Economic and Social Council

2008 Substantive Session

38^th & 39^th Meetings (AM & PM)

SPEAKERS URGE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL TO ENHANCE INTERACTION WITH POST-CONFLICT

COUNTRIES, EXPAND COOPERATION WITH PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION, IN PANEL DISCUSSION

Council Also Adopts Texts on Range of Issues, Including Consultative Status

Of Non-Governmental Organizations, Informatics, Genetic Privacy, Smoke-Free UN

The Economic and Social Council today was urged to enhance its interaction with post-conflict countries and expand its cooperation with the Peacebuilding Commission, as representatives on the two bodies discussed ways to support peace efforts and long-term development in countries emerging from war.

Continuing its general segment, the Economic and Social Council held a panel discussion with members of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, the advisory body set up two years ago to help keep post-conflict countries from sliding back into war by supporting jointly developed, national-led recovery, reconstruction and development initiatives.  Thus far, the Commission has four countries on its agenda:   Sierra Leone; Burundi; Guinea-Bissau; and the Central African Republic.

Council Vice-President Jean-Marc Hoscheit ( Luxembourg) Chaired the discussions, which featured panellists Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti ( Brazil); Ambassador Dumisani S. Kumalo ( South Africa); and Nikhil Seth, Director, Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Mr. Kumalo said he hoped that the Council would not give up oversight over countries emerging from conflict, as there was no other United Nations body better suited for that responsibility.  The Council must insist that the Peacebuilding Commission report to it annually on such countries.  As an institution, the Council carried more political clout in protecting countries that were attempting to rebuild themselves after conflict.

Much expertise on post-conflict countries existed in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, he said, stressing that that expertise should never be lost.  He hoped that, in establishing the Peacebuilding Commission, States would not “throw the baby out with the bath water”, forgetting what valuable expertise already existed in all the excitement over the creation of a new body that was perhaps “a little bit sexy”.  On the case of Guinea-Bissau, he suggested reading 2003 and 2004 reports on the country, which listed all the challenges it had faced; energy, drug trafficking and delivery of basic social services, among them.

Where could a country emerging from conflict go?  “You are it, ECOSOC,” he said.  In time, the Peacebuilding Commission would become one of the United Nations’ finest institutions.  It had great potential.  But, it had lost energy recreating information already gathered by the Ad Hoc Working Groups on Guinea-Bissau and Burundi, and that already existed in past Security Council reports.  In closing, he hoped that the Council would not “wash its hands” of addressing countries emerging from conflict.

Emphasizing that peacebuilding was difficult, and perhaps impossible, unless it was built on a firm economic foundation, Ms. Viotti said the Council should not discount the oversight role it must play for countries emerging from conflict.  Development issues were clearly linked to economic stability and growth.  Since the end of Guinea-Bissau’s conflict in 1998-1999, political instability had prevented the country from embarking on a path of sustained economic growth.  To break the vicious circle between a fragile political climate and a weak economic sector, important steps had been made over the last year towards the restoration of political stability, first through the political compact.  There had been some budget support from the International Monetary Fund, which had helped restore international confidence in the country.

There were still critical steps to be taken, however, especially in priority areas identified by the Peacebuilding Commission.  She said predictable and adequate financing would be needed.  Paradoxically, it was clear that Guinea‑Bissau was a rich country -- it had arable lands and plentiful rains.  But those resources had to be capitalized on.  In light of the strains imposed by the current food crisis on surrounding countries, it might be possible for Guinea-Bissau to reactivate its agricultural production, particularly of rice, which it had once exported.

The Council also concluded consideration of matters regarding the work of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations.  Yesterday, a discussion on procedural matters led several delegations to question the manner in which an earlier vote had been taken on draft decision II, contained in the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations’ 2008 report (document E/2008/32 (Part I)), by which it did not grant consultative status to the Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales.  Before time ran out on that meeting, the Council agreed by a roll-call vote on a motion to hold a new vote on the draft decision.

In its re-vote today, the Council rejected draft decision II, also in a roll-call vote, by 20 in favour to 22 against, with 8 abstentions.  After that action, Spain’s representative thanked those who had voted against the draft.  His delegation had been surprised by the mobilization that had taken place around that particular civil society organization, he said, emphasizing that no reasons had been given for such a rejection of the group, which worked in Spain to defend the rights of a community with the same rights as any other.

The Council then took up a related draft decision (document E/2008/L.13), submitted by France, by which the Council would grant special consultative status to the Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales.  Holding a roll-call vote of 22 in favour to 19 against, with 10 abstentions, the Council decided to grant special consultative status to the group.  Ahead of the vote, the Sudan’s representative wondered if the Council’s role was to grant special consultative status to non-governmental organizations, or to consider the report of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations.

In other unfinished business, the representative of the United States withdrew a draft decision his delegation introduced yesterday, by which the Council would have referred the application for consultative status by the Human Rights Foundation back to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (document E/2008/L.14).

Among the three resolutions and four draft decisions adopted by the Council today were the texts included in the Secretary-General’s reports on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields (document E/2008/15, Add.1 and 2).  The Council adopted without a vote the draft resolution in section B of Addendum 1, thus approving the admission of the Sudan as a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Acting on section A of that report, the Council endorsed a resolution approved earlier by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to reorganize the Commission’s conference structure, and refer it to the General Assembly for final adoption.

The Council also adopted without a vote the draft resolution contained in Addendum 2 of that report, by which the Council noted and endorsed the acceptance by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) of the Brazilian Government’s offer to host ECLAC’s upcoming thirty-third session in 2010.

Adopted by consensus was a resolution on the need to harmonize and improve United Nations informatics systems for optimal utilization and accessibility by all States (document E/2008/L.18), which requested the Council’s President to convene, for one more year, the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Informatics, to, among other things, facilitate the successful implementation of initiatives being taken by the Secretary-General with regard to the use of information technology, and to continue the implementation of measures required to achieve its objectives.

In that regard, the Council requested the Working Group to continue acting as a bridge between the evolving needs of Member States and the actions of the Secretariat.  The Working Group was also requested to consider its future role, status and mandate to develop findings to that end.  The Secretary-General was requested to extend his full cooperation to the Working Group and to give priority to implementing its recommendations and guidance, particularly regarding the establishment of a Member State Web portal to consolidate and simplify the secure access by authorized representatives of Member States of relevant information.

Also adopted without vote today was a decision on genetic privacy and non-discrimination (document E/2008/L.20), by which the Council reaffirmed two resolutions it had adopted on the matter in 2001 and 2004, aiming to ensure that no one was subject to discrimination based on genetic information.  Those texts urged States to continue to support research in the area of human genetics, emphasizing that such research and its applications should fully respect human rights.

The Council also adopted a decision on a smoke-free United Nations premises (document E/2008/L.19), by which it would recall its relevant resolution 2006/42, and recommend that the General Assembly, at its sixty-third session, consider the recommendations set out in that text.

In other business, the Council held respective debates on the various items on its agenda for the day, including on follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development; economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan; coordination, programme and other questions; international cooperation in the field of informatics; tobacco or health; and United Nations research and training institutes.

The Officer-in-Charge of the Regional Commissions New York Office, introduced the Secretary-General’s report entitled “Regional cooperation in the economic social and related fields (document E/2007/15, Add 1 and 2), as well as a note by the Secretary-General on the report of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory […] and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan (document A/63/74-E/2008/13).

The Chief of Staff in the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, introduced the Secretary-General’s report on assistance to the Palestinian people (document A/63/75-E/2008/52); Cuba’s representative, taking the floor on behalf of the Committee of 24, introduced the report of the President of the Council on consultations with the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document E/2008/47).

