ENV/DEV/381

INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE ON DESERTIFICATION CONVENTION DECIDES TO HOLD FIRST CONVENTION OF PARTIES IN ROME

As it concluded its ninth session this morning, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification decided to hold the first Convention of the Parties in Rome. The Committee also approved by consensus an additional 10 decisions proposed by its two working groups as well as by its Chairman, Bo Kjellen (Sweden).

On the matter of the Global Mechanism to promote the mobilization of financial resources, the Committee decided to submit a text on the function of the Global Mechanism and the criteria for selecting an institution to house it to its tenth session for further consideration. The text included three bracketed options for the paragraph on the mobilization and channeling of financial resources.

Commenting on that decision, the representative of Costa Rica, speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, and the representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, both said they regretted that it had not been possible to obtain agreement on the functions of the Global Mechanism, and they urged Committee participants to come to the next session prepared to make more progress.

The Committee also decided to consider at the tenth session the identification of the institution to which the Conference of the Parties would institutionally link the Convention's permanent secretariat. The Committee decided to adopt a series of procedures for the communication of information and review of the implementation of the Convention. It requested the interim secretariat to identify bodies performing work similar to that envisaged to be undertaken by the Convention's Committee on Science and Technology and to report to the tenth session of the Negotiating Committee on possible areas of cooperation with such bodies.

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Regarding the location of the Convention's permanent Secretariat, the Committee decided to request the interim secretariat to present to the tenth session a document comparing the offers of Canada, Germany and Spain to host the permanent secretariat. The Committee also decided to recommend to the General Assembly that it maintain the current programme budget for the interim secretariat to support the Convention until 31 December 1998 and to request the General Assembly to consider supporting the Convention and the interim secretariat in 1998.

In his closing statement, the Chairman said tremendous progress -- perhaps more than he had dared hope for -- had been made during the ninth session. He was pleased with the reports that had come in from the field, since progress in the field was the final measure of all the work that was being done by the Committee.

Also speaking at the meeting were representatives of Turkey, Mauritania, Japan, Spain, Netherlands, France, Mexico, Russian Federation and Australia. Representatives of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and RIOD, as well as the Executive Secretary of the Interim Secretariat, Hama Arba Diallo, the Committee's Rapporteur, Anatoli M. Ovchinnikov of Uzbekistan, and Secretariat official Robert Ryan also spoke.

Officers of Committee

Bo Kjellen (Sweden) served as Chairman. The Vice-Chairmen were: Rene Valery Mongbe (Benin), Alok Jain (India) and Jose Urrutia (Peru). The Rapporteur was Anatoli M. Ovchinnikov (Uzbekistan). The Chairman of working group I was Mohamed Mahmoud Ould El Ghaouth of Mauritania. The Vice-Chairmen were Mohammad Reza H.K. Jabbary (Iran), Erwin Ortiz-Gandarillas (Bolivia) and Franklin C. Moore (United States). The Chairman of working group II was Takao Shibata of Japan. The Vice-Chairmen were David Etuket (Uganda) and Samvel Baloyan (Armenia).

Committee Work Programme

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of the Convention to Combat Desertification met this morning to wrap up its ninth session. The agenda included:

-- Final consideration of urgent action for Africa and interim actions in Asian, Latin American and the Caribbean, and the northern Mediterranean regions.

-- Final review of the situation as regarded extrabudgetary funds.

-- Consideration of draft decisions regarding preparations for the first Conference of the Parties, slated for next September. The Committee had before it eight draft decisions (documents A/AC.241/WG.II (IX)/L.2-L.5, as well as A/AC.241/L.32-L.34). Draft decision L.2 concerns the organization of scientific and technical cooperation. Draft decision L.3 is on the programme of work for the Committee on Science and Technology. Draft decision L.4 contains a request to the interim secretariat regarding work on benchmarks and indicators to measure progress in the implementation of the Convention. By draft decision L.5, the Committee would request the interim secretariat to prepare for the tenth session a revised text of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties. Draft decision L.31 concerns the physical location of the permanent secretariat. Draft decision L.32 refers to the venue for the first session of the Conference of the Parties. Draft decision L.33 concerns the maintenance of the interim arrangements to support the Convention beyond the first Conference of the Parties. Draft decision L.34 deals with the organization of the future work of the Committee.

-- Action on the provisional agenda for the tenth session, slated for January. By the draft agenda before the Committee, the session would cover six areas, including: further preparations for the Conference of the Parties; a review of actions being taken in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the northern Mediterranean region; and the status of the signature and ratification of the Convention.

-- Adoption of the report (document A/AC.241/L.30) of the Committee on its ninth session.

The Committee also had before it draft decisions having to do with the identification of an organization to house the Global Mechanism and administrative arrangements for the permanent secretariat.

Statements

RIFAT ONAL (Turkey) explored the various factors responsible for the growth of desertification in his country. Although ratification of the

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Convention may not be completed until next year, national action had begun. Several ministries are involved in the preparation of a national plan, and there has been some awareness-raising activity, including a symposium last May on combating desertification and erosion.

