United Nations

Taking Up Second Committee Reports, Assembly Adopts
34 Resolutions and 10 Decisions

Text on Natural Resources in Occupied
Palestinian and Arab Territory Adopted by Vote of 147-2-3

NEW YORK, 20 December (UN Headquarters) -- The General Assembly, acting on behalf of the recommendations of its Second Committee Economic and Financial), adopted 34 resolutions -- one by recorded vote -- and 10 decisions, on issues ranging from preparations for and implementation of global conferences to international cooperation with regard to the economy and the environment.

By the only text adopted by a recorded vote, the Assembly called on Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss or depletion of or to endanger the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. The text was adopted by a vote of 147 in favor to two against (Israel, United States) with three abstentions (Fiji, Marshall Islands and Nauru). (See voting annex for details).

The Assembly adopted three texts relating to preparations for global conferences. In a text on the 10-year review of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the Assembly decided to organize the review in 2002 at the summit level, accept with gratitude the offer of South Africa to host the summit, and to call the summit the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

As for the Third United Nations Conference of the Least Developed Countries, the Assembly decided to convene, within existing resources, the second session of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee from 5 to 9 February 2001 in New York, at which the Committee will undertake the first formal reading of the draft programme of action. [The Conference will convene from 14 to 20 May 2001 and will be hosted by the European Union in Brussels.]

By another text on a global conference, the Assembly decided that the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development should be scheduled for the first quarter of 2002, at a date to be agreed upon, and extended its invitation to interested countries to consider hosting or confirming existing offers to host the event.

In a draft decision on the same subject, the Assembly decided to take note of the report of the Secretary-General on the high-level international inter- governmental consideration of financing for development.

There were three resolutions adopted by the Assembly on further implementation of the outcome of past global conferences. In a text on the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, the Assembly called on Member States and relevant organs and agencies of the United Nations system to support efforts of small island developing States in the implementation of the Programme of Action through, among other things, the provision of adequate technical and financial resources.

By two related texts on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), the Assembly decided that a special session shall be held from 6 to 8 June 2001 at United Nations Headquarters, and that representatives of local authorities, non-governmental organizations 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.

With an aim to increasing international economic cooperation, the Assembly adopted a series of texts. In a text on globalization and interdependence, the Assembly re-emphasized the urgency of coordinated action by the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization (WTO), as appropriate, along with the action of governments, to promote equitable and wide sharing in the benefits of globalization.

Continuing with the theme of economic cooperation, the Assembly adopted three texts on macroeconomic policy questions. By the first, it called on the international community, particularly the World Bank and the regional development banks, and other relevant international and regional institutions to support the promotion of long-term private financial flows.

By the second text, the Assembly called for concerted national and international action to effectively address the debt problems of middle-income developing countries. By the third text, the Assembly invited members of the international community to consider the interests of non-members of the WTO in the context of trade liberalization.

The Assembly adopted a series of texts with regard to sustainable development and international economic cooperation, one of which specifically stressed the need for coordinated action. By that text, the Assembly called 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 advice and technical assistance to the governments of the countries with economies in transition.

By other texts adopted regarding sustainable development and international economic cooperation, the Assembly:

-- requested the Secretary-General to provide it at its fifty-seventh session with an overview of the challenges and development goals and objectives adopted by the United Nations during the decade of the 1990s;

-- decided that the high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation would be convened for two days immediately prior to the commencement of the general debate at the Assembly's fifty-sixth session; and

-- invited all Member States, intergovernmental bodies, organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to intensify their efforts to integrate cultural factors into their development programmes.

Cooperation with regard to the environment was stressed in the resolutions adopted by the Assembly on environment and sustainable development. In a text on international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, the Assembly welcomed the establishment of the working group on the El Niño/La Niña phenomenon within the framework of the Inter-Agency Task Force of the International Strategy for Disaster reduction.

In a related text, the Assembly called on the United Nations system and the international community to assist Caribbean countries and their regional organizations in their efforts to ensure the protection of the Caribbean Sea from degradation as a result of pollution.

Also adopted was a decision on protection of global climate for present and future generations by which the Assembly decided 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 at The Hague and called on all Parties to intensify political consultations to reach a successful conclusion at a resumed session.

By other texts adopted regarding the environment and sustainable development, the Assembly:

-- invited the international community to support the efforts of developing countries to move towards sustainable patterns of energy production and consumption;

-- welcomed the work undertaken by the Secretariat of the instruments related to environment and sustainable development and other relevant organizations to implement General Assembly resolution 54/217;

-- requested the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the biennium 2002-2003;

-- called on governments, particularly developed countries and the donor community, to enhance their financial support to the Global Mechanism to enable it to promote the effective implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification; and

-- decided to take note of the Secretary-General's note transmitting the report on progress made in providing safe water supply and sanitation for all during the 1990s.

In adopting a resolution on the status of preparations for the International Year of Mountains, 2002, the Assembly encouraged all States, the United Nations system and all other actors to increase awareness of mountain ecosystems. In a related text, the Assembly proclaimed the year 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater.

