Cooperation between UN and League of Arab States – SecGen report

CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS

AND THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES

Report of the Secretary-General

Addendum

I.  INTRODUCTION

1. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 44/7 of 17 October 1989, a joint meeting between representatives of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States (LAS) and its specialized organizations was held at Geneva from 18 to 20 July 1990.

2. The objective of the meeting was to undertake a critical review of the progress achieved in the implementation of the multilateral proposals for co-operation between organizations of the United Nations system and LAS and its specialized organizations, especially those proposals adopted at the 1988 Geneva meeting.

II.  ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

3. The joint meeting was held at the Palais des Nations at Geneva from 18 to 20 July 1990. The main items on the agenda were: (a) the review of co-operation and appraisal of progress, with particular reference to the recommendations of the 1988 Geneva meeting; and (b) consideration of proposals for a two-year program of co-operation.

4. The meeting had before it conference room papers containing a summary of information and proposals forwarded by the General Secretariat of LAS and its specialized organizations. Other papers and studies were also distributed by agencies and organizations of the United Nations system (see annex I).

5. Representatives of the United Nations system and of LAS and its specialized organizations participated in the meeting (see annex II).

III. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MEETING

6. The meeting took note with satisfaction of the progress achieved on co-operation between the United Nations system and LAS and its specialized organizations. After careful consideration of the proposals put forward by the representatives of both systems to strengthen co-operation, the meeting decided to establish six sectoral areas for co-operation and agreed upon the following conclusions and recommendations.

A. International Peace and security

7. The representatives of the United Nations system and LAS reiterated the view expressed at the 1983 Tunis meeting, and at the 1988 Geneva meeting between representatives of the United Nations system and LAS and its specialized organizations, that the following action would contribute to the strengthening of co-operation in the field of international peace and security:

(a) The achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peaceful settlement of the Palestinian problem and the Middle East conflict, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the provisions of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations;

(b) Promoting greater international awareness of the dangers that might result from the disregard of the principles of the Charter and of United Nations resolutions and decisions concerning the maintenance of international peace and security;

(c) Strengthening co-operation between the two systems for the purpose of bringing peace in Lebanon and helping that country in its reconstruction.

B. Food and agriculture

8. The meeting identified the following areas of mutual interest for co-operation between LAS and the United Nations system for implementation during 1991 and 1992:

  * Indicates lead agency.

 ** Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environment.

*** FAO, jointly with the Government of the Netherlands, will hold an International Conference on Agriculture and Environment at Amsterdam in April 1991, where a regional document on sustainable agricultural development in the Near East will be presented.

C. Labor, trade, industry and environment

Department of International Economic and Social Affairs

9. It was noted that the Department of International Economic and Social Affairs would co-operate in the exchange of visits with the Statistical Department of the General Secretariat of LAS with a view to learning about each other's programs and ascertaining the possibility of co-ordinating them during the stages of implementation. In the broad area of economic and social activities, the Department would also explore possibilities for close co-operation in economic modeling, especially in the context of Project LINK, as well as in the exchange of information and data for the monitoring and analysis of economic and social trends.

United Nations Center on Transnational Corporations

10. The Center will provide the General Secretariat of LAS with studies, research papers and periodicals issued by it, and will invite LAS to its training sessions and study courses.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and International Trade Center

11. Co-operation will be further strengthened between UNCTAD and the Economic Department of LAS and the Arab Organization for Industrial Development and Mining regarding the completion of the inter-sectoral study on prospects for economic and social development of the occupied Palestinian territory, with special reference to areas of specialization of the latter. Following the completion of the inter-sectoral project at the end of 1991, both UNCTAD and LAS and its specialized organizations will co-ordinate their follow-up action in operational activities in various economic and social fields that will emerge within the framework of a program of action for the international community to assist the Palestinian people in their efforts towards economic and social development in the 1990s.

12. Co-operation between UNCTAD and LAS will also be strengthened with regard to exchange of statistics, reports and other material of relevance to the social and economic conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied territory.

13. UNCTAD and GATT will co-operate with LAS in the utilization of training sessions organized by ITC.

14. LAS will be invited to participate in training sessions organized under the auspices of GATT and UNCTAD on procedures for multilateral negotiations among developing countries, the conduct of market studies and other techniques relating to studies on supply and demand.

