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GA/EF/2989 |
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WITHOUT VOTE, SECOND COMMITTEE APPROVES Texts Cover Biodiversity Convention, International Cooperation for NEW YORK, 10 December (UN Headquarters) -- By one of four draft resolutions approved without a vote this afternoon by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial), the General Assembly would call on parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity 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 (COP), the subsidiary bodies and the Convention secretariat. The text on high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership, also approved without a vote, would have the Assembly request the Secretary-General, in close consultations with governments, all relevant parts of the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders, to propose the modalities, the nature and the timing of such constructive dialogue and genuine partnership for the promotion of international economic cooperation for development, for consideration by the Assembly at its next session. In that connection, the Committee also took note of the summary by the President of the General Assembly of the high-level dialogue on the theme "Responding to globalization: facilitating the integration of developing countries into the world economy in the twenty-first century" (A/56/482). Another draft resolution, on promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, would have the Assembly reiterate its call on all relevant funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and non-governmental organizations, to support efforts for the development of the renewable energy sector in developing countries. By the terms of the draft resolution on economic and technical cooperation among developing countries, the Assembly would call on all relevant United Nations organizations and multilateral institutions to consider increasing allocations of human, technical and financial resources for South-South cooperation. Further, it would reiterate its request to the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to ensure that the separate identity of the Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries is maintained, and that the Unit is supported so that it may fully implement its mandate and responsibilities as a focal point of the United Nations system for South-South cooperation. The texts were introduced by the Chairmen of the Committee -- Felix Mbayu (Cameroon), Dharmansjah Djumala (Indonesia) and Garfield Barnwell (Guyana). Also this afternoon, the Committee heard the introduction of a draft resolution by the representative of Iran, on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China, on the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries. The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. on Tuesday 11 December to continue its consideration of draft resolutions. Background The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this afternoon to take action on several draft resolutions. Before the Committee is a draft text on high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership (document A/C.2/56/L.56), submitted by Committee Vice-Chairman Felix Mbayu (Cameroon) on the basis of informals held on A/C.2/56/L.22. It would have the Assembly request the Secretary-General, in close consultation with governments, all relevant parts of the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders, to propose the modalities, the nature and the timing of such constructive dialogue and genuine partnership for the promotion of international economic cooperation for development, for consideration by the Assembly at its next session. Also before the Committee is a draft resolution on the Convention on Biological Diversity (A/C.2/56/L.58), submitted by Committee Vice-Chairman Dharmansjah Djumala (Indonesia), on the basis of informals held on A/C.2/56/L.9. It would have the Assembly call on 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 (COP), the subsidiary bodies and the Convention secretariat. The Assembly would also call on parties to the Convention to become parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety as soon as possible. In addition, the Assembly would request the COP to the multilateral environmental conventions to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development when setting the dates of meetings of the COP, so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings. A draft resolution on promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 (A/C.2/56/L.57), also submitted by Mr. Djumala, on the basis of informals held on A/C.2/56/L.8, would have the Assembly reiterate its call on all relevant funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and non-governmental organizations, to support the efforts being made for the development of the renewable energy sector in developing countries on the basis of environmentally friendly renewable sources of energy of demonstrated viability, while taking 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. Also, the Assembly would invite the international community to support, including by providing financial resources, the efforts of developing countries to move towards sustainable patterns of energy production and consumption. Further, it would 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 various regions, and to strengthen the implementation of its African chapter. The Committee also has before it a draft resolution on economic and technical cooperation among developing countries (A/C.2/56/L.54), submitted by Committee Vice-Chairman Garfield Barnwell (Guyana), on the basis of informals held on A/C.2/56/L.14. It would have the Assembly call on all relevant United Nations organizations and multilateral institutions to consider increasing allocations of human, technical and financial resources for South-South cooperation. Also, the Assembly would request all organizations and agencies of the United Nations development system to make concerted and intensified efforts to effectively mainstream the use of South-South cooperation by way of giving such cooperation appropriate consideration in the design, formulation and implementation of their regular programmes. Further, it would reiterate its request to the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to ensure that the separate identity of the Special Unit for TCDC is maintained, and that the Unit is supported so that it may fully Action on Draft Resolutions Committee Vice-Chairman FELIX MBAYU (Cameroon) introduced the draft resolution on high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership. The Committee approved that text without a vote. Under that same item, the Committee also decided to take note of the summary by the President of the General Assembly of the high-level dialogue on the theme "Responding to globalization: facilitating the integration of developing countries into the world economy in the twenty-first century" (A/56/482). DHARMANSJAH DJUMALA (Indonesia), Committee Vice-Chairman, introduced the draft resolution on the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Committee, acting without a vote, approved the draft. Following that, Mr. DJUMALA introduced the draft resolution on promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005. That text was also approved without a vote. GARFIELD BARNWELL (Guyana), Committee Vice-Chairman, introduced the draft resolution on economic and technical cooperation among developing countries. The Committee approved that text without a vote. Also this afternoon, the Committee heard the introduction by MEHDI MIRAFZAL (Iran), on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China, of the draft on the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, which had not yet been issued in all official languages but will be issued as document A/C.2/56/L.59. By the text, the Assembly would decide to establish the Office of the High Representative for Least Developed, Landlocked and Small Island Developing States, with its functions as recommended by the Secretary-General in his report on the matter. It would also request the Secretary-General to take immediate measures to make the Office operational as soon as possible. Also by the text, the Assembly would call on the Secretary-General to enhance the operational capacity of the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in their activities aimed at supporting developing countries, in particular least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States. * *** * |
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