On the subject of training and research, the Assembly adopted three resolutions. In a text on the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the Assembly called on developed countries, which are increasingly participating in training programmes in New York and Geneva, to make contributions to, or consider increasing their contributions to, the General Fund. In another text, the Assembly requested the United Nations University to broaden the reach of its dissemination activities.

In a third text on training and research, the Assembly decided to establish the United Nations System Staff College, as of 1 January 2002, after the approval of its statute as an institution for system-wide knowledge management, training and learning for the staff of the United Nations system, aimed, in particular, at the areas of economic and social development, peace and security and internal management of the United Nations system.

In adopting two texts on sectoral policy questions, the Assembly called for further international and national measures to combat corrupt practices and bribery in international transactions and underscored the importance of industrial development cooperation.

Texts were also adopted regarding: commodities; the Convention on Biological Diversity; strengthening the cooperation of the mechanisms on the Commission for Science and Technology for Development; transit environment in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbors; implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006); and cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

In addition, the Assembly adopted three decisions related to the report of the Economic and Social Council. It decided to take note of the report of the Economic and Social Council for 2000 and of the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund on the United Nations Population Award, as well as approve the biennium programme of work of the Second Committee 2001-2002.

Also, the Assembly adopted the following draft decisions: "documents relating to trade and development"; "documents relating to science and technology for development"; and "report of the high-level panel of experts on information and communication technology".

Further, the Assembly took note of those chapters and sections of the Report of the Economic and Social Council that were assigned to plenary meetings and concluded its consideration of them.

Statements were made by the representatives of the United States, Nigeria (on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China) and France (on behalf of the European Union and associated States).

The Assembly will meet again tomorrow at 10 a.m. to take up draft resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity (OAU); implementation of the United Nations Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s; causes of conflict and promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa; and towards global partnerships.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to consider the reports of its Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

The reports concern the following topics: macroeconomic policy questions; sectoral policy questions; sustainable development and international economic cooperation; environment and sustainable development; operational activities for development; training and research; permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the Syrian Golan over their resources; implementation of the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty; globalization and interdependence; high-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing for development; the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries; and the report of the Economic and Social Council.

Macroeconomic Policy Questions

The Committee’s report on "macroeconomic policy questions" (document A/55/579) is submitted in six parts.

Part II of the report (document A/55/579/Add.1) contains two draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I, on transit environment in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, was approved without a vote on 1 December. It would have the Assembly call on the United Nations system to continue studying possible ways of promoting more cooperative arrangements between landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, and to encourage a more active supportive role on the part of the donor community.

Also, the Assembly would invite the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the governments concerned, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Economic Commission for Europe and relevant regional and international organizations in accordance with approved programme priorities and within existing financial resources, to continue elaborating a programme for improving the efficiency of the current transit environment in the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours.

The Assembly would also invite UNCTAD, in close cooperation with the regional economic commissions, to provide technical assistance and advisory services to the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, taking into account the relevant transit transport agreements.

Also, the Assembly would invite donor countries and multilateral financial and development institutions to continue to provide those States with appropriate financial and technical assistance for the improvement of the transit environment, including construction, maintenance and improvement of their transport, storage and other transit-related facilities and improved communications.

Draft resolution II, on international trade and development, was approved on 8 December, without a vote. It would have the Assembly deplore any attempt to bypass or undermine multilaterally agreed procedures on the conduct of international trade by unilateral actions inconsistent with the multilateral trade rules and regulations, including those agreed on in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations.

Also, the Assembly would urge those countries that have announced market-access initiatives in favour of developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, and have not yet fulfilled them, to expedite the implementation of those initiatives, and call on other countries that have not yet done so to undertake similar initiatives. Further, the Assembly would invite members of the international community to consider the interests of non-members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the context of trade liberalization.

Part III of the report (document A/55/579/Add.2) contains one draft resolution.

Approved on 8 December, without a vote, the draft resolution on commodities would have the Assembly invite UNCTAD, within its mandate, to provide assistance to developing countries in the financing of commodity diversification and to include issues related to commodities in the provision of analytical support and technical assistance to developing countries in their preparation for effective participation in multilateral trade negotiations and in formulating a positive agenda for future trade negotiations.

Also, the Assembly would urge developed countries to continue to support the commodity diversification and liberalization efforts of developing countries, especially African countries, the least developed countries and commodity-dependent small island developing States, in a spirit of common purpose and efficiency, among other things, by providing technical and financial assistance for the preparatory phase of their commodity diversification programmes. It would also urge producers and consumers of individual commodities to intensify their efforts to reinforce mutual cooperation and assistance.

Part IV of the report (document A/55/579/Add.3) contains one draft resolution.

Approved without a vote on 8 December, the text on enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problem of developing countries would have the Assembly call for the full, speedy and effective implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and stress the need for the donor community to provide the additional resources necessary to fulfil the future financial requirements of this initiative.