15. ITC will co-operate with LAS: (a) in developing a central unit on trade information and in the holding of joint regional study courses with ITC and UNCTAD concerning the generalized system of preferences; and (b) in organizing training sessions in co-operation with UNCTAD in the use of computers in the field of trade negotiations, tariffs and negotiable goods, and the preparation of lists of exports.

16. UNCTAD/GATT/ITC will provide the General Secretariat of LAS with studies and reports concerning international and regional economic co-operation and the state of, and changes in, the world economy.

Economic Commission for Africa

17. ECA agreed to continue co-operation with the General Secretariat of LAS in the field specified in the agreement concluded between them.

Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

18. It was proposed that ESCWA should co-operate with LAS: (a) in the joint implementation of all projects relating to transport strategy in Arab countries and

the Transport and Communications Decade; (b) in the issuance of the Unified Arab Statistical Abstract; (c) in the issuance of a unified bulletin on social statistics; (d) on a program of field visits to obtain the latest data available in Arab States; (e) in exchanging statistical information and data; (f) in the

preparation of programs and studies; and (g) in the preparatory work for the Regional Conference on Environment and Development in the Arab World, to be held in February 1991.

19. The Arab Labor Organization (ALO) and ESCWA will continue co-operation in the following fields: migration; employment and manpower planning; statistical data base; development of social statistics; technical promotion of administrative units concerned with manpower in Arab countries; vocational training; documentation; and environment.

United Nations Center for Human Settlements (Habitat)

20. The meeting recommended that UNCHS (Habitat) should co-operate with LAS: (a) in convening a regional conference of Arab States to study the nature of the exchange of information and experience with regard to national shelter strategies and to monitor the Global Strategy for Shelter to the Year 2000; (b) in seminars organized by the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing; (c) in developing questionnaires to obtain information and statistics relating to development of the housing sector in Arab States; and (d) in utilizing training programs and sessions organized by the Center. It was further recommended that the two sides should exchange publications and periodicals issued by them and, whenever possible, that the Center should translate its documents and publications into Arabic.

International Labor Organization

21. The following were identified as priority areas for co-operation between ILO and ALO:

(a) Exchange of information and training materials, especially in the Arabic language, and increasing and expanding the publication of documents of seminars in the Arabic language;

(b) Co-ordination in the execution of joint projects in the following fields:

  (i) Promotion of employment;

 (ii) International migration;

(iii) Training and vocational rehabilitation;

 (iv) Health and vocational safety;

(c) Follow-up of subjects related to employment and creation of new work opportunities in the Arab region and study of the usefulness of the International Employment Program.

22. With respect to technical co-operation for the Arabs in the occupied territories, ALO would like ILO to undertake a technical assistance program for the people as defined by the Director-General in his report to the Seventy-seventh International Labor Conference in 1990 and in particular the following: vocational training; trade-union training; and rehabilitation of handicapped persons. ALO would also like ILO to participate actively in the efforts to elaborate programs in favor of the Palestinian people of the occupied territories.

World Bank and International Monetary Fund

23. The World Bank and IMF will co-operate with LAS: (a) in the utilization of training sessions organized by IMF and the Bank; and (b) in providing the General Secretariat of LAS with studies, research papers, periodicals and regular bulletins dealing with international economic problems and the state of the world economy.

International Maritime Organization

24. IMO will co-operate with LAS: (a) in the revitalization of activities under the co-operation agreement concluded between them in 1984; (b) in implementing certain projects relating to transport in Arab countries approved by the Arab Ministers of Transport; and (c) in the utilization of IMO expertise in the field of transport and the development of marine-navigation and communications technology,

and security and safety equipment.

United Nations Industrial Development Organization

25. The Industrial Development Board of UNIDO has decided (decision IDS6/Dec/2) to co-operate with LAS in the following priority areas: agro-industries and agro-based industries; development of human resources; development of technological functions and capacities; industrial rehabilitation; engineering consulting and industrial information; building materials and tools industry; and metallurgical and petrochemical industries. The implementation of the programs will be discussed bilaterally with the relevant body and/or department of the LAS organization.

26. The special program will be financed initially through the redeployment of resources within the regular budget and be supported by the Industrial Development Fund (IDF), trust funds and other sources of funds.

