Economic and Social Council

 Distr. GENERAL
18 May 1998
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

Substantive session of 1998
6-31 July 1998
Item 13 (f) of the provisional agenda*
Economic and environmental questions: Cartography

     * E/1998/100.


        Seventh United Nations Conference on the Standardization
                       of Geographical Names


                   Report of the Secretary-General


1.   The Seventh United Nations Conference on the
Standardization of Geographical Names, convened in
accordance with Economic and Social Council decision
1997/213, was held at United Nations Headquarters from
13 to 22 January 1997.

2.   The Conference was attended by 211 representatives
and observers from 71 countries, 1/ five specialized agencies, 2/
one intergovernmental organization, 3/ two international
scientific organizations, 4/ three other organizations, 5/ and two
units of the United Nations Secretariat. 6/

3.   The agenda for the Conference was prepared by the
United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names
at its eighteenth session (Geneva, August 1996). The
Conference considered the reports of linguistic/geographical
divisions and of Governments on the situation in their
regions and countries and on the progress made in the
standardization of geographical names since the Sixth
Conference. It established three committees, on national,
technical and international programmes and exchanges,
respectively, to consider national standardization --
including field collection and office treatment of names,
treatment of names in multilingual areas, the administrative
structure of national names authorities and toponymic
guidelines for map editors and other editors -- and items
related to the creation of toponymic data files, terminology,
the naming of features beyond a single sovereignty,
romanization systems, and toponymic education and
practice. In addition, the Conference reviewed cooperation
with national and international agencies and bodies and the
benefits of information obtainable from the increasing
number of toponymic Web sites. It also considered lists of
country names, one of which provides the names in the six
official languages of the United Nations and in the official
local romanized form.

4.   The proceedings of the Conference are to be published
in two volumes -- volume I containing the report of the
Conference and the resolutions adopted, 7/ and volume II, the
technical papers submitted to the Conference.

5.   The Conference adopted 14 resolutions and a vote of
thanks. The resolutions reflected both the concerns on issues
of a general nature expressed in plenary sessions and those
related to specific matters debated in the three committees
of the Conference. 

6.   The Conference recognized and acknowledged with
appreciation the work performed by the United Nations
Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN). As
a result of a proposal from the Group of Experts, approved
at its nineteenth session, the Conference recommended that
a new, French-speaking division of the Group be established
(resolution 1). Reflecting on the work of committee I on
national programmes, the Conference recommended that
measures be taken nationally to implement its guidelines on
the collection and office treatment of geographical names
and that, whenever possible, national standardization be
based on the current local usage of name forms collected
through field work (resolution 5). With regard to the list of
country names presented by the Working Group on a List
of Country Names, the Conference recommended that the
UNGEGN list of country names, in their official language(s)
and in their romanized form as well as in the three working
languages of the Group of Experts, be updated on a regular
basis and regarded as a reference for all cartographic
applications published in the Roman alphabet (resolution 8). 

7.   In dealing with the work of committee II on technical
programmes, the Conference, referring to toponymic data
exchange formats and standards, recommended that
countries promote the international use of nationally
standardized names through the publication and exchange
of digital toponymic data utilizing international text-encoding 
standards and a digital gazetteer format based on
recommendation E of resolution 4, adopted by the first
Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names. 8/
It further recommended that the United Nations Group of
Experts on Geographical Names liaise with the Unicode
Consortium to keep that body informed on toponymic text-encoding 
requirements and to promote the development of
computer tools to facilitate digital exchange of geographical
names information (resolution 6). Realizing the full
potential of the use of the Internet, the Conference
recommended that countries establish toponymic Web sites
for appropriate toponymic purposes, with access to Web site
data provided free of charge in the interest of international
standardization. It further recommended that a Web site for
the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical
Names be established and that its Working Group on
Toponymy Training Courses consider the development of
an Internet-based toponymy training course (resolution 9).