Also, the Assembly would call for concerted national and international action to effectively address debt problems of middle-income developing countries with a view to resolving their potential long-term debt-sustainability problems through various debt-treatment measures, including, as appropriate, existing orderly mechanisms for debt reduction, and encourage all creditors, public and private, and debtor countries to utilize to the fullest extent possible, where appropriate, the mechanisms for debt reduction.

Part V of the report (document A/55/579/Add.4) contains one draft resolution.

The draft resolution on strengthening the coordination of the mechanisms on the Commission for Science and Technology for Development: promoting complimentarity of activities in the area of new and innovative technologies within the United Nations system was approved on 1 December. It would have the Assembly call on the Secretary-General to strengthen the Commission and its secretariat within UNCTAD, by providing it with the necessary resources, in order to enable it to carry out better its mandate of assisting the developing countries with their national development efforts in the field of science and technology.

Also, the Assembly would request the Commission to report on its biennial session, through the Economic and Social Council, to the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, in particular regarding proposals aimed at promoting complimentarity of activities in the area of new and innovative technologies within the United Nations system.

Further, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to submit to the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the Council, an analytical report on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution, containing, in particular, concrete proposals for strengthening the critical role of the Commission in coordinating the activities of the United Nations system in support of the efforts of developing countries to obtain, effectively utilize and benefit from science and technology for their development.

Part VI of the report (document A/55/579/Add.5) contains one draft resolution.

Approved on 29 November, the text entitled "towards a new international financial architecture, responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity" would have the Assembly call on the international community, particularly the World Bank and the regional development banks, and other relevant international and regional institutions, including the regional commissions, working with the private sector, to support the promotion of long-term private financial flows, especially foreign direct investment to all developing countries.

Also by the text, the Assembly would underline the utmost importance of implementing the resolve in the Millennium Declaration to create an environment -- at the national and global levels -- conducive to development and the elimination of poverty. It would also underline the utmost importance of implementing the commitment in the Declaration to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system.

In addition, the Assembly would underline the continued importance of providing the international institutions, particularly the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with adequate resources to provide emergency financing in a timely and accessible manner to countries affected by financial crisis, and note the regional and subregional efforts to facilitate emergency financing in time of crisis.

Sectoral Policy Questions

The Committee’s report on "sectoral policy questions" (document A/55/580) contains two draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I, on industrial development cooperation, was approved on 1 December without a vote. It would have the Assembly call on the international community and the relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), to support the efforts of the developing countries to intensify and expand industrial cooperation among themselves with respect to, among other things, trade in manufactured products, industrial investments and business partnerships, and industrial technology and scientific exchanges.

The Assembly would also request UNIDO, in cooperation with the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, as appropriate, to continue undertaking in-depth assessment, analysis and dissemination of best practices in the area of industrial policies and strategies and of lessons learned in industrial development, taking into account the effects of financial crises and the impact of globalization on the industrial structure of the developing countries, so as to support and boost South-South cooperation by providing practical insights and ideas for international industrial development cooperation and for economic and technical cooperation among developing countries.

Further, the Assembly would underscore the importance of industrial development cooperation and a positive investment and business climate at the international, regional, subregional and national levels in promoting the expansion, diversification and modernization of productive capacities in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

Draft resolution II, on preventing and combating corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of such funds to their countries of origin was approved, without a vote, on 6 December. 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.

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

The Committee’s report on "sustainable development and international economic cooperation" (document A/55/581) is submitted in seven parts.

Part II of the report (document A/55/581/Add.1) contains one draft resolution.

The draft resolution on implementation of the commitments and policies agreed upon in the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade was approved on 1 December. By its terms, the Assembly would decide to postpone the further development of a new international development strategy until after the development-oriented meetings, being convened under the auspices of the United Nations over the next two years, have taken place.

[They include the final event of the international intergovernmental conference on financing for development, the special session on the human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, the General Assembly special session in 2001 for Follow-up to the World Summit for Children and the 10-year review of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), and the Assembly's special session for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II).]

Also, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to provide it at its fifty-seventh session with an overview of the challenges and constraints as well as progress made towards achieving the major development goals and objectives adopted by the United Nations during the decade of the 1990s.

Part III of the report (document A/55/581/Add.2) contains one draft resolution.

The draft resolution, integration of the economies in transition into the world economy, was approved on 6 December. 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.

Part IV of the report (document A/55/581/Add.3) contains one draft resolution.

The draft resolution on culture and development, approved on 8 December, would have the Assembly invite all Member States, intergovernmental bodies, organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), continuous and effective implementation of the Action Plan on Cultural Policies for Development.

The Assembly would also invite them to further intensify their efforts to integrate cultural factors into their development programmes and projects, so as to ensure sustainable development that fully respects cultural diversity; to implement fully the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace adopted by the Assembly on 13 September 1999; and to commit themselves to promoting the Dialogue among Civilizations as an essential process for human development and mutual understanding and for strengthening international cooperation.

