CM/Res. 666(XXXI)
RESOLUTION ON THE UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (UNIDO)
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Thirty-First Ordinary Session in Khartoum, Democratic Republic of the Sudan, from 7 to 18 July 1978,
Recalling the resolutions adopted on the report of the Fourth Conference of African Ministers of Industries, held in Kaduna, Nigeria, in 1977, as well as on the United Nations Industrial Development Fund, UNIDF, at its Thirtieth Ordinary Session in Tripoli, Libya from 20 to 28 February 1978,
Noting with regret that the United Nations Committee on the whole to draw up a constitution for UNIDO established by the United Nations General Assembly and the Conference of Plenipotentiaries, could not agree on all points concerning the transformation of UNIDO as a Specialized Agency,
Convinced of the important role of UNIDO and its timely and special relevance in support of the industrial development efforts of the African countries which are currently receiving increasing priority in their economic and social development:
REAFFIRMS its commitments to the achievement of the objectives of the Lima Declaration and Plan of Action as an important measure towards the attainment of the goals envisaged in the New International Economic Order;
FURTHER REAFFIRMS its full support to UNIDO as the United Nations Organization accorded the central role for United Nations activities in support of the Industrial development efforts of the developing countries and in the implementation of the Lima Declaration and Plan of Action;
CALLS on the African countries and the African Group at the United Nations Headquarters to maintain their unified position and intensify their efforts during the next session of the United Nations General Assembly when the report of Conference of Plenipotentiaries will be discussed in order to ensure the transformation of UNIDO into a Specialized Agency;
CALLS ON the OAU Member States to lend their political and material support to the United Nations Industrial Development Fund; to intensify their participation in the activities of UNIDO; and to strengthen their cooperation with UNIDO, in order to obtain greater benefit from the services provided by UNIDO;
URGES UNIDO to expand its programme of assistance in favour of the least developed, land-locked, Sudane-Sahelian and drought stricken countries and island developing countries;
APPEALS to the African countries elected to the Industrial Development Board to strengthen their participation, at the highest possible level, since such participation is in representation of Africa’s point of vies which should be given full consideration in the establishment of the overall policy direction of UNIDO;
FURTHER APPEALS to the African members of the UNDP Governing Council to give their full support to the Industrial Development Field Advisers Programme which is of particular assistance, especially to the African countries, in the development and implementation of sound technical assistance programmes in the industrial field; and
REQUESTS the Administrative Secretary-General of the OAU to convey the contents of this resolution to the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a view of accelerating action for the early transformation of the UNIDO into Specializes Agency and UNDP Administrator.