25 July 1985

52nd plenary meeting

Rationalization of the work of the Committee on Natural Resources

The Economic and Social Council,

Reiterating the need to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the work of the Committee on Natural Resources,

Reiterating that a timely distribution of documents is essential to an improvement of the efficiency of the work of the Committee,

Reiterating that the Committee could make recommendations on appropriate priorities and programme emphasis to the Economic and Social Council and through the Council to Governments and other bodies such as the United Nations Development Programme,

Reaffirming the terms of reference of the Committee set out in Council resolution 1535 (XLIX) of 27 July 1970,

Recalling its resolution 1982/50 of 28 July 1982 on the revitalization of the Council and the views expressed on that subject by the Committee at its eighth session,

1. Reiterates that the documents for each session of the Committee on Natural Resources should be distributed in the appropriate languages at least six weeks before the commencement of the session;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the programme activities of the United Nations system, in particular of the appropriate divisions of the Department of International Economic and Social Affairs and the Department of Technical Co-operation for Development of the United Nations Secretariat, in the field of natural resources, particularly with regard to mineral resources, energy and water; this information will assist the Committee in fulfilling its analytical and advisory role in the field of natural resources, outlined in its terms of reference;

3. Decides that, as an experiment, the Committee shall give priority at each of its sessions, on a cyclical basis, to the examination of one of the main subjects of natural resources set out in paragraph 4 (a) of Council resolution 1535 (XLIX); in this connection, with due respect for the concept of the sovereignty of every State, attention shall also be paid to the other main subjects, as well as other subjects within the terms of reference of the Committee;

4. Decides that the Committee, at its tenth session, shall give priority consideration to the subject of water resources;

5. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organizations of the United Nations system, to pay special attention to the priority subject of water resources in preparing the documents for the tenth session of the Committee.