Further, they would be invited to analyse the connection between culture and development and the elimination of poverty in the context of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006); and to safeguard cultural and linguistic diversity in the context of globalization and support UNESCO action in that regard.

Part V of the report (document A/55/581/Add.4) contains one draft resolution.

The draft resolution on high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership was approved on 22 November. The Assembly would endorse the agreement reached at the intergovernmental consultations, whereby the two sub-themes of the second high-level dialogue would be "promoting the integration of developing countries into the world economy and generating new public and private financial resources to complement development efforts" and "enhancing the integration of developing countries in the emerging global information network, facilitating access for developing countries to information and communication technology".

In addition, the Assembly would decide that the high-level dialogue would be convened for two days immediately prior to the commencement of the general debate at the Assembly's fifty-sixth session, that it consist of plenary meetings, ministerial round-table meetings and informal panels, and that the final outcome would be a summary by the President, to be presented at the closure of the event.

Part VI of the report (document A/55/581/Add.5) contains two draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I, 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) was approved on 6 December. 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 NGOs, 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, 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.

Draft resolution II 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) was approved on 6 December. By its terms, the Assembly would 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.

Part VII of the report (document A/55/581/Add.6) contains one draft resolution.

Approved on 15 November, the draft resolution on the status of preparation for the International Year of Mountains, 2002 would have the Assembly encourage all States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the year to ensure the present and future well-being of mountain communities by promoting conservation and sustainable development in mountain areas; to increase awareness and knowledge of mountain ecosystems, their dynamics and functioning, and their overriding importance in providing a number of crucial goods and services essential to the well-being of rural and urban, highland and lowland people, particularly water supply and food security; and to promote and defend the cultural heritage of mountain communities.

Environment and Sustainable Development

The Committee’s report on "environment and sustainable development" (document A/55/582) is submitted in nine parts.

Part II of the report (document A/55/582/Add.1) contains two draft resolutions.

Approved on 8 December, draft resolution I on the 10-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) would have the Assembly decide, among other things, to organize the review in 2002 at the summit level, accept with gratitude the generous offer of South Africa to host the summit, and to call the summit the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

The Assembly would also decide that the Summit, including its preparatory process, should ensure a balance between economic development, social development and environmental protection, as these are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development. Further, the Assembly would decide that the meetings of the tenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development shall be transformed into an open-ended preparatory committee.

Draft resolution II, on the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its sixth special session, was approved, without a vote, on 1 December. It would have the Assembly request the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the biennium 2002-2003, in accordance with current budgetary practices and to consider other ways to support the strengthening of the Programme in view of the 10-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of UNCED.

Also, the Assembly would underscore the need for sufficient financial resources, on a stable and predictable basis, to ensure the full implementation of the UNEP’s mandate, particularly with a view to ensuring its strong involvement in the preparatory process for the 10-year review, and in the implementation of the outcome of the review.

Part III of the report (document A/54/582/Add.2) contains one draft resolution.

Approved on 29 November, the draft resolution on the Convention on Biological Diversity would have the Assembly decide to proclaim 22 May, the date of the adoption of the text of the Convention, as the International Day for Biological Diversity. The Assembly would call on Member States that are parties to the Convention to sign and ratify the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety as soon as possible.

The Assembly would also call on States parties to the Convention to settle urgently any arrears and to pay their contributions in full and in a timely manner so as to ensure continuity in the cash flows required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the subsidiary bodies and the Convention secretariat. Further, it would urge developed countries to facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound biotechnology for the effective implementation of the Cartagena Protocol.

Part IV of the report (document A/55/582/Add.3) contains one draft decision.

Approved without a vote on 8 December, the draft decision on water supply and sanitation would have the Assembly take note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report on progress made in providing safe water supply and sanitation for all during the 1990s.

Part V of the report (document A/55/582/Add.4) contains two draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I, approved without a vote on 8 December, is on further implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. The text would have the Assembly call on Member States, particularly the donor community, as well as the relevant organs and agencies of the United Nations system and the regional commissions and organizations, to support the efforts of small island developing States in the further implementation of the Programme of Action through, among other things, the provision of adequate technical and financial resources, taking into account the Declaration and review document for further implementation and effective follow-up.

The Assembly would also call on the organizations of the United Nations system to assist small island developing States in their efforts to enhance their capacities to effectively utilize the benefits and mitigate the implications of globalization, including by bridging the digital divide and fostering digital opportunities in the field of information and communication technologies. Also, it would urge all relevant organizations to finalize, as a matter of urgency, the work on the development of a vulnerability index.

Approved on 8 December without a vote, draft resolution II is on promoting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development. It would have the Assembly call on the United Nations system and the international community to assist Caribbean countries and their regional organizations in their efforts to ensure the protection of the Caribbean Sea from degradation as a result of pollution from ships, particularly through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances, from illegal dumping or accidental release of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, as well as pollution from land-based activities.

