Fifty-Ninth General Assembly

Second Committee

35^th Meeting (AM)

delegates stress need for increased funding to help close digital divide

as second committee concludes debate on ict for development

Eight Draft Resolutions Introduced on WideRange of Agenda Items

The international community must increase the funding of information and communication technologies (ICT) for development in order to close the digital divide between the North and the South and to make ICT an effective poverty-fighting tool in the developing world, several representatives said this morning as the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) concluded its discussion on information and communication technologies for development.

Burkina Faso’s representative said his country was attempting to make good use of ICT for development, expanding the national telephone network to rural areas and building tele-centres throughout the country, including at universities.  Like many developing countries, however, Burkina Faso needed greater financial support to develop technologies and skills.  Hopefully, the work of the United Nations ICT Task Force would be transparent and geared towards helping countries in need.

Nepal’s delegate said ICT was essential for the creation of a world information society and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.  Information and communication technologies development was a national priority in Nepal, where ICT education was being incorporated into grade school and university curricula, generating awareness and usage throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas.  The United Nations could play a major role in developing and bringing those technologies to the world’s “have nots”.

Concluding also its discussion on training and research, the Committee heard Ghana’s representative call attention to the chequered history of the United Nations University-Institute for National Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA).  Its mission was to strengthen the capacity of Africa’s universities and research institutions to produce well-trained, well-equipped and motivated individuals who would be capable of developing, adapting and disseminating technologies to advance food security and promote conservation, as well as the efficient use of natural resources.

The list of UNU-INRA’s core activities was as impressive as it was challenging to implement, he said, adding that nothing short of a doubling of the Institute’s current budget would bring it anywhere close to fulfilling its mission.  Additional resources would, among other things:  accelerate the establishment of UNU-INRA operating units throughout Africa; empower many more African academics, scholars and scientists to conduct critical research and training relating to food security and improved land and plant-biodiversity management; and enable the Institute to provide information technology training to eliminate the intellectual isolation of scientists, scholars and academics working in African institutions.

Pakistan’s representative, described the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) as an important forum for coordinating United Nations approaches in that field.  However, the Organization still did not provide the Institute with a rent-free space, though it continued to give free training facilities to Member States.  Hopefully, the General Assembly would send a clear signal that the Institute should be provided with rent-free and maintenance-free office space.

In other business, the Committee heard the introduction of eight draft resolutions relating to:  humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation of Ethiopia; assistance to Mozambique; humanitarian assistance to Serbia and Montenegro; permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources; the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries; actions to address the needs and problems of landlocked developing countries; the United Nations University; and international assistance for Angola.

Introducing the draft resolutions were representatives of Ethiopia, Gambia, Serbia and Montenegro, Egypt, Qatar (on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Japan and Angola.

Representatives of Belarus and Japan made statements during the discussion on ICT for development and training and research.  The Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) also spoke.

The Second Committee will meet again at a date and time to be announced.

Background

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to hear the introduction of draft resolutions relating to humanitarian and disaster relief, groups of countries in special situations, and permanent sovereignty of Arab peoples in occupied territories over their natural resources.  It was also expected to conclude its discussion of information and communication technologies, and training and research.  (For background information, see Press Release GA/EF/3096 of 16 November.)

Introduction of Draft Resolutions

TERUNEH ZENNA (Ethiopia), introducing a draft resolution on humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation for his country (document A/C.2/59/L.39), said the text called on Member States, the United Nations and other relevant organizations to respond to the joint appeal for 2005.  Regarding the underlying causes of food insecurity in the country, the draft aimed to support efforts to break Ethiopia’s cycle of food-aid dependency in the next three to five years so that its people could engage in constructive activity.

CRISPIN GREY-JOHNSON (Gambia) introduced a draft on assistance to Mozambique (document A/C.2/59/L.33), saying it provided the legal and political framework for assistance to that country.  The text focused on humanitarian issues, while presenting the main political, economic and social challenges facing Mozambique.  Already prone to a wide range of natural disasters, the country was also threatened by HIV/AIDS and food insecurity.  Humanitarian aid must include a development dimension to end Mozambique’s vulnerability and dependence.