Other reports were introduced by the Director of Tobacco Free Initiative, World Health Organization (WHO), (the Secretary-General’s report on the activities of the United Nations Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Task Force on Tobacco Control (document E/2008/59)); Director of the Office of ECOSOC Support in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Secretary-General’s report on genetic privacy and non-discrimination (document E/2008/51)); and Head of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Office in New York (implementation of General Assembly resolution 62/210, including details on the financial implications, the status of contributions to and the financial situation of (UNITAR)).

Canada’s representative introduced the report on the long-term Programme of Support for Haiti, and presented the report on the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, (document E/2008/90); and South Africa’s representative, who Chairs the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, introduced that panel’s report (document E/2008/55).

Resolutions were introduced by the representative of Canada on Haiti (document E/2008/L.15); the representative of Cuba on support to Non-Self-Governing Territories by the specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations (document E/2008/L.17); and the representative of Mexico on the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development (document E/2008/L.16).

Also speaking today were representatives of Malaysia, France (on behalf of the European Union), Algeria, Spain, Sudan, Benin, United States, Cuba, Syria, Guinea, Russian Federation, Indonesia, Belarus, Israel, Uruguay, Argentina, Switzerland, Norway, Canada (and on behalf of Australia and New Zealand), Cape Verde, Netherlands and Benin.

A representative of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine also spoke.

The Economic and Social Council will reconvene at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 23 July, to jointly consider agenda items on mainstreaming a gender perspective, women in development, and the advancement of women.

Background

The Economic and Social Council today continued its general segment with further consideration of its agenda item on “Non-governmental organizations”.  (For more information, see Press Release ECOSOC/6366.)

It also had before it several reports under several agenda items.  Under its item concerning “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations”, the Council will consider the Secretary-General’s report concerning Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations (document A/63/61); the Secretary-General’s report on assistance to the Palestinian people (document A/63/75-E/2008/52); and the report of the President of the Council on consultations held with the Chairman of the Special Committee on the situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document E/2008/47).

Under its item on “Regional cooperation”, the Council will take up the report of the Secretary-General on regional cooperation in the economic, social and related fields (document E/2008/15 and Add.1 and Add.2); the report on economic trends for the economies in the Economic Commission for Europe region, 2007 (document E/2008/16); overview of the Economic Report on Africa, 2008 (document E/2008/17); summary of the survey of economic and social conditions in Asia and the Pacific, 2008 (document E/2008/18); summary of the economic survey of the Latin America and the Caribbean, 2007 (document E/2008/19); and summary of the economic and social developments in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia region, 2007-2008 (document E/2008/20).

Under its item on “Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan”, the Council will consider the Secretary-General’s note transmitting the Report of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem , and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan (document A/63/74-E/2008/13).

Under its item on “Coordination, programme and other questions”, the Council will consider the Secretary-General’s report on international cooperation in the field of informatics (document E/2008/65); the Secretary-General’s report on the work of the Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Task Force on Tobacco Control (document E/2008/59); the report on the Long-term Programme of Support for Haiti (E/2008/90); the report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau (document E/2008/55); and the Updated report of the Secretary-General on the role of the Economic and Social Council in the integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcomes of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits, in light of General Assembly resolutions 50/227, 52/12 B, 57/270 B and 60/265, including resolution 61/16 (document A/63/83–E/2008/77).

Under its item on “Social and human rights question”, it had before it the Report of the Secretary-General on genetic privacy and non-discrimination (document E/2008/51).

The Council will consider the report of the Secretary-General on the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (document E/2008/72).

Non-Governmental Organizations

Taking the floor in a general statement, the representative of Malaysia spoke on Saudi Arabia’s request from a day earlier.  While his delegation supported the motion proposed by Saudi Arabia, that should not be a sign it was impugning the integrity of the Secretariat.  For the Council to be credible, it must take into account the concerns of all delegations in a collegial manner.  Saudi Arabia had had problems with the way proceedings had been conducted.  He understood the concerns of New Zealand and the Netherlands related to such a decision on the broader work of the Council.  He encouraged the Bureau to look at ways and means to ensure that such issues did not unduly affect its work.

The representative of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union, marked his astonishment at what had happened with rule 7 of the rules of procedure, which had been used to ask for a recounting of votes.  That was a precedent he was concerned about, as it could damage the Economic and Social Council’s future work.  He would take the floor again in explanation of vote before the vote.

Action on Texts

The Council then turned to draft decision II contained in the report of the Committee on non-governmental organizations on its 2008 regular session (document E/2008/32 (Part I)), by which it would not grant consultative status to the Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales.

In explanation of vote before the vote, the representative of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union, asked for a vote against draft decision II, as it was discriminatory.  Doing so would not constitute the first time that the Council reversed recommendations proposed by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations.  The Committee was a body that worked for the Economic and Social Council, and it was normal for the Council to ask it to review its decisions.

The representative of Algeria said her delegation would vote in favour of draft decision II, which was a decision not to grant consultative status.  Some 19 members of the Committee had taken that decision.  During discussion between non-governmental organizations and representatives, which determined whether non-governmental organizations could make a constructive contribution to the Council’s work, such discussion was in line with the United Nations Charter.  Those procedures were respected when the Committee considered the organization, which had led to the recommendation not to grant consultative status.  It was a transparent process, and she called for respecting that outcome.  To do otherwise would be to defy the recommendation of a subsidiary body that had carried out its mandate.

Holding a roll call vote, the Council rejected draft decision II by 20 in favour to 22 against, with 8 abstentions.

Making a general statement after the vote, the representative of Spain expressed thanks to the members of the Council who had voted against the draft decision.  His delegation had been surprised by the mobilization that had taken place around that non-governmental organization and he underlined that no reasons had been given for such a rejection of the group, which operated within Spain simply to defend the rights of a community with the same rights as any other.

The Council then took up the draft decision, submitted by France and contained in document E/2008/L.13, by which the Council would grant special consultative status to the Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales.

The representative of the Sudan asked if it was the role of the Council to grant special consultative status to non-governmental organizations, or to consider the report of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations.

In explanation of vote before the vote, the representative of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the largest possible range of views should be represented in the United Nations in their full diversity.  The European Union was fully convinced that the Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales met all the requirements laid out in resolution 1996/31 for special consultative status.  Stressing that the decisions of the NGO Committee should not be based on any type of discrimination, he called on the Council’s members to vote in favour of the draft text.

The representative of Benin then requested a roll call vote on draft E/2008/L.13.

Holding a roll call vote, the Council decided to grant special consultative status to Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales by 22 in favour to 19 against, with 10 abstentions.

The Council then took up the draft text, submitted by the United States and contained in document E/2008/L.14, by which it would refer the application for consultative status by the Human Rights Foundation back to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations.

Noting that the day before the Council had voted not to grant consultative status to the Foundation, the representative of the United States withdrew the draft, saying that “what we saw here yesterday was an elaborately constructed façade”.  That façade, he said, was used in 1960 to arrest an innocent man who protested peacefully.  It was used again in 1988 to try to discredit that man, who had by then become internationally known even while in prison.  It had been used again in the Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations when it considered the application of the Human Rights Foundation for consultative status.

The representative of Cuba, through the Chair, called his colleague to order, saying that the members of the United Nations should be respected.

The United States representative, in closing, said that that façade had been used again yesterday afternoon.  As a result, the NGO Committee and the Council would no longer have the opportunity to look behind the façade and see the truth about this man and his organization, which was visible to those around the world who admired him, his organization and its work.  Thus, with deep regret, the United States withdrew the draft text.