The Assembly would also call on all relevant States to take necessary steps to bring into force, and to support the implementation of, the Protocol concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities, in order to protect the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from land-based pollution and degradation. Also, it would call on all States to become contracting parties to relevant international agreements to promote the protection of the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from pollution and degradation from ships.

Further, the Assembly would call on Member States to improve as a matter of priority their emergency response capabilities and the containment of environmental damage, particularly in the Caribbean Sea, in the event of natural disasters or of an accident or incident relating to maritime navigation.

Part VI of the report (document A/55/582/Add.5) contains one draft resolution.

The draft resolution entitled implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa was approved on 22 November. The Assembly would call on governments, particularly developed countries and the donor community, to enhance their financial support to the Global Mechanism to enable it to promote the effective implementation of the Convention. It would also call on the Global Environmental Facility to enhance its ongoing support for land degradation activities in developing countries.

Further, the Assembly would urge all parties to the Convention that have not already done so to pay promptly and in full their contributions to the core budget of the Convention, so as to ensure continuity in the cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the subsidiary bodies, the secretariat and the Global Mechanism.

Part VII of the report (document A/55/582/Add.6) contains one draft resolution.

The draft resolution on the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, approved without a vote on 6 December, 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 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.

Part VIII of the report (document A/55/582/Add.7) contains one draft decision.

The draft decision on protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind, approved on 6 December, 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.

Part IX of the report (document A/55/582/Add.8) contains three draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I, approved without a vote on 15 November, is on international year of freshwater, 2003. It would have the Assembly proclaim the year 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater. The Assembly would also invite the Subcommittee on Freshwater Resources of the Administrative Committee on Coordination to serve as the coordinating entity for the Year and to develop preliminary proposals to possible activities that could take place at the national, regional and international levels, in particular in the United Nations system, in preparation for and during the Year, for consideration by the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session.

Approved on 15 November without a vote, draft resolution II on international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon would have the Assembly welcome the establishment of the working group on the El Niño/La Niña phenomenon within the framework of the Inter-Agency Task Force of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

Also, the Assembly would call upon the Secretary-General and the relevant United Nations organs, funds and programmes, in particular those taking part in the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and the international community to adopt, as appropriate, the necessary measures for the prompt establishment of the international centre for the study of the El Niño phenomenon in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and invites the international community to provide scientific, technical and financial assistance and cooperation for that purpose, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/220. The Assembly would also invite the Government of the host country to facilitate the process for the prompt establishment of the international centre.

Draft resolution III, on enhancing complementarities among international instruments related to environment and sustainable development, was approved, without a vote, on 15 November. The Assembly would welcome the work undertaken by the secretariats of the instruments related to environment and sustainable development and other relevant organizations to implement General Assembly resolution 54/217.

[Resolution 54/217 of 22 December 1999 is on enhancing complementarities among international instruments related to environment and sustainable development. Agenda 21 is the plan of action adopted at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro.]

Also, the Assembly would encourage the conferences of the parties to and the permanent secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and other international instruments related to environment and sustainable development, to continue their work for enhancing the complementarities among them and to strengthen cooperation with a view to facilitating progress. The Assembly would also encourage the conference of the parties to promote the streamlining of national reporting.

Operational Activities for Development

The Committee's report on "operational activities for development" (document A/55/583) contains one draft decision.

Approved without a vote on 15 November, the draft decision on operational activities for development would have the Assembly take note of the report of the activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

Training and Research

The Committee’s report on "training and research" (document A/55/584) contains three draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I, on the United Nations University, was approved without a vote on 1 December. It would have the Assembly request the University to broaden the reach of its dissemination activities, using innovative methods, including new information and communication technologies, to ensure that the knowledge developed by the University is made available to all those to whom it may be of benefit.

It would also request the University's Council and Rector, taking into account the previous resolutions and the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the University, to continue to make further efforts to ensure the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the University's activities, as well as its financial transparency and accountability, to intensify efforts to augment its Endowment Fund and to find innovative ways to mobilize operating contributions and other programme and project support.

Further, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to continue his consideration of innovative measures to improve interaction and communication between the University and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system and to ensure that the work of the University is taken into account in all relevant activities of the system, so that the system may draw more extensively on the work of the University.

Also, the Assembly would invite the international community to make voluntary contributions to the University, including its research and training centres and programmes, particularly to its Endowment Fund.

Draft resolution II, on the United Nations Staff College in Turin, Italy, was approved on 29 November without a vote. It would have the Assembly decide to establish the United Nations System Staff College, as of 1 January

2002, after the approval of its statute as an institution for system-wide knowledge management, training and learning for the staff of the United Nations system, aimed, in particular, at the areas of economic and social development, peace and security and internal management of the United Nations system.

By further terms of the draft, the Assembly would also decide that, after the establishment of the Staff College, a biennial report should be submitted to the Assembly on the work, activities and accomplishments of the College, including on collaboration with other relevant United Nations institutions.

