The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held its first meeting for 2001 this morning, electing Martin Belinga-Eboutou (Cameroon) by acclamation as its President for 2001-2002.

In further action this morning, the Council elected its four Vice-Presidents by acclamation from the following regional groups: Ivan Šimonovi? (Croatia) -- Eastern European States; Bernd Niehaus (Costa Rica) –- Latin American and Caribbean States; Antonio Monteiro (Portugal) –- Western European and Other States; and Mikhail Wehbe (Syria) –- Asian States.

Newly elected President Belinga-Eboutou said one of the most pressing issues for the Council this year would be addressing the implementation of the Millennium Declaration. That should be considered “a tablet of laws”, since it restated international commitment to such principles as solidarity and cooperation. The Declaration also envisioned the future role of the Council in the new century.

In particular, he said the Millennium Declaration expressed a firm commitment to give special attention to the specific needs of Africa. The Councils’ high-level segment, which would be devoted to promoting international cooperation to seek sustainable African development, should be seen as an initial test.

The resources for Africa were available, he said. All that was needed was the will and action to ensure that African issues remained at the forefront of the international community’s economic and social agenda. He proposed that, prior to the high-level segment, the Council take stock of all programmes aimed at achieving progress in Africa’s development over the last 30 years.

Such a broad review, he continued, would make it possible to launch a real contract of solidarity for Africa and a “crusade” aimed at establishing an international alliance, free from stillborn projects and duplication, that could form the backbone of initiatives aimed at achieving Millennium Declaration goals.

Also this morning, as the Council took note of its provisional agenda for the organizational session and a note by the Secretary-General containing its proposed basic programme of work for 2001-2002, its attention was drawn to matters requiring action at the organizational session.

Those issues were: adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters; implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/227 and 52/12B on revitalizing
and improving the Council’s functioning, which were deferred from the Council’s resumed session of 2000; the tenth meeting of the Ad-Hoc Group of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters -– change of dates and venue; Fifth Session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development; action by the Council on extracts from the report of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development; and elections, nominations and confirmations postponed from 2000.

On the issues requiring action, the President informed members that he intended to hold informal consultations on 30 January on the Council’s proposed work programme and on other organizational matters. Based on those consultations, the Bureau would submit its recommendations to the Council for consideration at its next formal meeting, tentatively scheduled for 31 January.

Outgoing President, Makarim Wibisono (Indonesia), in his farewell remarks before handing over the Presidency, said that looking back, he believed the Council had moved its agenda for development forward in several respects. Of greatest satisfaction was the opportunity to bring the extremely relevant and crucial phenomenon of information and communication technologies (ICT) to the forefront of the United Nations agenda.

He said the emphasis of Council discussions on ICT focused decisively on inclusiveness, and it became clear during those discussions that closing the development gap could not be the responsibility of any one group of stakeholders. He therefore encouraged the Council to continue along the path of inclusiveness, innovation and partnership.

Also this morning, due to its new composition, the Council drew lots for the seating arrangements for its 54 members. Austria was selected to take the first seat for Members. Bahrain would follow that country and then the order would continue alphabetically.

The representatives of Sweden (on behalf of the European Union), Japan, Iran, on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, the United States and India also made statements.

The Council will meet again at a date and time to be announced in the Journal.

Statements

MAKARIM WIBISONO (Indonesia), outgoing President of the Economic and Social Council, expressed the Council’s deepest sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families, people and Governments of India and Pakistan for the catastrophic tragedy and devastation that had stricken those countries late last week. He hoped that the international community would rise to meet the situation both speedily and adequately. He also hoped that the Council, under its new President and Bureau, would explore every avenue to be of assistance in responding to the tragedy.

To give a brief accounting of his watch as Council President, he said he wished to point out the areas where some success had been achieved and also those issues which still required attention. Looking back, he believed the Council had moved its agenda for development forward in several respects. It had been greatly satisfying to bring the extremely relevant and crucial phenomenon of information and communication technologies (ICT) to the forefront of the United Nations agenda.

As the main theme of the Council’s high-level segment last year, he said, ICT became recognized as the driving force of globalization as well as an excellent mechanism for promoting equality in the field of economic growth and development. Information technologies were also seen as powerful tools for narrowing the economic gaps between the developed and developing countries. Seeking to heighten the awareness of ICT and development, the Council also organized a series of panel discussions on the issue as well as regional meetings held in India and Brazil. It became clear during those discussions that closing the development gap could not be the responsibility of any one group of stakeholders. He therefore encouraged the Council to continue along the path of inclusiveness, innovation and partnership.

He said the high-level segment culminated in the Council’s first-ever Ministerial Declaration. He hoped that Declaration would constitute a blueprint for achieving a set of objectives concerning promotion of ICT for development, including the development of information and communication technologies. The Declaration had also been endorsed by the heads of State and government during the Millennium Assembly. He hoped the Council would build on this momentum and translate the blueprint into tangible action on the ground, thereby helping to bridge the growing digital divide.

Another priority during his tenure had been to strive for continuity in the Council’s activities. Central to that objective had been reasserting the coordinating role of ECOSOC and its revitalization as the main organ for United Nations economic and social issues. Significant progress had been achieved as, for the first time ever, the Council had addressed the mechanisms for reviewing the implementation of decisions by major United Nations conferences and summits.

