Assembly acts on key issues related to trade, food, housing and other development matters.

Key issues in the areas of trade, economic co-operation, special economic assistance, food and disaster relief were acted on by the forty-first General Assembly on the recommendation of its Second Committee (Economic and Financial). Texts on a broad range of other development issues of wide international concern, including energy, housing and the environment, were also approved.

The Assembly declared 1988-1997 as the World Decade for Cultural Development, called for further efforts towards convening an international conference on money and finance, and appealed for "significant measures" by Member States in connection with the 1987 observance of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless.

Action to alleviate Africa's continuing continent-wide economic crisis, aggravated by the locust/grasshopper infestation in 1986, was also recommended. Plans were made final to convene the seventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD VII) at Geneva from 9 to 31 July 1987.

The Second Committee's work during the 1986 session reflected a marked effort at conciliation, with fewer resolutions put forward and more approved without a vote. One of the most notable examples was a consensus text setting out a variety of co-operative and complementary approaches for addressing the grave problem of third-world external debt (see story, p.109).

Another laudable achievement, according to Second Committee Chairman Abdalla Saleh Al-Ashtal (Democratic Yemen), was an omnibus resolution on food production.

In other instances, however, the breakdown of consensus, particularly on special economic assistance, was of concern to a number of Committee members.

One of the most controversial resolutions was one containing a call for revocation of the United States' trade embargo against Nicaragua. Some delegations which agreed with the text in substance suggested, however, that it might have been more appropriate to consider the question under the plenary item on the situation in Central America.

In all, the Second Committee held 36 meetings, sending 36 draft resolutions and 23 draft decisions to the General Assembly for action.

Except where indicated, the Assembly approved the texts without a vote.

Trade and development

The increasing importance attached to trade issues was reflected in a number of resolutions adopted by the Assembly on the Second Committee's recommendation.

In resolution 41/164, adopted by 83 to 2 (Israel, United States), with 44 abstentions, the Assembly deplored the continuation of the trade embargo against Nicaragua in contravention of resolution 40/188, which contained a call for its immediate revocation, and the June 1986 judgment of the International Court of Justice, which considered the embargo a breach of international law by the United States. The Assembly again requested that the embargo be immediately revoked, and invited Member States to promote concrete forms of co-operation in Central America to help reduce the negative effects of the trade ban.

The resolution was called a "direct attack on the United States" by Vernon A. Walters (United States), who told the Assembly on 5 December that the text completely overlooked the reasons for the embargo. By ignoring Nicaragua's violations of human rights and civil liberties and by refusing to consider its interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring States, the resolution failed to give full and fair consideration of the issues involved, Mr. Walters said. Calling the resolution "hypocritical". he observed that Nicaragua and two other sponsors of the resolution, Algeria and Democratic Yemen, maintained trade embargoes as part of their current policies and that the other co-sponsors - Congo, Mexico, Peru, and Zimbabwe - actively advocated them.

The United States, he went on, had not participated in the vote on the text in the Second Committee on 21 November and had withdrawn from any further consideration of the issue to express its displeasure with the procedures used by the co-sponsors to deny the United States the right to a fair hearing on matters it considered vital to balanced consideration of the text.

During Committee consideration of the draft, the United States had submitted four amendments (A/C.2/41/L.43) that would have had the Assembly recall its encouragement of the Contadora peace effort in Central America; reaffirm countries' rights to choose their own trading policies and partners: express concern over civil liberties violations in Nicaragua; and note that replies of only 13 countries were included in the Secretary-General's report on the trade embargo against Nicaragua (A/41/596 and Adds.1 and 2). The amendments were withdrawn after sub-amendments were proposed by five other delegations - Peru, Federal Republic of Germany, Mexico, Canada and Ghana. A number of speakers expressed concern to the Assembly that the United States amendments had not been given a full and fair hearing by the Committee.

Julio Icaza-Gallard (Nicaragua) said, however, that the United States had done everything possible to prevent the Assembly from expressing an opinion on its illegal actions against Nicaragua, including trying to keep the issue out of the Second Committee and submitting many amendments to distort the nature of the original draft. The resolution was based on the basic international laws of the non-use of force, non-interference in States' internal affairs, and respect for legal order, he emphasized.

Nicaragua had reported to the Secretary-General (A/41/596/Add.2) that the cutting off of the North American market had affected 14.9 per cent of its trade with the rest of the world and resulted in damages to the Nicaraguan economy estimated at $93.3 million.

In a text on economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries, the Assembly, deploring the fact that some developed countries continued to apply, and in some cases had increased in scope and magnitude, coercive economic measures against developing countries, called on the international community to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate such practices 41/165).

By a vote of 115 in favour to 23 against, with 3 abstentions (the Gambia, Greece and Turkey), the Assembly reaffirmed that developed countries should refrain from threatening or applying trade restrictions, blockades, embargoes and other economic sanctions incompatible with the provisions of the Charter. The Secretary-General was asked to prepare for the 1987 Assembly a comprehensive report on effective means to eliminate the use of coercive practices.