The Council then began its consideration of item 9 on “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations”; item 10 on “Regional Cooperation”; and item 11 on “Economic and Social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan”.

Introduction of Reports

AMR NOUR, Officer-in-Charge of the Regional Commissions New York Office, introduced the Secretary-General’s report entitled “Regional cooperation in the economic social and related fields (document E/2007/15), and its addenda 1 and 2.  He said the report provided a regional midpoint overview on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, recognizing regional progress, identifying implementation gaps, and underlining disparities in achieving various Millennium Development Goals.  It also underscored the threat posed by new challenges, notably the rising costs of food and energy.  In addition, it provided a regional review of financing for development, highlighting priority issues and challenges relating to the six chapters of the Monterrey Consensus, as they pertained to specific regions.

Continuing, he said Part I of the report highlighted various regional efforts to address climate change challenges and promote South-South cooperation, while Part II, in front of the Council today, focused on the ongoing efforts by the Regional Commissions to strengthen inter-agency collaboration through the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM), as part of their response to General Assembly resolution 62/208.  During the reporting period, three Regional Commissions -- the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) -- had convened annual RCM meetings under the chairmanship of the Deputy-Secretary-General.  The Commissions had also intensified efforts to further harness their analytical capacities in support of country development work.

He then drew the Council’s attention to three resolutions contained in documents E/2008/15/Add.1 and E/2008/15/Add.2, which required action by the Council.  The first related to the “Restructuring of the conference structure of ESCAP”, as approved by the Commission in its sixty-fourth session held in Bangkok from 24 to 30 April 2008.  The second related to the admission of the Sudan as a member of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), as approved by the Commission’s twenty-fifth session, held in Sana’a from 26 to 29 May 2008.  Both of those draft resolutions were contained in document E/2008/15/Add.1.  The third resolution related to the decision of ECLAC, approved at its thirty-second session in Santo Domingo from 9 to 13 June, to hold its thirty-third session in Brazil in 2010.

Mr. NOUR next introduced the note by the Secretary-General on the report of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan (document A/63/74-E/2008/13), which covers developments through the end of February 2008.

As the report revealed, the occupation of the Palestinian territory by Israel continued to deepen the economic and social hardship for Palestinians, he said.  Israeli restrictions on mobility and its closure policies remained a primary cause of the poverty and humanitarian crisis in the territory and restricted Palestinian access to health and education services, employment, markets and social and religious networks.

Palestinians were also displaced as a result of the destruction of property, confiscation of land and the revocation of residency permits, he said.  In the last decade, more than 2,200 residences had been destroyed and 13,000 Palestinians left homeless.  The ongoing construction of the barrier wall had contributed to population displacement throughout the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.  Due to closures, normal Palestinian economic activity was impeded, with export trade being particularly affected.

The near total isolation of Gaza since mid-June 2007 had resulted in shortages of food and medicine, spare parts for critical health and water sanitation installations, and raw materials for commerce and industry, he continued.  Overall daily water consumption per capita was nearly 100 litres less per day than the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended basic minimum standard.

Social and economic indicators continued to show negative trends in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, he said, stressing that unemployment was estimated at 28.8 per cent in 2007 with poverty rates at 56.8 per cent at the end of 2006.  Due to strict closure and curfews, pregnant women were delayed in trying to access health services during pregnancy and childbirth.  As a result, 2,500 women per year gave birth while attempting to reach a delivery facility.

Israel also prevented the return of the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan expelled in 1967, he said.  The Arab population of the area had over time experienced increasing limitations on land and natural resources owing to Israeli measures.  Thus, a large portion of the population had lost significant acreage traditionally used for pasture, resulting in changing production, commercial and land-use patterns within a traditionally rural, pastoralist society.

Citing the report’s conclusion, which refers to a message from the Secretary-General to the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, he said that only a permanent political settlement ending the occupation and giving the Palestinians their independence could fundamentally alter the economic and humanitarian problems of the Palestinian people.  With the right mixture of wisdom, realism and political courage, historic progress towards the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, could be made.

LYNN HASTINGS, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, introduced the Secretary-General’s report on assistance to the Palestinian people, contained in document A/63/75-E/2008/52, saying first that between May 2007 and April 2008, the Palestinian economy continued to suffer decline.  There had been some progress.  The West Bank had seen modest economic recovery in the aftermath of the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip and formation of a new Palestinian Authority government.  Also, $7.7 billion had been pledged by donors over a three-year period to support the new Palestinian Reform and Development Plan.

While bilateral political negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority had resumed since the conference in Annapolis, Maryland, military incursions continued, she said.  The situation in and around Gaza was characterized by near-daily rocket fire against Israeli targets.  Militants in Gaza had launched some 1,900 rockets on Israel.  At least 56 per cent of the population continued to live below the poverty line during the reporting period, and unemployment had increased nearly 23 per cent.  The past year had seen a significant deterioration of students’ academic achievements, particularly in Gaza.  Since the Hamas takeover in June 2007, 80 per cent of Gaza’s population relied on United Nations food and other direct assistance, and the efficiency of water networks had decreased.  From January 2008 onwards, 40 million litres of raw and partially treated sewage had been dumped into the Mediterranean.

She said the number of obstacles to movement in the West Bank had grown.  Her Office continued its coordination of assistance to the Palestinian people throughout the reporting period, and emergency support formed a large part of the United Nations’ activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  Indeed, the need for food aid remained.  The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) delivered food assistance to about 60 per cent of the registered refugee population in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  Emergency employment programmes also sought sustainability, with UNRWA and the World Food Programme (WFP) employing almost 100,000 people.  At the same time, formation of the Government had permitted donors a return to providing direct support to the Palestinian Authority.  A draft Palestinian Reform and Development Plan had been prepared ahead of the December International Donors Conference in Paris, where $7.7 billion had been pledged.  The United Nations country team had agreed on strategic operational objectives.

Development programmes continued, she explained, with UNRWA providing education to over 250,000 pupils.  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Education.  The World Health Organization had provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Health, while the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees continued its programme of mainstreaming human rights.  The country team continued to work in support of the Millennium Development Goals, and United Nations agencies were closely collaborating with the Palestinian Authority to develop joint proposals under various thematic windows of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Spain MDG Achievement Trust Fund.  As of April 2008, proposals under the Culture and Development and the Gender and Women’s Empowerment Windows had been accepted.

Nonetheless, conflict continued to pose challenges, she said.  The United Nations country team was working closely with donors and the Authority to ensure implementation of reform and development plans.  While the coming year would be no less challenging, new opportunities could emerge.  Negotiations could help meet the broader aims of the United Nations in bringing a just, lasting and comprehensive peace to the Middle East.

General Discussion

The Council then opened the floor to general discussion of the agenda items under consideration.

CLAUDIA PÉREZ ÁLVAREZ (Cuba), taking the floor on behalf of the Committee of 24, introduced the report of the President of the Council on consultations with the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (document E/2008/47).

The Special Committee believed that this item on the Council’s agenda affected most especially the Non-Self-Governing Territories, which could gain a great deal from the various support schemes the United Nations afforded them in their attempts to become self-governing, she said.  Indeed, the United Nations system played a significant role in aiding these Territories in many development areas, particularly in promoting their ability to take on self-governing activities, as laid out in the United Nations Charter.  The Special Committee attempted to further promote and direct that help, and to that end the Cuban delegation would subsequently submit a draft text on “Support to Non-Self-Governing Territories by the specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations”, contained in document E/2008/L.17.

