COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH SPECIAL SESSION

First Meeting

The meeting was opened by the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, H.E. Mr. German Garcia-Duran (Colombia).

D. Election of officers
He Ad Hoc Committee elected, by acclamation, the following: Vice-Chairmen, H.E. Mr. Seydon Sysall (Senegal), Mr. Manfred Konukiewitz (Germany), and H.E. Mr. Andrej Olszowka (Poland). The Ad Hoc Committee also elected Mr. Alireza Esamaeilzadeh (Islamic Republic of Iran) as Rapporteur.

E. Organization of work

The Ad Hoc Committee approved its organization of work as proposed by the Chairman.

Review and appraisal of progress made in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda [8]

Further actions and initiatives for overcoming obstacles to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda [9]

Declaration on cities and other human settlements in the new millennium [10]

The Ad Hoc Committee began its general discussion on the items.

The representative of Chile (on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group) made a statement.

A Habitat Goodwill Ambassador and a representative of the United Nations Advisory Committee on Local Authorities made statements.

Statements were made by the representative of the World Health Organization, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

The representatives of the Economic Commission for Europe, the Economic Commission for Africa, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur of the High Commission for Human Rights on Adequate Housing, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the International Labour Organization and the World Bank also made statements.

Statements were made by observers from Forum of Researchers on Human Settlements (CERFE), the David M. Kennedy Centre, and International Council of Women.