21st Ministerial Session: Resolutions
 

At its third plenary meeting, held on 11 May 2001, the Commission adopted one resolution and decided to submit it to the Economic and Social Council for action. The text is as follows:

225 (XXI). The Establishment of an ESCWA Consultative Committee on Scientific and Technological Development and Technological Innovation

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, 

Recognizing the vital role played by the development of scientific and technological capabilities and technological innovation in achieving the goals of sustainable development,

Recognizing also the need to integrate and coordinate the endeavours of all the parties concerned with the development of scientific and technological capabilities, including bodies from the public, joint and private sectors and the institutions of civil society, to employ technological innovation in order to promote the productivity and competitiveness of the production and services sectors in member countries,

Noting the possibilities which technological innovation capabilities offer with regard to facing the challenges and demands of globalization and the new systems and measures relating to the quality of products, the preservation of intellectual property rights and environmental protection,

Inspired by the specialized committees for the support of development endeavours based on scientific and technological development established by the other United Nations regional commissions,

1. Decides to establish a consultative committee on scientific and technological development and technological innovation, the main responsibility of which will be to sponsor endeavours aimed at scientific and technological development and technological innovation. The committee shall be composed of distinguished experts in the field, and shall have the following duties:

1. To advise on the endeavours exerted by member countries with a view to acquiring modern technology and support such endeavours with regional and international expertise, with particular reference to information and communications technology, biotechnology and new materials technology;

2. To propose ways of integrating and coordinating efforts aimed at transferring, adapting and mastering this technology, and promoting regional cooperation in these fields;

3. To advise on priorities related to the programmes of work and medium-term plans adopted by ESCWA in the fields of developing scientific and technological capabilities and technological innovation;

4. To follow up on the resolutions and recommendations of international and regional conferences relating to the development of scientific and technological capabilities and technological innovation which are attended by member countries; and to coordinate efforts related to the implementation of such resolutions and recommendations;

2. Decides also that this consultative committee on scientific and technological development and technological innovation shall hold its meetings at least once every two years, with effect from 2002;

3. Requests the Executive Secretary to follow up implementation of this resolution and to submit a report on the progress that has been achieved in this regard to the Commission’s twenty-second session.

At its third plenary meeting, held on 11 May 2001, the Commission adopted the following resolutions and decided to submit them to the Economic and Social Council for its attention. 

226 (XXI). Election of Officers for the Sessions of the Commission and its Subsidiary Bodies

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Guided by section IV, rule 12, and section V, rule 18, of the Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia relating, respectively, to the election of officers for the sessions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies,

Recognizing the need to further streamline those rules,

Desirous of simplifying procedures for the election of officers for the sessions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies,

Further desirous of involving all members in the conduct of the sessions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies,

1. Decides that, with effect from 2002, members shall assume the chairmanship of the sessions of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies, on a rotating basis, in Arabic alphabetical order;

2. Further decides to amend the Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in accordance with this decision.
    

227 (XXI). Adoption of the Final Reports of the Subsidiary Bodies of the Commission

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Having considered the final reports of the subsidiary bodies of the Commission,

Noting with satisfaction the recommendations and conclusions contained therein,

Recognizing the importance of supporting action for the implementation of those recommendations,

1. Adopts the recommendations contained in those reports;

2. Requests the Executive Secretary to report on progress made in the implementation thereof in the context of the reports on progress made in the implementation of the programme of work for the biennium.

228 (XXI). Change in the Timing of the Sessions of the Six Subsidiary Bodies of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recalling its successive resolutions adopted during the period 1992-1999 on the establishment of the six subsidiary bodies of the Commission,

Further recalling paragraph 2 of ESCWA resolution 219 (XX) of 27 May 1999 on the frequency of sessions of the subsidiary bodies of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, which emphasizes that the sessions of said bodies shall be held once every two years,

Desirous of reinforcing the initiative taken by the secretariat in consulting member States and relevant United Nations offices on programme-related issues at the planning stage, in particular during the formulation of the medium-term plan and the programme budget,

1. Decides that the sessions of the subsidiary bodies of ESCWA shall be held not later than the end of the year prior to the holding of the session of the Commission, in order to avoid any confusion with the work of that session;

2. Also decides that directives contained in this resolution shall supersede all directives contained in the other relevant resolutions.
   