She called the Council’s attention to the Council President’s report contained in document E/2008/47, which included information submitted by the specialized agencies of the United Nations on their work with the Territories.  She also called attention to the report of the Secretary-General contained in document A/63/61, which included a list of the Territories and the specialized agencies that had been invited to submit reports on their work.

Underlining the support extended to Tokelau by the international community following its special referendum on self-determination and self-government, she stressed the Special Committee’s readiness to engage in productive activities to help the Non-Self-Governing Territories become fully self-governing.

BASHAR JA’AFARI ( Syria) said the report of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation was considered annually in the hope that the situation of the Palestinian people would improve.  Yet, with each reading, it was clear that that was not the case.  Rather, the suffering of those people increased exponentially with each United Nations resolution, due to the continuing occupation of Israel of their lands.

The concept of occupation had, he said, become a totally rejected idea among the international community.  The ESCWA report revealed something of the suffering experienced by Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Syrians in the occupied Syrian Golan.  The figures left no doubt in anyone’s mind, that the commanders in the Israeli Army committed crimes against humanity against the Palestinian in the Occupied Territory, crimes that should be addressed in the relevant courts.  Further, Israel’s “stifling” siege of the Occupied Palestinian Territory had obstructed the humanitarian assistance to that Territory.  The checkpoints and the seizure programmes of the occupying Power hampered economic and social development throughout the territories.

Yet, despite repeated appeals by the international community, Israel continued to construct settlements in the West Bank, he said.  Israel had swallowed a large portion of the total area of the West Bank.  The report also confirmed that Israel had been predetermined to establish settlements in East Jerusalem and continued to use and exploit natural resources.  Emphasizing that Syria was directly affected by the act of occupation, he said Israel continued to build villages on the ruins of Syrian villages in the Syrian Golan, kept organizations like the Red Cross from visiting the occupied people and prisoners there, and continued to dump nuclear waste in the Syrian Golan, a matter which Syria had raised in a number of forums.  Those actions severely affected Syrian farming.

He expressed hope that the current consideration of the situation of the Palestinian and Syrian people in the territories occupied by Israel should not be a mere rhetorical exercise.  While some countries might adopt a posture in support of human rights, that posture did not seem to extend to the Palestinian people.  It was as if there were two scales and two benchmarks for international law, one that was applied to certain countries in the whole world with unprecedented zeal, and the other that protected Israel no matter what it did.

NADYA RIFAAT RASHEED, of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine, said that for 41 years, Israel had enforced a policy of systematic destruction.  That dangerous policy had violated its obligation under international humanitarian law, and various General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.

The continued construction of the wall and settlements continued, despite the International Court of Justice calling for the wall’s dismantlement.  The occupying Power continued to construct the wall, which destroyed Palestinian land, resources and livelihoods.  The consequences had been catastrophic:  19 per cent of the West Bank population would be directly affected by that wall, while thousands of others suffered displacement, and more importantly, a loss of hope, as they witnessed the confiscation of their properties.  Moreover, the wall would annex 46 per cent of West Bank water resources.

Nonetheless, Israel continued with its colonial regime of walls and illegal settlements, she said.  That apartheid-like regime also had set up checkpoints, infringing on Palestinians’ right of movement and disrupting all aspects of daily social and economic life.  The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs had cited such movement restrictions as a primary cause of poverty in the West Bank.

The added burdens of being under occupation were as clear as ever, she said, citing the current situation of soaring food prices.  Some 46 per cent of Palestinians did not have enough food to meet their needs.  Some 88 per cent of Palestinians in Gaza were living in poverty and 50 per cent of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories relied on food aid.  The direct consequences of such occupation covered all aspects of economic and social life for Palestinians.  It was a sinister policy that aimed to drive Palestinians out of their homeland.  It was not a new policy, nor provoked by any development.  Palestinians would stay the course and insist on a living a life of dignity.  At the same time, they called on the international community to uphold the principles of humanity, as the occupation was an affront to those principles.  Anything short of ending the ruthless occupation would be unacceptable.

ABDALMAHMOOD ABDALHALEEM MOHAMAD ( Sudan) said he had taken note of the Secretary-General’s report on the conditions of the Palestinian people, and on the consultations on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples.  The Council met against the backdrop of a marked deterioration in the lives of the Palestinians.  Israel had continued to occupy territories for 41 years, and it was no secret that Israel had undertaken activities that ran counter to international law, including international humanitarian law.  Israel continued to inflict injury on Palestinians, notably by destroying property and revoking residency permits.

Further, there were restrictions on civilians from receiving humanitarian assistance, he said.  The construction of the wall continued, despite a General Assembly resolution which endorsed the International Court of Justice advisory opinion.  There were severe social and economic repercussions to such behaviour.  Landmines still threatened people in the Golan.  The world expected the Council to undertake urgent measures that would help to begin a just peace process and the withdrawal of Israel from the Occupied Territories.  His delegation believed that occupation was the reason for all the suffering.  He called on the Council to recognize the right of return of all Palestinian refugees.  That was the only way to end the negative repercussions of the Israeli practices.

Turning to the topic of financing for development, which was not yet officially under consideration, DJIGUI CAMARA, Minister of Planning and Cooperation for Guinea, said he was presenting the road map for the activities of the pilot group supporting development in the run-up to the Doha Review Conference.

While the Monterrey Consensus had been a landmark event because it addressed a number of interlocking areas, the outcomes since that Consensus had not matched the obligations that had been set out, particularly in the area of financing.  Common action should be undertaken in support of what had been achieved and in light of what remained to be achieved.

“We should not delude ourselves that it would not be a difficult road to Doha,” he said, citing the problems of climate change, imbalanced global trade and the food and energy crises as particular challenges.  The implementation of responsible and dynamic policies would be needed.  In addition, strengthened aid would be critical if the Millennium Development Goals were to be achieved.

To that end, the pilot group would seek to enlarge its membership and its work, while also strengthening its cohesiveness.  Among its many efforts, it would seek to close the digital gap.  Guinea, which currently held the presidency of the pilot group, would encourage the establishment of a technical group to deal with immigration and migrant issues.  To implement its proposed action agenda, Guinea would undertake goodwill missions in countries south of the Sahara, among other things.

HAMIDON ALI (Malaysia), associating himself with the statement made on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, said his delegation hoped that the significance of recent developments, including the Gaza truce and last week’s prisoner exchange, would contribute to the Middle East peace process.  Yet, there was still no progress on Israel’s part to dismantle its illegal settlements, the separation barrier and the internal and external closure regime, which was obligatory under international law.

The ongoing construction of the wall had had a negative effect on social and economic life for the vast proportion of Palestinian residents, he continued.  The growing population of Israeli settlers in the Occupied Territories, which was illegal and in contravention of Security Council resolutions, also posed an obstacle for economic and social development.  That pattern of human rights violations and illegal actions on the part of Israel was systemic and pervasive.  According to the report, there had been a welcome increase to the 2008 consolidated appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  Yet, that would not contribute to the long-term improvement of the socio-economic conditions there.  Thus, the Council should continue to reiterate its call for the importance of reviving the Middle East peace process.

MARAT BERDYEV, First Secretary, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, on the topic of regional cooperation, said his delegation attached great importance to strengthening cooperation at the regional level.  Regional Commissions were an important mechanism to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and the practical implementation of Council decisions.  He noted the contributions of Regional Economic Commissions in strengthening cooperation in areas such as energy, transport, agriculture, trade and environmental protection.  Indeed, the Commissions played an irreplaceable role in inter-State cooperation, notably in harmonizing trade procedures, among others.