Further, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to continue consultations on an urgent basis with the Administrative Committee on Coordination and relevant United Nations organizations and to submit, as early as possible, a final draft of the statute for the College, reflecting the outcome of those consultations on functions, governance and funding for review and approval by the Assembly, preferably at its fifty-fifth session.

Approved without a vote on 8 December, draft resolution III on the United Nations Institute for Training and Research would have the Assembly call on developed countries, which are increasingly participating in training programmes in New York and Geneva, to make contributions to, or consider increasing their contributions to, the General Fund.

Also, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to consider reclassifying the rental rates and maintenance costs charged to the Institute with a view to alleviating its current financial difficulties, which are aggravated by the current practice of charging commercial rates, taking into account that other organizations affiliated with the United Nations enjoy such privileges. It would also request the Board of Trustees of the Institute to intensify its efforts to attract experts from developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the preparation of the relevant training materials for the programmes and activities of the Institute, and stress that the Institute’s courses should focus primarily on development issues.

Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the Syrian Golan over Their Resources

The Committee’s report on "Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the Syrian Golan over Their Resources" (document A/55/585) contains one draft resolution.

The draft resolution on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources was approved on 15 November by a vote of 131 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 3 abstentions (Federated States of Micronesia, Kazakhstan, Marshall Islands). By its terms, the Assembly would call on Israel, the occupying power, not to exploit, to cause loss or depletion of or to endanger the natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan.

Also, the Assembly would reaffirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water. Further, the Assembly would recognize the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources, and express the hope that this issue would be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Implementation of the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty

The Committee’s report on "implementation of the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty" (document A/55/586) contains one draft resolution.

Approved without a vote on 6 December, the 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, 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.

Globalization and Interdependence

The Committee's report on "globalization and interdependence" (document A/55/587) contains two draft resolutions. Draft resolution I, on cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, was approved, without a vote, on 15 November. It would have the Assembly invite the Secretary-General to undertake consultations with the Secretary-General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, with a view to promoting cooperation and coordination between both Secretariats. It would also invite the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with both Secretaries-General in order to initiate consultations and programmes with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and its associated institutions for the attainment of their objectives.

Draft resolution II, approved without a vote on 8 December, is on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence. By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would re-emphasize the urgency of coordinated action by the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the WTO, as appropriate, along with the action of governments, to promote equitable and wide sharing in the benefits of globalization, taking into account the specific vulnerabilities, concerns and needs of developing countries.

Also, the Assembly would call for effective addressing of globalization through, inter alia, making the decision-making process of international economic and financial policy more participatory, especially with regard to developing countries, the integrated consideration of trade, finance, investment, technology transfer and development issues by the relevant international institutions, the continuation of a wide range of reforms in the international financial system and further progress towards liberalization and enhanced market access in areas and for products of particular interest to developing countries, and to this end for coherence and close cooperation between the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the WTO.

In addition, the Assembly would call on all countries, in particular the major developed economies, to enhance coherence among their financial, investment, trade and development cooperation policies, with a view to enhancing the development prospects of developing countries.

High-Level International Intergovernmental Consideration of Financing for Development

The Committee's report on "high-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing for development" (document A/55/588) contains one draft decision and one draft resolution.

The draft decision on preparations for the substantive preparatory process and the high-level international intergovernmental event would have the Assembly decide to take note of the report of the Secretary-General on the high-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing for development. The draft decision was approved without a vote on 29 December.

Also approved without a vote on 29 December, the draft resolution on preparations for the substantive preparatory process and the high-level international intergovernmental event would have the Assembly decide that the high-level international intergovernmental event should be scheduled for the first quarter of 2002, at a date to be agreed upon, and extends its invitation to interested countries to consider hosting or confirming existing offers to host the high-level international intergovernmental event.

Also, it would have the Assembly decide that the Preparatory Committee should hold a final substantive session from 14 to 25 February 2002, on the understanding that the second substantive session will be held from 12 to 23 February 2001 and the third substantive session will be held from 30 April to 11 May 2001. It requests the Secretary-General to address a letter to all governments further sensitizing them to the high-profile and high-level participation that the substantive preparatory process and the High-Level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development deserve.

Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries

The Committee’s report on "implementation of the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty" (document A/55/589) contains one draft resolution.

The draft on the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries was approved, without a vote, on 8 December. It would have the Assembly decide, in the light of the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee at its first session, to convene within existing resources, the second session of the Committee from 5 to 9 February 2001 in New York, at which the Committee will undertake the first formal reading of the draft programme of action and consider other relevant matters, while noting that the final session of the Committee will be held in New York from 2 to 6 April 2001.

Also, the Assembly would invite participation at the Conference and its preparatory process of the relevant NGOs that enjoy consultative status in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996; the NGOs that were accredited to the Second Conference in 1990; and the NGOs that enjoy consultative status with UNCTAD.

It would also decide that the accreditation of other interested civil society actors, in particular NGOs and the business sector, to the Conference and its preparatory process shall be considered by the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee on a non-objection basis before 31 January 2001, for final decision by the Committee at its second session provided that requests for accreditation are submitted to the Secretariat of the Conference before 15 January 2001 and accompanied by the relevant information.