D. Social affairs

27. The meeting noted that the Department of Social Affairs of LAS hoped that it could develop co-operation with the United Nations system in the following areas: (a) preparation of a framework for the planning, follow-up and development of co-operation, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 39/9 of

8 November 1984; (b) preparation of a feasibility study on the establishment of an Arab center for social studies and training, in accordance with the resolution adopted at the joint sectoral meeting on social development, held at Amman in 1985; (c) implementation of measures to set up a regional social development training program for the benefit of Arab States; (d) the convening by the General Secretariat of LAS and its specialized organizations, together with the United Nations and its related agencies, of two seminars on social development entitled "Social work productivity programs in the Arab world" and "Methods of assessing social projects"; (e) improvement of technical capacities with respect to basic requirements for the development of rural areas of the Arab world, and investigation of the extent to which a specific project in that connection might be developed through co-operation; (f) establishment of special departments to assist the Palestinian people, to monitor the situation of the Palestinian people and to work towards the adoption of accelerated programs to improve their condition in the occupied territories; (g) preparation of reports on the activities and programs of the special departments in the Arab region on a periodic and regular basis, in accordance with their respective fields of specialization; and (h) taking steps to confirm the necessary agreements and memoranda of understanding, to formalize their relationship and assure regular consultations, contacts and meetings.

Health development

28. The meeting invited the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Health Ministers and the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Bureau of the World Health

Organization (WHO) to co-ordinate and unite their efforts to implement health programs serving the Arab region and to emphasize the need to establish an overall framework for co-operation between the two sides in the form of a memorandum of understanding and co-operation. Such a memorandum would include health programs, plans for their execution and joint funding for their implementation, particularly in the following fields:

(a) Arab medicaments: by supporting steps to establish an Arab strategy for the pharmaceutical industry and development of aspects of Arab medicaments such as manufacturing, marketing, monitoring, quality control, importation and so on, with a view to achieving self-sufficiency in medicines for the Arab world;

(b) Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): by uniting the efforts of the Council of Arab Health Ministers and WHO to combat the disease, with support from WHO in the form of health education programs to prevent AIDS in the Arab region;

(c) Development of blood transfusion services: by complementing the efforts of the Council of Arab Health Ministers to set up a network of information on the situation of blood transfusion services in the Arab world, together with co-operation between the two sides in support of the Arab world's blood-derivative industry;

(d) Arabization of medical and health training: the two sides endorsed steps taken by them to promote the arabization of medical and health training in the Arab world, and affirmed the need to support the Arab Center for Health Documents and Periodicals and the Arab Council for Medical Specializations of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, in order to enable both bodies to perform their role in this strategic sphere;

(e) The meeting invited WHO to carry out surveys evaluating the health situation in the Arab world and to co-ordinate with the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Health Ministers in the preparation of health development plans, and to include the training of health personnel, in conformity with the objective of Health for All by the Year 2000.

29. WHO, in co-operation with LAS, is to ensure, as a fundamental human right, that the Palestinian people enjoy the best possible standard of health, as well as to improve the health condition of Palestinian people in the occupied Arab territories, and to provide health protection to those people. It will also:

(a) Step up its efforts to implement the special technical assistance program for improvement of the health conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Arab territories and endeavor to secure the necessary funds for that program;

(b) Support and develop the organizational health unit for the Palestinian people that was established at WHO headquarters and draw up a comprehensive health plan for the Palestinian people in co-operation with Palestine;

(c) Take the steps and initiatives required to implement resolutions of WHO concerning the health conditions of the Arab population of the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine.

Population

30. The meeting took note that the Population Research and Studies Unit had been conducting a number of research activities, convening intellectual encounters on population issues and establishing a modern population data base in accordance with international standards. This activity is governed by an agreement between LAS and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which will remain in force up to 1992; and by the Arab Project for the Advancement of Children, which is a survey designed to determine the economic, social and medical reasons for deaths among infants and children. Participating organizations, namely, UNFPA, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), WHO, the Department of Technical Co-operation for Development of the United Nations Secretariat, the United Nations Statistical Office and LAS and its pertinent organizations and Ministerial Council, should be invited to maintain their support for the project, in order that it may be extended to all countries of the Arab world.