He welcomed the fact that the Commissions had taken steps to help settle the crises in food and energy, and his Government intended to strengthen cooperation with them, notably by extending resource support and technical assistance for activities.  His Government would continue to cooperate with the Commissions to solve regional problems of the region, particularly by holding events this year to boost economic development.

ARTAULI R.M.P. TOBING, Director-General and Head of Policy Analysis, Development Agency of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, on the living conditions of the Palestinian people, said the report painted a bleak picture, concluding that the occupation continued the hardship of Palestinian and Syrian peoples.  It was a concern that, despite international calls, Israel continued to impose restrictions on the movement of goods and people into the Gaza Strip.  Further, increased restrictions on humanitarian agencies had limited aid to the West Bank and Gaza.  Indeed, about 85 per cent of Gaza’s population relied on food aid, particularly from the United Nations.

The combination of intensified closures and sanctions was serious, she said, which had led to deepening economic and social crises within the last year.  Conditions there had not improved since the Annapolis Conference.  In that connection, she recalled the laudable attendance at the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership Ministerial Conference on Capacity Building for Palestine, reflecting the commitment towards the Palestinian cause.

On Israel’s illegal occupation of the Syrian Golan, she said while the number of Israeli settlements in the Golan had increased, employment conditions continued to deteriorate.  The Israeli decision to annex the Golan was null and void, according to resolutions of both the General Assembly and the Security Council.  The report only confirmed what was known -- the conditions of Palestinians in the Occupied Territory and Syrian Golan continued to deteriorate.  Israel must change its policies; only then could the Palestinians and the international community have confidence in Israel as a partner in the peace process.

ALEKSANDR STRIGELSKY ( Belarus) said the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) was unique because it sought to strike a balance of interest and formulate a pan-European space without any division.  Areas in which the Commission should focus its efforts were on energy delivery and simplification of trade, including enhanced fuel delivery and the pursuit of new ecologically-sound energy sources.

Because it was landlocked, Belarus also considered it important to develop a land transportation network that would be a link for delivering goods and passengers through the European corridors.  To that end, regulations should be simplified.  Indeed, to enhance regional cooperation, a new model should be developed and integrated.

NOR-EDDINE BENFREHA ( Algeria) said the crises prevailing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the occupied Syrian Golan were a direct result of the actions of the occupying Power, which contributed to the isolation of the people there.  The occupying Power had not fulfilled it commitments under the Geneva Conventions, which guaranteed aid to peoples in occupied territory.  The current confiscation and closing of areas hindered socio-economic activities.  The construction of the separation wall was a flagrant violation of the Geneva conventions and of international law, including especially the decision of the International Court of Justice.  The international community was, more than ever, bound by its commitment to ensure the rights of the Palestinian people.

ILAN FLUSS ( Israel) regretted some statements made today on agenda item 11.  Nonetheless, he affirmed Israel’s shared vision of a two-State solution, living side by side in peace and security.  That was the goal of both peoples.  Today, the Security Council was dealing with the political aspects of the situation in the Middle East.  He expressed disappointment with the consideration of the item, as it was partly politically motivated.  There were more specific situations that had not been specifically addressed by the Council.

The item was meant to improve living conditions of Palestinians, he said, but by assigning sole blame to Israel, with no mention of the situation on the ground, reality was not reflected.  Rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist organizations on border crossings that supplied aid to Palestinians, and the internal situation within Gaza and the Palestinian Territories, were also important causes of the situation.  Israeli citizens were being attacked from Gaza on a daily basis.  Just this morning, a Palestinian tried to attack an Israeli citizen with a bulldozer.  At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Perez was meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen.  That happened five hours ago.  He hoped to see a thriving Palestinian economy and an improved humanitarian situation there.  Supplies were flowing into Gaza, and Israel was trying to work with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.  Strengthening “the moderates” would enable the two sides to solve the conflict, and thus, the humanitarian and social situations in the Palestinian Territories.

Action on Draft Texts

CLAUDIA PÉREZ ÁLVAREZ (Cuba) introduced the draft resolution on support to Non-Self-Governing Territories by the specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations (document E/2008/L.17), which would have the Council recommend that all States intensify their efforts within the specialized agencies and other organizations of which they are members to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.  It also requested the United Nations specialized agencies and other international institutions to examine and review conditions in each Non-Self-Governing Territory, so that they might take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic sectors of those territories.  She called on Council Members to unanimously adopt the resolution.

The Council then adopted without a vote the draft resolution contained in section B of document E/2008/15/Add.1 on the “Admission of the Sudan as a member of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia”.

It next adopted without a vote the draft resolution on the “Venue of the thirty-third session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean” (document E/2005/15/Add.2).

NOEL SEGURA ( Mexico) then introduced the draft resolution on the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development (document E/2008/L.16), which welcomed the ongoing preparatory process for the Conference, to be held in Doha, Qatar, in late November 2008.  The text also requests the Council’s President, with the support of the Financing for Development Office of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, to undertake consultations, including with all major institutional stakeholders, on the Council’s role in the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus following the outcome of the Doha Review Conference, and to report thereon to the Council at its organizational session for 2009.

The representative of the United States, returning to the item on regional cooperation, said that his delegation thanked the regional commissions for the work they performed, but called attention to the lack of standard language by which these Commissions welcomed new members.  He suggested that the new members should simply be welcomed without any special qualifiers.

The Council then took up a draft on the need to harmonize and improve United Nations informatics systems for optimal utilization and accessibility by all States (document E/2008/L.18), which requested the Council’s President to convene the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Informatics for one more year to enable it to carry out, from within existing resources, the due fulfilment of the Council’s resolutions on this item; to facilitates the successful implementation of initiatives being taken by the Secretary-General with regard to the use of information technology; and to continue the implementation of measures required to achieve its objectives.

In that regard, the Council also requested the Working Group to continue its efforts to act as a bridge between the evolving needs of Member States and the actions of the Secretariat.  The Council also requested the Working Group to consider its future role, status and mandate to develop findings to this end.  The text also requested the Secretary-General to extend the Working Group his full cooperation and to give priority to implementing its recommendations and guidance, particularly regarding the establishment of a Member State Web portal to consolidate and simplify the secure access by authorized representatives of Member States of relevant information.

The draft resolution was adopted without a vote.

The Secretary delivered an oral statement in line with rule 31 of the Council’s rules of procedure, and in connection with the draft resolution on “Restructuring of the conference structure of the Commission” (E/2008/15/Add.1), recommended by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific for adoption by the Council.  He informed the Council, among other things, that in section 2 (b) of the report, the Council would take note of nine resolutions adopted at the ESCAP session.  On paragraph 2, in accordance with rule 23 of ESCAP rules of procedure, he said the draft would require modifications.  The Commission had been informed, in the Secretariat statement, about programme budget implications.  The Council, by endorsing the Commission’s resolution, would endorse the modification of the 2008-2009 budget.

The Council then endorsed the resolution which would restructure ESCAP’s conference structure, contained in document E/2008/15/Add.1 and recommended that it be adopted by the General Assembly.

Tobacco

DOUGLAS BETTCHER, Director of Tobacco Free Initiative, World Health Organization (WHO), introduced the Secretary-General’s report on the activities of the United Nations Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Task Force on Tobacco Control (document E/2008/59), which described the burden of tobacco consumption using recent data of the WHO report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008.  It included several sections on various areas of concern for tobacco control where inter-agency collaboration could be important, including:  exposure to second-hand smoke, particularly the issue of smoking in the United Nations premises; tobacco growing and alternatives to tobacco; the link between that substance and development; gender; and issues linking tobacco industry activities and corporate social responsibility.