The text, sponsored by the Group of 77 developing countries, was adopted by the Second Committee on 4 November after two amendments proposed by Israel were rejected. The first would have deleted the word "developed" from the phrase deploring the fact that some developed countries continued to apply coercive measures; the other would have amended the call to developed countries to refrain from threatening or applying trade restrictions to read "all countries". Canada, Israel and the United States voted in favour of both amendments, which were rejected, respectively, by votes of 106 to 3, with 27 abstentions, and 104 to 3 with 29 abstentions.

In action to support island developing countries, the Assembly called on all States, international organizations and financial institutions to respond positively to their special needs, and to intensify efforts to implement specific actions in their favour (41/163). The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was asked to continue its in-depth studies of the common problems of those economies and, in its role as a focal point for global action in favour of island developing countries, to facilitate the cross-regional exchange of information and experience. The Secretary-General was asked to prepare for the 1988 Assembly specific recommendations regarding island developing economies.

With the goal of reaching agreement on outstanding issues relating to the drafting of an International Code of Conduct on the Transfer of Technology, the Assembly invited the Secretary-General of UNCTAD and the President of the United Nations Conference on the Code of Conduct to finalize in 1987 consultations with regional groups and interested Governments aimed at identifying appropriate solutions to outstanding issues in the draft code (41/166). The UNCTAD Secretary-General was asked to report on the consultations to the 1987 Assembly, which would then decide on further action, including the possibility of reconvening the Conference on the code in 1988.

According to the UNCTAD Secretary-General (A/41/715), some Governments had expressed doubts about the advisability of convening another session of the Conference without first arriving at some sort of general understanding among the regional groups on the basic elements of a compromise solution to the outstanding issues, while others believed that "in view of the dynamics of negotiations" matters still outstanding in the draft code could be resolved at a resumed Conference.

The Assembly decided to convene the seventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD VII) at Geneva 8-31 July 1987, and asked the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board to undertake the necessary intergovernmental preparations (41/166). UNCTAD members were asked to intensify preparations for UNCTAD VII with a view to making a "significant contribution to multilateral action for the revitalization of development, growth and international trade".

States were urged to make the maximum effort to achieve positive results at UNCTAD VII in solving short- and long-term commodity problems, particularly those adversely affecting the economies of developing countries (41/168).

Another text on commodities, which had been forwarded to the 1986 session in 1985, was deferred to the 1987 Assembly session (decision 41/436). By that draft (A/C.2/41/L.5), the Assembly would stress the need to address the deteriorating commodities situation of developing countries and call on developed countries to refrain from instituting new barriers to commodities importation or strengthening existing ones, to permit freer access to their markets. Producer and consumer countries would be urged to work out short- and medium-term solutions that would ultimately facilitate implementation of the Integrated Programme for Commodities.

The Assembly also decided (decision 41/437) to defer to its 1987 session a draft resolution (A/C.2/41/L.7) on protectionism and structural adjustment. The text would have the Assembly call on developed countries to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting the exports to developing countries and refrain from introducing new ones. It would also agree that structural adjustment should be a "constant and global process" which the developed countries in particular should facilitate by conscious efforts aimed at ensuring accelerated and sustained growth of the developing countries.

The Assembly decided (41/167) to convene in 1990, under the auspices of UNCTAD, a United Nations Conference to Review All Aspects of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices. It was agreed that the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Restrictive Business Practices would serve as the preparatory body for the Conference.

The Assembly welcomed the adoption of the United Nations Convention on Conditions for Registration of Ships in February 1986 and invited States which had not yet done so to become contracting parties (decision 41/435).

International economic

co-operation

The net transfer of resources from developing to developed countries was another issue of widespread concern to the Assembly in 1986. To halt and reverse the flow, the Assembly reaffirmed the urgent need to take appropriate and effective measures in the fields of money, finance, debt, resource flows, trade and development (41/180). It asked the Secretary-General to take into account the interrelationship between those areas in preparing the comprehensive analytical report on the net transfer of resources called for in Economic and Social Council resolution 1986/57. The resolution was adopted by 125 to 10, with 10 abstentions.

In the Second Committee, doubts about taking such a comprehensive approach to such complex issues were expressed by Japan and the European Economic Community. Canada found the concept of the resolution "attractive", but wished the text had been more scientific and less emotional in approach. The Eastern European States stressed the need for measures to halt and reverse the phenomenon, which they said had resulted from an economic order based on exploitation.

Questions relating to international monetary and financial issues were also debated by the Second Committee in its consideration of international economic affairs. By a vote of 129 to 18, with 6 abstentions (Austria, Finland, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden), the Assembly asked the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the current international monetary situation for submission to its 1987 session, and to compile and provide information on proposals for convening an international conference on money and finance that have been made in recent years by Governments, organizations and prominent persons (decision 41/442).