31. Studies and seminars on the situation of Arab migrants in Europe should be organized in the context of the current changes in Eastern Europe prior to the establishment of European unity in 1992. The General Secretariat of LAS, ILO, UNFPA, ESCWA, the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization

(ALECSO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) should be invited to implement such programs.

The family and 1994 as the International Year of the Family

32. In preparation for the commemoration of the International Year of the Family in 1994 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 44/82 of 8 December 1989, efforts should be instituted to draw up programs to be implemented through co-operation between LAS and its specialized organizations and councils on the one hand, and the United Nations and its pertinent agencies on the other. Such programs would concentrate on the following four major themes: eradication of both conventional and cultural illiteracy; information and education on health matters; development of productivity programs to be conducted by women; and addressing the results of disasters and catastrophes affecting the situation of women and children.

Women

33. The United Nations system and LAS should: (a) endeavor to implement recommendations adopted by the Conference on Socio-economic Challenges for the 1990s: Arab Women's Contribution to Development (Cairo, 20-23 May 1990), which was convened by UNDP and co-sponsored by the General Secretariat of LAS and ESCWA with a view to integrating Arab women into the development process; and (b) endeavor to implement the recommendations of the Seminar on Women and Environment, held in co-operation between LAS and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

34. The General Secretariat of LAS, UNDP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) should hold a seminar on the role of Arab women in the development of home economics and social education, with the participation of UNESCO and ALECSO.

Children

35. The General Secretariat of LAS and UNICEF should continue to implement current programs conducted by UNICEF in areas such as health, education and clean water supplies, as well as on joint activities such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, dissemination of that Convention's principles and the World Summit for Children and its related declaration and plan of action.

36. LAS, UNICEF, WHO, the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator (UNDRO), UNESCO and ESCWA should devote attention to the education, health and environmental protection of Arab children, their protection in conditions of stress and danger, and encouragement of peace-loving attitudes among them.

Youth

37. LAS and UNEP should take appropriate action to convene a study seminar in preparation for the formulation of a plan to encourage youth organizations to solve environmental pollution problems.

38. The General Secretariat of LAS, UNESCO, FAO and the United Nations Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs should endeavor to implement the Arab youth farm project in its developmental, scientific and cultural aspects.

Narcotic drugs

39. It was recommended that the United Nations agencies concerned and LAS co-operate in the following areas: (a) in combating and preventing abuse of narcotic drugs and halting their rapid propagation and distribution in countries and communities; in drawing up a joint strategy with a view to curbing this dangerous phenomenon of narcotic drugs as it continues to spread, taking advantage of developments in technology; (b) in improving the standards of personnel working on aspects of combating and preventing drug abuse by means of periodic courses, seminars and joint encounters; (c) in providing aid and assistance to poor countries that depend economically and financially on the cultivation of hashish, with a view to enabling those countries to replace such cultivation by other crops that yield material benefits for their peoples; (d) in censuring and punishing those States which aid the smuggling and propagation of this scourge, particularly those which try to weaken the work-forces of different peoples and to paralyze those populations' intellectual capacities by converting creative individuals into weak and debilitated beings; (e) in intensifying and co-ordinating efforts to exchange information and devoting attention to the issue of surrendering criminals and drug traffickers to States in accordance with bilateral or multilateral agreements; and (f) in organizing a seminar on the role of youth in the war against drugs.

Disasters

40. UNDRO agreed to co-operate with LAS: (a) in the exchange of information and contacts and the conduct of a survey on the likelihood of disasters occurring in the Arab world in the light of the circumstances and conditions of each country; Arab States should meanwhile provide UNDRO with the information and data required to complete the survey; (b) in providing assistance to Arab States for the formulation of national plans for relief and response to disasters as they occur, together with the creation of relief bodies that would be prepared and ready to act in the event of such an occurrence; and (c) in the formulation of a regional training program for the Arab world to develop the capacities and enhance the competence of personnel doing relief work.

Internal migration

41. The meeting recognized the need for co-operation between LAS and its organizations and the United Nations and its agencies for the purpose of addressing the adverse impact of internal migration problems and reducing its effects on future migrant communities. Under present conditions, this phenomenon inflates the populations of cities and gives rise to random housing developments and belts of poverty, which urgently require health, education and accommodation services.

