ENB:10:33
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WORKING GROUP I
The Chair introduced CRP.4, the report from Amb. Butler"s consultative group on the draft Declaration. Amb. Butler recommended that delegates approve the paper, with the exception of the five reservations. Where agreement could not be reached, Somav¡a sent the text back to the Butler Group.
In paragraph 4 (good governance), delegates accepted the G-77/China proposal to change "sustainable economic and social development" to "social and people-centered sustainable development." Delegates retained the brackets in paragraph 8 (overriding goals of the international community).
IA. CURRENT SOCIAL SITUATION AND REASONS FOR CONVENING THE SUMMIT
Paragraph 15 will be drafted on the basis of the Programme of Action. The G- 77/China proposal focused the second sentence of paragraph 16 (critical situation of Africa and LDCs) on developing countries. In paragraph 17 (support for countries with economies in transition), the G-77/China proposed deleting the introductory "for the same reasons," stating that some reasons for support are not the same in Africa and LDCs, and economies in transition. In paragraph 18 (sources of social distress), the following changes were made to the list of sources: "illicit narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances" reads "illicit drug problems;" "illicit arms trafficking" will be placed after "armed conflict;" and "security" will stand on its own rather than being linked as "peace and security." In paragraph 19 (communicable diseases), delegates accepted the US reference to "HIV/AIDS" rather than simply "AIDS."
B. PRINCIPLES AND GOALS
In paragraph 22 (vision for social development), the G-77/China proposed a reference to the "various values, ethical and cultural backgrounds of people," which reflects Cairo language. The proposal was accepted, pending further reflection by the Holy See. Sub-paragraphs 23(a)-(h) (framework for action) were accepted, with the exception of 23(g) (equitable income distribution). Delegates disagreed on many of the remaining sub-paragraphs. The G- 77/China accepted those sub-paragraphs apart from the reservation to 23(k) (right to self-determination), but the EU called for several changes. The EU replaced "compensate" with "mitigate" in 23(i) (compensating the consequences of disability), but Norway, who had originally proposed the sub-paragraph, objected. In 23(j) (human rights), the EU replaced "social cohesion" with "social integration." The EU called for the deletion of 23(q) (disabled and older persons), which the G-77/China and the US insisted on retaining. In 23(s) (participation of women), the EU replaced "improve" in the reference to women"s participation with "ensure." In 23(t) (return of refugees), the EU, supported by the US, replaced "for the return of" with "to deal with the problems of" and deleted "to their places of permanent residence." Azerbaijan noted that the EU amendments undermined the purpose of the sub-paragraph, which was to create the conditions for the return of refugees. He proposed "to allow them to return to their places of permanent residence or their home of origin." In 23(u) (return of prisoners of war), the EU added a reference to international conventions.
In paragraph 24 (responsibility of the international community), delegates agreed to the EU proposal to replace "remove inequities" among people with the phrase "reduce inequalities." The Russian Federation proposed a reference to countries with economies in transition in the sentence on the widening income gap between developed and developing countries. The G-77/China objected to including new categories of countries. Amb. Butler warned against re-drafting the "finely balanced" text.
The Group then reviewed the bracketed paragraphs together. Paragraph 8 (goals of the international community) was not accepted by the G-77/China. The EU insisted on the reference to "equity" in sub-paragraph 23(g) (equitable income distribution). In 23(k) (right to self-determination), the EU requested that the sub-paragraph reflect Vienna language. Somav¡a announced that the Working Group would not reconvene until Wednesday afternoon to allow the consultative groups of Amb. Razali (Commitments 7, 8, 9 and Chapter V, Implementation and Follow-up) and Amb. Butler (Declaration and Commitments 1 to 6) to continue, and for the regional groups to review their work.
Amb. Ostergaard-Andersen (Denmark) reported that most hotel rooms in Copenhagen have been pre-booked at special rates by DHS Congress Services. Individual arrangements can be made, but delegates should deal with DHS to benefit from the special rates.