The Assembly decided (decision 41/441) to postpone until 1987 consideration of another text by which the Secretary-General would undertake consultations "at an appropriately high level" on the terms of reference, format and time-frame of such a conference.

Under resolution 41/182 on indigenous entrepreneurs in industrial development, the Assembly invited the Secretary-General, in conjunction with relevant United Nations bodies such as the United Nations Development Programme, International Labour Organisation, International Trade Centre UNCTAD/General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the World Bank, to continue to support through technical co-operation States' efforts to encourage indigenous entrepreneurs in the private, public or other sectors, in accordance with national laws, priorities and regulations.

By a vote of 117 to 16 against, with 11 abstentions (41/184), the Assembly asked the Secretary-General, in preparing the comprehensive report on a concept of international economic security called for in resolution 40/173, to analyze approaches and contributions of different countries to economic development and international economic co-operation, identifying common elements that could further contribute to promoting co-operation and development, particularly that of developing countries. The report is to be submitted to the Assembly in 1987.

A group of Eastern European socialist States (Byelorussian SSR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Soviet Union and the Ukrainian SSR) attached particular importance to the concept of international economic security, expressing hope it would lead to broad dialogue to guarantee predictability and trust in international economic relations.

To facilitate preparation of the report on implementation of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States requested by the Assembly, in resolution 40/182, the Secretary-General was asked to circulate to all States a questionnaire on steps taken and legal and economic regulations aimed at implementing the Charter, and on national programmes and measures aimed at its broader implementation. The Assembly's vote on the matter was 129 in favour to 1 against (United States), with 23 abstentions (decision 41/440).

A draft resolution on mobilizing financial resources for industrial development (A/C,2/41/L.6) - forwarded to the 1986 Assembly in the previous session - was transmitted to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (decision 41/443).

Food

In an omnibus resolution on food and agriculture problems (41/191), the Assembly recommended that higher priority be given to food production in the national development policies of the developing countries, and that the agricultural sector be given a larger share of development resources. The developed countries were urged to increase concessional aid flows towards the development of those sectors and to provide adequate financial resources to the International Development Association (IDA) for its eighth replenishment.

The Assembly stressed the need to intensify support for programmes and policies to raise nutritional standards in developing countries, particularly African and least developed countries. It urged effective support for the rapid implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development, 1986-1990, and noted the Four-Point Plan of Action endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Fourteenth Regional Conference for Africa in September 1986.

The Assembly welcomed the commitments agreed on at the special ministerial meeting of GATT in Punta del Este on standstill and rollback of trade barriers, recognizing that the new round of multilateral trade negotiations would address agricultural trade issues aimed at greater liberalization. The World Food Council was invited to assess the impact of the present agricultural trade situation and maintain an active interest in the outcome of the negotiations.

In other provisions, the text emphasized the urgency of strengthening international co-operation in the transfer of agricultural technologies to developing countries, as well as the need to promote co-ordinated international action against pests and provide assistance to affected countries on short notice. The Assembly supported the establishment of early-warning systems and food security arrangements in developing countries, to combat future food emergencies.

The international community was urged to contribute generously to the World Food Programme to achieve target pledges for 1987-1988, and to give "full and enduring support" to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to put it on a firm financial basis.

The Assembly welcomed the conclusions and recommendations of the World Food Council's twelfth ministerial meeting, 16-19 June in Rome (A/41/19). The ministers in their review of the world food situation, noted that although global food supplies were ample, food production was uneven, with many developing countries even experiencing a deterioration of food supplies.

World Food Council Executive Director Gerald Trant, introducing the report to the Second Committee on 15 October, said that one of the priority objectives of food policy must be to reverse the trend towards trade restrictions on agricultural commodities.

IFAD President Idriss Jazairy told the Committee on 23 October that as of September 1986, the Fund had approved 188 loans of $2.3 billion for 88 countries. Its future financial basis would depend, however, on whether industrialized countries would increase their shares in the Fund's replenishment, and whether the developing countries themselves would consider helping IFAD, bearing in mind that for every $2 they put into the Fund, they would receive $5 in direct loans.

Noting that promotion of the African Recovery Programme was one of FAO's primary functions, FAO Director-General Eduoard Saouma, on 23 October, told the Second Committee that increasing food production was not enough to permit long-term progress. The external environment, too, must be improved. One possible solution was to encourage triangular trade, but that would demand a "much more generous approach to trade", he said. FAO had also been actively promoting aid in kind, as a way of making inputs and equipment more accessible to African producers.

Africa

The fight against the current locust and grasshopper invasion of many African countries was a subject of great concern to the international community during 1986. By resolution 41/185, the Assembly endorsed and encouraged the continued co-operation of local, regional and global organizations as well as donors in the campaign to control the threat to agriculture caused by the insects and grasshoppers. FAO was urged to strengthen its co-ordinating mechanism and its technical and field operational support.

The Assembly encouraged affected countries to ensure that adequate resources were made available to combat the recurrent crises. The Secretary-General, in consultation with the FAO Director-General, was asked to take "catalytic action" to increase awareness of the situation, and donors were encouraged to continue to marshall support for the affected countries.

