 |
|
Five Draft Decisions adopted by the PrepCom
 |
|
PrepCom Chair Elim Salim (Indonesia) gavels the first Preparatory
Session to a close
|
The
tenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-10),
acting as the preparatory committee (PrepCom) for the World Summit
on Sustainable Development, took place at UN Headquarters in New
York from 30 April to 2 May 2001. Over 600 participants attended
the session, including representatives of governments, intergovernmental
agencies, NGOs and other major groups and stakeholders. The preparatory
session (PrepSess-1) was held in accordance with UN General Assembly
(GA) resolution 55/199. During the session, delegates met in Plenary
and informal consultations to draft the decisions of the session,
as well as in informal-informals to negotiate outstanding issues.
The session elected the Bureau members, considered organizational
matters and deliberated on five agenda items: progress in the preparatory
activities at the local, national, regional and international levels,
as well as by major groups; the process for setting the agenda and
determining possible main themes for the Summit; specific modalities
for future preparatory meetings, including matters of accreditation
for NGOs; and the rules of procedure for the preparatory sessions
and the Summit. The session prepared and adopted five draft decisions.
Although there was little contention over most issues, there was
some debate regarding the number of Vice-Presidents at the Summit,
the timing for reporting back to the PrepCom by UNEP's task force
on International Environmental Governance (IEG), input to the review
by major groups and other international organizations and the need
for transparent open-ended consultations in the Bureau.
The
Summary issue of PrepCom I will be available on Friday, 4 May
|
|
 * To view PDF files,
you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader:
 * To listen to Real Audio
files, you will need the free Real Audio player:
|
 |
|
The Bureau (left to right): Richard Ballhorn (Canada), Ositadinma
Anaedu (Nigeria), Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti (Brazil), Emil Salim
(Indonesia), Diane Marie Quarless (Jamaica), Lars-Göran Engfeldt
(Sweden), Kiyo Akasaka (Japan), Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin (Egypt), Ex-officio
member Chris Badenhorst (South Africa), and Jan Kara (Czech Republic)
Not pictured: Alexandru Niculescu (Romania)
|
 |
|
In
the morning and after distribution of the draft decisions
incorporating the previous evening's discussion, Chair Salim
announced that the meeting would adjourn and reconvene in
the afternoon so that informals could take place on the outstanding
issues.
|
On
the final day of its work, the Commission on Susely adjourned to
allow time for groups to discuss the remaitainable Development (CSD-10),
acting as the preparatory committee (PrepCom) for the World Summit
on Sustainable Development, received a revised version of the Chairs
Draft Decisions. The morning session immediatning outstanding issues.
At approximately 3:30 pm, the PrepCom reconvened to consider the
Draft Decisions. At approximately 5:00pm, the Closing Plenary adjourned.
The five Decisions were taken by the PrepCom address: Progress in
the preparatory activities at the local, national and international
levels as well as by major groups; Specific modalities of future
sessions of the Preparatory Committee; Tentative organization of
work during the World Summit on Sustainable Development; Rules of
Procedure of the World Summit for Sustainable Development; and Arrangements
for accreditation and participation in the preparatory process and
in the Summit of relevant NGOs and other major groups.
|
|
|
 |
|
The
Bureau has an informal meeting after the adjournment of the morning
session
|
|
|
The
EU coordinates their discussion of the Draft Decisions |
|
Consideration
of draft decisions
|
 |
|
Bureau
members Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin (Egypt) and Diane Marie Quarless
(Jamaica)
|
|
Egypt
supported text stating that other processes should be considered
by the CSD, not integrated into the CSD
|
|
|
 Antigua
and Barbuda said that Egypt was just stating his preference,
not calling for an amendment to the text. Discussions followed
where Egypt
stated that it was indeed calling for an amendment.
Iran,
on behalf of the G77/China supported Egypt, but called
for informal formal consultations to clear up the matter.
|
|
|
Saudi
Arabia and Yemen supported Egypt's preference for CSD
consideration of other intergovernmental processes, not integration.