8.   The Conference, in reviewing the work of committee
III on international programmes and exchanges,
recommended to the Arab League that it pursue its efforts
to organize a conference to address the problems of
implementing the amended Beirut system of 1972 for the
romanization of Arabic script and to present, at the earliest
opportunity, a solution to the Group of Experts (resolution 4). 
Recognizing the active and growing involvement of the
private sector and consumer enterprises in activities related
to cartography and the substantive need for wide
dissemination of standardized place names in the global
market, the Conference recommended that the Group of
Experts pursue the underwriting of cooperative agreements
and sponsorships with interested parties in the private
sector, along existing or recommended guidelines
promulgated by the Secretariat. It further recommended that
progress in that area be reported by the Secretariat at future
meetings of the Group of Experts (resolution 7). The
Conference, reflecting on the need for training in toponymy
urged organizers of training courses in toponymy to make
available a copy of their teaching materials to the convenor
of the Working Group on Training Courses in Toponymy
of the Group of Experts, so that it could act as a clearing
house (resolution 11). It also encouraged the Working
Group on Training Courses in Toponymy to organize short,
advanced training courses on the standardization of
geographical names and to adjoin those courses to meetings
of UNGEGN for the benefit of participating toponymic
experts (resolution 12). In addressing the issue of access to
and the archiving of technical papers created in connection
with conferences on the standardization of geographical
names and sessions of UNGEGN, the Conference
recommended that the support and assistance of countries
be sought to catalogue and index the information in the
technical papers, in coordination with the Secretariat, and
that assistance and support of a country or countries also be
sought to reproduce the documentation in a form accessible
to all. It was further recommended that the Secretariat,
within available resources, collect and maintain all
subsequent materials and papers (resolution 14).

9.   The Conference, in acknowledging the responsibility
and mandate of the Secretariat in the organization and
implementation of regional cartographic conferences, and
conscious of the key elements that geographical names and
information technology represent in the cartographic field,
recommended that the Secretariat inform the ad hoc
Working Group on Proposals for the Reorganization of the
United Nations Regional Cartographic Conferences of the
concerns, deliberations and recommendations of UNGEGN
and of the Conferences themselves (resolution 3).
Acknowledging a common interest shared by UNGEGN and
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in
several subject areas, the Conference recommended that the
Secretariat liaise with ISO in order to share information and
coordinate initiatives on relevant issues and investigate the
feasibility and desirability of establishing stronger links
between ISO and the Group of Experts (resolution 13). The
Conference, aware of the restructuring process affecting the
United Nations structures dealing with social and economic
affairs and noting the continuous decrease in the resources
allocated to secretarial work of the United Nations Group
of Experts and the United Nations Conferences on the
Standardization of Geographical Names, requested the
Secretary-General to ensure the continued availability of
officials with the necessary expertise and experience in
cartography and/or the standardization of geographical
names to provide the relevant support to the Group of
Experts and the Conferences (resolution 10).

10.  The Conference, noting the positive results of the
work performed on the standardization of geographical
names at both the national and international levels by States
Members of the United Nations, also noting the essential
role played by the Seventh Conference and by the Group of
Experts at its nineteenth session in the coordination of that
work, and recognizing the necessity of continuing it,
recommended to the Economic and Social Council that the
Eighth Conference on the Standardization of Geographical
Names be convened in the second half of 2002 and that the
twentieth session of the Group of Experts be convened
during the fourth quarter of 1999. It further recommended
that the Council continue to support the important work of
the secretariat of the Group of Experts regarding the
standardization of geographical names (resolution 2).

11.  A list of the resolutions adopted by the Conference
and the proposed provisional agenda for the Eighth
Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names
are attached as annex I and annex II, respectively. The
activities recommended by the Seventh Conference and
those required for the preparation of the Eighth Conference
and the twentieth session of the Group of Experts, deemed
to be of a continuous nature, have been included in the
medium-term plan under programme 8, subprogramme 8.2,
for the period 1998-2001, and it is anticipated that they will
be incorporated into the proposed programme budget for
the biennium 2000-2001. Inclusion of these activities is not
expected to give rise to additional expenditures. In the
proposed programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999,
these activities, which are of a continuous nature, fall under
section 7a (economic and social affairs). Additional
resources need not be sought for these activities in every
biennium.


            Recommendations to the Council

12.  In view of the importance of the work of the Group
of Experts on Geographical Names and the Conferences on
the Standardization of Geographical Names and the
essential contribution they continue to provide to member
States in the geographic field and related cartographic areas,
it is recommended that the Economic and Social Council:

               (a)     Endorse the recommendation that the Eighth
United Nations Conference on the Standardization of
Geographical Names be convened for eight working days
in the second half of 2002;

               (b)     Also endorse the recommendation that the
twentieth session of the United Nations Group of Experts
on Geographical Names be convened during the fourth
quarter of 1999;

               (c)     Request the Secretary-General to take measures,
as appropriate, to implement the recommendations of the
Seventh United Nations Conference on the Standardization
of Geographical Names, especially with regard to the work
of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical
Names.