He said that, according to the report, smoking caused 5.4 million deaths in 2005 and that number was expected to increase to 8.3 million in 2030 with more than 80 per cent occurring in developing countries.  It was estimated that the total share of tobacco–related diseases in the total global disease burden was expected to climb from 2.6 per cent in 1990 to almost 10 per cent in 2015, killing more people than any single disease.

The Task Force recommended that the United Nations as a whole take a strong stance on the issue and adopt a resolution on smoke-free premises following the recommendations of the Council’s resolution 2006/42.  Since the General Assembly had not taken any action on the Council’s resolution in its last two sessions, he suggested that the Council’s members should restate their recommendation to that body to consider at its sixty-third session a complete ban on smoking and on sales of tobacco in its premises.

He highlighted other recommendations by the Task Force included in the report, including stronger involvement of agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Labour Organization and the World Bank to help advance the agenda of the study group, which was essential to address the concerns of tobacco-growing in developing countries, which were often quite dependent on the crop.

Tobacco use not only had negative health, social and environmental consequences, but it also undermined efforts towards poverty alleviation, he said.  The Task Force encouraged the input of specialized agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the work to incorporate tobacco control in its various country strategies.  Further, given the increase in tobacco sales to women, the gender-specific aspect of tobacco use should be addressed in a number ways, including, among others, providing skills development for pregnant women on how to talk to partners about the hazards of second-hand smoke in the home.

In closing, he said support of the United Nations Task Force on Tobacco Control was needed.  Global tobacco control was multi-sectoral and required the input of sister agencies to effectively control the epidemic.

GUSTAVO ALVAREZ ( Uruguay) thanked the Group of 77 developing countries and China for the initiative.  He acknowledged the merits of the report of the Ad Hoc Interagency Task Force on Tobacco Control, adding that his country had ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and was the first Latin American country to become totally tobacco-free.  He recalled that tobacco was a health risk and a cause of death and, as such, he believed it was every Member’s responsibility to ensure protection against tobacco exposure.  Citing the costs associated with cigarettes, which included medical costs and absences of staff workers, he said in the Framework of the Capital Master Plan, an evaluation had been made about what to do for such situations.  The Organization must act accordingly, and the General Assembly must pronounce itself clearly on the matter at its upcoming session.

DIEGO LIMERES ( Argentina) said his country’s policy was carried out by national legislation and support to provincial legislation.  Many areas in the country had passed laws, involving 14 million people working in areas where they are not allowed to smoke.  Argentina had cooperated in the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) to promote tobacco control in the region.  He hoped the General Assembly at its sixty-third session would accept the Economic and Social Council’s request and succeed in prohibiting smoking in its facilities.

NADIA ISLER ( Switzerland) thanked the Secretary-General for his report, saying her delegation supported the initiative.  Indeed, exposure to second-hand smoke must be addressed.  In the last five years, many countries had shown commitment by taking steps towards creating smoke-free environments, and she encouraged the United Nations to take similar steps.  She was confident that the sixty-third session of the General Assembly would produce a solution that was acceptable to all.

DANIEL HIRSCH ( Norway), thanking the Secretary-General for his report, emphasized that his delegation took the issue of tobacco and health very seriously.  He expressed support for the resolution and hoped that it would be taken up in the General Assembly.

The Council then took up the draft decision on a smoke-free United Nations premises (document E/2008/L.19), by which it would recall its relevant resolution 2006/42, and recommend that the General Assembly, at its sixty-third session, consider the recommendations set out in that text, adopting it without a vote.

Speaking after the vote and on behalf of Australia and New Zealand, the representative of Canada said that there had been an increase in the number of Member States that outlawed smoking in public places.  That trend was largely due to the overwhelming body of scientific evidence that second-hand smoke killed.  The current resolution did not force anyone to quit smoking, but simply ensured the health of those working at the United Nations.  Saluting the efforts of Uruguay to bring the resolution to the Council, he gave full support to today’s decision.  He also expressed hope that a resolution could be adopted in the General Assembly by the end of this year.

The Chair then submitted an oral decision from the report of the Secretary-General to the Economic and Social Council on the activities of the United Nations Ad Hoc Interagency Task Force on Tobacco Control, which would ask the Secretary-General to submit a report on the Task Force’s work.  That oral decision was adopted by the Council without a vote.

Genetic Privacy

Introducing the Secretary-General’s report on genetic privacy and non-discrimination (document E/2008/51), NIKHIL SETH, Director of the Office of ECOSOC Support in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, noted that the Council had considered the issue of genetic privacy and non-discrimination at its 2001, 2004 and 2007 sessions.  It had also adopted two resolutions on the matter to ensure that no one was subject to discrimination based on genetic information.  Such research and its impact should fully respect human rights.  It had further urged States to continue to support research in the area of human genetics, emphasizing that such research and its applications should fully respect human rights.

In 2007, the Secretary-General had received very few responses to his request for comments and information on this topic, he said.  Consequently, the Council had entrusted the Secretary-General to decide, in consultation with Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and other relevant experts and organizations, the most appropriate forums at which to consider the issue further.  Suggestions on this were contained in the report, which concluded that, while UNESCO played a critical role in this discussion, other United Nations entities, such as the World Health Organization and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, should also contribute to the international efforts in this important field.

The report also recommended, he said, that the Council might wish to invite the Director-General of UNESCO to follow up on the relevant resolutions and the declarations made by his organization by constituting an inter-agency coordinating mechanism, such as an ad hoc inter-agency task force on genetic privacy and non-discrimination.  It might also request that a coordination mechanism report to the Council on relevant developments in this field at its substantive session of 2010, and on a triennial basis thereafter.

BORIS FALTAR, of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), reiterated the interest of his organization in the field of human genetic data and all related ethical implications.  Every scientific revolution brought with it a host of ethical and social questions, and the so-called “genetics revolution” was no exception.  UNESCO had adopted three declarations:  the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1997); the International Declaration on Human Genetic Data (2003); and the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (2005).  Those instruments had become a reference on the international scene, stimulating both reflection and action among States and intergovernmental organizations.

Continuing, he also pointed out that those instruments remained the only recognized international legal framework on the issue of genetics and non-discrimination.  Any other action that States or others might take to address that issue, including through capacity-building and awareness-raising activities, should be grounded within the ethical principles set forth in those Declarations and recognized by the international community.

The Council then adopted the draft decision.

UNITAR

The Council then turned its attention to consideration of agenda item 15, entitled “United Nations research and training institutes”, for which it had before it the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 62/210, including details on the financial implications, the status of contributions to and the financial situation of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) (document E/2008/72).

Introducing that report, COLLEEN THOUEZ, Head of the UNITAR Office in New York, explained that the report’s focus was on paragraph 9 of General Assembly resolution 62/210, on the predictable support for core diplomatic training activities of States.  The Secretary-General’s 2009 report would consist of other activities.

Describing the current report, she said that, under new leadership, the Institute had embarked on a major strategic reform.  Part of that reform entailed significant internal changes to address inconsistencies.  The Institute had implemented Board of Auditors recommendations, and received a positive endorsement by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).  It was excelling financially.  However, of all its training courses, only one did not pay for itself -- core diplomatic training.  Historically, that training had been funded by non-earmarked funds.  Current levels remained low, however, putting the activity at risk.  The low levels of non-earmarked funding were due to several factors, including the unique nature of core diplomatic training, which was provided to all United Nations States.

