Economic and Social Council                                

2004 Organizational Session                                

10^th Meeting (AM)

economic and social council adopts resolutionS welcoming recommendations

 

of advisory groups on guinea-Bissau, burundi

Council Also Approves Theme of Strengthening

Coordination of UN Assistance for Humanitarian Segment of July Session

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) today adopted resolutions on Guinea-Bissau and Burundi in the context of assessing the work of the Ad Hoc Advisory Groups on African Countries Emerging from conflicts.

The Council also adopted the theme for the humanitarian affairs segment of its substantive session in July, as well as the themes for the panels.  The segment will be entitled “Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations:  present and future challenges”. The two panels will be:  a) “Strengthening preparedness and response to natural disasters, with an emphasis on capacity building”; and b) “Field-level coordination for the purpose of continuing the presence and operation of United Nations humanitarian assistance missions in higher risk environment”.

By the terms of the draft resolution on Guinea-Bissau (document E/2004/L.5), the Council welcomed the recommendations in the report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau.  It decided to extend its mandate until the Council’s substantive session in July, with the purpose of monitoring implementation of its recommendations, following closely the humanitarian situation and the economic and social conditions unfolding in the country, and reporting, as appropriate, to the Council at its substantive session in July. 

The Council also decided that the Group should contribute to the assessment of the ad hoc advisory groups in relation to lessons learned during the application of its mandate and the implementation of its recommendations.  It decided further that the Group should invite the participation in its work of the President of ECOSOC for 2004, the chairperson of the Group of Friends of Guinea-Bissau and the chairperson of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Security Council on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.

In its report, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau (document E/2004/10) recommended, among other things, that the Group further appeal to the donor community to increase emergency assistance to the country through contributions to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-managed Emergency Economic Management Fund. 

The Group cited among its contributions:  the design and proposal of a partnership that formed the framework for the promotion of relations between the Government and the international community; the creation of the Emergency Economic Management Fund; the close working relationship it established with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in support of Guinea-Bissau; and the increased interaction between ECOSOC and the Security Council on the situation.

Similarly welcoming the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Burundi by adopting another text (document E/2004/L.6), the Council asked the Group to:  continue to follow closely the humanitarian situation and economic and social conditions; to examine the transition from relief to development in Burundi and the way in which the international community supported the process; and to report, as appropriate, to the ECOSOC at its substantive session.

The Council decided that the Group should contribute to the assessment of the ad hoc advisory groups in relation to lessons learned during the application of its mandate and the implementation of its recommendations.  It also decided that the Group should invite the participation in its work of the ECOSOC President and the chairperson of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Security Council on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa. 

[The Group’s recommendations are contained in the following sections of its report:  Maintaining the momentum and consolidating the peace process; promoting stability; engaging in poverty alleviation and sustainable development; and reinforcing international partnership (document E/2004/11).]

Speaking after adoption of those drafts, the representatives of Burundi and Nigeria expressed appreciation for the Council’s adoption of the two resolutions and underscored the importance they attached to the Advisory Groups.

Following conclusion of that meeting this morning, the ECOSOC convened an informal meeting to assess the work of the Ad Hoc Advisory Groups on African countries emerging from conflicts.  ECOSOC President Marjatta Rasi of Finland chaired today’s meetings.

The Economic and Social Council will meet again at a date and time to be announced.

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