Another top priority had been enhancing the Council’s ability to respond effectively to new social and economic issues, including natural disasters, he continued. The Council had effectively guided the work of United Nations organizations to assist with the tragic situation in Mozambique following devastating floods there. During his tenure, the Council also intensified its existing relationship with the Bretton Woods institutions. Moreover, contacts were intensified between the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). He urged the Council to continue to be engaged in the complex and changing social and economic landscape and to build on its strengths, while holding fast to its core principles.

MARTIN BELINGA EBOUTOU (Cameroon), Council President for 2001, thanked Council members for placing that responsibility in himself and his country. It would not be easy to preside over the Council at the start of the third Millennium. He would rely on Council members and the Secretariat to assist him in guiding the Council’s work. He thanked outgoing President Wibisono for his competent, inclusive and creative leadership during the past year and praised his programmes which promoted new forums for fruitful cooperation and international partnership.

He said he was well aware of the high hopes and aspirations of the Council for 2001 and looked forward to working with Council members. International cooperation on development issues had gradually become one of the Council’s main focuses, and further growth in that area would continue under his watch. The Council must restate its commitment by becoming involved in issues that affected the bulk of the world’s population, such as rampant poverty, the spread of HIV/AIDS and the growing digital divide.

The Council must play a key role in the agenda for the development of Africa, he continued. In that regard, the United Nations initiative for the development of Africa, the instrument through which the international community had committed itself to helping that continent, must be maintained, bolstered and reinvigorated.

The Council’s work programme for the coming year was a full one, he continued. Along with its general duties, the Council should also monitor the various inter-governmental activities under its auspices. One of the most pressing issues for the Council would be addressing the implementation of the Millennium Declaration as well as following up the major United Nations conferences and summits. The Millennium Declaration should be considered “a tablet of laws”, he added, since it restated international commitment to such principles as solidarity and cooperation. The Declaration also envisioned the future role of the Council in the new century.

In particular, he said the Millennium Declaration expressed a firm commitment to give special attention to the specific needs of Africa. The Councils’ high-level segment, which would be devoted to promoting international cooperation for sustainable development in Africa, should be seen as an initial test. The work during that segment should strive to establish the guidelines for broad international cooperation, as past initiatives had not always been successful. It was recognized that much remained to be done.

The resources were available to achieve that objective, he continued. All that remained was the will. That would require dynamic action to ensure that Africa remained at the forefront of the international community’s economic and social agenda. He proposed that, prior to the high-level segment, the Council take stock of all programmes by United Nations organs to achieve progress in Africa’s development over the last 30 years.

Such a broad review would make it possible to launch a real contract of solidarity for Africa and a “crusade” aimed at establishing an international alliance, free from stillborn projects and duplication, that could form the backbone of initiatives aimed at achieving the Millennium Declaration’s goals. He assured Council members that he would never tire of drawing their attention to the importance of the situation in Africa.

He added that the Council must not confine itself to monitoring the work of United Nation organizations on Africa. It should also study the initiatives of other international and inter-governmental organizations. The Council must strive towards ambitious goals and to determine the impact of those goals on international development efforts both within and outside the Organization. That would require the broad participation of government actors at the highest levels, as well as financial institutions and the private sector. In that spirit, the Bureau would propose an ambitious schedule of meetings before and during the high-level segment.

He said the Council should take every opportunity to work and cooperate with the Assembly on all issues of international development on the Organization’s agenda. It must also study closely the various aspects of ICT and show a genuine capacity for decision-making on the issue of ICT and development. That could perhaps be the theme of the Council’s coordinating segment in the coming year.

He proposed that provisions be made for the holding in Cameroon of an international ICT symposium and a corresponding fair. Both events should include the participation of real and potential users as well as ICT officials to examine ways in which Africa could become “connected” to the wider world through the use of new technologies. The fair itself would be devoted to new information technologies.

The Council should also focus on its humanitarian affairs. Those issues were of the highest importance and the Council should assume its responsibilities of guiding the work of the United Nations in the humanitarian sphere, he said.

The Council had achieved real results by paying particular attention to the outcomes of the various United Nations meetings and conferences, he said. The Council had asked its technical commissions to make relevant contributions to follow-up discussion on those conferences. The meetings between the Council and the Bretton Woods institutions had proved essential during the last three years. A similar meeting during the coming year was particularly important, in light of the ongoing debate on the funding of development.

There were countless reasons to be proud of what the Council had achieved last year, he said. He would strive to build on that success and ensure the same visibility for the development of Africa as well as integrated and coordinated follow-up to the major United Nations conferences and meetings.

PER AUGUSTSSON (Sweden), on behalf of the European Union, expressed thanks to Indonesia for its presidency and important work over the last year. He also welcomed the new Bureau

HIDEAKI KOBAYASHI (Japan) expressed thanks to Mr. Wibisono for his work over the last year and said that the outgoing President had left a mark on the history of the Council. He congratulated Mr. Belinga-Eboutou on his election to the presidency and said he was sure that the Council would make progress on the themes related to Africa.

MOHAMMAD ALI ZARIE ZARIE (Iran), on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, thanked Mr. Wibisono and others for the strides made in advancing the work of the Council in the field of development. The outgoing President’s initiatives in various fields had helped to facilitate the work of the Council. They should all be followed up and acted upon. He also congratulated the incoming President and other members of the Bureau on their election.

BETTY KING (United States) singled out Mr. Wibisono’s innovative efforts in the field of ICT as she congratulated him on his presidency. She also congratulated the new Bureau members on their election.

SATYABRATA PAL (India) thanked members of the Council for the solidarity they had shown to his country in the wake of the earthquake, which had recently struck it.