Assistance to Sao Tome and Principe.

33. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE*
125. Assistance to Sao Tome and Principe

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 31/187 of 21 December 1976, in which it expressed deep concern at the serious economic and social situation in Sao Tome and Principe as a result of the total lack of infrastructure for development, Recalling also its resolution 32/96 of 13 December 1977, in which it noted that the appeal made in resolution 31/187 had not met with the desired response and requested the Secretary-General to send a special mission to Sao Tome and Principe with a view to continuing the consultations with the Government on urgent needs and identifying the economic problems facing the country, Recalling further its resolution 31/156 of 21 December 1976, in which it urged all Governments, in particular those of the developed countries, to lend their support, in the context of their assistance programmes, for the implementation of the specific action envisaged in favour of developing island countries, and its resolution 32/185 of 19 December 1977, in which it called upon all organizations in the United Nations system to implement, within their respective spheres of competence, appropriate specific action in favour of developing island countries, Taking note of the recommendation of the Committee for Development Planning at its fourteenth session, in response to the application of Sao Tome and Principe for inclusion in the list of the least developed countries, that Sao Tome and Principe should be assisted during the remainder of the current decade and that the special difficulties and upheavals experienced by Sao Tome and Principe require special measures,[1] Having examined the report of the Secretary-General of 12 June 1978[2] containing the report of the mission which he sent to Sao Tome and Principe ‘in response to General Assembly resolution 32/96, Noting that the assessment and recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General were fully endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1978/50 of 2 August 1978, Noting with deep concern that most of the physical and organizational infrastructure of the country is inadequate, that the level of technological development has been generally low in virtually all branches of the economy, that many of the country's physical assets are obsolete and nearly worn out, and that the general condition of the country at independence did not constitute a viable base for launching an effective programme of development, Noting also that a major reorganization was essential, as was the establishment of new institutions, and that the difficulty of making progress in the current situation was greatly increased by the lack of trained and experienced nationals, Noting further that the economic and social development of Sao Tome and Principe has been seriously hindered by inadequate sea and air transport and, to a less extent, by deficiencies in land transport, and that the improvement of all transport infrastructure is a prerequisite for the country's future progress, Further noting that school buildings are inadequate for the number of pupils and that there is a serious shortage of housing, Taking note of the proposals of the Government of Sao Tome and Principe for development, notably in agriculture and livestock, in fisheries, manufacture, transport and other infrastructure, and in education, training, health and housing, Taking note of the estimate that an annual investment of about $10 million will be needed for at least the next decade in order to replace obsolete and worn-out installations as well as to provide for a modest growth of per capita income, Recognizing the urgent need of Sao Tome and Principe for international assistance to meet its short-term and long-term development needs,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the steps he has taken to mobilize assistance for Sao Tome and Principe;

2. Endorses fully the assessment and recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General;

3. Calls upon Member States, in the light of the recommendation of the Committee for Development Planning and in accordance with the previous resolutions of the General Assembly, to accord Sao Tome and Principe, as a matter of priority, privileges and benefits and to give special consideration to the early inclusion of Sao Tome and Principe in their programmes of development assistance;

4. Reiterates its appeal to Member States, regional and interregional organizations and other intergovernmental bodies to provide financial, material and technical assistance to Sao Tome and Principe to permit the implementation of the projects and programmes identified in the report of the Secretary-General;

5. Invites the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to bring to the attention of their governing bodies for their consideration the assistance they are rendering to Sao Tome and Principe, for which the General Assembly has requested the Secretary-General to implement a special economic assistance programme, and to report the results of that assistance and their decisions to the Secretary-General in time for consideration by the Assembly at its thirty-fourth session;

6. Draws the attention of the international community to the special account which was established at United Nations Headquarters by the Secretary-General, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 32/96, for the purpose of facilitating the channelling of contributions to Sao Tome and Principe;

7. Requests the appropriate specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the steps they have taken and the resources they have made available to assist Sao Tome and Principe;

8. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To continue his efforts to mobilize the necessary resources for an effective programme of financial, technical and material assistance to Sao Tome and Principe;

(b) To pursue with the Government of Sao Tome and Principe the question of organizing a meeting of donors and, in this respect, to co-ordinate efforts with the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic Commission for Africa and the World Bank;

(c) To ensure that adequate financial and budgetary arrangements are made to continue the organization of the international programme of assistance to Sao Tome and Principe and the mobilization of assistance;

(d) To keep the situation in Sao Tome and Principe under constant review, to maintain close contact with Member States, regional and other intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies and international financial institutions concerned and to apprise the Economic and Social Council, at its second regular session of 1979, of the current status of the special economic assistance programme for Sao Tome and Principe;

(e) To arrange for a review of the economic situation of Sao Tome and Principe and the progress made in organizing and implementing the special economic assistance programme for that country in time for the matter to be considered by the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session.

88th plenary meeting
19 December 1978

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[1] See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1978, Supplement No. 6 (E/1978/46 and Corr.1), para. 99. [2] A/33/120.