DRAGANA IVANOVIC (Serbia and Montenegro) introduced a text on humanitarian assistance to her country (document A/C.2/59/L.36), noting that it was burdened with 350,000 refugees and 230,000 internally displaced persons.  The country required financial assistance in order to implement its National Strategy for Resolving the Problems of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons and National Strategies for Poverty Reduction.  The text focused on finding a lasting solution to refugee problems and stressed the importance of regional cooperation in dealing comprehensively with them.

MOHAMED ELFARNAWANY (Egypt), introducing a draft on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources (document A/C.2/59/L.41), said the text reaffirmed the sovereignty of occupied peoples over their natural resources.  It also expressed concern over the extensive destruction caused by Israel in the occupied territories and called on that country not to exploit, cause damage and loss, or deplete natural resources in the occupied territories.

SULTAN IBRAHIM YOUSUF AL-MAHMOUD (Qatar) introduced, on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, a draft on the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (document A/C.2/59/L.42).  The text was action-oriented and geared to encouraging and supporting attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.  It also focused on the Economic and Social Council’s high-level segment on development matters.

He then introduced a text on specific actions relating to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries:  outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation (document A/C.2/59/L.43).  That draft called for greater financial and technical assistance to meet the special development needs of those countries, and to enable them to implement the priorities set forth in the Almaty Programme of Action.  The international community must pursue actively the fuller integration of small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trade system.  In addition, the Group of 77 called for a strengthening of the activities of the High Representative of the Secretary-General for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and SmallIslandDevelopingStates.

KAZUO SUNAGA (Japan), introducing a draft on the UnitedNationsUniversity (document A/C.2/59/L.35), called on the international community to increase voluntary contributions to the institution and underscored the need to improve the interaction between the University and other United Nations entities.  Partners should be encouraged to use its services fully.

MARGARIDA ROSA DA SILVA IZATA (Angola) introduced a text on international assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola (document A/C.2/59/L.37), saying that its preambular part reaffirmed Angola’s urgent need for international assistance.  Despite pledges made, no money had been allocated so far.  The Angolan Government was committed to improving governance and transparency in the use of public resources, and the international community must continue its support.  A round table on that subject would be held in Brussels next year.

DURGA B. SUBEDI (Nepal) said that globalization had an inseparable and increasing link with the development of information and communication.  For millions of people around the globe, however, information and communication technologies were a mere mirage.  Yet, those technologies were an intrinsic means to achieving a world information society and attaining the Millennium Development Goals.  However, the digital divide was widening still further and the need of the hour was to seize those opportunities for economic and social development offered by those technologies and to distribute the benefits equitably to developing countries and societies.  The development of those technologies was helping to generate new and enormous opportunities for employment and, thus, for economic growth and sustainable development.  Indeed, trade, commerce, industries and economies were becoming increasingly dependent on information and communications.

He said it was not possible to stop the wave of information, which should be made open, free, fair and accessible to billions of people around the world.  Humanity’s greatest challenge was the division between the “haves” and the “have nots”, and now a new challenge had emerged in the form of the digital divide.  For a country like Nepal, there were opportunities and challenges in that field.  Information and communication technologies had a high priority in Nepal’s national policies, and the Government was engaged in building the necessary infrastructure.  The incorporation of information technology education in most schools and universities had boosted a considerable degree of awareness and usage of information and communication in all the country’s cities, as well as many rural areas.  The United Nations could play a major role in developing those technologies and making them accessible to the developing countries.

VADIM PISAREVICH (Belarus) said the international community must move forward to implement decisions reached at the Geneva World Summit on the Information Society.  Belarus supported the work plan on national electronic strategies but, without financing, they would not be realized.  The international community must evaluate any progress achieved since the Plan of Action was adopted in Geneva and exchange national experiences in ICT development to help bridge the digital divide.  Preparations for the second phase of the World Summit, set for Tunis in January, should include regional seminars to work out a Plan of Action.

Mr. SUNAGA (Japan) said that, as the UnitedNationsUniversity (UNU) prepared for its thirtieth anniversary next year, his country believed more than ever in the value of that institution’s work.  In addressing such concerns as the environment, sustainable development and conflict and security, the UNU had sought to find solutions to some of the most difficult challenges facing the international community.  The University had placed two broad programme areas –- Peace and Governance, and Environment and Sustainable Development –- at the centre of its activities and had intensified its efforts to expand intellectual networks with other institutions and universities.