Special categories

42. A joint endeavor should be made by Arab and international organizations with respect to the disabled, the elderly and the homeless, to provide the assistance and services required to improve their conditions and integrate them into the development process.

E. Education, science. culture and information

Education

43. It was agreed that the United Nations agencies concerned and LAS would endeavor to:

(a) Organize a regional ministerial conference on education (MINEDARAB) in January 1991 (UNESCO/ALECSO);

(b) Organize International Literacy Year (UNESCO/UNICEF/ALECSO);

(c) Implement action on the recommendations of the World Conference on Education for All (UNESCO/UNICEF/ALECSO);

(d) Undertake production of instructional computer programs in Arabic for dissemination to Arab States (ALECSO/UNESCO);

(e) Organize a training course for key Arab personnel working on educational techniques relevant to planning, administration and production (ALECSO/UNESCO);

(f) Exchange information on programs, audio-visual and broadcasting materials and publications relevant to aspects of education and science directed to benefit children and mothers for a better life (ALECSO/UNEP/UNESCO/UNICEF/LAS Department of Social Affairs);

(g) Establish a television studio at ALECSO headquarters for the production of education programs (ALECSO/UNICEF/UNESCO/UNDP).

Education of Palestinians

44. It was recommended that co-operation between the United Nations agencies concerned and LAS should be developed in the following areas:

 (a) Education for students in the occupied Arab territories, through the use of television and radio programs, owing to closures of schools and universities (ALECSO/United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)/UNICEF/UNESCO/LAS Department of Palestine Affairs);

(b) Examination of the difficulties and problems arising from the use of Arabic textbooks in schools of the occupied Arab territories and of finding adequate solutions (UNRWA/ALECSO/UNESCO/LAS Department of Palestine Affairs).

Environmental education

45. The United Nations system and LAS agreed to co-operate in the field of environmental education and public awareness (LAS Department of Economic Affairs/ALECSO/UNEP/UNESCO) and increase co-operation with regard to environmental education for Arab women and children (ALECSO/LAS Department of Social Affairs/UNEP/UNESCO/UNICEF).

Science

46. The United Nations agencies and LAS agreed to co-operate in:

(a) Development of inter-Arab co-operation in the field of biotechnology (UNESCO/ALECSO/UNEP/UNDP/UNIDO/Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD)/Arab Council of Scientific Research and other international/regional intergovernmental organizations);

(b) Development of inter-Arab co-operation in the field of protection of the Mediterranean environment (UNESCO/ALECSO/UNEP/Arab Center for the Study of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD);

(c) Development of inter-Arab co-operation in the field of informatics (ALECSO/UNDP/UNESCO);

(d) Organization of the Second Conference of Arab Ministers of Scientific Research (ALECSO/UNESCO);

(e) Translation of English for global dissemination of the science strategy published in Arabic by ALECSO (ALECSO/UNESCO);

(f) Reduction of earthquake risk related to the Arab region (ALECSO/UNDRO/UNESCO);

(g) Training and research with the United Nations University (UNESCO/ALECSO/LAS Department of Social Affairs);

(h) Training and publication of scientific documentation in the field of hydrology (UNESCO/ACSAD);

  (i) Regional conservation strategy (including presentation of nature and human life, ecological studies, use of natural resources of energy) (ALECSO/ACSAD/Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD)/LAS Department of Economic Affairs).

Culture

47. The United Nations system and LAS decided to co-operate in the:

(a) Framework of the World Decade for Cultural Development, particularly the project "ARABIA" (UNESCO/ALECSO);

(b) Development of inter-Arab co-operation for wide use and dissemination of the Global Plan of the Arab Culture" published by ALECSO (ALECSO/UNESCO);

(c) Enforcement of the work already initiated for the cultural identity of the Palestinian people (UNESCO/ALECSO/LAS);

(d) Development of inter-Arab co-operation for the preservation of the Islamic cultural heritage of Jerusalem (ALECSO/UNESCO/LAS);

(e) Exchange of experiences and training in workshops in the field of copyright (UNESCO/ALECSO/World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)).

