Opening of the 30th Session of COI
Election of new Chair - Andreas Baum (Switzerland)
Election of Vice-Chairman – Javier Rose (Angola)
Provisional Agenda (A/AC.198/2008/1)
Report of SG on Activities of the Department of Public Information (A/Ac.198/2008/1 and A/AC.198/2008/2)
• Before the start of the General Debate the Representative for G77 and China made a statement requesting postponement of consideration of the DPI Strategic Framework for 2010-2011 until the next session. This was supported by France.
• Unanimously decided that consideration of the DPI Strategic Framework for 2010-2011 will be postponed until the 31st session in 2009.
The Work Programme was approved.
The agenda was adopted.
Statement was made by the Chairman - Mr. Andreas Baum (Switzerland)
(Full statement on the web site: http://www.un.org/ga/coi/30/chairman.shtml)
Statement by Kiyotaka Akasaka
(Full statement on the Web site: http://www.un.org/ga/coi/30/usg.shtml)
• Kiyo’s statement included mention of a number of Outreach Division projects, including: the Holocaust remembrance and events concerning the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Slave Trade;
• He noted that the Department is seeking to create a global model UN;
• He cited efforts to improve multilingualism in DPI outputs;
• Kiyo noted projects of DPI that are focused on the 60th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, including the Library’s digitization of the early documentation that lead up to the Declaration and the focus of the annual DPI/ NGO Conference with the theme” Reaffirming Human Rights: the Universal Declaration at 60”;
• The work of the department in engaging young people and noted the work of the UN Works programme and Cyberschoolbus in this area.
He mentioned the proposal for a new journal “UN Affairs” that would replace the UN Chronicle.
Kiyo's statement also noted the budgetary issues that we are facing, that DPI’s appropriation is $3 Million below the proposed budget for this biennium.
Also cited were the challenges that the CMP will bring for the department, especially in those areas that provide direct services to the public.
The General debate was opened and the following were scheduled to make statements:
• Antigua and Barbuda (for G77 and China)
• France (for EU)
• Mexico
• Algeria
• Philippines
• Syria
A constant theme of the statements was the need for parity among languages and multilingualism. Only when statements specifically mentioned OD projects or concerns is it noted below. These statements have in the past been posted on the web site of the COI by the end of the day. http://www.un.org/ga/coi
Antigua and Barbuda (for G77 and China)
Takes note of the “proposal on renaming the Library and making the services o the DHL more relevant to the needs of Member States and more accessible to users. Noted that any process to change the name and methods of operation of the United Nations Libraries should continue to respect the previously agreed mandates and General Assembly resolutions relevant to libraries, and be subject to prior intergovernmental discussion and agreement. Furthermore the G77 and China urges that the application of technological innovations for the provision of Library Services takes into account the physical and other challenges faced by Member States in being able to effectively utilize such technology.”
France (for EU )
• Noted partnerships with civil society and especially with youth.
• Cited Multilingualism as a priority
• Set a priority on the need for a shorter more targeted resolution
Mexico (RIO group)
• Noted the need for close cooperation between DPI and DPKO
• The need for language parity was a strong them in this statement, including calls for webcasts in all languages and Spanish press releases.
•
Algeria (aligns with G77)
- Additional efforts on “unlearning intolerance” called for - including an inter-faith dialogue to bring together a debate among all sectors in promoting this debate.
Philippines (aligned with G77)
Notes A/RES/62/90 creating in DESA an office on inter-religious and intercultural matters and looks for cooperation of DPI in these efforts.
Welcomes the holding of the 60th annual NGO conference on Climate change
Messenger of peace programme a laudable endeavor and would like to see more regional advocates.
Syria (for Arab Group)
Nothing was said about OD programmes.
LW, 28 April 2008
Election of new Chair - Andreas Baum (Switzerland)
Election of Vice-Chairman – Javier Rose (Angola)
Provisional Agenda (A/AC.198/2008/1)
Report of SG on Activities of the Department of Public Information (A/Ac.198/2008/1 and A/AC.198/2008/2)
• Before the start of the General Debate the Representative for G77 and China made a statement requesting postponement of consideration of the DPI Strategic Framework for 2010-2011 until the next session. This was supported by France.
• Unanimously decided that consideration of the DPI Strategic Framework for 2010-2011 will be postponed until the 31st session in 2009.
The Work Programme was approved.
The agenda was adopted.
Statement was made by the Chairman - Mr. Andreas Baum (Switzerland)
(Full statement on the web site: http://www.un.org/ga/coi/30/chairman.shtml)
Statement by Kiyotaka Akasaka
(Full statement on the Web site: http://www.un.org/ga/coi/30/usg.shtml)
• Kiyo’s statement included mention of a number of Outreach Division projects, including: the Holocaust remembrance and events concerning the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Slave Trade;
• He noted that the Department is seeking to create a global model UN;
• He cited efforts to improve multilingualism in DPI outputs;
• Kiyo noted projects of DPI that are focused on the 60th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, including the Library’s digitization of the early documentation that lead up to the Declaration and the focus of the annual DPI/ NGO Conference with the theme” Reaffirming Human Rights: the Universal Declaration at 60”;
• The work of the department in engaging young people and noted the work of the UN Works programme and Cyberschoolbus in this area.
He mentioned the proposal for a new journal “UN Affairs” that would replace the UN Chronicle.
Kiyo's statement also noted the budgetary issues that we are facing, that DPI’s appropriation is $3 Million below the proposed budget for this biennium.
Also cited were the challenges that the CMP will bring for the department, especially in those areas that provide direct services to the public.
The General debate was opened and the following were scheduled to make statements:
• Antigua and Barbuda (for G77 and China)
• France (for EU)
• Mexico
• Algeria
• Philippines
• Syria
A constant theme of the statements was the need for parity among languages and multilingualism. Only when statements specifically mentioned OD projects or concerns is it noted below. These statements have in the past been posted on the web site of the COI by the end of the day. http://www.un.org/ga/coi
Antigua and Barbuda (for G77 and China)
Takes note of the “proposal on renaming the Library and making the services o the DHL more relevant to the needs of Member States and more accessible to users. Noted that any process to change the name and methods of operation of the United Nations Libraries should continue to respect the previously agreed mandates and General Assembly resolutions relevant to libraries, and be subject to prior intergovernmental discussion and agreement. Furthermore the G77 and China urges that the application of technological innovations for the provision of Library Services takes into account the physical and other challenges faced by Member States in being able to effectively utilize such technology.”
France (for EU )
• Noted partnerships with civil society and especially with youth.
• Cited Multilingualism as a priority
• Set a priority on the need for a shorter more targeted resolution
Mexico (RIO group)
• Noted the need for close cooperation between DPI and DPKO
• The need for language parity was a strong them in this statement, including calls for webcasts in all languages and Spanish press releases.
•
Algeria (aligns with G77)
- Additional efforts on “unlearning intolerance” called for - including an inter-faith dialogue to bring together a debate among all sectors in promoting this debate.
Philippines (aligned with G77)
Notes A/RES/62/90 creating in DESA an office on inter-religious and intercultural matters and looks for cooperation of DPI in these efforts.
Welcomes the holding of the 60th annual NGO conference on Climate change
Messenger of peace programme a laudable endeavor and would like to see more regional advocates.
Syria (for Arab Group)
Nothing was said about OD programmes.
LW, 28 April 2008
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