GA/EF/2948

SECOND COMMITTEE APPROVES TEXTS ON UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONVENTION, PREVENTING CORRUPT PRACTICES, ECONOMIES IN TRANSITION

Texts Also Approved on Habitat II, World Solar Programme, Poverty Eradication Decade, Economic and Social Council Report

The General Assembly would decide to express its regret that negotiations could not be completed at the sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in The Hague, by a draft decision approved this morning by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

That text, on the protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind, was one of three draft decisions and six draft resolutions approved without a vote. It would also have the Assembly call on all Parties to intensify political consultations to reach a successful conclusion at a resumed session.

A draft resolution on preventing and combating corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of such funds to their countries of origin would have the Assembly call for further international and national measures to combat corrupt practices and bribery in international transactions and for international cooperation in support of these measures.

Also by that text, the Assembly would reiterate its request to the Secretary-General to convene an intergovernmental open-ended expert group to examine and prepare draft terms of reference for the negotiation of the future legal instrument against corruption and to examine the question of illegally transferred funds and the repatriation of such funds to their countries of origin.

A draft resolution on integration of the economies in transition into the world economy would have the Assembly call on the United Nations system to continue to conduct analytical activities and provide policy advice and technical assistance to those countries aimed at strengthening the social and political framework for completing market-oriented reforms. In that regard, it would emphasize the importance of their further integration into the knowledge- based world economy through the effective utilization of information and communication technologies.

Second Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/EF/2948 41st Meeting (AM) 6 December 2000

The Committee also approved two orally revised draft resolutions on the scope to be covered by the special session of the General Assembly on the overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference for Human Settlements (Habitat II), and on preparations for the special session.

By a draft resolution on the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, the Assembly would invite the international community to support, including with financial resources, the efforts of developing countries to move towards sustainable patterns of energy production and consumption.

A draft resolution on implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), including the establishment of the World Solidarity Fund for Poverty Eradication, would have the Assembly call on all countries to formulate and implement outcome-oriented national strategies and programmes, including setting time-bound targets for poverty reduction, by halving, by 2015, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty.

Regarding the report of the Economic and Social Council, the Committee approved two draft decisions. The first would have the Assembly take note of the Council�s report as contained in document A/55/3, namely chapters I to V, VII (sections A through C and E through H) and IX. The second would have the Assembly take note of report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund on the United Nations Population Award as contained in document A/55/419.

Comments on the texts were made by the representatives of Ukraine, Portugal, Russian Federation, China and Tunisia.

The Committee will meet again on Friday, 8 December, to take action on the remaining draft resolutions and close its session.

Second Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/EF/2948 41st Meeting (AM) 6 December 2000

Committee Work Programme

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this morning to take action on several draft resolutions.

Sectoral Policy Questions

The Committee had before it a draft resolution submitted by Chairman Alexandru Niculescu (Romania), on the basis of informal consultations on the text contained in document A/C.2/55/L.32, on preventing and combating corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of such funds to their countries of origin (document A/C.2/55/L.52). It would have the Assembly call for further international and national measures to combat corrupt practices and bribery in international transactions and for international cooperation in support of these measures.

The Assembly would also call for, while recognizing the importance of national measures, increased international cooperation, inter alia, through the United Nations system, in devising ways and means of preventing and addressing illegal transfers, as well as in repatriating illegally transferred funds to their countries of origin, and call on all countries and entities concerned to cooperate in this regard. Also, the Assembly would request the international community to support the efforts of all countries aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks for preventing corruption, bribery, money-laundering and the illegal transfer of funds, as well as for the repatriation of those funds to their countries of origin.

Further, the Assembly would reiterate its request to the Secretary-General to convene an intergovernmental open-ended expert group to examine and prepare, on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General and of recommendations of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its tenth session, draft terms of reference for the negotiation of the future legal instrument against corruption, and invite the group on the same basis to examine the question of illegally transferred funds and the repatriation of such funds to their countries of origin.

Sustainable Development and International Economic Cooperation

Before the Committee is a revised draft resolution on integration of the economies in transition into the world economy (document A/C.2/55/L.4/Rev.1). It would have the Assembly call on the organizations of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, in collaboration with relevant non-United Nations multilateral and regional institutions, to continue to conduct analytical activities and provide policy advice and technical assistance to the governments of the countries with economies in transition aimed at strengthening the social and political framework for completing market-oriented reforms to sustain the positive trends in their economic and social development and, in this regard, emphasize the importance of their further integration into the knowledge-based world economy through the effective utilization of information and communication technologies.