Continuing, she said that section II of the report focused on core diplomatic training activities, which included workshops on drafting of resolutions, among other things.  The Institute evaluated such activities and, in 2007, data from evaluations showed that 83 per cent of beneficiaries said the training had met their objectives.  Beneficiaries included officials from developing and developed countries, and demand was increasing.  While more States were requesting services, a decreasing number were contributing to the Institute through non-earmarked contributions.  The universal character of core diplomatic training was both its strength and weakness.  In the 2006–2007 period, almost 97 per cent of United Nations membership had benefited from core diplomatic training.

She said section III of the report dealt with the financial implications involved with maintaining that service.  The critical financial situation of core diplomatic training stood in stark contrast to the overall solid footing of the Institute.  In the present report, the Secretary-General had recommended that the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) should reconsider financing core diplomatic training from the regular United Nations budget.  In the final section of the report, the Secretary-General recommended an annual subvention be granted from the United Nations regular budget.  In closing, she said such training should continue to be offered in a multilateral setting.  The burden of costs must fall on the collective United Nations membership.

The Council then concluded consideration of the agenda item.

Haiti

Introducing the report on the long-term Programme of Support for Haiti (document E/2008/90), JOHN McNEE ( Canada) and Chairman of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, said the report was the fourth since the Group’s reactivation in 2004.  The Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti had undertaken to follow up on last year’s recommendations and developed a programme of work aimed at digging deeper on the issues outlined last year.  Since then, the Group had strengthened its contact with the various experts working on Haiti, visited the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C., and engaged in a useful exchange with representatives of the civil society, non-governmental organizations, academics and diaspora representatives.

Although a planned trip to Haiti had had to be postponed after a vote against the Government led by Prime Minister Jacques Édouard Alexis, the Group believed that its recommendations were still relevant.  Since last year the situation in Haiti had not changed much, although the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper had been finalized, which was now the key policy document for all stakeholders in Haiti’s development.  Setting the national priorities, that document linked all sectors and addressed the long-, medium-, and short-term -- and most immediate -- needs crucial for the consolidation of peace and security in the country.

Last year, the Group could have summarized its recommendations on Haiti by saying “stay the course” and “no business as usual”, he said.  Those phrases were just as apt this year and it was imperative that Haiti not only remained on the international agenda, but was given appropriate support.  In that regard, a strong United Nations presence on the ground, including through the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), was essential.  The worsening situation on the ground in Haiti for the last few decades should force all relevant international stakeholders to deeply reassess their ways of conducting business in that Caribbean State, if any progress were to be made.  Recent events resulting from the global food crisis in April could only force the Group to reiterate that argument.

The Group felt its recommendations could be useful in summarizing both to the Haitian Government and the international community what should be done and how to do it.  But, it was equally aware that those recommendations did not comprise a comprehensive road map.  There were still many challenges facing Haiti that needed to be better understood.  The Group hoped, therefore, that the Council would allow it to continue its work in Haiti for the next year.

Since its mandate was renewed in July 2007, the Group had closely monitored the evolving situation on the ground, he continued.  It was concerned about the constant volatility experienced there.  2008 would be a critical year for Haiti and a new Government should be put in place as soon as possible.  The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness created a model that should encourage the Government of Haiti and donor Governments to institute mutual accountability and follow-up mechanisms.  In Haiti, coordination between donors and implementation actors, such as local non-governmental organizations, should be strengthened.  He welcomed the diversification of partners for Haiti, particularly in the framework of cooperation among developing nations.  In closing, he emphasized that the Group hoped to contribute to national and international efforts, so that lasting peace took hold in Haiti.

FRANÇOIS ARSENAULT ( Canada), speaking on behalf of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, introduced the draft resolution contained in document E/2008/L.15.  The draft resolution had taken note of the evolution of the situation in Haiti and welcomed implementation by Haiti of the national strategy document for growth and poverty reduction.  Referring also to the severe consequences of the food crisis on the country, the text encouraged the international community to support the nation’s recovery.

Continuing, he said the text provided for extending the Group’s mandate until the Council’s 2009 substantive session, adding that the Group would be prepared to make recommendations in July next year.  The draft had been the result of informal consultations led by Canada, and he hoped the Council could adopt it by consensus.

The representative of France, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the Ad Hoc Advisory Group had made it possible to involve the country’s leaders in a long-term strategy.  Her delegation regretted the loss of human life, reiterated support for Haiti’s President, and hoped the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti would be kept in place without any reduction in staff.  The Union noted with satisfaction the implementation of reforms in Haiti’s police, judiciary and border control.  Those reforms should be accompanied by reform of the penitentiary system.  She reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to Haiti, saying it would continue to support the efforts of Haitian authorities to respond to people’s needs.  In that context, she supported extending the mandate of the Ad Hoc Group.

The President then closed the agenda item until tomorrow.

Guinea-Bissau

DUMISANI KUMALO (South Africa), Chairman of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, introduced the report of the Ad Hoc Group (document E/2008/55), which recommends the termination of the mandate of the Group now that Guinea-Bissau had been placed on the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission under the chairmanship of Brazil, and makes suggestions for the Commission’s work.

The Group had tried to understand all the channels of conflict in Guinea-Bissau, in particular the economic and social dimensions, he said.  While the emergency fund had not been fully funded, it had been a good stop-gap measure during the transition that the Group could use, as it tried to work with the Bretton Woods institutions to ensure the long-term financial stabilization of the country.  The flexibility and creativity in the design of the ensuing macroeconomic programmes, which were designed in light of the complexities facing post-conflict countries, had been well received.

Noting that, since December, Guinea-Bissau had been before the Peacebuilding Commission, he emphasized that the country could benefit from the careful, targeted support of that Commission.  A number of areas that would need particular focus included:  the need for a long-term, comprehensive economic diversification strategy to be formulated and implemented; the rehabilitation and reconstruction of critical infrastructure; security sector reform, particularly a restructuring package for the Armed Forces; strong interaction with regional and subregional organizations; the use of the country as a focal point for drug trafficking; and predictable and adequate delivery of resource support.

The Group had held the view, he said, that development played an important role in supporting peace and security.  Through its work, it had attempted to move the process of peacebuilding forward and lay the groundwork for the Commission now charged with overseeing it.

Panel Discussion

The Council then began a panel discussion on “The Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission”, which featured Dumisani Kumalo, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations; Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations; and Nikhil Seth, Director of the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Speaking first, Mr. KUMALO said he hoped that the Economic and Social Council would not give up oversight over countries emerging from conflict, as there was no other United Nations body better suited for that responsibility.  The Council must insist that the Peacebuilding Commission report to it annually on such countries.  As an institution, the Council carried more political clout in protecting countries that were attempting to rebuild themselves after conflict.

It was also important to remember that it was easy to talk about reform, he explained.  Much expertise on post-conflict countries existed in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.  That expertise should never be lost, and he hoped that, in establishing the Peacebuilding Commission, States would not “throw the baby out with the bath water” -- i.e., forget what valuable expertise already existed in all the excitement over the creation of a new body that was perhaps “a little bit sexy”.  On the case of Guinea-Bissau, he suggested reading 2003 and 2004 reports on the country, which listed all the challenges it had faced, energy drug trafficking and delivery of basic social services, among them.

Continuing, he drew attention to the fact that African countries were always called upon to hold elections.  Elections themselves had become a destabilizing factor in many places, including in the case of Guinea-Bissau.  However, what that country needed most was budgetary support.  Insisting only on projects meant that funding never reached the country, in some cases.  Building a Government office did not solve the problems faced by people who had to work in it.  Such were the issues that could be discussed in the Economic and Social Council.  Where could a country emerging from conflict go?  “You are it, ECOSOC,” he said.