Report of Economic and Social Council

The Committee's report on "the report of the Economic and Social Council" (document A/55/590) contains three draft decisions.

Draft decision I, on the report of the Economic and Social Council, was approved, without a vote, on 6 December. It would have the Assembly endorse the Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/5/ of 25 July, entitled "Decade of Greater Mekong Subregion Development Cooperation, 2000-2009", draw attention to the international community to the intensification of economic and social development in the subregion, and encourage its support thereof.

Draft decision II, on documents relating to the report of the Economic and Social Council, was approved, without a vote, on 6 December. It would have the Assembly take note of the relevant chapters of the report of the Economic and Social Council for 2000 and 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.

Draft decision III would have the Assembly approve the biennium programme of work of the Second Committee 2001-2002.

Also before the Assembly is the report of the Economic and Social Council (document A/55/3 and Add.1 and Add.2). Among other things, the report 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.

Addendum I contains a preliminary version of the composition of the Council and its subsidiary and related bodies. Addendum II is a preliminary version of the section of the report relating to the resumed 2000 substantive session.

Action on Second Committee Reports

AHMED AMAZIANE (Morocco), Second Committee Rapporteur, introduced the twelve reports of the Second Committee and drew the Assembly’s attention to a correction in the text on "external debt crisis and development".

ANNE BARRINGTON (Ireland), Vice-Chairman of the Committee, noted some further changes to the draft resolution on "external debt crisis and development".

The Assembly then took up the Committee's report on macroeconomic policy questions (document A/55/579, Add.1-5), which contains six draft resolutions and two draft decisions.

Draft resolution I, entitled "transit environment in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours", was adopted without a vote, as was draft resolution II on "international trade and development". The Assembly also adopted the draft decision entitled "Documents relating to trade and development".

A draft resolution entitled "commodities" was also adopted without a vote.

Next, the Assembly adopted the draft resolution entitled "enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problem of developing countries", without a vote, as orally revised.

Acting without a vote, the Assembly then adopted the draft resolution entitled "strengthening the coordination of the mechanisms on the Commission for Science for Technology for Development: promoting complimentarity of activities in the area of new and innovative technologies within the United Nations system". Likewise, it adopted the draft decision entitled "Documents relating to science and technology for development".

Following that, the Assembly turned to the draft resolution entitled "towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture, responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity".

LARRY CARP (United States) said that his delegation had joined consensus on the resolution because it felt that the Committee had been able to reach an understanding on a number of issues that were important. After lengthy and frank negotiations, his delegation believed that this year’s resolution showed clear acceptance of the division of labor between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions. It was essential that the full independence of the international financial institutions be completely respected and upheld, especially in a number of areas mentioned in the resolution. Their independence as well as their technical expertise and focus were crucial to their credibility, and therefore to the success of their work.

The Assembly, acting without a vote, adopted the text.

The Assembly then took up the Committee's report on sectoral policy questions (document A/55/580), which contains two draft resolutions.

Draft resolution I entitled "industrial development cooperation", and draft resolution II entitled "preventing and combating corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of such finds to their countries of origin", were both adopted without a vote.

The Assembly then took up consideration of the Committee's report on sustainable development and international economic cooperation (document A/55/581, Add.1-6), which contains seven draft resolutions.

First, the Assembly adopted, without a vote, the draft resolution entitled "the status of preparations for the International Year of Mountains, 2002".

It then adopted, without a vote, the draft resolution entitled "implementation of the commitments and policies agreed upon in the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade".

Also without a vote, the Assembly adopted draft resolutions entitled "integration of the economies in transition into the world economy", "culture and development" and "high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership".

Draft resolution I, entitled "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)", was adopted without a vote, as was draft resolution II, entitled "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)".

Next, the Assembly turned its attention to the 10 draft resolutions and two draft decisions contained in the report on environment and sustainable development (document A/55/582, Add. 1-8).

Draft resolutions I, II and III, namely, "international year of freshwater, 2003", "international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon" and "enhancing complementarities among international instruments related to environment and sustainable development", were all adopted without a vote.

Next, the Assembly turned to draft resolution I, entitled "the 10-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)".

NAVID HANIF (Pakistan), Vice-Chairman of the Committee, noted a correction to be made in the text.

Mr. CARP (United States) said that his delegation wished to reiterate its objection to the global conference package contained in the resolution. The United States fully understood the viewpoint that "Rio+10" should be held as a global conference and that it should be held outside New York.

However, he continued, in light of more general United States policy related to United Nations matters, the Unites States must disassociate itself from consensus on this matter. The United States would be unable to pay its share of United Nations funding for such a conference if current United States legislation were renewed, and as a result United States policy was to not support the convening of new global conferences in the United Nations system.

Also adopted without a vote, was draft resolution II, entitled "the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its sixth special session".