The Assembly considered three texts on drought and desertification in Africa. In endorsing Economic and Social Council resolution 1986/45 on assistance to drought-stricken areas of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan and Uganda, it called on donor Governments and international organizations to participate at the highest level in the donors' conference for the member countries of the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development, scheduled for March 1987 in Djibouti (decision 41/455).

Also, the Assembly noted a proposal made by an inter-agency mission to Mauritania to invite relevant United Nations organs and organizations to consider assisting that Government in preparing a multi-sectoral action plan to combat drought and desertification that might be considered by the international donor community (decision 41/456).

It deferred to its 1987 session a draft (A/C.2/41/L.34) that would have made an urgent appeal to the international community for contributions to the Special Programme for Sub-Saharan African Countries Affected by Drought and Desertification set up by the International Fund for Agricultural Development to enable it to achieve its target of $300 million, as a further tangible sign of support for the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990. The Assembly would also have urged the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office to increase its aid to the Sudano-Sahel and adjacent regions to combat drought and desertification, paying special attention to the most seriously affected countries (decision 41/454).

The economic crisis in Africa has adversely affected implementation of all development projects on the continent, including those undertaken in the context of the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa (1978-1988), the Secretary-General reported (A/41/382). Nevertheless, significant progress was achieved in the second year of projects for the second phase of the Decade, he stated.

Of 578 transport projects included in the second-phase programme, 38 (6 per cent) were completed and 106 (18 per cent) were still being implemented. Of the 472 second-phase communications projects, 24 (5 per cent) were completed and 72 (15 per cent) were still in progress. Close to $3.8 million, representing 20 per cent of the programmed cost of $18.26 million, had been raised to date, the report indicated. Sixty-one per cent came from African States and 39 per cent from outside sources. National projects continued to attract more funds than regional and subregional projects, he noted.

Cultural decade

By a vote of 146 to 1 (United States), with 2 abstentions (Israel, United Kingdom), the Assembly proclaimed the period 1988-1997 the World Decade for Cultural Development, to be observed under the auspices of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Decade's four main objectives would be: acknowledging the cultural dimension of development; affirming and enriching cultural identities; broadening participation in culture; and promoting international cultural co-operation (41/187).

States, intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations and interested individuals were invited to take an active part in fulfilling the Decade's objectives and to voluntarily make available the necessary intellectual, human and financial resources.

Representatives of the United Kingdom and United States expressed concern to the Second Committee on 28 November at launching another Decade during a time of financial crisis in the United Nations. Yugoslavia, representing the Group of 77, sponsors of the original draft text, explained that the resolution had been inspired by a desire to raise cultural standards everywhere, and hoped that even those who had voted against the resolution would participate in the activities of the Decade.

UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Culture and Communication, Henri Lopes, told the Second Committee on 22 October that although it might seem inappropriate to introduce an item on culture at a time when much of the world was grappling with hunger, malnutrition and a severe economic crisis, development plans often went awry when development was conceived of in purely technical and economic terms, without considering the human element and cultural factors. The aim of the Decade, he said, was to bring about a change of attitude in addressing development questions and an enrichment of cultural life, and to focus particular attention on the role of women, young people and creative persons in the development process.

Shelter for homeless

Two texts on the homeless forwarded to the Second Committee by the Economic and Social Council were adopted by the Assembly. In resolution 41/189, the Assembly appealed to all Member States of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, to participate at the highest possible level in the tenth session of the Commission on Human Settlements in 1987, to highlight the significance of the session and the critical importance of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, to be observed in 1987.

Under resolution 41/190, Governments were urged to demonstrate renewed political commitment to the shelter needs of the poor and disadvantaged by taking "significant measures" before 1987, including providing access to land, ensuring security of tenure in squatter settlements, improving access to credit, and promoting local and affordable building materials. The resolution also contained an appeal for contributions to the Year of Shelter and support for its programmes.

Environment

The Assembly endorsed, by a vote of 146 to 1 (United States), with 1 abstention (Federal Republic of Germany), Economic and Social Council resolution 1986/72 on protection against products harmful to health and the environment, in which the Council decided that the consolidated list of products that had been banned, withdrawn, severely restricted or not approved by Governments should continue to be published as one document, including generic names, brand names and all manufacturers. Governments were urged to continue co-operating with the United Nations Environment Programme/International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals and the World Health Organization providing information on national regulatory actions (decision 41/450).

The United States told the Assembly it had voted against the resolution because it did not support the production by the United Nations Centre for Transnational Corporations of a "reference list" with trade names, manufacturers and other related data. The task of data collection and verification for such a document exceeded the capacity of the United Nations, UNEP and WHO. Furthermore, the data discriminated against Western manufacturers, who were open with commercial and regulatory data, while protecting manufacturers in socialist and developing countries who did not make information freely available.