SAMUEL NYAMBI, representing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said that the Programme had been involved in a number of supporting roles around the world, giving technical and financial support. He spoke of the Latin America subregion where in Bolivia they had launched international cooperation programmes, while in Argentina and Paraguay, they had also begun a process of sustainable development in the use of charcoal. Several subregional efforts were also enjoying the support and efforts of the UNDP. He said they hoped to strengthen international cooperation in the combating of desertification and drought to serve as an example to other regions.

RIOD-LO, speaking on behalf of non-governmental organizations and their efforts in Africa, Latin America and Asia, said workshops were held in four locations in Africa between May and August this year to strengthen the role of non-governmental organizations and to generate awareness on the issue of desertification. He spoke of difficulties and delays in certain countries where the process is only just beginning, but noted that a machinery was being established to strengthen the relationship between the non-governmental organizations and other international bodies. In Latin America, national meetings had been held in such places as Peru, Brazil and Argentina. In Asia, non-governmental organizations were playing a very active role in generating awareness. Useful partnerships were taking place between government and non- government agencies throughout the world.

HAMA ARBA DIALLO, Executive Secretary of the interim secretariat to the Convention, reflected that the desert speaks the same language throughout the world. He said the secretariat had been following closely the work in Latin America, especially the efforts of Spain. Help had also come from the governments of the Netherlands and Italy. The secretariat would help and support those countries to the fullest extent possible. The secretariat had also enjoyed working with other United Nations bodies such as the UNDP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Calling for even greater momentum and cooperation, he announced that the secretariat had just, this morning, received the instrument of ratification from the Government of Haiti.

In the northern Mediterranean, Spain had discussed the work being done by the regional reflection group. He said the secretariat stood ready to support the efforts being made by these countries and called on others, such Italy and Portugal, to join in so that the fight against desertification could take on an even stronger dimension.

BO KJELLAN (Sweden), Chairman of the Committee, asked for the latest ratification figures available.

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Mr. DIALLO reported that ratifications had come in from the Gambia, Haiti and Zambia, but that more were expected before the end of the session. He said they were expecting some ratifications that had been announced, but had not been received, or properly documented.

Speaking on the subject of extrabudgetary funds, Mr. Diallo said he wanted to express the interim secretariat's appreciation to the many non- governmental organizations, agencies and delegates that had aided the secretariat in its work.

The CHAIRMAN said he had been satisfied by the documentation on extrabudgetary funds which had been prepared and also with the improved level of extrabudgetary funding. He extended his thanks as well to the donors.

Reports from Chairmen of Working Groups

MOHAMED MAHMOUD OULD EL GHAOUTH (Mauritania), Chairman of working group I, said his group had been empanelled to work on: identifying an institution to house the Global Mechanism, administrative arrangements to link the secretariat with an existing organization, and the future location of the secretariat. Although the question of the budget was paramount, it was not slated for consideration until the tenth session. He noted that, regarding the Global Mechanism, the proposed draft decision had three bracketed items. In general, considerable progress had been made, and he was quite sure that the matters would be disposed of by the next session.

TAKAO SHIBATA (Japan), Chairman of working group II ( which was concerned with science and technology), reviewed the draft decisions his group had submitted. He thanked the delegates for their work and thanked the secretariat for its assistance.

Recommendations of Working Group II

The Committee approved by consensus decision L.1 which recommended that the Conference of the Parties, at its first session, adopt a series of procedures for the communication of information and review of the implementation of the Convention. Those procedures were attached to the text of the decision.

ARTURO SPEIGELBERG (Spain) objected to draft decision L.2 because there had been no consensus in the working group, regarding rule 31 of the draft rules of procedure which were referenced in paragraph 6 of section one: "Composition and Bureau". [As contained in brackets in document A/AC.241/48/Rev.1, draft rule 31 states: Unless the Conference of the Parties decides otherwise, the Chairperson of any subsidiary body shall be elected by the Conference of the Parties. Each subsidiary body shall elect its own Vice- Chairpersons, one of which shall act as Rapporteur. The Chairperson and Vice- Chairpersons of such subsidiary bodies shall be elected with due regard to the need to ensure equitable geographical distribution and adequate representation of affected country Parties, particularly those in Africa, and shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms.]

The CHAIRMAN said he did not wish to reopen a negotiation which had been

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undertaken in a working group, but that Spain's objections would be recorded in the minutes, and a footnote would be added to the text of L.2 to the effect that Spain might raise the issue again at the tenth session.

The Committee then approved by consensus decision L.2 as orally revised. It thereby recommended that the Conference of the Parties at its first session decide: to adopt the terms of reference of the Committee on Science and Technology attached to the present decision; to establish and maintain a roster of independent experts on the basis of the procedures attached to the present decision; and adopt the procedures, also attached to the present decision, for the establishment of ad hoc panels in the fields of science and technology relevant to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought.

The Committee approved by consensus decision L.3. By that decision, the interim secretariat was requested to identify bodies of other relevant organizations and Conventions performing work similar to that envisaged to be undertaken by the Committee on Science and Technology and to report to the tenth session of the Negotiating Committee on possible areas of cooperation with such bodies. It also requested the interim secretariat to compile a draft roster of independent experts for the Conference of the Parties.

