Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

General Assembly, 62nd Session,

23/10/2007

Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Resolution A/C.3/62/L.XX

On the OP 6 and 8, Secretary adds the words “political” and “of”. Everybody agreed.

• Venezuela proposes to include the “root causes” of the refugees situations, as the High Commission during Excom in a preview resolution (14317) had adopted.

To Venezuela, it’s necessary to put more attention in the mandate of UNHCR, through the use of the prevention.

Venezuela wanted to highlight the root causes in order to prevent refugee’s movements.

In the same idea, Algeria urge to the Secretary to follow the Venezuela’s proposition which permit to fight the deep causes of the refugee’s situations.

Ethiopia also thinks that durable solution, like the roots causes, could be integrated.

On the contrary, Switzerland thinks that “root causes” doesn’t include in the UNHCR’s skills. UNHCR must only looks after the refugees.

Morocco recalls that “root causes” appear in the OP 23, so we don’t need to add it in the OP 9. Australia agrees with Morocco.

UNHCR explain mandate: “root causes” appear in the expression “international solution”. In this term, the root causes have been part of durable solutions, it’s a part of International responsibility.

Canada: We had concerns about the original version.

• Algeria asks flexibility about OP 18 and 23.

• France wants to integrate the deployment of a multidimensional force in Eastern Chad and CAR (Central African Republic).

But Algeria doesn’t want to name a specific region, beyond the humanitarian aspect.

For Algeria, the resolution must be universal and not only on a specific way.

Ethiopia recognizes the positive attitude of the France’s proposition but it must concern for all the African continent and not only CAR and Chad.

Mrs Chair asks to France to include his text on another resolution because its concern not only the UNHCR but also the other International organizations.

• In the OP 15, Algeria asks explication about the expression “other persons concern to UNHCR”, the delegation wants to know who’s part of it.

The Secretary answer: we speak about the persons stateless.

• The debate was important concerning the both OP 17 and 18.

To resume, Iran would like to add the same paragraph like in the preview report. Australia, Algeria, Ethiopia and Belarus wasn’t totally agree so the debate continued during one hour.

Finally, the proposition of Iran was almost completely include.

On another part, Algeria was furious when Secretary approves the paragraph 18 whereas he wants to continue the discussion. He recalls at the secretary that it’s the States who decide when the text is approved or not.

• About the Russia’s proposition, Ecuador, Mexico and Dominican Republic want to include the Mexico plan of action in the text, because of the European-Asian Programme is name. In the same idea, Algeria wants to include his regional program.

• Concerning OP 24, Ethiopia wants to change the text “traditional governmental donors, non-traditional donors”.

Secretary proposes “governmental donors and no-governmental donors”. Ethiopia agreed.

To conclude, Algeria mentions that his New-York delegation (Algeria in New-York) won’t agree with the term of the resolution.

That’s why Secretary asks all delegations to contact his New-York delegation to inform on the resolution behind the adoption in the Big Apple at the next week.

Damien Afonso

Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for UNCTAD XII

Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for UNCTAD XII

29/10/2007

Benin for LDC’s:

The challenges of the LDC’s are very different from the challenges of developing countries (most difficulties to LDC’s).

The LDC’s wants to participate actively to the debate. LDC’s group needs one more day to conclude their text about UNCTAD’s XII and excuse them for the delete.

Tchad:

Bring his support to the African group and recall about economic difficulties in Africa.

In the other part, he speaks about the news concerning the kidnapping of children on Chad by an NGO’s. He explain that this example don’t affect UNCTAD XII.

Then he wants to explore new ideas and step in the debate more usually.

Brazil (G77 and China):

He proposes that every group speak about Sub theme. Everybody agrees.

SUBTHEME I

Brazil explains in the detail the G77 position: UNCTAD must have a specific role in the area of economy to help mainly LDC’s.

The mandate of Accra could be in the same spirit that Sao Paulo consensus with the outcome of Accra. The new mandate must take into account of the debate on the climate change. About climate change, UNCTAD and the countries donors must support LDC’s to make policy.

He also speaks about Doha development round and encourages UNCTAD to help developing countries for trade.

SUBTHEME II

Benin:

In the last years, main liberal reform doesn’t manage to bring growth on LDC’s and developing countries.

These countries need support the “supply” in each economics’ area (to answer to the demand).

Iran:

Non members of WTO must be able to access at the different negotiations about trade.

Russia:

In recent years, economies in transition engage international flows on ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) which represent an effective participation in the international trade and competitiveness. Russia encourage UNCTAD to continue the assistance through increase FDI’s.

SUBTHEME III

Benin:

Underscore the lack of workers which it prevent international competitiveness.

LDC’s depend on outputs through Official Development Assistance (ODA).

UNCTAD must permit to the LDC’s to attract more FDI’s, create jobs and opportunity with the focus on increase of GDP.

Iran:

UNCTAD must permit to the LDC’s and developping countries to have an access to the new technology (transfer of technology).

Chad:

Insist on the “organizational slack” to the LDC’s countries to set up FDI’s.

Of course, UNCTAD keep the technical capacity to explain how attract FDI’s but the countries must decide what they need to set up finally (independence)

SUBTHEME IV

Brazil:

Wants to strength the impact of UNCTAD. The organisation needs to be modernize to permit to strength effectiveness of the organisation.

Benin:

In the past, during the expert meetings or UNCTAD’s comissions, many countries went back on his country with one or several new ideas to set up directly on policy.

Nowadays, LDC’s would like again to benefit of his practise.

Canada:

It exist a central question: how UNCTAD can make difference to achieve his goal?

Damien Afonso