UN’s Economic, Social Council sets up advisory body on nation

The UN Economic and Social Council named on Friday the composition of its Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Burundi, created on 21 July to help the country through its transition from war to peace and in national reconstruction.

The council reported that the group would comprise permanent representatives to the UN of Belgium, Burundi, Ethiopia, France, Japan, and South Africa; which will chair the group. Also invited to participate in the group’s work were the permanent representatives of Guatemala, in his capacity as President of the Economic and Social Council, and of Angola as chairperson of the Security Council's Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.

The group's task will be to examine the humanitarian and economic needs of Burundi and review programmes of support in the country, the Economic and Social Council said. By mid-January 2004, it added, the group would prepare recommendations for a long-term country support programme based on government set priorities.

"Such a programme will integrate relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development into a comprehensive approach to peace and stability, and provide advice on how to ensure that the assistance of the international community is adequate, coherent, well-coordinated and effective," the council said.

The original proposal for the group emerged from discussions in the General Assembly on the causes of conflict in Africa, the council said. The first such Group was created in October 2002 for Guinea-Bissau.