afrol News, 10 June - Mauritius is an example of "small island developing countries" facing a particular set of problems; an issue which is to be debated during a major UN conference early next year. The UN today decided that Mauritius, with its excellent tourism facilities, is to host that conference.

Climate change, fragile ecosystems, economic vulnerability, geographic isolation and other concerns of small island developing countries will be taken up at this conference, set for early 2005 to examine a decade's worth of efforts to address these issues, the UN's General Assembly decided today.

Adopting a resolution unanimously, the Assembly fixed 10 to 14 January as the dates for the "International Meeting to Review Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States," to be held in Mauritius.

If necessary, delegates will arrive two days earlier to the Indian Ocean holiday resort "for informal consultations," according to the same UN resolution.

The Programme of Action, adopted at a 1994 meeting in Barbados, focused on climate change, tourism, natural disasters, waste, energy and transport. The Mauritius meeting is expected to also examine trade, HIV/AIDS, information technology and security concerns, the UN reports today.

The Secretary-General of the Mauritius Conference, Anwarul Chowdhury, has stated that the event should "galvanise international cooperation on these issues."

Mr Chowdhury - who is also the UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - has pledged to facilitate negotiations on a strong political declaration by the participants.

In another action today, the UN's General Assembly declared 2005 to be the International Year of Physics and invited the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to organise commemorative events.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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