He said that the UNU had provided support for people, especially those in developing and transition countries, through capacity-building and scholarships.  Japan commended the new Global Virtual University (GVU) initiative, which provides online learning programmes in development and environment.  Creating a strong partnership with Member States enabled UNU to exchange ideas and receive intellectual stimulation, which could lead to new training courses and research on issues relating to people’s needs in today’s world.  Japan invited Member States to take advantage of all that the University had to offer.

PAUL YAW ESSEL (Ghana) said that the United Nations University-Institute for National Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) had had a chequered history.  The Institute’s mission was to strengthen the capacity of Africa’s universities and research institutions to conduct research and produce well-trained, well-equipped and motivated individuals capable of developing, adapting and disseminating technologies that advanced food security and promoted conservation and the efficient use natural resources.  The five main plans anchoring its activities were:  strengthening partnerships with African scientists and research institutions; developing and strengthening relevant post-graduate programmes in African universities; focusing studies on the role of African women in natural resources management; engaging the African Diaspora in its activities through the African Millennium Initiative for Science and Technology; and making timely and relevant information available to African policy makers.

That list of core activities was as impressive as it was challenging to implement, he said, adding that nothing short of a doubling of the Institute’s current budget would bring it anywhere close to fulfilling its mission.  Additional resources would, among other things:  accelerate the establishment of UNU-INRA operating units throughout Africa; empower many more African academics, scholars and scientists to conduct research and training critical to food security and improved land and plant-biodiversity management and utilization; and enable the Institute to provide information technology training to eliminate the intellectual isolation of scientists, scholars and academics working in African institutions.  Contributions received from Member States in 2003 had been abysmally low, amounting to only $10,660,670 from only 15 countries.  Ghana had already paid nearly $3 million out of a pledge of $5 million made by its Government in 1994 to UNU-INRA’s Endowment Fund.  All other countries, particularly in Africa, should contribute generously to that budget.

DER KOGDA (Burkina Faso) said that new ICT would be very useful in the fight against poverty and would provide developing countries with significant potential and opportunity to deal with problems facing poor communities, particularly in the future.  Burkina Faso had extended telephone links in rural areas and was modernizing the national telephone network, hooking up all users to universal services.  It was also setting up community tele-centres throughout the country, including at universities.

Burkina Faso and other developing countries attempting to make good use of ICT for development needed great financial support from the international community, he said, stressing the need to close the digital divide between rich and poor nations.  The work of the ICT Task Force was commendable and hopefully it would be transparent and geared to helping countries in need to develop new technologies and skills.

ASAD MAJEED KHAN (Pakistan) said that rapid steps forward in ICT should make access easier than ever before, but dramatic advances had, unfortunately, accentuated the digital divide.  A critical challenge was to create an enabling environment for developing countries through technology transfer to spur economic growth and development.  An efficient and cost-effective way to realize that would be to employ ICT as a strategic tool to promote and achieve broader development objectives and enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of ongoing assistance and technical cooperation programmes with the United Nations.

Turning to training and research, he said the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) was an important forum for a coordinated United Nations approach to research and training.  However, it was disturbing that the Organization still did not provide UNITAR with a rent-free space, while it continued to give free training facilities to Member States.  Hopefully, the General Assembly would send a clear signal that the Institute should be provided with rent-free and maintenance-free office space.

OROBOLA FASEHUN, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), said his members had agreed to two Internet treaties protecting copyrighted works in the digital environment -– the WIP Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty.  They guaranteed that owners of copyrighted works would continue to be adequately and effectively protected when their works were disseminated through new technologies and communications systems such as the Internet.  The treaties struck a balance between the owners of rights and the consuming public by allowing countries flexibility in establishing exceptions or limitations to rights in the digital environment.

Noting that the Internet was a worldwide one-stop information centre, he said that domain names, which were global addressing systems, were of great commercial value.  To resolve domain-name disputes, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers -- the organization responsible for managing generic top level domains, such as .com, .net, and .org -- had appointed WIPO as one of the four organizations providing domain-name dispute resolution cases in 11 languages.  An increasing number of large and established country-code, top-level domain-name registries had also designated WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centres as a dispute resolution provider.

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