speedily adopt modalities for reduction commitments in agriculture negotiations with effective special and differential treatment; consider trade-related issues pertaining to the commodity sector in the multilateral trading system; and find an effective solution addressing the cotton initiative proposed by a group of African countries for eliminating cotton subsidies, and compensating affected low-income, cotton-producing countries for losses incurred in trade and export earnings.

In addition, the Assembly would call on the WTO to achieve substantial progress on meaningful market access in the movement of natural persons, and in priority areas to developing countries in the services sector; modalities for reduction or elimination commitments in negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products; agreement on measures to address developing-country concerns about the erosion of preferences and the effect of liberalization on their tariff revenues; and to review and eliminate anti-dumping, sanitary and phytosanitary standards and other trade-distorting measures against products from developing countries.

By terms of a draft on the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development (document A/C.2/58/L.39), the Assembly would request the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to propose to the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session an appropriate mechanism to address price fluctuations of commodities, as well as declining terms of trade and their impact on the development of developing countries.

Also by that text, the Assembly would request the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to develop a comprehensive, coherent and fair debt work-out mechanism.  The Assembly would, in addition, decide to convert the United Nations Ad Hoc Group of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters into an intergovernmental subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council, and request the Ad Hoc Group to develop a concrete proposal for the conversion at its eleventh session in December 2003.

By further terms, the Assembly would decide to hold the next High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development in 2005 at the ministerial level.  It would also decide to set up a Committee on Financing for Development as a supporting intergovernmental mechanism of the Council, to be made up of 15 representatives drawn from Member States on a rotating and geographically balanced basis.

According to a draft on follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development (document A/C.2/58/L.40), the Assembly would underline the importance of increased investment in basic economic and social infrastructure, social services and protection, including education, health, nutrition, shelter and social security programmes.  By other terms, it would urge governments to strengthen their efforts to achieve a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate, with proper contract enforcement and respect for property rights, embedded in sound macroeconomic policies and institutions.

Further by that draft, the Assembly would call for the full implementation of the commitments made in the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development.  It would request the Secretary-General to strengthen the Financing for Development Office by redeploying resources to enhance its activities, which should include organizing workshops, working parties and multi-stakeholder consultations with experts to examine impediments to mobilizing resources for international development and poverty alleviation; convening a public-private process to examine ways of stimulating private investment and financing by mitigating risk at the margin; and convening side events during General Assembly sessions and other forums to showcase success stories in implementing the Consensus.

By a draft on the Convention on Biological Diversity (document A/C.2/58/L.61), the Assembly would emphasize that effective implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention would require full support from parties and relevant international organizations, and urge parties to facilitate biosafety capacity-building in developing and transition countries, including development and strengthening national capacities for making the required information available to the Biosafety Clearing House.

The Assembly would, by other terms, encourage developed countries to contribute to the relevant trust funds of the Convention.  Also by the text, it would urge States parties to facilitate the technology transfer for effectively implementing the Convention.  Further, it would underline the need of developing and transition countries for increased financial and technical resources for implementing the Convention and Protocol, and welcome the successful and substantial third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility.

Another draft was on implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitats) (document A/C.2/58/L.64).  By that text, the Assembly would urge governments to promote pro-poor investments in services and infrastructure, particularly water and sanitation, to improve living environments, especially in slums and informal settlements.  It would also request UN-Habitat to strengthen its efforts to make the Cities Alliance initiative an effective means for implementing the Habitat Agenda’s twin goals –- namely, adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world.

Also by that draft, the Assembly would call for continued financial support to UN-Habitat through increased voluntary contributions to the Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation.  It would also invite the Secretary-General to incorporate the assessment of progress towards the target of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020 in his report for the 2005 review of the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.

By a draft on further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (document A/C.2/58/L.79), the Assembly would decide that the International Meeting to review implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States would be convened from 30 August to 3 September 2004, and would include a high-level segment to carry out a full and comprehensive review of the Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action.

The Assembly would welcome, by other terms, the offer of the Government of Mauritius to host the Meeting.  If deemed necessary by an open-ended preparatory meeting and funded from voluntary resources, the Assembly would decide to hold two days of information consultation in Mauritius on 28 and 29 August 2004.  It would also decide that the meeting would seek renewed international political commitment and focus on practical actions to further implement the Programme of Action.

Also by that text, the Assembly would endorse the Economic and Social Council’s decision to convene an interregional preparatory meeting for small island developing States in Nassau, Bahamas, from 26 to 30 January 2004.  It would endorse the Council’s decision to convene during its twelfth session a three-day preparatory meeting for the international meeting from 14 to 16 April 2004.

Draft Decisions before the Committee

By a draft decision on the draft provisional programme of work of the Second Committee for 2004 (document A/C.2/58/L.54), the Assembly would approve the Committee’s draft programme of work, and invite its Bureau to continue consulting with Member States towards ensuring a more practical and coherent organization of the Committee’s work, allowing better focus, visibility and participation.