229 (XXI). Frequency of the Sessions of the ESCWA Committee on Transport

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recognizing the importance to ESCWA member countries of the issue of transport and its function in facilitating intraregional and international commercial traffic,

Recalling its resolution 213 (XIX) of 7 May 1997 concerning the establishment of a committee on transport in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recalling also its resolution 219 (XX) of 27 May 1999 concerning frequency of sessions of the subsidiary bodies of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recalling further the follow-up actions required under the Agreement on International Roads in the Arab Mashreq,

Decides that with effect from 2002, the Committee on Transport shall hold its sessions annually rather than biennially.
 

230 (XXI). Integration of the Sessions of the Commission and the Sessions of its Preparatory Committee

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recalling its resolution 223 (XX) of 27 May 1999 on the redesignation of the Technical Committee,

Also recalling section V, rule 18, of the Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, relating to the election of officers for subsidiary bodies,

Conscious that the redesignation of the Technical Committee as the Preparatory Committee underlines the complementarity between the sessions of the Commission and those of the Preparatory Committee,

Desirous of underscoring this complementarity,

1. Decides that, with effect from the twenty-second session, the meetings of the Preparatory Committee shall be an integral part of the sessions of the Commission;

2. Further decides to amend the Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia accordingly.

231 (XXI). Modifications Introduced to the Programme of Work and Priorities for the Biennium 2000-2001

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Having considered the progress made during 2000 in the implementation of the programme of work for the biennium 2000-2001,

Satisfied with the progress made therein,

Cognizant of the modifications introduced to the programme of work as listed in annex I to the report of the Executive Secretary on the activities of the Commission,

Satisfied that a reasonable degree of modification is necessary in order to maintain progress in the programme of work,

1. Approves the changes introduced to the programme of work for the biennium 2000-2001;

2. Requests the Executive Secretary to include any further modifications to the programme of work and priorities in the report that is submitted to member States in years when there is no session.
   

232 (XXI). Proposed Programme Budget for the Biennium 2002-2003

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 55/234 of 23 December 2000 on programme planning, which adopts the medium-term plan of the United Nations for the period 2002-2005,

Noting that the medium-term plan reflects overall objectives, strategies and expected accomplishments for a four-year period,

Noting also that the objectives, strategies and expected accomplishments of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 are consistent with those of the medium-term plan, 

Conscious that a new mechanism for accountability throughout the United Nations system has been fully elaborated in the programme budget for the period 2002-2003,

Conscious also of the need for cooperation on the part of member States in assessing the relevance of the work of the secretariat and in providing feedback on the operational aspects of the new system of accountability now in place,

Commending the efforts of the secretariat to conduct early consultations with member States, at the planning stage, on the relevance of the proposed priorities and outputs,

Also commending the efforts of the secretariat to consult the offices of the United Nations Development Programme located in ESCWA member countries on country priorities identified in Common Country Assessment reports,

1. Approves the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003;

2. Requests the Executive Secretary to report to member States any changes introduced thereto;

3. Further requests the Executive Secretary to distribute the programme budget to member States once it has been endorsed by the General Assembly.
   

233 (XXI). The strengthening of Cooperation Between Member Countries in the Field of Shared Water Resources

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recalling the medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001 and, in particular, paragraph 18.1,

Recognizing the importance of developing cooperation between member countries in order to ensure optimum use of its meager water resources,

Appreciative of the fruitful cooperation between member countries with regard to groundwater resources,

Taking into consideration the recommendations made by the Expert Group Meeting on Legal Aspects of the Management of Shared Water Resources, held from 8 to 11 June 2000,

Recalling also the programme of work for the biennium 2000-2001 of the Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Division in the field of water resources, and the proposed programme of work for the biennium 2002-2003, which was adopted by the Committee on Water Resources at its fourth session, held from 14 to 17 November 2000, which includes the development of appropriate mechanisms, similar to those applied in other United Nations regional commissions, for strengthening cooperation between member countries in the field of water resource management in general and shared groundwater in particular,

1. Urges member countries to increase the level of their cooperation in the field of water resources and, in particular, with regard to shared groundwater, water-related legislation and the management of demand, by creating within the Committee on Water Resources working parties specialized in the various technical aspects of the field, with a view to harmonizing methodology with respect to the management of such resources;

2. Requests the Executive Secretary to take the necessary steps to facilitate the work of those parties through the ESCWA Committee on Water Resources.