After the EU
said it could agree to changing the text and brief consultations
among G-77 members, the decision was adopted with the amendments
suggested by Egypt.
|
|
|
Mohammad
Reza Salamat (Iran) and John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda) discuss
the Draft Decision
|
|
|
Regarding Draft Decision 2 on Specific modalities of future sessions
of the PrepCom, Sweden, for the EU, said they could not agree
to holding the second preparatory session at the same time as the
UNEP Global Ministerial Environment Forum.
|
 |
|
|
Brazil
suggested a letter be formally sent to the Governing Council President |
UNEP
said that it would notify the UNEP Governing Council President and
suggest rethinking the dates of the Forum.
|
 |
|
|
Regarding
Decision 5 on arrangements for accreditation and participation, China
changed
references to stakeholders to accredited NGOs. |
Regarding Draft Decision 1, on progress in preparatory activities,
Croatia
added reference to IFAD's Rural Poverty Report 2000.
|
 |
|
|
Bhutan
after the adoption of the decisions |
|
|
| The
dias during the Closing Plenary |
|
Conference
Room 3 during the Closing Plenary
|
|
|
Bolivia
recommended that delegates encourage support from governments at
national and regional levels in order to maintain political momentum.
|
 |
|
In his closing remarks, PrepCom
Chair Emil Salim expressed hope that the cooperative spirit
at the first PrepCom would prevail, and said success in Johannesburg
depends on: the spirit of the meeting; the participation of Heads
of State; and the content of deliberations. |
|
|
| The
Indonesian delegation; PrepCom Chair Elim Salim is in the center |
|
The
South African delegation (left) and ENB writers Alison Ornsby and
Wagaki Mwangi with Himmat Mavi (Malaysia)
|
|
|
Delegates
cannot live without the daily ENB!
|
|
|
The
Secretariat announced that the CSD-9 final decisions were available
and that the energy decision would be available shortly. Please visit |
Richard
Ballhorn, Canada (left), Elizabeth Dowdeswell,former Executive
Director of UNEP (center)
|
|
|
Kimo
Goree, ENB Managing Editor, with PrepCom Chair Emil Salim
|
|
|
|
ENB
writer Wendy Jackson with the Brazilian delegation and Andrei Vasilyev
|
|
Bureau
members Richard Ballhorn (Canada), Jan Kara (Czech Republic) and
Kiyo Akasaka (Japan)
|
|
|
Jan
Kara (Czech Republic), Lars-Göran Engfeldt (Sweden) and Emil Salim
(Indonesia)
|
|
Kiyo
Akasaka (Japan) and Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin (Egypt) and Ositadinma
Anaedu (Nigeria) for Africa
|
|
Diane
Marie Quarless (Jamaica)
|
 |
 |
|
Side
Event: International Conference on Freshwater: A German Contribution
to the World Summit on Sustainable Development
Organized by Government of Germany
|
 |
|
Ms Dagmara Berbalk, Head of Division, National and
International Water Policy, Federal Ministry for the
Environment, Nauture Protection and Nuclear Safety Germany
|
|
Germany
announced the International Conference on Freshwater-"Water-a
key to sustainable development", which will take place from
3-7 December in Bonn Germany. The Conference is intended to contribute
to the 2002 Summit. The aims of the Conference are to review the
progress achieved in the implementation of freshwater related objectives
set out in Agenda 21 (Chapter 18), identify remaining obstacles,
and define necessary actions that contribute to fulfilling the UN
Millennium Declaration. For further information contact the Secretariat
of the International Conference on Freshwater: info@water-2001.de
or visit www.water-2001.de
|
|
Side
Event: Joint Briefing by South African NGOs and Government and the
Secretariat
|
|
Issues
discussed at this briefing included accommodations, site of the
NGO conference center, visas, and other logistical preparations
for the Summit.
|
|
|
|
