Mideast situation/Palestine refugees – Economic Survey Mission for the Middle East final report signed – Press release

UNITED NATIONS

Department of Public Information

Press and Publications Bureau

Lake Success, New York

Press Release PAL/543

19 December 1949

FINAL REPORT OF ECONOMIC SURVEY MISSION SIGNED IN PARIS

(The following was received at UN Headquarters from the Press Officer with the

UN Economic Survey Mission for the Middle East in Paris.)

The second and final report of the Economic Survey Mission for the Middle East was signed on the afternoon of 18 December in Paris.  The report recommends long range pilot projects for Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in order to strengthen their local economies and assist them to start further economic development.

The report was signed yesterday by the Commission's Chief, Gordon R. Clapp (US), and its three Vice-Chairmen, Eric Labonne (France) , Cemil Gokcen (Turkey) and Sir Desmond Morton (UK).  It is being forwarded immediately to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

This is the second phase of the Economic Survey Mission's task, and it was completed following three months of extensive survey and consultations with the Middle Eastern governments concerned.  The Mission's first report dealt with a program of temporary works for Palestine refugees being gradually taken off relief and put in a position to become independent of direct United Nations relief.  The General Assembly has already approved a resolution (Doc. A/1237), based upon the first report of the Economic Survey Mission, establishing the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East .

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