Economic and Social Council

2013 Organizational Session

5^th Meeting (PM)

In Organizational Meeting, Economic and Social Council Decides on Chairs

for Various Segments of July Substantive Session

 

Convening in a brief organizational session this afternoon, the Economic and Social Council decided on the division of responsibilities among its President, Néstor Osorio ( Colombia), and four of its Vice-Presidents to Chair the various segments of its 2013 substantive session, to be held in July.

Acting on a proposal by the President reached through consultations with the Bureau, the Council decided that the President will lead the high-level segment and the conclusion of the work of the substantive session; the coordination segment will be chaired by Vice-President Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman (Sudan); Vice-President Ferit Hoxha (Albania) will lead the operational activities segment; the session’s humanitarian affairs segment will be chaired by Vice-President Mohammad Masood Khan (Pakistan);and Vice-President Martin Sajdik (Austria) will lead the general segment.

Earlier this month, the Council had postponed a decision on the matter, when Mr. Osman’s proposed Chairmanship of the humanitarian segment, on behalf of the 53-member African Group, had been questioned by a number of delegations, who cited concerns about the Sudanese Government’s humanitarian and human rights activities.

In that regard, Mr. Osorio praised the “flexibility” of both Mr. Khan and Mr. Osman in agreeing to the revised proposal, as well as the “spirit of cooperation” that had prevailed in the Bureau’s discussions.

The President also urged delegations to prepare for informal consultations on the themes of the humanitarian affairs segment and the planned half-day discussion on the transition from relief to development, with a view towards presenting proposed themes to the Council as soon as possible.

Taking the floor at the conclusion of the meeting, the representative of France stressed the importance of ensuring that the Council considered the issue of universal health coverage during its substantive session.

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For information media • not an official record