Moreover, he said donor support for countries emerging from conflict was too unpredictable.  How could an institution tell a country to stop rioting in order to receive a check?  It was important to ask the difficult questions.  In time, the Commission would become one of the United Nations’ finest institutions.  It had great potential.  But, it had lost energy recreating information on Guinea-Bissau and Burundi that already existed, especially in past Security Council reports.  In closing, he hoped that the Council would not “wash its hands” of addressing countries emerging from conflict.

Next, Ms. VIOTTI said the work being done in the Peacebuilding Commission drew heavily from the work and recommendations of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, which had devised the normative concept of the compact by which the international community and the country agree on a mutual basis on their commitments for peace.  In addition, the work of the Group had helped erase the traditional divide between economic and social issues.

Emphasizing that peacebuilding was difficult and perhaps impossible unless it was built on a firm economic foundation, she said the Council should not discount the oversight role it must play for countries emerging from conflict.  Development issues were clearly linked to economic stability and growth.  Since the end of Guinea-Bissau’s conflict in 1998-1999, political instability had prevented the country from embarking on a path of sustained economic growth.  To break the vicious circle between a fragile political climate and a weak economic sector, important steps had been made over the last year towards the restoration of political stability, first through the political compact.  There had been some budget support from the International Monetary Fund, which had helped restore international confidence in the country.

There were still critical steps to be taken, however, especially in priority areas identified by the Peacebuilding Commission.  She said predictable and adequate financing would be needed.  Paradoxically, it was clear that Guinea‑Bissau was a rich country -- it had arable lands and plentiful rains.  But those resources had to be capitalized on.  In light of the strains imposed by the current food crisis on surrounding countries, it might be possible for Guinea-Bissau to reactivate its agricultural production, particularly of rice, which it had once exported.

Economic recovery was also predicated on a strengthening of the country’s energy base, she said.  In fact, the entire country operated on 2.5 megawatts of energy a day, much less than what was available in the United Nations Headquarters.  The country also needed to deal with its debt burden, possibly through a modification of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.  Progress in the areas of border control and drug trafficking also needed to be made.  Past attempts at disarmament, demobilization and reintegration initiatives had failed, because of inadequate resources; these would need more support as security sector reform was attempted.

Comprehensive reform in the public administration was needed to implement training programmes, establish a pension system and increase the skill-set of the civil servant community, among other things.  Of course, the Government of Guinea-Bissau faced the challenge of governing, while also building State institutions, she said.  Moving forward, the Peacebuilding Commission would continue to try to galvanize partners, and build on the work of the Ad Hoc Advisory group.  In closing, she emphasized that the Commission was already following the Group’s recommendation to engage regional and subregional organizations in the discussion on Guinea-Bissau.

In the ensuing interactive discussion, a number of speakers underlined the success of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group in laying the groundwork for the work of the Peacebuilding Commission.  The representative emphasized that the Group had articulated a workable framework for countries emerging from conflict and underlined the Group’s conclusion that the Commission would have to move beyond immediate problem-solving and define a vision from the very beginning of longer-term rehabilitation and support.

A number of speakers stressed the need for the Council to determine what kind of oversight role it should and could play vis-à-vis countries emerging from conflict, even as -- or most especially as -- these countries were referred to the Peacebuilding Commission.  One delegation proposed that a mechanism should be developed by which the Council formally engaged in dialogue with the Peacebuilding Commission.

The representative of Cape Verde said that the experience in Guinea-Bissau underlined the importance of prevention in any peacekeeping and peacebuilding framework.  Given the succession of coups d’état that took place there, the fact that something was wrong there might have been recognized much earlier, prompting preventive actions by the international community.  The importance of preventive measures was equally valid today, in light of the destabilizing threats posed to the entire region by the drug trafficking in Guinea-Bissau.

The representative of the Netherlands said it was increasingly clear that no two peacebuilding efforts were really the same.  All interventions, as well as the groups that intervened, had different formats and different times in which they were engaged in the peacebuilding process.  Yet, he underlined the great advantage of having the platform built by the Ad Hoc Advisory Group from which the Peacebuilding Commission could depart.  That foundation had allowed the Commission to engage in its efforts with less delay and greater energy than it would have had otherwise.

Mr. SETH focused his comments on three areas:  the Council’s experience; efforts that the “new” Council -- characterized by new commissions -- could offer; and possible modalities for interaction between the Peacebuilding Commission and the Council.

He started by saying that none of the benefits could have accrued without the dynamic leadership of each of the ad hoc advisory groups.  They had been very useful advocates for post-conflict countries, which previously had not been on donor country “radar screens”.  They had approached countries with an open spirit, which had helped to create a “sprit of the heart”.  In addition, they had fostered mutual understanding among parties.  For its part, the Secretariat also had helped to promote interdepartmental coherence.

At the same time, there were also limits, he said.  The ad hoc advisory groups were at arm’s length from the political situations in many of the countries, and there was also a commitment gap “between the pledge and the check” offered by donors.  In that connection, he said the new Economic and Social Council could offer three “crown jewels”:  the Annual Ministerial Review, the Development Cooperation Forum and the ECOSOC system.  Countries emerging from conflict had a “separate basket of concerns” that required special handling, and the Council could give them that attention through the Review.  In addition, there were other windows for sharing experiences.  Creating an Economic and Social Council with a long-term development focus would be an extremely important window of opportunity.

On the Development Cooperation Forum, he said that body was working to enhance the development impact of assistance.  In that context, he highlighted the importance of the principle of responsible donorship, pointing to the larger question of how to bridge the gap between pledges donors made and the checks they wrote.

On improving the interface between the Council and the Commission, he said that the entire ECOSOC system, by tweaking their agendas towards countries emerging from conflict, could play an important role.  In that context, he cited bodies, including the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Sustainable Development, the Commission on Social Development, and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.  He also called for skirting “institutional head-banging”, by holding informal joint meetings and meetings of the Bureaus, and by bringing expertise into discussions.

In her concluding remarks, Ms. VIOTTI said work done by the ad hoc working groups had provided a solid basis for consultations, both with the Government and within the Commission.  There was convergence on the need for strengthening relations between the Council and the Commission.  Informal meetings and more regular interaction would certainly enrich the debate in both organs, broaden awareness, and enhance advocacy work, which, in turn, would lead to greater support of the country.

Speaking next, Mr. KUMALO stressed that it was important to listen to the neighbours of countries in conflict.  Citing the cases of the Gambia, Cape Verde and Senegal, which had been “generous with their time”, he said such efforts were important because neighbours provided unique perspective to any deteriorating situation.  He was delighted by the idea of establishing a closer working relationship between the Council and the Commission, especially as one third of the Commission’s members had been elected by the Council.  The country-specific configurations were important, as well.  For countries emerging from conflict, “there is no better home for them than ECOSOC,” he said.  “If we don’t create a forum where they can share their experiences, then those experiences are lost.”  The Economic and Social Council was well placed to handle them.  Such engagement would also help prevent other countries from falling into the same trap.

In his closing remarks, Council Vice-President Mr. HOSCHEIT ( Luxembourg) said the panel had covered a general theme of “transferring heritage”.  The institutional context could change, if the foundation was solid.  On the interface between the Commission and the Council, he said it was important to build a relationship that could bring added value, and to move beyond a procedural interaction.  He called for looking not just at the institutional context, but the substantive context of helping countries emerging from conflict.  He was encouraged by today’s debate, and would take into account the views of the Commission to determine how a “synergy of contributions” could be made.  What could States and different stakeholders bring to the table in that regard? he asked.  Answering such questions would hopefully contribute to country stabilization efforts.

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For information media • not an official record