Sixty-second session Agenda item 54 Sustainable development Report of the Second Committee* Rapporteur: Ms. Tamar Tchitanava (Georgia) I. Introduction 1. An account of the general discussion under this item and the previous recommendation made by the Second Committee to the General Assembly appear in the report of the Committee contained in document A/62/419 (Part I). An account of the Committee’s further consideration of the item is provided in the addenda to the present report. 2. The Committee also considered the item at its 32nd meeting, on 7 December 2007 (see A/C.2/62/SR.32). 3. For the documents before the Committee under this item, see document A/62/419 (Part I). II. Consideration of draft resolutions A/C.2/62/L.21 and Rev.1 4. At the 23rd meeting, on 6 November, the representative of Pakistan, on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Oil slick on Lebanese shores” (A/C.2/62/L.21), which read: “The General Assembly, “Recalling its resolution 61/194 of 20 December 2006 on the oil slick on Lebanese shores, * The report of the Committee on this item is being issued under the symbol A/62/419 (Parts I and II) and Add.1-9. “Reaffirming the outcome of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, especially principle 7 of the Declaration of the Conference, which requested States to take all possible steps to prevent pollution of the seas, “Emphasizing the need to protect and preserve the marine environment in accordance with international law, “Taking into account the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, especially principle 16, which stipulates that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, and taking into account also chapter 17 of Agenda 21, “Noting again with great concern the environmental catastrophe caused by the premeditated destruction by the Israeli Air Force on 15 July 2006 of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of El Jiyeh electric power plant in Lebanon, resulting in an oil slick that covered the entirety of the Lebanese coastline and extended to the Syrian coastline, “Acknowledging the need for further elaboration by relevant United Nations bodies on the damage caused beyond Lebanese territorial waters, “Noting again with appreciation the assistance offered by donor countries and international organizations for the early recovery and reconstruction of Lebanon through bilateral and multilateral channels, including the Athens Coordination Meeting on the response to the marine pollution incident in the Eastern Mediterranean, held on 17 August 2006, as well as the Stockholm Conference for Lebanon’s Early Recovery, held on 31 August 2006, “1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 61/194 on the oil slick on Lebanese shores; “2. Expresses once again its deep concern over the adverse implications of the premeditated destruction by the Israeli Air Force of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of the Lebanese El Jiyeh electric power plant for the achievement of sustainable development in Lebanon; “3. Confirms that the oil slick has heavily polluted the shores of Lebanon and partially polluted Syrian shores and consequently has had profound adverse effects on livelihoods and the economy of Lebanon, owing to the adverse implications for natural resources, biodiversity, fisheries and tourism, and for human health, in the country; “4. Requests the Government of Israel to take all necessary actions towards assuming responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation and accountability to the Government of Lebanon and other affected countries for the costs of repairing the environmental damage caused by the destruction, including the restoration of the marine environment; “5. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Lebanon and those of the Member States, regional and international organizations, regional and international financial institutions, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector in the initiation of clean-up and rehabilitation operations on the polluted shores, and calls upon the Member States and above-mentioned entities to continue their financial and technical support to the Government of Lebanon towards achieving the completion of clean-up and rehabilitation operations, with the aim of preserving the ecosystem of Lebanon and that of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin; “6. Calls for the mobilization of international technical and financial assistance through donor support for the creation of an eastern Mediterranean oil spill restoration fund to support the integrated environmentally sound management, from clean-up to safe disposal of oily waste, of this environmental catastrophe resulting from the Israeli Air Force attack on the oil storage tanks at El Jiyeh electric power plant; “7. Calls upon the international community, the United Nations system and other international organizations to increase their financial and technical support for the strengthening of the disaster risk management and disaster preparedness capacity of Lebanon and other affected countries; “8. Recognizes the multi-dimensionality of the adverse impact of the oil slick, and requests the establishment of a United Nations task force combining all relevant organizations and entities of the United Nations system and affiliated bodies to supplement the efforts of the Secretary-General and assist him in submitting to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session an integrated report on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled ‘Sustainable development’.” 