Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library(b)Totheformulation byintergovernmental bodies ofrecommendations to member countries, through analytical workondevelopments intraderelations between countries havingdifferent economic andsocial systems, inparticular, the East-South trade, payingattention tothecomparability ofstatistics andthe breakdown ofproduct coverage; (c)Tothediversification ofthecommodity pattern oftradeandthewidening ofitsgeographical basis; (d)Tothepromotion oftheconclusion oflong-term intergovernmental agreements ontradeandeconomic co-operation, asappropriate; (e)Totheimprovement oftheexisting intergovernmental legalbasisand institutional framework fortradeandeconomic co-operation; (f)Totheimprovement ofthecommodity structure oftradeamongcountries havingdifferent economic andsocial systems, aswellasthebalance ofmutual trade: (g)Totheconsideration byexpert groups ofspecific issues arising intrad~ andeconomic co-operation amongcountries havingdifferent economic andsocial systems. 13.38 Inthelightoftheabove, theUNCTADsecretariat will: (a)Undertake research andanalysis onwaysandmeansofpromoting mutual tradeandeconomic co-operation; (b)Assess theprospects fortradebetween various groups ofcountries; (c)Analyse theexport andimport regimes ofmember countries: (d)Examine, takingintoaccount theworkoftheEconomic Commission for Europe, developments inEast-West tradeandeconomic co-operation, inparticular thosethatarelikely tohavedirect implications forthetradeanddevelopment of developing countries, including waystoeliminate protectionist measures andother obstacles totrade: (e)Studytheevolution ofvarious formsofeconomic co-operation andthe regional aspects oftradeandeconomic co-operation between developing countries andcountries ofEastern Europe: (f)Provide statistical andothersupport fortheabove-mentioned activities; (g)Disseminate information through analytical reports ontradeandeconomic co-operation amongcountries withdifferent economic andsocial systems, taking intoaccount, interalia,theeconomic changes occurring inEastern Europe and theirpotential impact ontheprospects oftradeamongcountries havingdifferent economic andsocial systems, inparticular, East-South trade; (h)Periodic revision oftherelevant publications ontrading withthe socialist countries ofEastern Europe; (i)Organize andservice, asappropriate, intergovernmental consultations on tradebetween countries withdifferent economic andsocial systems; -16- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library(j)Provide substantive support totechnical co-operation activities designed topromote trade,andeconomic co-operation attheinterregional, regional and national levels, between countries ofEastern Europe anddeveloping countries, with particular attention totheneedsoftheleastdeveloped countries. SUBPROGRAMME 6.COMMODITIES (a)Objectives 13.39 Thelegislative authority forthesubprogramme derives fromGeneral Assembly resolutions 42/175 and44/218; UNCTADresolutions 93(IV),105(V),124(V);the FinalActoftheseventh session ofUNCTAD, part11,section B;Tradeand Development Boardresolution 286(XXVIII) anddecisions 7(I)and317(S-XIV); and Committee onCommodities decisions 4(V),23(XI)and25(XIII). 13.40 Takingintoaccount thecentral co-ordinating roleofUNCTADinthefieldof commodities, theobjectives ofthesubprogramme willbe: (a)Toachieve abetterfunctioning ofinternational commodity markets and stable andmorepredictable conditions incommodity trade,including theavoidance ofexcessive pricefluctuations andthesearchforlong-term solutions tocommodity problems; (b)Toenhance, strengthen orestablish producer-consumer consultations and co-operation, whereappropriate andfeasible; (c)Toimprove theoperation andfunctioning ofexisting commodity agreements