ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL TAKES DECISIONS ON 2004 - 2005 WORK PROGRAMME, 2004 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL TAKES DECISIONS ON 2004 - 2005

WORK PROGRAMME, 2004 SUBSTANTIVE SESSION

Continuing its organizational session, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) this afternoon adopted a number of decisions regarding its programme of work for 2004-2005 and its 2004 substantive session.

In a roll-call vote, requested by the United States, of 36 in favour, to 1 against (United States), with 16 abstentions, the Council took note of the report of the thirty-fourth session of the Statistical Commission (documents/2003/24), approved the Commission’s provisional agenda and documentation for the thirty-fifth session, and decided that that session would be held in New York from 2 to 5 March.

In a general statement before the vote, Qatar’s representative, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, noted that concerns had been raised regarding the report of the Statistical Commission, some by those who spoke on behalf of its members.  He was particularly concerned because those issues related to a report, which had been adopted by consensus.  A suggestion had been made that the emphasis placed by the Commission on indicators for monitoring implementation of Millennium Development Goal 8 (global partnership for development) was not based on consensus among ECOSOC members.

He said that, in his view, that suggestion was not correct.  In that connection, he drew attention to General Assembly resolution 57/270B –- adopted after the thirty-fourth session of the Statistical Commission –- which stressed the need “to apply and further develop indicators on means of implementation to evaluate progress towards conference goals in creating an enabling environment for development”.

The Group of 77 would be most dismayed if there now was an attempt by delegations to also disassociate themselves from that resolution, he said.  The Group of 77 applauded the initiative by the Nordic countries to work to ensure that developed countries reported on their undertakings to fulfil Millennium Development Goal 8.  He urged the Statistical Commission to also address itself to that task with dispatch.

Speaking in explanation of vote before the vote, the United States’ representative said her delegation would vote against the decision.  In its recommendations concerning Millennium Goal 8, the Statistical Commission had undertaken to make pronouncements on issues outside its mandate.  Neither overall preparations for review, nor the prioritization of the Goals were within its scope of authority.  It was also inappropriate for the Commission to instruct a selected group of countries on reporting requirements.  The recommendations also did not reflect an agreed intergovernmental consensus on preparations for a review of progress in the implementation of the Goals in 2005.

The representative of Ireland (on behalf of the European Union) said that her delegation would abstain in the vote.  Nevertheless, she looked forward to participating in the thirty-fifth session of the Statistical Commission and would appreciate it if the Commission clarified certain aspects of the document in accordance with its mandate.  Ireland did not disassociate from resolution 57/270B of the Assembly and believed that all Member States should work toward the achievement of all Millennium Development Goals.

In other action, the Council decided that the theme of its substantive session’s item regional cooperation would be:  “Information Technology for Development:  A Regional Perspective”, following a short debate in which the representatives of Qatar (on behalf of the Group of 77), Ireland (on behalf of the European Union), Benin, Chile, Tunisia and the United States participated.

Speaking in explanation of position following action on the draft, the United States’ representative reiterated that the segment had been presented to the Council as an information panel, and she trusted it would be handled in that manner.  Ireland’s representative (on behalf of the European Union) said he had agreed to the adoption of the draft on the understanding of what had been explained by the Secretary of the Council.  [The Secretary said that the Council had before it a simple decision on the theme of the segment.  Once action had been taken, delegations had a right to make statements expressing their understanding of the issue.]  Qatar’s representative (on behalf of the Group of 77) reaffirmed that the Group accepted the theme on the understanding that the decision did not entail any other conditions.

As the Council turned to the work of its ad hoc advisory groups on countries emerging from conflict in Africa, Ireland’s representative, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, commended ECOSOC’s constructive engagement in Guinea-Bissau through the work of its Ad Hoc Advisory Group on that country and welcomed increasing interaction between the Security Council and ECOSOC in addressing the challenges of peace-building.  He was convinced that the Group continued to have an important role to play in assisting Guinea-Bissau and in encouraging the international community to remain engaged.  The European Union would, therefore, favour an extension of the mandate of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau.

He added that the country remained one of the poorest countries in the world, which needed stability to reduce poverty, spread stability in the region and integrate itself more closely into the regional and world economy.  Creation by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) of a multi-donor Emergency Economic Management Fund was an important step, and generous and urgent responses to it were required.

Speaking on Burundi, he said that, despite overall progress towards peace, the situation in Burundi remained fragile and the ceasefire was still not all-inclusive.  Peace and security could not be obtained as long as the FNL was not fully participating in the peace process.  An integrated army and police force and a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme would be crucial for a transition to peace.  The implementation of the Arusha Agreement and the preparation of elections must remain a priority.  It was critical that advances in the peace process were consolidated with an improvement of the social and economic situation.  Against that background, he said the establishment of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Burundi could not have come at a better time.

In other matters, the Council, noting that the Commission on Sustainable Development had adopted a multi-year programme of work, comprising implementation cycles (review year and policy year), decided to give, during its substantive session, further consideration to the term of the Commission’s Bureau for future sessions, after completion of the first two-year implementation cycle in 2005.  That draft decision was contained in document E/2004/L.4.

The Council also adopted the list of non-governmental organizations and other major groups, as contained in a note by the Secretariat (document E/2004/8), which were accredited to the World Summit on Sustainable Development for participation in the twelfth and thirteenth sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development.

The Council deferred consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the consolidated report on the work of the functional commissions of the ECOSOC in 2003 (documents E/2003/90 and Add.1).  It also deferred consideration of the report of the Committee for Development Policy, contained in document E/2003/33, as more time was needed to address the issue of the graduation of Maldives and Cape Verde from the list of Least Developed Countries.  A decision on the dates for the next meeting of the Social Forum was also postponed.

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