The Secretary-General reported (A/441/329-E/I986/83) that the new arrangements for collaboration among various agencies in preparing the list had worked well and had helped avoid duplication. As a result of that cooperative effort, the second issue of the consolidated list would be more comprehensive and substantial and provide better access to data, the Secretary-General said.

Energy

The Assembly endorsed action taken by the Committee on the Development and Utilization of New and Renewable Sources of Energy at its biennial meeting in June 1986 (see UN Chronicle, Vol XXIII, No. 4). In so doing, it decided that the Energy Committee should adopt a substance-oriented approach "to give depth to its deliberations", and called for increased participation of experts in future sessions and more effective exchange of information on technology and experience regarding development of new energy sources.

Under other provisions of resolution 41/170, the Assembly reaffirmed the importance of the Nairobi Programme of Action for the Development and Utilization of New and Renewable Sources of Energy, expressing concern at its slow rate of implementation, and reiterated the need to mobilize adequate additional financial resources, inviting the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme to intensify efforts to attract voluntary contributions to the UNDP Energy Account. It urged that greater attention be given to the development of new and renewable energy sources for the rural sector, bearing in mind the depletion of fuelwood supplies in many parts of the world.

The Special Co-ordinator for New and Renewable Sources of Energy, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, told the Second Committee on 15-October that if part of the money intended to aid famine victims had been spent on developing renewable energy sources for rural areas, those areas might have been able to achieve food self-sufficiency. Without sufficient, sustainable energy, agricultural development could not be achieved.

In other action on energy, the Assembly took note (41/439) of a report of the Secretary-General (A/41/383-E/1986/101) which concluded that energy exploration and development trends in the developing countries had declined because of such factors as the continued concentration of effort in development market economies; slowdown in growth of energy demand; lower energy prices; and financial constraints affecting the developing countries, transnational oil corporations, and multilateral and bilateral assistance programmes.

"In view of the decline in exploration activities, oil prices may be expected to strengthen considerably in the years ahead", the report states. Current savings on oil-import bills could provide some of the resources for increased exploration and development activities in energy-deficient developing countries, according to the Secretary-General.

The issue was becoming even more pressing, the report explained, because of the "great uncertainty" regarding future energy exploration and development trends as a result of the recent decline in oil prices and the instability of world energy markets. "In the long run, the most important challenge to the international community is to seek to reduce this uncertainty", the report indicates.

Women and development

In connection with United Nations work in integrating women effectively in economic development programmes and activities, the Assembly endorsed Economic and Social Council resolution 1986/65, in which the Secretary-General was requested to propose activities to implement measures outlined in the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women adopted at the 1985 World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women. Those measures relate to United Nations work in such areas as employment, education, energy, environment, food, water and agriculture, housing, settlements. community development and transport, trade, science and technology (41/451).

Science and technology

for development

The Assembly decided to terminate the United Nations Financing System for Science and Technology for Development on 31 December 1986 and transfer its responsibilities and resources to an identifiable facility called the "United Nations Fund for Science and Technology for Development" to be established as a trust fund within the United Nations Development Programme. The Intergovernmental Committee on Science and Technology for Development was asked to provide policy guidance and priorities for the Fund's activities, and Governments were urged to provide the Fund with adequate financial resources to carry out its functions (41/183).

Palestinian aid

The Assembly urged the international community and the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to disburse their aid or other forms of assistance to the occupied Palestinian territories "only for the benefit of the Palestinian people and in a manner which will not serve to prolong the Israeli occupation" (41/181). The Secretary-General was asked to convene a meeting in 1987 of relevant programmes and agencies to consider economic and social assistance to the Palestinians, and to invite the Palestine Liberation Organization and Arab host countries to participate in the meeting. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 142 to 2 (United States, Israel), with Costa Rica abstaining.

The United States told the Second Committee on 4 November that although it was the largest single donor of economic assistance to the Palestinian people, it opposed the unnecessary politicization of the debate on the need to assist the Palestinians. Israel felt that the text encouraged confrontation, instead of calling for negotiations that might lead to positive change.

The Assembly noted the Secretary-General's reports on economic development projects in the occupied Palestinian territories (A/41/342-E/1986/88) and the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories (A/41/415-E/1986/104), as well as his note on Israeli economic practices in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories (A/41/410-E/1986/97).

Special economic aid

As in past years, a number of Second Committee texts approved by the Assembly concerned special economic assistance programmes to various countries.

Abdulrahim Farah, Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Questions and Co-ordinator of Special Economic Assistance Programmes, recalled in addressing the Second Committee on 21 October that the programmes had been established to give structure to what had previously been ad hoc requests for help in situations which did not fall clearly within the mandates or capacities of the regular programmes of the United Nations system. They had clearly played, he said, a "catalytic role" in articulating national priority requirements and mobilizing international support. Implementation of the programmes remained the responsiblity of Governments, aided by competent United Nations bodies and multilateral and bilateral programmes, he emphasized.

