From: sehari@iastate.edu (Babak Sehari)
Subject: COUNTRIES DISAGREE OVER VENUE FOR NEW COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Originator: sehari@class1.iastate.edu
Organization: Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 23:09:25 GMT

COUNTRIES DISAGREE OVER VENUE FOR NEW COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

NEW YORK (NOV. 11) IPS - The international community is sharply divided over
the issue of where to set up the Commission on Sustainable Development which
was recommended by the historic U.N. Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in June. 

The two contenders for the venue are New York and Geneva. New York, however,
seems to have an edge over Geneva in a dispute which cuts across North-South
politics and ideological barriers. 

The United States, the European Community (EC) and some Western nations favor
Geneva, while China, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Canada, small island-states and
most of the members of the "Group of 77" developing countries are rooting for
New York. 

The General Assembly is expected to take a final decision on both the
composition of the Commission and its location before mid-December. 

The strongest argument for New York is that virtually all of the 179 U.N.

member-states are represented at the world body's headquarters here, while most
or all of the least developed countries cannot afford full-time presence in
Geneva. 

New York is also favored by the Alliance of Small Island-States, a body that is
collectively concerned about the effects of global warming on the low-lying
nations. 

Commenting on the United States preference for Geneva as the location, one
Third World delegate told IPS that "with less developing nations participating
in the work of the Commission in Geneva, it is obvious Western countries will
have less demands and less problems on their hands." 

Mandated to oversee the implementation of a global environment and development
plan adopted by heads of government in Rio de Janeiro, the Commission is
expected to play a crucial role in resolving some of the growing environmental
problems of Third World nations. 

The 800-page plan, known as "Agenda 21," covers virtually all areas affecting
the relationship between the environment and the economy, and is meant to guide
the action of countries into the 21st century and beyond. 

Ambassador Chew Tai Soo of Singapore said last week that discussions on where
to place the Commission should be guided by one basic principle -- that the
body should be accessible to all states, particularly the smaller developing
nations. Obviously referring to New York, he said the Commission should be
placed where the largest number of countries are already represented. 

Proposing a compromise, Ambassador Javad Zarif of Iran said last week, "As far
as the venue is concerned, we think that the Commission should be located at
the U.N. headquarters in New York, unless a volunteer host country is ready to
bear the costs of facilitating the participation of small states during the
Commission's deliberations." 

The Commission is expected to consist of 53 member-states elected by the U.N.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a period of three years, on the basis
of equitable geographical distribution. A Secretariat is to be set up to
support its activities and facilitate inter-agency coordination. 

Making a case for New York, the CANZ Group -- Australia, Canada, and New
Zealand -- cited three factors that should be considered: good communications
between members of the Commission and the Secretariat and other U.N.
departments and agencies; the ability of all countries to take part the
Commission's meetings and to access its Secretariat; and the costs for the
Secretariat and delegations of servicing meetings in any location. 

Meanwhile, Switzerland last week reiterated its offer to host the Commission in
Geneva. Its formal offer was made in Rio in June and details were spelled out
at a substantive session of ECOSOC a month later. 

The Swiss government has pledged an annual contribution of 1.5 million Swiss
francs to the Secretariat to cover rent and operations costs in Geneva for a
five-year period. The situation is expected to be re-examined on completion of
a planned "Environment House," which would permit all institutions involved in
the environment to be housed under one roof. 

Some non-governmental organization (NGO's) which oppose New York as a location
point to the proximity of Geneva to U.N. agencies and other environment-related
NGOs such as the World Meteorological Organization, the World Conservation
Union, and the WorldWide Fund for Nature. 

NGOs also fear that a Commission based in New York would come under the
political influence of the U.N. Secretariat and the newly re-organized
Department of Economic and Social Development. 



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