A draft resolution submitted by the Chairman, on the basis of informals on A/C.2/55/L.12, is on the scope to be covered by the special session of the General Assembly on the overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference for Human Settlements (Habitat II) (document A/C.2/55/L.53). It would have the Assembly take action with regard to the following areas: outcome of the special session; arrangements regarding participation of Habitat Agenda partners and observers in the special session; arrangements regarding accreditation of Habitat Agenda partners to the special session; action at the local, national, and regional levels; partnership and the role of civil society; monitoring and assessment; and international cooperation.

With regard to arrangements regarding participation of Habitat Agenda partners and observers in the special session, the Assembly would decide that representatives of local authorities, and other Habitat Agenda partners may make statements in the ad hoc committee of the whole and in the thematic committee of the special session.

The Assembly would also decide that, given the availability of time, a limited number of representatives of local authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other Habitat Agenda partners may also make statements in the debate in the plenary of the special session; the Assembly President is requested to present the list of selected Habitat Agenda partners to the Member States in a timely manner for approval; the President is also requested to ensure that the selection of speakers is made on an equal and transparent basis, taking into account the geographical representation and diversity of Habitat Agenda partners.

The Assembly would decide further that observers may make statements in the debate of the plenary in accordance with the Assembly�s established rules and procedures. Further, it would decide that arrangements concerning the accreditation and participation of Habitat Agenda partners in the special session shall in no way create a precedent for other special sessions of the Assembly.

Another draft resolution submitted by the Chairman, on the basis of informal consultations on document A/C.2/55/L.13, is on preparations for the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) (document A/C.2/55/L.54). It would have the Assembly decide that the special session shall be held from 6 to 8 June 2001 at United Nations Headquarters, and that it shall have a plenary, an ad hoc committee of the whole and a thematic committee, the details of which will be worked out by the preparatory committee at its second session.

Also, the Assembly would decide that the provisional agenda shall include the following items: review and appraisal of progress made in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; further actions and initiatives for overcoming obstacles to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; and a declaration on cities and human settlements in the new millennium. It would also decide to invite the footnoted associate members of the regional

commissions to participate as observers in the special session and its preparatory process, subject to the Assembly�s rules.

Further, the draft would have the Assembly call on all States in a position to do so to make voluntary financial contributions to the Secretariat to assist developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, and their civil society partners to prepare adequately for, and be fully involved in, the preparatory process and the special session itself.

Environment and Sustainable Development

A draft resolution submitted by Vice-Chairman Navid Hanif (Pakistan), on the basis of informal consultations on document A/C.2/55/L.31, on the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 (document A/C.2/55/L.55) would have the Assembly invite the international community to support, as appropriate, including with financial resources, the efforts of developing countries to move towards sustainable patterns of energy production and consumption. The Assembly would also invite the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to make effective the implementation of the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme 1996-2005 in the different regions and to strengthen the implementation of its African chapter.

In addition, the Assembly would reiterate its call on all relevant funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and NGOs, to support the efforts being made for the development of the renewable energy sector in developing countries on the basis of environment- friendly, renewable sources of energy of demonstrated viability, while taking fully into account the development structure of energy-based economies of developing countries, and to assist in the attainment of the levels of investment necessary to expand energy supplies beyond urban areas.

A draft decision submitted by Mr. Hanif, based on informals on draft resolution A/C.2/55/L.23, is on the protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind (document A/C.2/55/L.48). It would have the Assembly decide to express its regret that negotiations could not be completed at the sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in The Hague and call on all Parties to intensify political consultations to reach a successful conclusion at a resumed session.

The Assembly would also decide to invite the Conference of the Parties at its seventh session to contribute to the preparation of the 10-year review of the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and request the Executive Secretary of the Convention to report to the Commission on Sustainable Development at its tenth session to this end. It would decide to request the Secretary-General to make the necessary provisions to include in the calendar of conferences and meetings for the biennium 2002-2003, those sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies that the Conference of the Parties may need to convene in that period.

Further, the Assembly would decide to request the Executive Secretary of the Convention to report to it at its fifty-sixth session on the work of the Conference of the Parties.

Implementation of First United Nations Decade for Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)

A draft resolution submitted by Mr. Hanif, based on informals on document A/C.2/55/L.18, is on Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), including the establishment of the World Solidarity Fund for Poverty Eradication (document A/C.2/55/L.51). By the terms of the text, the Assembly would call on all countries to formulate and implement outcome-oriented national strategies and programmes, including setting time- bound targets for poverty reduction, by halving, by 2015, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty, which requires strengthening of national action and international cooperation.

