74 



During 1 1 1 c ! (tfiicuusion, the Chairmun of the Latin American Group, as well 

 ua other delegations] from Latin America v/lio spoke on this issue, many African 

 countries and Yugoslavia spoke out in favour of Jamaica. A number of speakers 

 did not find it expedient to declare a choice at this stage. 



It is important to note from the debate that all three candidates 

 declared that preparations were afoot to receive the Authority, although 

 only Jamaica undertook to state details of such preparations. 



( i i ) Production policies 



Although our main business at this session was to deal with the issue 

 of the Preparatory Commission, I felt that delegations should be given an 

 opportunity to raise any other issues which are of concern to them. 



At the .'50th meeting of the First Committee held on 19 March 1981, the 

 delegation of Zambia, supported by the delegations of Zimbabwe and Zaire, 

 made an appeal that the issue of production policies be examined. Intensive 

 consultations at various levels, within and across interest groups, have 

 since been launched and may be expected to continue at the resumed. session. 



The specific issues in question were the impact of the production 

 limitation formula set out in article 151 of the Draft Convention on the 

 existing and future land-based nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese 

 industries and the measures for the protection of developing countries from 

 adverse effects on their economies or on their export earnings likely to 

 result from sea-bed mining. 



(iii) Unfair Economic Practices 



Among other matters, the delegation of Australia made a suggestion about 

 provisions dealing with unfair economic practices which may cause injury to 

 the trading interests of the economy of another State Party. An exchange of 

 views took place during an informal meeting of the interested delegations 

 and consultations on this issue are continuing. 



(iv) Composition of the Council 



During the session, I encourage continuing informal contacts between 

 interested parties concerning the problem raised by some less developed 

 western States concerning an increase in minimum representation for 

 geographical groups in the Council. V.'hile these continue, I have nothing to 

 report at this stage. 



27. ) ; 'in.-iJ3y I should like to conclude with the same concern I expressed at the 

 commencement of this session. The First Committee has, for nearly a decade, 

 grappled with perhaps the most complex problems that ever faced any Conference 

 sponsored by the United Nations. It has had to achieve accommodation of global 

 confJ i dr. of interests, inspired by an incredible sense of dedication to the 

 loftiest ideals of a generation desperate for international peace and security. 



