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2nd Implementation Cycle - Review Session
1-12 May 2006
New York

CSD-14

Third Bureau Meeting
6 March 2006
Note of the Meeting

  1. The third meeting of the Bureau of the fourteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14) took place on 6 March 2006. The Chairman of CSD-14, H.E. Mr. Aleksi Aleksishvili, chaired the meeting via video link from Tbilisi. Mr. Yvo de Boer, Vice-Chair (the Netherlands) attended the meeting via audio link from the Hague. Mr. Azanaw T. Abreha, Vice- Chair (Ethiopia) and Mr. Javad Amin-Mansour, Vice-Chair (Iran) attended the meeting from New York. Dr. Mario Yarto (Mexico) attended the meeting as an observer via audio link from Mexico City on behalf of Mr. Adrian Fernández Bramauntz, Vice-Chair (Mexico). The meeting was also attended by the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DSD/DESA), staff from DSD/DESA and Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Management, as well as an official from the Permanent Mission of Mexico.

Updates on recent activities by the Bureau

  1. In his opening remarks, Chair Aleksishvili informed the Bureau that he had written to UN Secretary-General and President of the World Bank, inviting them to attend the High-level Segment. He had also written to heads of UN agencies and business leaders, inviting them to dialogue sessions with Ministers.
  2. Chair Alexsishvili further noted that Norway, Iceland, South Africa, Luxembourg and Turkey had provided financial contributions in support of the participation of experts, panelists and Major Groups representatives from developing countries. He requested the Secretariat to convey the Bureau’s appreciation for the support of those countries.
  3. The Vice-Chairs reported on their recent activities and made initial remarks on the Matrix, the proposed list of panelists and background notes on regional, thematic discussions as well as on the High-level Segment of CSD-14.

Reports on RIMs

  1. Vice-Chair Amin-Mansour and Dr. Marto on behalf of Vice-Chair Fernandez, as well as the Secretariat reported on the outcomes of the regional implementation meetings held in the ESCAP, ECLAC and ECE regions. The outcome documents of all five RIMs had been submitted for translation. The background papers prepared for the RIMs had also been posted on the CSD website.
  2. The Bureau agreed on the modalities for organizing the five Regional Discussions during CSD-14, taking into account the experience of CSD-12. The Bureau emphasized the importance of the five Regional Discussions, organized back to back to with a view to facilitating cross-fertilization of ideas and experience among the regions. The five Regional Discussions were of equal importance.

Updates on the organization of work for CSD-14

  1. The Bureau noted that the SG’s Overview report, SIDS report, Partnership report and Integrated Review report, as well as the five RIM outcome documents, the nine Major Groups discussion papers, and a number of inter-sessional reports, had all been submitted for translation. The Secretariat informed the Bureau that a DESA/DSD publication on critical trends with respect to the four thematic issues would be published in color soon.
  2. The Secretariat presented to the Bureau the Matrix it had prepared at the request of the Chair. The Bureau reaffirmed that the Matrix is an information tool based on case studies submitted by Governments, UN agencies, Major Groups, as well as on information emerging from the regional implementation meetings. It is aimed at facilitating thematic discussions. It is a work in progress and will be updated, based on discussions during CSD-14.
  3. The Bureau reviewed the list of panelists compiled by the Secretariat based on proposals by Governments, UN agencies, and Major Groups. It stressed the need for ensuring the North-South balance, regional balance, and gender balance in selecting the panelists.
  4. The Bureau reviewed the preparation for the High-level Segment and welcomed the interest by business leaders in attending CSD-14 for dialogue with Ministers. It decided to move the dialogue with business leaders to the morning session for logistic purpose. It emphasized the need for Ministers of Energy and Industry to attend CSD-14 and reiterated that CSD-14 provides an important opportunity for addressing crucial thematic issues. Minister Aleksishvili urged delegations to get back to the capitals to ensure the early confirmation of attendance by Ministers. This would help the Chair to organize the High-level Segment. To this end the Chair would write to members States once again, inviting Ministers to attend CSD-14.
  5. Regarding the informal talks (straight talk) on the margins of the High-level segment, the Bureau agreed to continue consultations. Should the informal talks take place, the Bureau agreed that participation would be on a voluntary basis; depending on the level of interest, one or more informal talks could be organized, focusing on the same topic.

Major Groups, Partnerships Fair, Leaning Center and Side Events

  1. The Bureau heard from the Secretariat an update on the preparations by the Major Groups for CSD-14. It noted that all Major Groups’ discussion papers had been submitted on time and some 177 Major Groups participants are pre-registering. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to continue to facilitate the pre-registration process. The Secretariat would also make arrangements for a meeting or a conference call between a designated Vice-Chair and Major Groups representatives.
  2. The Secretariat provided an update on the preparations for the Partnerships Fair, drawing attention to the SG report on partnerships and the upcoming programme of activities for the Partnerships Fair.
  3. The Bureau also noted the strong interest in the Learning Center, which had received far more course proposals than slots available. The Secretariat indicated that course materials would be posted on CSD-14 website by the end of March for broad dissemination. The Bureau was also informed of the preparations for Side Events and noted the broad interest in organizing Side Events.
  4. In general, the Bureau believed that the preparations for CSD-14 are on track and encouraged Governments, UN agencies and other international organizations, and Major Groups to seize the opportunity of CSD-14 to move forward on the thematic cluster of issues.

Division of work among the Bureau and its next meeting

  1. The Bureau agreed on the division of work among its members and decided to hold its next meeting on 30 April 2006.