Action on Draft Resolutions and Decisions

IFTEKHAR CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Second Committee Chairperson, introduced a draft on international trade and development (document A/C.2/58/L.80), which the Committee approved, without a vote, as orally amended, withdrawing a previous text (document A/C.2/58/L.32).

The representative of Egypt stressed the importance of having texts in all six official United Nations languages and thanked the Secretariat for performing that task for today’s meeting.

The representative of the United States expressed concern that the resolution recast aspects of the Doha Development Agenda.  It was not the General Assembly’s role to reinterpret the mandate of other international organizations. Nothing in the resolution added to or subtracted from the mandate agreed by WTO members at Doha, and only WTO members could make decisions about trade negotiations conducted within that organization.  Also, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) was the proper forum for discussing intellectual property issues related to traditional knowledge, and the United States did not view the draft’s language on traditional knowledge as having any binding effect.

MR. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairperson, then introduced a draft on the international financial system and development (document A/C.2/58/L.81), which was approved without a vote, replacing a previous text (document A/C.2/58/L.17).

Next, he introduced a draft on the external debt crisis and development (document A/C.2/58/L.82), which the Committee approved without a vote, as orally amended, withdrawing a previous draft (document A/C.2/58/L.18).

The representative of Morocco said that text did not reflect the draft approved in yesterday’s informal meeting, particularly paragraph 18.

MR. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairperson, took note of his statement.

The representative of Italy said the paragraphs reflected last year’s resolutions.

The representative of the United States said the draft resolutions on the international financial system and external debt dealt with issues that were far better addressed in such fora as the WTO, the International Monetary Foundation (IMF), the World Bank and regional development banks.  The Committee should refocus its efforts on two achievable goals –- namely, reviewing the challenges developing countries faced in tapping sufficient domestic and international financial resources for development; and signalling strong international support for developing-country efforts to strengthen domestic investment climates, sources of growth and capital, and other institutions supporting those aims.

The Committee, she continued, should encourage developing country efforts to tap existing and new market opportunities for export earnings; improve the level and use of domestic savings for productive investment; enhance access to external finance; bolster growth and productivity; and use aid to help leverage other financial resources.

The representative of Morocco, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said he could not share the view of the United States, which totally contradicted at least one conference, the Monterrey International Conference on Financing for Development, which had forged a partnership between developed and developing countries.  The Committee could not just deal solely with the responsibilities of developing countries.  Developed countries had assumed responsibilities geared towards ensuring an international environment conducive to development.

He said that asymmetries between developed and developing countries, particularly those regarding financing and markets, were largely due to policies in developed nations.  If developed countries were prepared to help with poverty eradication, they must open their markets to developing countries.  The United States had challenged the very outcome of the Monterrey Conference and the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development.

IRENA ZUBCEVIC (Croatia), Committee Vice-Chairperson, then introduced a draft resolution relating to the Convention on Biological Diversity (document A/C.2/58/L.61**), which the Committee approved without a vote, withdrawing a previous text (document A/C.2/58/L.11).

She then introduced a draft on further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small island Developing States (document A/C.2/58/L.79), which was approved without a vote in place of a previous text (document A/C.2/58/L.30).

The representative of Mauritius, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), said several critical issues had emerged in negotiating the text, which had not been included in the draft resolution.  For example, to avoid programme budgetary implications, the Alliance had compromised on several important proposals for the review process that required financial support, and had agreed to use voluntary contributions to finance vital aspects of the International Meeting and its preparatory activities.  That made the outcome of the Meeting –- which would contribute to the future of some 44 island States –- wholly dependent upon donor generosity.  Resources available in the trust fund were barely sufficient to ensure the participation of small island developing States, yet the same trust fund had to finance the participation of several developing countries, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations that were important AOSIS partners.  The international donor community was strongly urged to contribute to the voluntary trust fund.

He said that the two days of informal consultations called for in operative paragraph 6 of the text would be vital to finalizing preparations for the Meeting.  The three-day preparatory meeting, scheduled for 14 to 16 April 2004, during the twelfth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, would be the first and only formal encounter among partners to negotiate the draft outcome documents of the Meeting.  Finalizing preparations for an international conference of the scope and magnitude envisioned in only three days was unprecedented.  Other options should be explored, including the convening of the informal consultations called for in the text.

Finally, he underlined the call to strengthen the small island developing States Unit in the budget biennium 2004-2005.  It was expected that an additional permanent post would be created within the Unit during that biennium to assist with preparations for the International Meeting, as well as the further implementation of the outcomes from Mauritius.

The representative of the United States said her country had joined the consensus on the resolution’s rules of procedure, including rules sought by the European Union regarding participation in the Mauritius conference.  However, it could not support the draft resolution’s language in that regard, since it permitted the European Union to have enhanced observer status, as it had enjoyed at several other major conferences.  Such language should not be taken to indicate that the European Union had gained rights of participation equivalent to those of States.

Ms. ZUBCEVIC (Croatia), Committee Chairperson, then introduced a draft resolution on implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (document A/C.2/58/L.64**), which was approved without a vote, as orally revised.  The Committee then withdrew a previous text (document A/C.2/58/L.31).