The Assembly endorsed resolution (41/192) the Secretary-General's recommendation, contained in his report on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the special economic assistance programmes (A/41/308-E/1986/67), that such programmes be limited to countries genuinely in need of such assistance and to special circumstances falling outside the competence of the regular programmes of the United Nations system. It agreed that such programmes should be of limited duration, terminating after the review mission, and that any continuing assistance should then be channelled through regular programmes of the system.

With regard to Uganda, the Assembly urgently renewed its appeal to Member States, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international economic and financial institutions to contribute generously to the country's reconstruction, rehabilitation and development needs, and to its emergency and rehabilitation requirements (41/195).

Specific projects identified in the Secretary-General's report (A/41/593) focused on restoration of Uganda's economic and social infrastructure, and restoration of its productive capacities. A mission to Uganda in July-August 1986 concluded that although the country had an "unusually favourable potential for speedy economic recovery", the very serious situation inherited from the previous Government would require "great ingenuity by the Ugandan Government and people, and a great deal of understanding and substantially more financial and material support from the international community".

The vote on the text was 150 to 1 (United States), with no abstentions. Uganda expressed surprise that the resolution had gone to a vote and that "one delegation" did not seem to understand Uganda's efforts to redress the wrongs of the past.

The Assembly strongly urged the international community to provide timely and effective financial, material and technical assistance to enhance the capacity of the front-line States - Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe - to withstand the effects of economic measures taken by or against South Africa. Resolution 41/199 was adopted by 152 to none, with 1 abstention (United States).

The United States said its opposition to the resolution was not opposition to assisting those States. The United States had given them approximately, $100 million in economic and food aid in 1986 and another $16 million to the Southern African Devlopment Co-ordinating Committee (SADCC). But no realistic amount of aid would suffice to insulate the frontline States against the adverse effects of economic sanctions by or against South Africa. "The reality of the intricate interdependence of those States must be squarely faced", the United States said.

Also by a vote of 152 to none, with the United States abstaining, the Assembly appealed to the international community to continue to provide adequate financial, material and technical assistance to Mozambique (41/197). The Secretary-General was asked to keep the situation under review and report to the 1988 Assembly on implementation of the special programme of economic assistance for Mozambique.

The Assembly noted with concern that assistance to Benin, Central African Republic, Comoros, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone and Vanuatu - all classified as least-developed countries - had fallen short of urgent requirements and that additional assistance was still needed. The Secretary-General was asked to take the necessary steps to provide assistance for all disasters, "natural or otherwise" striking those countries and to mobilize resources for short-, medium- and long-term needs. The United States abstained in the vote on resolution 41/200, adopted by 152 to none.

In other action on special economic assistance, the Assembly appealed to the international community for continued reconstruction and development aid to El Salvador (41/194), and for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to the people of Chad, "who have suffered as a result of the war, the drought and the invasion of locusts and predators" (41/198). It asked the Secretary-General to mobilize all possible assistance within the United Nations system for reconstruction and development efforts in Lebanon (41/196).

Introducing the Secretary-General's report on assistance to Lebanon (A/41/679), William B. Buffum, Under-Secretary-General for Political and General Assembly Affairs, told the Second Committee on 22 October that the evacuation of international personnel during hostilities in 1983 continued to adversely affect the capacity of the United Nations system to implement major reconstruction and development programmes in Lebanon. As a result, economic assistance programmes had concentrated primarily on emergency relief efforts.

Between November 1985 and October 1986, United Nations relief assistance to Lebanon in case or kind had amounted to more than $2.5 million, Mr. Buffum said. Non-governmental organizations and international voluntary organizations had provided another $6.4 million, and Governments had allocated close to $22.7 million for relief projects.

But despite the tenuous situation, there were some positive signs, Mr. Buffum affirmed, noting that several important road rehabilitation programmes and telecommunications projects had been initiated, and that the trade balance showed some improvement over previous years. However, the Secretary-General in his report concluded that full social and economic recovery in Lebanon would depend in large measure on an end to the hostilities.

The Assembly urged all States to participate generously in projects and programmes for the reconstruction of the Solomon Islands following the devastation caused by a cyclone in May 1986 (41/193). The Secretary-General was asked to take the necessary steps to mobilize financial, technical and material assistance for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The Nordic countries, Nicaragua, Madagascar, Democratic Yemen, a group of Eastern European States - Bulgaria, Byelorussian SSR, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Mongolia, Soviet Union, the Ukrainian SSR - and Yugoslavia, speaking for the Group of 77, expressed concern at the need for votes on some of the assistance texts. According to Nicaragua, the United States had once again been driven "to the deep abyss of the ridiculous". The German Democratic Republic said the position of only one delegation put the credibility of the Second Committee's negotiating process at risk, bad precedent.

Disaster relief

The United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator, M'Hamed Essaafi, told the Second Committee on 21 October that recent natural disasters and technical accidents had demonstrated the need for better co-ordinated, flexible and efficient response mechanisms. The Secretary-General's report (A/41/295-E/1986/65) on the Coordinator's Office showed that the number of disaster situations involving UNDRO had risen from 12 in 1980 to 53 in 1985, and that total contributions for humanitarian assistance had risen from less than $370 million in 1980-1981 to $2 billion in 1984-1985.