The Committee approved by consensus decision L.4 which requested the interim secretariat to continue work on benchmarks and indicators and to establish an open-ended consultative process to expand on that work.

After the Chairman said that the representative of Spain's concerns about draft rule 31 of the rules of procedure would be taken into consideration, the Committee approved by consensus decision L.5. The decision requested the interim secretariat to prepare a revised text of those rules which reflected the deliberations of Working Group II during the ninth session.

Recommendations of Working Group I

The draft decision of working group I on the Global Mechanism was approved by consensus as orally amended. Thus, the Committee decided to submit a text (Annex I) on the function of the Global Mechanism and the criteria for selecting an institution to house it to its tenth session for further consideration. In particular, discussion would focus on the fourth paragraph, which concerned the mobilization and channeling of financial

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resources. Three bracketed options for that paragraph were contained in the annex.

The draft decision of working group I on administrative arrangements was approved by consensus. Thereby, it decided to consider at the tenth session the identification of the institution to which the Conference of the Parties would institutionally link the Convention's permanent secretariat.

The draft decision of working group I on financial rules was approved by consensus. Thereby, the Committee recommended that the Conference of the Parties, at its first session, decide to adopt the financial rules which were attached to the present decision.

Draft Decisions Submitted by Chairman

The Committee approved by consensus decision L.31 which requested the interim secretariat to present to the Committee's tenth session a document comparing the offers of Canada, Germany and Spain to host the permanent secretariat. The Committee decided to consider the item further in plenary meetings at its tenth session.

ISABELLE VAN TOL (Netherlands) said she wanted to respond to the request of the Secretariat concerning the venue of the first Conference of the Parties (as per draft decision L.32). The Netherlands would have wished to host the Conference. She thanked those who had offered to serve as host.

The Committee approved by consensus decision L.32, by which it decided to accept the invitation of the Government of Italy and of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to hold the first session of the Conference of the Parties in Rome at a date to be determined later.

The Committee approved by consensus decision L.33, with a written amendment adding an operative paragraph 3. The decision recommended to the General Assembly that it maintain the current programme budget for the interim secretariat to support the Convention until 31 December 1998 and that it maintain the extrabudgetary funds. With the addition of operative paragraph 3, the decision also requested the General Assembly to consider supporting the Convention and the interim secretariat in 1998, including appropriate conference servicing costs.

The CHAIRMAN said that tenth session was the last negotiating session, though it was possible that the majority would push for an eleventh session, for which there was formal authorization. He would be in contact with the United Nations Secretariat to ensure that, if necessary, such a session could be held.

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The Committee approved by consensus decision L.34, regarding the organization of the future work of the Committee.

The Committee approved by consensus a decision on its draft provisional agenda for the tenth session.

The Rapporteur, ANATOLI M. OVCHINNIKOV (Uzbekistan), presented the draft report of the work of the Committee at its ninth session (document A/AC.241/L.30). The Committee approved the report by consensus and authorized Mr. Ovchinnikov to finalize the report by incorporating the proceedings of the remainder of the session and the decisions taken earlier at today's meeting.

Closing Statements

The CHAIRMAN noted that in this session there had been a number of difficult issues. The first was the matter of the Global Mechanism. He said there were many reasons why that issue was difficult, such as the transfer of resources, and it was natural that the mechanism would also play a very prominent role in subsequent discussions. A second reason was the very global dimension of the concept, which introduced unexpected hurdles.

He spoke of a number of outstanding organizational issues such as a decision on administrative support for the Secretariat, where to locate the headquarters of the Secretariat, budgetary issues, and so on.

The third major issue at the session was how best to organize work at the next session and at the Conference of the Parties. He said he was confident that with the commitment shown so far by everyone, a way would be found to achieve the desired objectives. Tremendous advances -- perhaps more than he had dared hope for -- had been made at this session. He said he was happy at the reports of progress coming in from the field, since that was the final measure of all the work that was being done in the Committee.

FERNANDO BERROCAL SOTO (Costa Rica), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, stated that the Group came with the aim of making progress on all issues, and had shown great flexibility and commitment on the subject of the Global Mechanism. Their associates did not, unfortunately, show the same kind of desire. He appealed to everyone to come to the next session with a strong political will and a preparedness to achieve even better results.

JAMES O'CONNELL (Ireland), speaking on behalf of the European Union, noted the considerable progress in important areas of the implementation of the Convention, but regretted that it had not been possible to obtain agreement on the functions of the Global Mechanism. Regarding the next negotiating session, he encouraged participants to come prepared to take decisions, and urged the secretariat to facilitate the process by continuing

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to provide guidance on the programme of work. He noted that efforts to combat desertification are assisted by a greater understanding of the dry-land environment, and the influence of human activities. He said the experience being gained would translate into improved project design and implementation. He drew attention to the importance of bottom-up planning, which would result in enhanced participation and empowerment of land users.

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