Information

48. It has been agreed that:

(a) The United Nations information centers and LAS will co-ordinate in the exchange of information and documentation related to the Palestinian issue and the situation of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation;

(b) The concerned agencies will make efforts to sensitize international public opinion to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, especially its rights to self-determination and independence;

(c) The agencies concerned will participate in meetings commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

F.  Communications

United Nations Environment Program

49. UNEP will continue co-operation (a) in the struggle against desertification in the Arab States; (b) on industrial pollution in the Arab States in collaboration with the Arab Organization for Industrial Development; (c) in the field of environmental education and public awareness in collaboration with ALECSO; (d) in preparing for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development to be held in 1992 in co-operation with ESCWA; and (e) in the establishment of a regional committee of the Arab Development Institution on Environment called for by the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environment at its second session at Cairo in October 1989.

International Civil Aviation Organization

50. ICAO will continue to co-operate with LAS in promoting the safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation. ICAO wishes to maintain a close working relationship with LAS on matters of mutual concern through invitations to relevant meetings, participation in workshops and seminars, and exchange of documentation, and through correspondence and discussion. The ICAO Representative for the Middle East would contact the LAS secretariat for Economic Affairs at an early date to review matters of common interest relating to air transport. These would include: (a) review of matters of air transport policy, such as ICAO studies and guidance to States on international air transport regulation and tariffs, economic forecasting and planning and airport and route facility management; and (b) discussion on assistance to States in the provision of air navigation facilities and services and in the training of civil aviation personnel.

Universal Postal Union

51. UPU will provide technical assistance to the Arab Postal Academy at Damascus.

International Telecommunication Union

52. The meeting also called for:

(a) The strengthening of co-operation between the LAS secretariat and the UNDP/ITU MODARABTEL project RAB/89/001, in order to speed up implementation for the benefit of Arab member States;

(b) The organization of a yearly co-ordination meeting at the headquarters of LAS, between the concerned secretariat department of LAS and its specialized organizations, namely, the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), the Arab Satellite Communication Organization (ARABSAT) and any other concerned Arab regional secretariat, and the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) secretariat in order to discuss all joint matters related to the development of the telecommunication sector in the Arab world, and to propose joint actions. The first of such meetings could take place before the end of this year;

(c) The participation of the LAS secretariat in the ITU regional telecommunication development conferences. The first of such conferences for the African continent will take place at Harare in December 1990.

World Meteorological Organization

53. WMO will provide technical assistance to Arab weather observation stations to help them in developing their installations and upgrading their facilities.

54. WMO invited LAS and its specialized organizations, in particular the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), ACSAD and ALECSO, to contribute to and co-operate with WMO and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in the establishment of the African Center for meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), which will contribute to the social and economic development of, inter alia, the Arab countries in Africa.

55. WMO expressed readiness to continue its technical assistance under its Voluntary Co-operation Program and its regular budget to its Arab member countries during the LAS two-year program of action, and to provide short-term expert services, spare parts, and short- and long-term fellowships in meteorology and operational hydrology.

56. It was recommended that the WMO Regional Meteorological Training Centers at Cairo and Baghdad be strengthened to provide for the education and training of national personnel in the Arab countries and for the transfer of new technologies and know-how in meteorology and operational hydrology.

57. The national meteorological and hydrological services in Arab countries would be strengthened to provide the necessary data and information for socio-economic development projects and for the effective monitoring of climatic changes and the protection of the atmospheric environment.

58. WMO invited AMF and other Arab development funds to contribute to the implementation of WMO activities and projects in Arab countries, in particular in participating in the joint funding of fellowships in meteorology and operational hydrology.

G.  Other areas of co-operation

1.  Co-operation between the Arab Monetary Fund and specialized  agencies of the United Nations system

(a) The Arab Monetary Fund and the United Nations Development Program

59. Co-operation between AMF and UNDP has been concentrated primarily in three areas in the recent past. The following is a brief description of the areas of co-operation, an evaluation of the accomplishment and some proposals for the future direction and strengthening of this collaboration.

Inter-Arab trade

60. UNDP has made available $US 100,000 to AMF as a contribution to its ongoing studies on the promotion of intra-Arab trade. This has enabled AMF to study and draw on experiences of other regions in expanding trade between its member countries.

61. As a result of these studies, the Arab Trade Financing Program (ATFP) was finally formally established in April 1989. The legal establishment of the program concluded the first phase of this project between UNDP and AMF.

