ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ENDORSES GRADUATION OF CAPE VERDE, MALDIVES FROM GROUP OF LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Economic and Social Council

2004 Resumed Substantive Session

53^rd Meeting (AM)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ENDORSES GRADUATION OF CAPE VERDE, MALDIVES

FROM GROUP OF LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Also Takes Action on Science and Technology for Development,

Committee on NGOs, ESCWA, Implementation of Action Programme for LDCs

Resuming its 2004 substantive session this morning, the Economic and Social Council endorsed the Committee on Development Policy’s recommendation to graduate the Maldives and Cape Verde from the list of least developed countries, after agreeing on a strategy to ensure the smooth transition of such graduating States.

Recommending, in addition, that implementation of the Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 be strengthened, the Council also endorsed resolutions related to science and technology for development and to forthcoming sessions of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO).

The recommendation to graduate the Maldives and Cape Verde, contained in a draft resolution on the report of the Committee on Development Policy (document E/2004/L.57), was endorsed by consensus, subsequent to the adoption, also by consensus, of a draft resolution entitled “Smooth transition strategy for countries graduating from the list of least developed countries” (document E/2004/L.56).

The transition process, the Council agreed, would comprise identification of a country meeting the criteria for graduation from the list of least developed countries for the first time by the Committee on Development Policy during its triennial review of that list, and submission of the Committee’s finding to the Economic and Social Council.  The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) would then be invited to prepare a vulnerability profile on the identified country.

At the Committee on Development Policy’s next triennial review, the recommendation for graduation would be reviewed and, if confirmed, the Committee would submit a recommendation to the Economic and Social Council, which would take action thereon at its next substantive session.

Graduation would become effective three years after the General Assembly’s decision to take note of the recommendation of the Committee for Development Policy.  During the three-year period, the country would remain on the list of least developed countries and would maintain the advantages associated with membership.  Also during that three-year period, the graduating country would be invited to prepare a transition strategy to adjust to the phasing-out of the advantages associated with membership on the list of least developed countries.

After the texts’ adoption, the representative of Maldives recalled the concerns that he had voiced against graduation, unless appropriate measures to ensure the sustainability of its development process were put in place.  However, the smooth transition strategy just adopted by the Council had provided the looked-for hope and confidence.  It was important to remain conscious that the realities on the ground and structural handicaps faced by his country, given its inherent vulnerabilities, would not disappear with graduation.  Maldives’ development partners should continue to stand by the country, even after graduation.

During the three-year transition period, he added, his Government hoped to engage actively with its development partners to elaborate the level of support and concessions that would be required after graduation, and to plan a smooth phase-out of benefits.  The true success of this work would be measured against the country’s success in achieving undisrupted sustained growth and development.

Cape Verde’s representative said the draft resolutions just adopted were well-balanced.  Graduation was a very complex issue, she said, and her Government considered that the graduation criteria should be revised to place greater emphasis on the vulnerability index, and special disadvantage and vulnerability taken into consideration.  There was wide recognition that the expectations created by globalization had not yet materialized for the majority of developing countries.  They continued to require support from the international community. For example, access to traditional markets should be maintained, and access to markets should be facilitated.

Cape Verde recognized its achievements in the sectors of health and education, democratic governance and the rule of law, she said, but felt that, while they had created conditions necessary to advance, they had not in themselves been sufficient.  Her country remained highly dependent on external aid.  To address that situation, a strategy to transform the country in the long-run was being implemented.  In conclusion, she reiterated her country’s gratitude to the United Nations system, and to its bilateral and multilateral partners, for support provided and stressed that Cape Verde counted on their continued support.

Making statements to express gratitude for the valuable and constructive work of the drafts’ facilitators, and others involved in their negotiation, were the representatives of Qatar, Benin, the Netherlands (on behalf of the European Union), the United States and Belgium.  In particular, the representative of the United States said the two countries’ graduation represented an important achievement for the Council, both in terms of underscoring the integrity of the least developed country list and the success of the two countries.

The Council also adopted by consensus a draft resolution (E/2004/L.55), by which it expressed concern over the still weak implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.  The text urged least developed countries and their bilateral and multilateral development partners to undertake increased efforts and to adopt speedy measures to create an enabling environment for the Programme’s implementation.  It also called upon the Secretary-General to take measures to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States and to submit an annual progress report on the Programme’s implementation in a more analytical and results-oriented way.

Regarding science and technology for development, the Council adopted, by consensus and as orally amended, a draft resolution contained in the report of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (document E/2004/31), by which it recommended, among other things, that national governments demonstrate their political commitment by increasing research and development expenditures in science and technology to at least one per cent of gross domestic product; increase investment in scientific and technical; adopt special measure to retain young and talented scientists and technologists, and to establish close ties with expatriate scientists and engineers; and raise public awareness on the importance of science and technology in development.

The Commission on Science and Technology for Development was requested to forge links between itself and national science and technology bodies in each country to promote networking, share national experiences, facilitate information flows and increase the impact of its work.  It was also requested to establish mechanisms to review national strategies for achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, to ensure that science and technology played a central role therein.

The Council also endorsed the Commission’s decision to select “Science and technology promotion, advice and application for the achievement of the internationally-agreed development goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration” as the substantive theme for the intersessional period 2004-2005.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, the representative of the Netherlands said that the Commission’s report had been studied with interest and that its efforts to focus its work on contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals were welcomed.  However, the report and resolution contained sweeping statements, and the Union wished to convey its concern that text could be interpreted as an attempt to expand the Commission’s mandate.  The Commission should conduct its work within its existing mandate and should avoid incurring any additional costs.

In other action, the Council adopted, by consensus, an oral decision to hold the twenty-third session of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in Damascus, Syria, in 2005, noting that all additional expenses for the hosting of the session would be born by the Government of Syria.  There would be no additional financial implications for the United Nations.

It also adopted, by consensus and as orally amended, a draft decision contained in the report of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (document E/2004/32), to set the dates of the Commission’s 2005 regular session from 5 to 18 January 2005, and of its resumed session from 9 to 20 May 2005.  The decision was taken on the understanding that conferences services for five days (5-7, 10 and 11 January 2005) would be provided on an as available basis.  It also approved the provisional agenda for the Commission’s 2005 session.

After adoption of that decision, the representative of Cuba expressed his dissatisfaction with the problem that had been created by inconsistencies in the work of the Secretariat.  There must be better integration between the departments of the Secretariat involved in the types of decisions taken today.

The Economic and Social Council will resume its 2004 substantive session at a time and date to be announced.

* *** *