                             Notes

1/   Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
     Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,
     Canada, Central African Republic, China, Co^te džIvoire, Croatia,
     Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Peopležs Republic of
     Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,
     Greece, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iran (Islamic Republic of),
     Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lao Peopležs
     Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Mali, Mexico, Monaco,
     Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,
     Peru, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian
     Federation, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South
     Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, The
     former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine,
     United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United
     States of America.

2/   United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), United
     Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Educational,
     Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Bank,
     International Maritime Organization (IMO).

3/   Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH).

4/   International Hydrographic Organization (IHO); International
     Cartographic Association (ICA).

5/   International Organization for Standardization (ISO); National
     Geographic Society; Agence de cooperation culturelle et technique
     (ACCT).

6/   Economic Commission for Africa, Department of Public Information.

7/   See Seventh United Nations Conference on the Standardization of
     Geographical Names, New York, 13-22 January 1998 (E/CONF.91/3),
     vol. I, Report of the Conference (to be issued), chap. III.
 
8/   See United Nations Conference on the Standardization of
     Geographical Names, Geneva, 4-22 September 1967 (United Nations
     publication, Sales No. E.68.I.9), vol. I, Report of the
     Conference, chap. III.


                              Annex I

         List of resolutions adopted by the Seventh Conference


         1. Creation of a French-speaking division

         2. Eighth Conference on the Standardization of Geographical
Names and twentieth session of the United Nations Group of Experts on
Geographical Names

         3. Standardization of geographical names and the United
Nations regional cartographic conferences

         4. Review of the amended Beirut system of 1972 for the
romanization of Arabic script

         5. National standardization based on local usage

         6. Toponymic data exchange formats and standards

         7. Cooperation and agreements with consumer enterprises

         8. List of country names

         9. Standardization of geographical names utilizing the
Internet

         10.   Support

         11.   Toponymy training course materials

         12.   Toponymy training courses in conjunction with sessions
of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

         13.   Liaison with the International Organization for
Standardization

         14.   Access and archiving of technical papers

         15.   Vote of thanks


                              Annex II

       Provisional agenda for the Eighth United Nations Conference
              on the Standardization of Geographical Names


         1. Opening of the Conference.

         2. Election of the President of the Conference.

         3. Organizational matters:

            (a)    Adoption of the rules of procedure;

            (b)    Adoption of the agenda;

            (c)    Election of officers other than the President;

            (d)    Organization of work;

            (e)    Credentials of representatives to the Conference.

         4. Reports by Governments on the situation in their countries
and on the progress made in the standardization of geographical names
since the Seventh Conference.
.
         5. Reports by divisions of the Group of Experts on
Geographical Names on the situation in their divisions and on the
progress made in the standardization of geographical names since the
Seventh Conference.

         6. Meetings and conferences:

            (a) United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names;

            (b) Divisional and interdivisional meetings and
programmes;

            (c) National names meetings, conferences and symposia;

            (d) International names meetings, conferences and
symposia.

         7. Measures taken and proposed to implement United Nations
resolutions on the standardization of geographical names.

         8. Economic and social benefits of the national and
international standardization of geographical names.

         9. National standardization:

            (a) Field collection of names;

            (b) Office treatment of names;

            (c) Treatment of names in multilingual areas;

            (d) Administrative structure of national names
authorities;

            (e) Toponymic guidelines for map editors and other
editors.

         10.   Exonyms.

         11.   Reports on programmes to assist with pronunciation of
names.

         12.   Toponymic data files:

            (a)    Data collection procedures;

            (b)    Data elements required;

            (c)    Toponymic data transfer standards and formats;

            (d)    Automated data-processing (ADP) systems;

            (e)    Compatibility and structure of systems;

            (f)    National gazetteers;

            (g)    Other publications.

         13.   Toponymic Web sites.

         14.   Terminology in the standardization of geographical
names.

         15.   Features beyond a single sovereignty:

            (a)    Policies, procedures and cooperative arrangements;

            (b)    Features common to two or more nations.

         16.   Writing systems:

            (a)    Romanization;

            (b)    Conversion into non-Roman writing systems;

            (c)    Writing of names in unwritten languages.

         17.   Toponymic education and practice and international
cooperation:

            (a)    Existing education and practice;

            (b)    Training courses in toponymy;

            (c)    Exchange of advice and information;

            (d)    Exchange of personnel;

            (e)    Technical assistance;

            (f)    Cooperation with national organizations;

            (g)    Cooperation with international organizations;

            (h)    Cooperation with public information media.

         18.   Country names.

         19.   Arrangements for the Ninth Conference.

         20.   Adoption of the report of the Conference.

         21.   Adoption of resolutions drafted during the Conference.

         22.   Closing of the Conference.

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