HENRI RAUBENHEIMER (South Africa), Committee Vice-Chairperson, then introduced a draft on follow-up and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development (document A/C.2/58/L.83), which the Committee approved without a vote, as orally amended, replacing two earlier drafts (documents A/C.2/58/L.39 and A/C.2/58/L.40).

ULRIKA CRONENBERG-MOSSBERG (Sweden), Committee Vice-Chairperson, then introduced a draft decision on the draft provisional programme of work of the Second Committee for 2004 (document A/C.2/58/L.54/Rev.1).  The Committee decided to vote on the text.

Action

By a recorded vote of 146 in favour to 3 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, United States,) with one abstention (Nauru), the Committee approved the draft.

Explanation of Position after the Vote

The representative of the United States noted that the Secretary-General had requested in 1997 that States set up a mechanism to help update the programme of work, and dispense with mandates and activities that were no longer relevant.  Unfortunately, States had failed to deliver, even after seven years.

She said 5,879 reports had been issued over the biennium 2000-2001.  Many smaller States now found it practically impossible to play a meaningful role in even the most crucial activities of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.  Even larger countries found it increasingly difficult to keep track of –- let alone actively participate in –- the full range of annual meetings.  As a result of those pressures, the Secretary-General spoke of the need to curtail the volume of official meetings and documents.

This year, she said, the United States had attempted to make a small change that would have empowered the Secretary-General to use his own best judgement on thousands of reports called for in nearly every resolution.  Instead of requesting that he submit a report on the implementation of every Second Committee resolution, he could simply report on its implementation.  However, even in that small matter, the Committee had failed to agree.

She said that although the Committee had failed to make progress in aligning its work with the priorities and proven success strategies identified by its leaders, the mandate to do so still stood.  Its leaders had identified top development priorities and goals in the Millennium Declaration.  They had outlined the road from poverty to prosperity in the Monterrey Consensus, based on time-tested, proven success strategies.  At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg last year, leaders worldwide had agreed that eradicating poverty was the greatest global challenge facing the world today.  That must become the basis of the Second Committee’s work.

The representative of Italy, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said he had voted in favour of the draft, but was convinced that it must be reformed and updated.  The Italian delegation had tried from the beginning to stimulate discussion on how better to organize the programme of work, but had been confronted by parochial reactions.  The Committee must bow to the wind of change blowing through the United Nations.  States had noted the sterility, into which the Organization had fallen, and many had supported proposals to limit meetings and documentation, but little progress had been made.

The representative of the Russian Federation said he had also voted in favour of the draft, but stressed that the Committee’s meetings must become more focused on clusters of related items.  Russia was prepared to continue a dialogue with all parties to enhance the effectiveness of the Committee’s work.  Efforts must be made to strengthen the Committee as a global forum for discussing problems of development.  Its programme of work should not be adopted by a vote, and today’s vote must not set a precedent for the future.

The representative of Australia said he had voted in favour of the draft, but was disappointed that the programme of work would duplicate reporting and consideration of vital macroeconomic issues.  The Committee must continue its efforts to ensure a practical organization of its work.

The representative of Mexico said he had also voted in favour of the draft, and hoped the decision taken would lead to a revitalization of the Committee’s work.  He understood there would be consultations in the coming months to reflect on working methods, and that the Committee would continue to enhance its working methods in future.

The representative of Canada said he had voted in favour of the draft, but regretted that the decision had gone to the vote.  Consensus had been the rule in the Committee and should remain so.

General Statements

The representative of Morocco, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, expressed regret that it had been necessary to vote on the programme of work, since a vote was a serious precedent.  The Group of 77 had done their best to be open and flexible in their attempts to have the draft approved by consensus, but had been faced with rigid positions.  Several delegations had pointed to an excess of reports, but it was best to respect the decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly.  The Group could not accept any attempts to trivialize Second Committee issues.

The representative of the Republic of Korea said he was not happy with the programme of work, but it was the only draft that could be agreed upon.  The current draft was a small step in the right direction, and could have a great impact on United Nations reform.

The representative of Benin, speaking on behalf of the Least Developed Countries (LDCS), said he was happy to see the Committee attempt to streamline its work in accordance with the process of reform initiated by the Secretary-General.  Noting that the LDC issue was now considered a sub-theme, he said that no effort should be made to trivialize those countries.

Closing Remarks

Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairperson, said the Second Committee could no longer continue to approach its tasks in an ideological manner, and had largely succeeded in infusing its work with fresh ideas from genuine human experience.  The Committee must continuously strive to improve its programme of work, bearing in mind that its activities were important to both developed and developing countries.  Temporary setbacks must never deter the Committee from accomplishing its mandate.

ANNEX

Vote on Draft Programme of Work

The draft provisional resolution on the programme of work (document A/C.2/58/L.54/Rev.1) was approved by a recorded vote of 146 in favour to 3 against, with 1 abstention, as follows:

In favour:  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:  Israel, Marshall Islands, United States.

Abstain:  Nauru.

Absent:  Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Iraq, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Palau, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

* *** *