62. The second phase of the program between UNDP and AMF represents assistance to AMF in establishing the working and technical procedures for the lending operation of the program. UNDP has agreed that any funds remaining from the $US 100,000 authorized for this program may be used for the preparation of the various operational manuals that would be needed for training both the newly appointed staff of the program and the staff of the national agencies engaged in export and import activities in member countries. UNDP has suggested that AMF work out a detailed program with such agencies as ITC and UNCTAD for the preparation of such manuals, as well as the design and implementation of data systems and the assignment of studies required for setting up policies and procedures in the medium term, e.g. supply and demand studies of intra-Arab trade. UNDP would consider further financial and technical aid to the program on completion of the current intensive discussions with ITC and UNCTAD.

63. LAS hopes that UNDP will continue its assistance to ATFP until it begins its operation in the near future and thereby contribute to the realization of at least some of the vast potential of trade between Arab countries, which at present goes unnoticed and unfulfilled.

Training of government officials

64. AMF has created, on the basis of an extensive study carried out by a mission from AMF, the World Bank and IMF to the Arab countries, an economic policy institute designed to fill the gap in regional economic analysis and collaboration and become a center of excellence for applied economic research.

65. Apart from certain training courses, the AMF Economic Policy Institute (EPI) carries out applied research and organizes, at least once a year, a high-level seminar on a topic of particular significance to the region. Participation in these seminars is by invitation and they are usually organized together with institutions with similar interests, such as AFESD, IMF and the World Bank. UNDP sponsored, together with those agencies and the AMF/EPI, a seminar on the role of the public and private sectors in structural adjustments, which was held at AMF headquarters at Abu Dhabi in December 1988.

66. LAS recommended that this fruitful relationship between EPI and UNDP be maintained and enlarged. One possibility is that regional courses for some of the poorer countries of the region, e.g. Djibouti, Somalia, the Sudan and Yemen could be prepared in collaboration with UNDP and with funding from them. Their needs are vast, especially for building up statistical data and analytical competence while their resources, as is well known, are very limited. The League recommended that AMF and UNDP contact each other to study ways and means of strengthening their collaboration in the training area.

The Arab Monetary Fund as an executing agency of the United Nations Development Program

67. The meeting took note of the approaches between AMF and UNDP concerning this issue. It saw merit in reaching, as soon as possible, an agreement similar to that already concluded between UNDP and IMF.

Other Projects

68. The meeting also recommended that contact be maintained with AMF and UNDP in order to establish ways and means of exchanging information on technical assistance needs and technical expertise available for service in member countries of AMF in areas of AMF competence. In this connection, the meeting urged UNDP to expand INRES-SOUTH data to include as soon as possible a larger number of Arabic-speaking experts in the economic and financial fields.

(b) The Arab Monetary Fund and the International Monetary Fund

69. The collaboration between AMF and IMF includes:

(a) IMF regular assistance to the AMF Economic Policy Institute. IMF also co-sponsors with AMF some of the high-level seminars mentioned earlier;

(b) AMF and IMF also exchange information on member countries and have an agreement to undertake joint technical assistance missions to member countries of the two institutions if they so desire.

(c) The Arab Monetary Fund and the World Bank

70. AMF is currently collaborating with the World Bank on two important projects. AMF has designed, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, a program for the development of capital markets in member countries of AMF (initially 10 member countries). An important element of this program is the building up of a data base along the lines of the IFC Emerging Markets Data Base. This project has now advanced to the point of identifying correspondents in AMF member countries (usually bourses) and organizing courses for their staff on compilation and transmission of data to AMF for aggregation and analysis and then inclusion in the IFC world data base on capital markets.

71. The meeting noted that IFC provides its services on a full reimbursement basis and recommended that UNDP consider some financial assistance to this particular project of the development capital markets in Arab countries.

72. Another project is a joint study of external indebtedness of AMF member countries. Thirteen member countries of AMF have agreed to collaborate in undertaking the study. AMF and the World Bank will meet the cost of their own staff involved in the study. There is a need for financing to meet the cost of outside or international experts. Perhaps UNDP could be involved in this and in the organization of subsequent seminars or forums for discussing the findings of these studies.

73. The World Bank also co-sponsors some of the EPI seminars and contributes lectures to its regular courses. This is done through World Bank's Economic

Development Institute.