5. At its 32nd meeting, on 7 December, the Committee had before it a revised draft resolution entitled “Oil slick on Lebanese shores” (A/C.2/62/L.21/Rev.1), submitted by the representative of Pakistan on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China. 6. At the same meeting, the Committee was advised that the draft resolution had no programme budget implications. 7. Also at the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.21/Rev.1 by a recorded vote of 153 to 7, with 2 abstentions (see para. 10). The voting was as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States of America. Abstaining: Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire. 8. Also at the 32nd meeting, statements were made after the vote by the representatives of the United States of America, Israel and Lebanon (see A/C.2/62/SR.32). 9. At the same meeting, the representative of Lebanon made a statement in exercise of the right of reply (see A/C.2/62/SR.32). III. Recommendation of the Second Committee 10. The Second Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution: Oil slick on Lebanese shores The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/194 of 20 December 2006 on the oil slick on Lebanese shores, Reaffirming the outcome of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, especially principle 7 of the Declaration of the Conference, which requested States to take all possible steps to prevent pollution of the seas, Emphasizing the need to protect and preserve the marine environment in accordance with international law, Taking into account the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, especially principle 16, which stipulates that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, and taking into account also chapter 17 of Agenda 21, Noting again with great concern the environmental disaster caused by the destruction by the Israeli Air Force on 15 July 2006 of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of el Jiyeh electric power plant in Lebanon, resulting in an oil slick that covered the entirety of the Lebanese coastline and extended to the Syrian coastline, Noting again with appreciation the assistance offered by donor countries and international organizations for the early recovery and reconstruction of Lebanon through bilateral and multilateral channels, including the Athens Coordination Meeting on the response to the marine pollution incident in the Eastern Mediterranean, held on 17 August 2006, as well as the Stockholm Conference for Lebanon’s Early Recovery, held on 31 August 2006, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 61/194 on the oil slick on Lebanese shores; 2. Reiterates the expression of its deep concern about the adverse implications of the destruction by the Israeli Air Force of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of the Lebanese el Jiyeh electric power plant for the achievement of sustainable development in Lebanon; 3. Considers that the oil slick has heavily polluted the shores of Lebanon and partially polluted Syrian shores and consequently has had serious implications for livelihoods and the economy of Lebanon, owing to the adverse implications for natural resources, biodiversity, fisheries and tourism, and for human health, in the country; 4. Requests the Government of Israel to assume responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation to the Government of Lebanon and other countries directly affected by the oil slick for the costs of repairing the environmental damage caused by the destruction, including the restoration of the marine environment; 5. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Lebanon and those of the Member States, regional and international organizations, regional and international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector in the initiation of clean-up and rehabilitation operations on the polluted shores, and encourages the Member States and above-mentioned entities to continue their financial and technical support to the Government of Lebanon towards achieving the completion of clean-up and rehabilitation operations, with the aim of preserving the ecosystem of Lebanon and that of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin; 6. Calls for the mobilization of international technical and financial assistance through donor support for the creation of an eastern Mediterranean oil spill restoration fund, based on voluntary contributions, to support the integrated environmentally sound management, from clean-up to safe disposal of oily waste, of this environmental disaster resulting from the destruction by the Israeli Air Force of the oil storage tanks at el Jiyeh electric power plant; 7. Recognizes the multidimensionality of the adverse impact of the oil slick, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled “Sustainable development”. The delegation of Cameroon subsequently indicated that it had intended to abstain, and the delegation of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia indicated that, had it been present, it would have voted in favour. See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 5-16 June 1972 (A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1), part one, chap. I. Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 314 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. Ibid., annex II. A/62/343. __________________ __________________  sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/419 (Part II) sss1 \* MERGEFORMAT A/62/419 (Part II) FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-64096 \* MERGEFORMAT 6 \* MERGEFORMAT 5 FooterJN \* MERGEFORMAT 07-64096 United Nations A/62/419 (Part II) General Assembly Distr.: General 12 December 2007 Original: English jobn \* MERGEFORMAT 07-64096 (E) 141207 Barcode \* MERGEFORMAT *0764096*