The Assembly reaffirmed UNDRO's mandate as the focal point in the United Nations system for disaster relief matters, and called for improving its capacity and effectiveness (41/201). It also reaffirmed that all relief operations should be carried out in a manner consistent with the priorities and needs of the countries concerned, recognizing the primary role of each State in caring for victims of disasters occuring in its territory.

The Assembly reiterated its call to Governments and competent United Nations bodies to co-operate with UNDRO in improving the flow of information on relief activities, and recommended that the Disaster Relief Co-ordinator, as he phased out responsibility for co-ordination in a given country, contribute to ensuring the transition to the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase by passing on relevant data to competent organs and agencies of the United Nations system.

The international community was urged to contribute to the UNDRO Trust Fund to meet disaster situations. UNDRO, Governments and concerned organizations were called on to ensure that due attention was given to disaster preparedness and prevention activities.

Training and research

The Secretary-General was asked by the 1985 Assembly (resolution 40/214) to prepare comprehensive plans for the future of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), based on the options of closing it down or restructuring it, and including a blueprint for long-term, stable funding for the Institute and suggestions for improving administrative arrangements to ensure cost-effectiveness.

The Secretary-General concluded (A/41/521) that restructuring UNITAR at a reduced level would be the more advisable option. He suggested that the plan be implemented for the three-year period 1987-1989, followed by a review to enable the Assembly to decide on the Institute's future course. That proposal is based on the assumption, the Secretary-General's report states, that Governments are willing to contribute at least $1.3 million for 1987 - the minimum requirement for maintaining all independent Institute as envisaged. If for any reason that was not possible, the Institute should be closed, the Secretary-General said.

UNITAR Executive Director Michael Doo Kingue told the Second Committee on 17 October that closing the Institute in the midst of "the crisis in multilateralism" would be a mistake politically, psychologically and technically, and urged that the Assembly approve a transitional solution that would allow the Institute to continue functioning at a lower cost.

The Assembly, in resolution 41/172, reaffirmed the continued relevance of UNITAR and recommended its restructuring according to the programme set out in the text. It was agreed that training should be the main focus of the Institute's activities. Although ongoing research should continue until its completion, the Assembly said, in the future priority should be given to requests made by the Secretary-General for research and study to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations.

The Institute should rely entirely on voluntary contributions, the resolution notes. However, training programmes designed and conducted by the Institute for other United Nations bodies and specialized agencies should be paid for by those bodies and not from UNITAR's General Fund.

The Assembly also agreed that research and study falling within the Institute's mandate could be financed from special purpose grants or on a full-cost basis, while research-cum-training in negotiating techniques, international law, and economic and social development should be funded from special purpose grants. Special purpose grants would cover full costs of projects as well as project-support costs of at least 13 per cent, according to the plan.

In other action on training and research, the Assembly appealed to all States to recognize the progress made by the United Nations University (UNU) and the relevance of its work to the concerns of the United Nations; to contribute "urgently and generously" to its Endowment Fund; and to make operating contributions to the University to enable it to fulfil its mandate efficiently (41/173).

The University Council's annual report (A/41/31), which covers the University's activities for 1985, described programmes underway in five areas: peace, security, conflict resolution and global resolution; the global economy; hunger, poverty, resources and the environment; human and social development and the coexistence of peoples, cultures and social systems; and science and technology and their social and ethical implications.

The report stated that "the University's fund-raising possibilities are closely related to its programmatic and institutional development". During 1985, $11.7 million was pledged or contributed by 14 Governments. As of mid-December 1985, 42 Governments had pledged a total of $177.2 million to the University's Endowment Fund, of which $147.3 had been received.

The Assembly endorsed Economic and Social Council resolution 1986/6, encouraging States to adhere to the International Agreement for the Establishment of the University for Peace, particularly during 1986, the International Year of Peace, and inviting them, along with non-governmental organizations, to lend all possible material and other assistance towards realization of the Peace University's efforts (41/175).

In resolution 41/174, the Assembly invited States to support the efforts of developing countries to strengthen their management capacity to apply a unified approach to development analysis and comprehensive macroeconomic strategies and planning, "especially in regard to integrating food and agricultural production in all sectors and supporting industrialization, economic and social infrastructure and human resources development".

The Secretary-General was asked to take into account a unified approach in preparing economic and social studies, ongoing research, projections and reports, including the World Economic Survey and the Report on the World Social Situation.

Operational activities

for development

The Assembly, in resolution 41/171, endorsed Economic and Social Council resolution 1986/74, a wide-ranging text adopted at the Council's second regular 1986 session in July (see UN Chronicle, November 1986) that includes a decision to intensify efforts to ensure overall co-ordination of operational activities for development. The need to strengthen dialogue between governing bodies of United Nations organizations concerned with such activities in order to ensure consistency of policy decisions was also stressed.

