25 July 1985

52nd plenary meeting

Permanent sovereignty over natural resources

The Economic and Social Council,

Recognizing the problems caused by the present international economic situation to most countries, in particular the developing countries,

Noting the importance for all countries, in particular developing countries, to maximize the benefits from the exploration, exploitation and processing of their natural resources in order to strengthen their economic development,

Having taken note of the report of the Secretary-General on permanent sovereignty over natural resources and the comments made thereon by the Committee on Natural Resources at its ninth session,

Taking into account the work done in other forums of the United Nations system regarding permanent sovereignty over natural resources,

1. Requests the Committee on Natural Resources to continue, at its tenth session, its consideration of the item entitled "Permanent sovereignty over natural resources", including:

(a) Strengthening of national capabilities to explore, exploit and process natural resources for the national benefit;

(b) National experience of different countries in developing natural resources;

(c) Impact of the international economic situation on the exploitation of natural resources, particularly in the developing countries;

(d) Promotion of investments in natural resources to meet basic priorities in the developing countries, taking into account, inter alia, the perspectives of national and world markets;

(e) Creation of new industries in developing countries, based on an integrated transformation and industrialization of their natural resources;

(f) Technical and technological developments related to natural resources in developing countries;

(g) Conservation of natural resources;

(h) Environment and natural resources;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the question of permanent sovereignty over natural resources, taking into account the matters referred to in paragraph 1 above and the comments made by the Committee at its ninth session;

3. Reaffirms, in this context, the importance of the ongoing work of the Commission on Transnational Corporations on a code of conduct on transnational corporations, as it relates to natural resources.