2. Department of Technical Co-operation for Development

74. Taking into consideration the existence of high-level Arab expertise in all technical fields, as well as the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Governing Council of UNDP that call for increased numbers of experts from the developing countries to serve in United Nations programs of technical assistance, the meeting:

(a) Called upon the United Nations and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to increase the number of Arab experts and consultants in technical assistance programs;

(b) Called upon the Arab States to establish national recruitment services responsible for the search for Arab experts and nominating them for service with the United Nations and the specialized agencies;

(c) Called upon the United Nations and the specialized agencies to present LAS annually with data on the number of Arab experts who have been used for service in other developing countries;

(e) Called upon LAS and the Arab States to participate in the meeting of national recruitment services to be held at Bangkok from 24 to 28 September 1990 under the auspices of the Department of Technical Co-operation for Development, which will be attended by representatives of the specialized agencies of the United Nations system and will discuss all issues that concern the recruitment of international experts.

3. World Intellectual Property Organization

75. The principal objectives of co-operation between WIPO and LAS are the development of human resources, the establishment of reliable and efficient infrastructures (administrative, legal, etc.) and the promotion of awareness of the benefits that the intellectual property systems can bring to the Arab countries.

76. WIPO, as in the past, will continue to organize regular national, sub-regional and regional training courses, seminars and workshops on various aspects of intellectual property. Special attention will be paid as in the past to the training of national experts and their widest use in the technical assistance and development co-operation activities in the region.

77. Special projects of WIPO undertaken jointly with LAS or its specialized organizations concern the establishment of the Patent Information and Documentation Unit within the Federation of the Arab Scientific Research Councils (FASRC), assistance in the translation of the International Patent Classification (IPC) into Arabic, and the formulation of proposals for the establishment of regional co-operation in the field of industrial property.

H. Other recommendations

Lebanon

78. LAS expressed its concern regarding the need to contribute to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Lebanon. The relentless efforts of the United Nations through UNDRO to mobilize emerging relief assistance to Lebanon were noted with satisfaction, as well as the role that UNDP is trying to maintain, despite the difficult situation, in support of rehabilitation and reconstruction. Emphasis was equally placed on the role of all other United Nations agencies in fulfilling their respective mandates in Lebanon, encouraging them to implement all the programs that will help in the reconstruction of the country. This process was seen as a necessary contribution towards the restoration of lasting peace in Lebanon.

General meeting in 1992

79. The meeting accepted with appreciation an invitation extended on behalf of the Executive Secretary of ESCWA to hold the next general meeting between representatives of the United Nations system and of LAS and its specialized organizations at ESCWA headquarters. The date of the meeting will be decided after consultations between the two organizations. The meeting of the sectoral co-ordinators will be held in 1991.

80. The meeting recommended that sectoral consultations on progress achieved and on future joint proposals be initiated by lead agencies and/or nominated focal, points sufficiently in advance prior to convening the next joint meeting.

Designation of focal Points

81. It was agreed that each organization/specialized agency designate a focal point (person and/or division) for contacts with the co-operating counterpart organs of the LAS organizations or the specialized agencies of the United Nations system.

Exchange of work plan

82. It was agreed that the co-operating organizations in both the United Nations system and LAS would exchange their work plan annually as well as biannually.

Avoiding duplication and/or overlapping

83. It was agreed that special efforts would be made by the co-operating organizations to avoid duplication and overlapping and ultimately make better use of the scarce resources available.

ANNEX I

Documents distributed at the meeting

ANNEX II

Participants in the meeting

1. Representatives of the following departments and offices of the United Nations as well as of specialized agencies and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system participated in the meeting: Department for Special Political Questions, Regional Co-operation, Decolonization and Trusteeship, Department of International Economic and Social Affairs, Department of Technical Co-operation for Development, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations University (UNU), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), United Nations Center for Human Settlements (Habitat), Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator (UNDRO), World Food Program (WFP), International Labor Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), World Health Organization (WHO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

2. Representatives of the following departments and organizations of the League of Arab States (LAS) participated in the meeting: General Department of Political and International Affairs, General Department of International Economic Relations, General Department of Social Affairs, Department of Palestine, Department of Health, Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), Arab Center for the Study of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), Arab Labor Organization (ALO), Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) and Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC).

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