The Assembly also adopted, without a vote, the draft resolution on "Convention on Biological Diversity".

Following that, the Assembly turned to the draft decision entitled "water supply and sanitation" and adopted it without a vote.

Next, it adopted draft resolution I, entitled "further implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States", and draft resolution II, entitled "promoting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development", without a vote.

Following that, the Assembly adopted, without a vote, draft resolutions on "implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa" and "World Solar Programme 1996-2005", as well as the draft decision on "protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind".

The Assembly next took up the report on operational activities for development (document A/55/583) and adopted, without a vote, the draft decision it contained entitled "Report on the activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women".

Following that, the Assembly turned to the report on training and research (document A/55/584).

With regard to the draft resolution III, entitled "United Nations Institute for Training and Research", ARTHUR C.I. MBANEFO (Nigeria), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said that the understanding of the Group during the negotiations was that the reclassification of the rental rates and maintenance costs sought in paragraph 13 for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) would somewhat improve the current financial status of the institution, at least until the issue of rent and maintenance costs paid by UNITAR could be reviewed next year. The need for such a review had become obvious and necessary not only to ensure that UNITAR enjoyed parity of treatment with similar United Nations institutions, but also to establish the fact that the poor state of its General Fund placed a huge, but avoidable, impediment on UNITAR’s delivery of its training programmes, free of charge, to all Member States.

It was in this context, he said, that the oral statements of the Secretariat made during the Committee’s approval of its recommended draft resolution III had come as a surprise to the Group. As might be recalled, that oral statement had said, among other things, that the Secretary-General did not have the discretionary authority to waive the provisions of General Assembly resolution 41/213, and hence was not in a position to reclassify the rates charged to UNITAR for rent and maintenance costs, unless the General Assembly decided to make an exception to its resolution 41/213 in regard to recommendation 36. Indeed, the poor financial situation of UNITAR deserved a remedy, which the General Assembly could provide.

The Group was willing to go along with the action on the draft, on the understanding that no action would be taken either on its operative paragraph 13 or the oral statements of the Secretariat that had been referred to. Maintaining the current status quo until the fifty-sixth session, through such a course of action, would provide all parties with an opportunity to discern and design a meaningful solution to the problem of UNITAR. On that understanding, the Group was willing to proceed with the consensus on the draft resolution.

DANIEL LE GARGASSON (France), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that the Union shared the concern of the Group of 77 about the work of UNITAR. The Union supported the resolution because it appeared that there needed to be a reevaluation of UNITAR's work. It hoped that next year the Assembly would find a more satisfactory and durable solution to problem.

The Assembly then proceeded to adopt, without a vote, the draft resolutions entitled "United Nations University", "United Nations Staff College in Turin, Italy" and "United Nations Institute for Training and Research".

The Assembly then turned to the report on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources (document A/55/585), for which it had one draft resolution.

The draft resolution entitled "permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and of Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources" was adopted by a vote of 147 in favor to two against (Israel, United States), with three abstaining (Fiji, Marshall Islands and Nauru). (For details of voting, see the annex attached to this press release.)

Next, the Assembly considered the report on implementation of the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (document A/55/586), and adopted, without a vote, the draft resolution entitled "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".

Taking up the Committee's report on globalization and interdependence (document A/55/587), the Assembly adopted, without a vote, draft resolution I on "cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation" and draft resolution II on the "role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence". It also adopted the draft decision entitled "Report of the high-level panel of experts on information and communication technology".

The Assembly then took up the report on high-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing for development (document A/55/588), and adopted, without a vote, the draft resolution on "preparations for the substantive preparatory process and the high-level international intergovernmental event" as well as the draft decision entitled "Report of the Secretary-General on the high-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing for development".

Next, the Assembly took up the report on the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (document A/55/589) and adopted the related resolution without a vote.

The Assembly then took up consideration of the report of the Economic and Social Council (A/55/590), which contains three draft decisions.

Without a vote, the Assembly adopted draft decision I, taking note of the report of the Economic and Social Council (document A/55/3) and draft decision II, taking note of the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund on the United Nations Population Award (document A/55/419).

Finally, in adopting draft decision III, the Assembly approved the biennial programme of work of the Second Committee for 2001-2002. Next, the Assembly took note of those chapters and sections of the Report of the Economic and Social Council that were assigned to plenary meetings and concluded its consideration of them.

On a point of order, HUSSAM EDIN A'ALA (Syria) said that his delegation wanted to express its consternation at the event that had happened during the meeting. How was it possible that people could infiltrate the General Assembly Hall and disrupt the meeting? he asked. Security should be questioned on the issue.

(annex follows)
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ANNEX

Vote on Permanent Sovereignty of the Palestinian People in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources

The draft resolution, contained in (document A/55/585) was adopted by a recorded vote of 147 in favour to 2 against, with 3 abstentions, as follows:

In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States.

Abstain: Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru.

Absent: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Federated States of Micronesia, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Mali, Nicaragua, Palau, Republic of Moldova, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

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