The Assembly transmitted to the governing bodies of the United Nations system the joint Inspection Unit's report on the structure and coordination of field offices (A/41/424 and Add.1) and its report on technical cooperation among developing countries (A/409/656 and Add.1), together with Member States' views on those questions (41/444).

Jean Ripert, Director-General for Development and International Economic Co-operation, introducing his triennial policy review of the system's operational activities for development (A/41/350), said that action undertaken to deal with the drought-induced emergency in Africa demonstrated that United Nations organizations could provide effective assistance while fully respecting the sovereign rights of recipient countries.

The report notes that operational activities have become an established and important dimension of United Nations development efforts, absorbing about 60 per cent of the regular and extrabudgetary resources of the system. Total resources for such activities amounted to about $2.6 billion in 1984, compared with some $850 million in the mid-1970s.

Operational activities now comprise two-fifths of the total disbursements of official development assistance (ODA) by multilateral agencies, the Director-General's report states. Each year, the system supports more than 6,000 development programme projects in more than 150 developing countries.

Other action

In other action, the Assembly approved the Second Committee's biennial programme of work for 1987-1988 (41/458); included Kiribati, Mauritania and Tuvalu in the list of least developed countries (41/186); and decided to rename the Trust Fund for Economic Co-operation among Developing Countries/Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries the "Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund for Economic and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries", in recognition of the outstanding contribution to international cooperation for development made by the late Manuel Perez-Guerrero, Venezuela's Minister of State for International Economic Affairs (41/457).

The Assembly noted reports on: follow-up to resolution 39/228 on the International Conference on Population (A/41/179-E/1986/18); confidence-building in international economic relations (A/41/320-E/1986/73 and Add.1); co-operation between the United Nations and the Agency for Cultural and Technical Co-operation (A/41/344-E/1986/80); the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States (A/41/698); the particular problems facing Zaire with regard to transport, transit and access to foreign markets (A/41/734); international relief to Mexico (A/41/369 and Corr.1); assistance to Bangladesh (A/41/396); and reports of the Trade and Development Board (A/41/15, vols. I and II) and the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (E/1986/29).

1.1 billion pledged to

development activities

The 1986 Pledging Conference for Development Activities, held at Headquarters on 13 and 14 November, raised more than $1.1 billion for United Nations operational activities for development. Contributions were announced by 96 countries for some 25 programmes and funds associated with technical assistance, training and research, social and economic development, capital development and emergency assistance.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which administers many of the funds and programmes, was the single largest beneficiary, receiving close to $596 million in pledges from 90 countries. Other countries were expected to contribute an additional $209 million, bringing the UNDP total for 1987 to a record $805 million.

"At a time of unprecedented budgetary restraint around the world, this outcome can only be called extraordinary", said UNDP Administrator William H. Draper III. UNDP provides grant multilateral assistance, technical co-operation and logistical support for the development projects of developing countries.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the second largest beneficiary, received more than $170.1 million in pledges from 79 countries. It anticipated receiving another $80 million for 1987, according to UNICEF Executive Director James P. Grant, who said the total would represent an increase of about 10 per cent over 1986.

The Fund, a field-based organization, works with Governments of 117 developing countries on child survival, immunization and other programmes to aid children and mothers.

Another major beneficiary at the pledging meeting was the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), receiving a total of $100.3 from 74 countries. The Fund estimated that voluntary contributions for 1987 would reach a record $136.5 million, despite the withdrawal of United States support. The United States announced in August 1986 that it would withhold its $25 million contribution to UNFPA because of policy disagreements.

Other programmes and funds that received pledges included: the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with $6.1 million; the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), $600,000; the United Nations Development Fund for Women, $3.3 million; the United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control, $6.2 million; the United Nations Capital Development Fund, $18 million; and the United Nations Volunteers, $980,000.

The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) received pledges totalling $1.5 million for its programmes as well as for the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, to be observed in 1987. The United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office (UNSO) received $1.9 million, and the United Nations Revolving Fund for Natural Resource Exploration received $444,000.

First World HABITAT

Day observed

The first World HABITAT Day was observed on 6 October 1986. The General Assembly, in resolution 40/202 A, adopted on 17 December 1985, approved its Commission on Human Settlements' proposal that the first Monday of October of every year should be observed as "World HABITAT Day".

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, in a message in observance of the Day, said the Day provided an opportunity for the international community to "focus on the housing situation of human beings everywhere".

He expressed "deep concern at the continued plight of the hundreds of millions of people across the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe and America, North and South, who either have no shelter at all or must find it in slums, squatter settlements or other makeshift dwellings and under conditions which constitute both a daily assault on their health and an affront to their dignity as human beings".

The United Nations, through its Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT) and other agencies, he said, was working with Governments and concerned institutions to improve shelter conditions all over the world, particularly for the poorer and disadvantaged segments of society.

"The true significance of World HABITAT Day, therefore, is the renewal of commitment which the occasion invites from all of us to strive for the eradication of homelessness and unfit shelter conditions."