GENERAL
E/ESCAP/1156
18 February 2000
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Fifty-sixth session
1-7 June 2000
Bangkok

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION

(Item 4 of the provisional agenda)

AMENDMENT OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMISSION:

ADMISSION OF GEORGIA AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION

Note by the secretariat

1. The Commission may recall that Georgia had been admitted to the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) in accordance with terms of reference of ECE, as they were amended by Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/317 of 30 July 1993.

2. The Government of Georgia, in its letter of 11 June 1999 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has conveyed its request for admission to membership of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

3. The secretariat had earlier consulted with the Office of Legal Affairs at United Nations Headquarters on the subject. In that regard, the Office of Legal Affairs noted, inter alia, that if ESCAP concludes that "Georgia is indeed a State 'in the area' in the sense of paragraph 3 [of the terms of reference of ESCAP], it should proceed, in accordance with its normal practice in like cases, to recommend to the Economic and Social Council that Georgia be included in the list of territories within the geographical scope of ESCAP, that it be admitted to membership of ESCAP and that paragraphs 2 and 3 of ESCAP's Terms of Reference be amended accordingly."

4. The Commission may wish to consider this proposal and make its recommendation accordingly to the Economic and Social Council. The attention of the Commission is drawn to the draft resolution below.

Draft resolution to be submitted to the Economic and Social Council for action on amendment of the terms of reference of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific for inclusion of Georgia in the geographical scope of the Commission and its admission as a member of the Commission

"The Economic and Social Council,

"Noting that the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific has recommended the inclusion of Georgia in the geographical scope of the Commission and its admission as a member of the Commission;

"1. Approves the recommendation of the Commission that Georgia be included in the geographical scope of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and be admitted as a member of the Commission;

"2. Decides to amend paragraphs 2 and 3 of the terms of reference of the Commission accordingly."