ECOSOC/6178
24 October 2005

Economic and Social Council Decides on Theme for 2006 High-Level Segment

NEW YORK, 21 October (UN Headquarters) -- The Economic and Social Council decided that the theme of the high-level segment of its 2006 substantive session would be "Creating an environment at the national and international levels, conducive to generating full and productive employment and decent work for all, and its impact on sustainable development", as it resumed its 2005 substantive session in a brief meeting today.

The Council's oral decision on that matter was based on the views of Member States, contained in a Secretary-General's note (document E/2005/52).

In other action, the Council adopted a resolution on the report of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration, contained in document E/2005/L.51, thereby approving the convening of the Committee's fifth session in New York from 3 to 7 April 2006, as well as the Committee's agenda for that session.  Also by the text, the Council requested the Committee to deepen its analysis of the relationships between State capacity, public administration and development by identifying examples of public administration facilitating the achievement of development goals.

In addition, the Council adopted a decision whereby it recommended that the General Assembly, at its current session, decide on the question of enlarging the membership of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  The text was contained in document E/2005/L.50.

The Council also elected Diego Cordovez of Ecuador as Vice-President for the remainder of the Council's 2005 session, replacing Jaime Moncayo who returned to his home country.

Prior to closing the meeting, Council President Munir Akram (Pakistan) noted two upcoming special events to be held in the Economic and Social Council Chamber:  one on the food crisis in Africa (Thursday, 27 October), and the other on avian flu (Thursday, 3 November).

The next meeting of the Council will be announced.

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