The Assembly would also call on the developed countries, by means of intensified and effective cooperation with developing countries, to promote capacity-building and facilitate access to and transfer of technologies and corresponding knowledge, particularly to developing countries, on favourable terms, including concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, as well as the special needs of developing countries, by identifying and implementing practical steps to ensure the achievement of progress in this regard and to assist developing countries in their efforts to eradicate poverty in an era influenced in large measure by technology.

In addition, the Assembly would call for strengthened efforts at all levels to implement fully and effectively the relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations and all agreements and commitments adopted at United Nations major conferences and summits organized since 1990, as well as the Millennium Declaration, as they relate to poverty eradication, with a view to achieving tangible results.

Report of Economic and Social Council

The Report of the Economic and Social Council (document A/55/3) highlights matters calling for action by the General Assembly or brought to its attention, as well as the special high-level meeting of the Council with the Bretton Woods institutions. The report also discusses the 2000 substantive session of the Council, including the Ministerial Declaration adopted at the session. The economic and environmental questions the report addresses include sustainable development, public administration and finance, water supply and sanitation, cartography, and population and development.

Also before the Committee was a note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on the United Nations Population Award (document A/55/419). According to the report, the Committee for the Award, in March, selected Professor Ismail Awadallah Sallam in the individual category and the Fundacion Mexicana para la Planeacion Familiar (Mexfam) in the institutional category as the laureates for 2000.

Action

The Chairman of the Committee, ALEXANDRU NICULESCU (Romania), proposed a draft decision which would have the Assembly take note of the following reports: the report of the Economic and Social Council as contained in document A/55/3, namely chapters I to V, VII (sections A through C and E through H) and IX.

He also drew the Committee�s attention to chapter I, entitled: �Matters calling for action by the General Assembly or brought to its attention�, page 5, namely, resolution 2000/5 entitled: �Decade of Greater Mekong Subregion Development Cooperation, 2000-2009� whereas the Council requests the General Assembly to endorse the resolution and to encourage, at a global level, support for its implementation.

The Committee approved the draft decision without a vote.

The Chairman then proposed a second draft decision which would have the Assembly take note of the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund on the United Nations Population Award as contained in document A/55/419. The Committee approved the draft decision without a vote.

The Chairman then introduced the draft resolution on preventing and combating corrupt practices and the illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of such funds to their countries of origin. The Committee approved the draft without a vote.

The representative of Ukraine said that the Russian versions of texts contained in documents A/C.2/55/L.52 and 53 were not the same as the English versions. He asked that the Secretariat reissue the Russian texts to bring them into conformity with the English version.

The Chairman then introduced the draft on integration of the economies in transition into the world economy.

The representative of Portugal asked that her country be added as co- sponsor of the resolution. The Committee then approved the draft without a vote.

The Chairman next introduced the draft on the scope to be covered by the special session of the General Assembly on the overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II).

The representative of China said that in operative paragraph 1, section 2, the words �and non-governmental organizations� should be inserted after �local authorities�.

The Committee then approved the draft without a vote as orally revised.

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The Chairman introduced the draft on preparations for the special session of the General Assembly on the overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of Habitat II.

Regarding programme budget implications, the Secretary of the Committee, MARGARET KELLY, said that operative paragraph 2 of the draft implied an exception to the provisions of General Assembly resolution 1798 (XVII).

With regard to operative paragraph 9 of the draft, she drew the Committee�s attention to the provisions of General Assembly resolution 45/248, part B VI, in which the General Assembly reaffirmed that the Fifth Committee was the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters. The Assembly also expressed concern at the tendency of its substantive Committees and other intergovernmental bodies to involve themselves in administrative and budgetary matters.

The representative of China said that in operative paragraph 5, section C, the word �other� should be added before the word �human�.

The Committee approved the draft without a vote as orally revised.

The Committee then approved a draft resolution on the World Solar Programme without a vote.

Following that, the Committee turned to the draft decision on protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind.

Regarding programme budget implications, Ms. KELLY informed delegates that should the Assembly adopt the draft, the conference servicing requirements for the biennium 2002-2003 of the meetings of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies are estimated at $2,913,000 at full costs (at revised 2001 rates). The related expenses for servicing the Convention meetings would be addressed under section 2, General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, in the context of the proposed programme budget.

The Committee approved the draft without a vote.

Next, the Committee took up the draft resolution on implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), including the initiative to establish a World Solidarity Fund for Poverty Eradication.

The representative of Tunisia said that in operative paragraph 14 of the English and Arabic texts of the draft, the word �favorably� was missing after the word �welcomes�. He asked that the necessary corrections be made to both texts.

The Committee then approved the draft without a vote as orally revised.

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