234 (XXI). Rationalization and Increased Efficiency of Energy and the Use of Renewable Sources of Energy

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recalling the medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001 and, in particular, paragraph 18.1,

Recalling also the recommendations made by the Committee on Energy at its first and second sessions, held in November 1997 and November 1999 respectively,

Recalling further the programme of work for the biennium 2000-2001 of the Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Division in the field of energy,

Taking into consideration the memorandum of understanding on establishment and activation of the renewable energy promotion mechanism (REPM) in the ESCWA region, signed on 5 October 2000,

1. Urges member countries to include in their energy-related programmes the policies and measures necessary in order to increase the efficiency of and rationalize energy use and promote the use of renewable sources of energy. This should be achieved through the devising of institutional frameworks for their implementation;

2. Requests member countries to take the measures necessary to support the performance of activities related to the renewable energy promotion mechanism, with a view to strengthening regional cooperation in that field; to this end, the endeavours of national focal points for the regional mechanism should be supported.

235 (XXI). Adoption of the Agreement on International Roads in the Arab Mashreq

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recognizing the increasing importance of the issue of the facilitation of transport and, in particular, of trans-boundary transport, in the light of contemporary trends including globalization and the establishment of free trade zones which make it necessary to take action to reduce the obstacles to international commercial traffic,

Recalling the recommendations made by the Committee on Transport at its first session, which was held at ESCWA headquarters in Beirut on 9 and 10 February 1999, and the declaration issued at that session on the adoption and development of an integrated transport system in the Arab Mashreq (ITSAM), of which the Commission took cognizance in its resolution 221 (XX),

Recalling also the recommendation made by the Committee on Transport at its second session, which was held in February 2001, to the effect that the draft agreement on international roads in the Arab Mashreq should be adopted,

Affirming that the ITSAM network represents the goal for the integration of the various means of transport in order to connect the countries of the ESCWA region, with a view to encouraging intraregional commerce, and link those countries with neighbouring regions, thereby serving international and transit commerce,

Recalling further that all transport-related activities in ESCWA are aimed at facilitating the transportation of goods and movement of persons on the regional network through taking action on a number of tracks, including the harmonization of basic transport infrastructure specifications, including the specifications for the regional road network, and that this is to be achieved through the preparation of the Agreement on International Roads in the Arab Mashreq,

Noting the careful stages in which the draft agreement was prepared and the fact that its present form was reached after taking into consideration the comments of member countries,

1. Adopts the draft agreement on international roads in the Arab Mashreq;

2. Requests the secretariat of ESCWA to intensify its endeavours and give the requisite priority to the development of the integrated transport system in the Arab Mashreq and facilitation of international commercial and passenger traffic in the region, with a view to benefiting from the increased volume of commercial and tourist exchanges between member countries and between the countries of the region and every country in the world;

3. Urges member countries to take the constitutional measures for ratification of the Agreement in order to ensure that it enters into force at the earliest opportunity.

236 (XXI). Designating the Sessions of the Commission as the Forum for a Biennial Pledging Conference

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Recognizing the importance of mobilizing extrabudgetary resources in support of programmed activities,

Deeply concerned about the decline in extrabudgetary resources made available to the secretariat of ESCWA,

Aware of the sizeable contributions made to some of the other regional commissions to supplement their extrabudgetary funds,

Conscious of the role extrabudgetary resources may play in allowing the Commission to expand the scope of work for existing outputs to cover new countries, issues and dimensions,

Recognizing that the biennial session of the Commission would serve as the most suitable forum for a pledging conference to raise extrabudgetary resources in support of activities and projects, with relevant information circulated among member States prior to the session for their consideration,

1. Decides to hold a pledging conference during each session of the Commission;

2. Invites member States to increase contributions in order to finance the Commission’s extrabudgetary activities;

3. Requests the Executive Secretary to seek contributions from States other than ESCWA member States and from public and private organizations;

4. Further requests the Executive Secretary to provide member States with proposals regarding specific activities to be funded from extrabudgetary resources.

237 (XXI). Rehabilitation of Economic Sectors in Palestine

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,

Noting the difficult economic conditions being endured in Palestine as a result of the confrontation with Israel and the damage sustained by the Palestinian economic infrastructure in the course of that confrontation,

Convinced of the need to take practical measures to assist Palestine in rehabilitating its economic sectors,

1. Requests the Executive Secretary to include under the budgetary resources available to the secretariat activities to be planned by the secretariat and implemented in consultation with the relevant Palestinian institutions;

2. Further requests the Executive Secretary to take measures to ensure that the extrabudgetary resources necessary to finance such activities are available, by lobbying the relevant funding institutions.