Report asked on new 'agenda for development'; market reforms, trade discussed in debate.

• Position: Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly - Includes related information on conferences and other development notes

How best to address the turbulent and changing world economic situation was the thrust of much of the work of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial). Recommended for General Assembly adoption were 50 resolutions and 15 decisions on a wide spectrum of economic and development issues, including a call for work on a new "agenda for development", as proposed by the Secretary-General.

The Assembly, citing the "unique position" of the Organization as a forum for the promotion of international cooperation for development, asked (resolution 47/181) for a report in 1993 on ways to enhance the UN role and the relationship between the UN and the Bretton Woods institutions--the World Bank and the international Monetary Fund--in that area.

A new "agenda for development"--an integrated approach to a wide range of issues to be promoted through a stronger UN--was proposed by the Secretary-General in his annual report to the Assembly. To help formulate such a text, the world body requested a detailed list of substantive themes and areas to be addressed.

Among other Committee highlights were action on global conferences on human settlements, population and small island States, food and environment problems, trade and commodities, and the continuing debt crisis.

Support was sought for the goals of the 1990 Declaration on international Economic Cooperation, the international Development Strategy for the Fourth UN Development Decade, and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s.

The Assembly, citing "fundamental changes" in countries transforming their economies from centrally-planned to market-oriented ones, called (47/187) for a report on the U N's role in addressing problems facing the "economies in transition". While recognizing the need for international development assistance to support this economic reform, the Assembly urged (47/175) developed countries and multilateral financial institutions to ensure that such support did not reduce or divert aid from developing countries.

"The full integration of the economies in transition into the world economy should have a positive impact on world trade, economic growth and development, including that of the developing countries", the Assembly stated.

In a report (A/47/403) on the impact of the evolution of East-West relations on global growth and development, the Secretary-General concluded that for most developing countries, events in Eastern Europe and in former Soviet...