andinternational co-operation withparticular emphasis oneconomic co-operation amongdeveloping countries) hadbeengivenlowestpriority inviewofthestrong interest ofdeveloping countries inthatwork.Inresponse, therepres~;ttative of theDepartment saidthatbecause oftheprogramme planning rulesitwas fi~cessary tomakedifficult choices. ThefactthatUNCTADwasaleadagencyforeconomic co-operation amongdeveloping countries (ECDC)meantthattheDepartment wouldhave togiveitalowerpriority thanthoseactivities forwhichtheDepartment was solelyresponsible. Onedelegation reserved itsposition onthatprogramme element onthegroundthatECDCactivities shouldbefundedthrough extrabudgetary sources ratherthantheregular budget. Itwas,however, concluded thattheprogramme element shouldinstead havehighestpriority. 130.Concerning subprogramme 4,aquestion wasraisedwhythesubprogramme hadbeen reduced fromtwoprogramme elements in1984-1985 tooneprogramme element in 1986-1987. Therepresentative oftheDepartment replied thatsomeofthework proposed for1984-1985 wouldbeabsorbed withinthemoregeneral workontheWorld Economic Survey (subprogramme 6)in1986-1987. 131.Insubprogramme 6,somedelegations saidthatinaddition totheoutputs included intheproposed text,arecentresolution ~ftheGeneral Assembly had mandated anadditional output, dealing withconfidence-building ininternational economic relations. Itwasagreedthattheoutputshouldbeaddedtotheprogramme. 132.Withregardtosubprogramme 7,thequestion wasraisedwhether theactivities intransport shouldnotbesubject todecentralization, sincemostofthe activities inthatfieldwereundertaken bytheregional commissions. Inresponse, theUnder-Secretary-Genera1 saidthattheactivities andtheaccompanying resources inthetransport sectorhadalready beendecentralized totheregional commissionsf theworkremaining wasglobalinnatureand,although smallinscale,reflected the needtoprovide aglobalperspective ontransport questions. Itwasthusnot feasible orcost-effective todecentralize thatremaining activity. 133.Questions wereraisedabouttheconsultant requirements, inparticular those requested underprogramme element 2.2whichseemedtoimplythatconsultants would prepare theoutput. Inreply,therepresentative oftheDepartment saidthatin general thepolicywastouseconsultants onlyiftheworkrequired wassuchthata -25-Iproperlevelofexpertise wasnotavailable withintheDepartment. The con~Jltant services inquestion concerned methodologies forincomedistribution studies, a highlyspecialized branchofeconomics forwhichappropriate levelsofexpertise werenotavailable intheSecretariat. (c)Surveyoftheenergysituation initsinternational context 134.Questions wereraisedregarding themandate forprogramme element 1.2 (Economic andtechnical co-operation amongdeveloping countries inenergy). The representative oftheDepartment replied thatwhileworkoneconomic andtechnical co-operation amongdeveloping countries wasnotspecifically mentioned inthe medium-term plantextfortheprogramme, itwasclearly indicated inthepreambular partofthemajorprogramme textandcouldbeinferred fromthebroader context of thestrategy ofpromoting international co-operation amongallcountries in energy. Onedelegation reserved itsposition onprogramme element 1.2onthe grounds thattheelement hadnoprogrammatic justification inthemedium-term plan andthatworkoneconomic co-operation amongdeveloping countries shouldbefunded fromextrabudgetary sources ratherthanfromtheregular budget. 135.Withregardtoprogramme element 2.2(Information onmultilateral, bilateral andotherprogrammes intheareaofnewandrenewable sources ofenergy), the question wasraisedwhether bilateral activities neededtobespecifically mentioned inviewofrecently concluded discussions intheCommittee onNatural Resources. Inreply,therepresentative oftheDepartment saidthatworkon information onmUltilateral, bilateral andotherprogrammes hadbeenspecifically mandated bytheGeneral Assembly inresolution 37/250andconfirmed byitin' resolution 38/169. Itwasagreedthatthemandates forthesubprogramme did include coverage ofbilateral activities. 136.Concerning travelitwasnotedthatunderbothsubprogrammes 1and2,travel hadbeenproposed tocollect information. Several delegations suggested thatthat didnotconstitute aproperuseoftravelfunds. Inreply,therepresentative of theDepartment explained thatwhatwasinvolved wastheprolongation ofother
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing economic development, particularly in the context of international cooperation among developing countries. The language used is technical and focused on specific program elements, suggesting that the text is related to the implementation of a program or project rather than a broad policy or strategy. The topics discussed, such as economic cooperation, energy, and information sharing, are all relevant to economic development.

**Category**
Economic development