Economic and Social Council Continues Preparations for Substantive Session,

 

Scheduled for 28 June-23 July

 

As the Economic and Social Council continued to fine-tune the agenda of its 2010 session, the 54-member body’s President today announced the Chairpersons for the thematic clusters examined annually by the Council, and urged delegations to conclude negotiations and present their proposals as soon as possible so that all outstanding matters could be addressed ahead of the substantive session -- set to be held from 28 June to 23 July in New York.

Laying out the division of labour for the thematic discussions, Council President Hamidon Ali (Malaysia) announced that he would head up the high-level segment (28 June to 2 July), the dialogue with the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions (afternoon of 2 July), and the conclusion of the Council’s work.

He also announced that Council Vice-President Morten Wetland (Norway) would be responsible for the Coordination Segment (6 to 8 July); Council Vice-President Alexandru Cujba (Republic of Moldova) would chair the Operational Activities segment (9 to 13 July); Council Vice-President Heraldo Muñoz (Chile) would head up the Humanitarian Affairs Segment (14 and 15 July); and Council Vice-President Somduth Soborun (Mauritius) would be responsible for the General Segment (16 to 22 July). 

President Ali then urged that informal consultations be convened as soon as possible to discuss the outstanding matters before the Council’s organizational session, including on the theme for the Humanitarian Affairs Segment of the 2010 substantive session, as well as on the planned joint informal event of the Operational Activities and Humanitarian Affairs Segments to discuss the issue of “the transition from relief to development”.

As for the theme of the Regional Cooperation Segment, he reminded delegations that the Bureau was awaiting a relevant proposal from the Executive Secretaries of the Regional Commissions, for a decision by the Council at a later date.  Finally, he said that most of the preparations for the 2010 substantive session depended on the Council’s quick action on all outstanding matters.  It was, therefore, important that proposals be presented to the Council for consideration as soon as possible.

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

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For information media • not an official record