The 49th United Nations General Assembly held its debate on
Agenda Item 89(d), "Elaboration of an international convention
to combat desertification in those countries experiencing
serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa,"
on Friday, 21 October and Tuesday, 25 October 1994. Although the
debate on this issue was held in the General Assembly plenary,
action will be taken in the Second Committee. In connection with
this item, the General Assembly had before it the report of the
Secretary-General on the UN Convention to Combat Desertification
(document A/49/477) and a note by the Secretary-General
transmitting the reports of the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee for the Elaboration of an International Convention to
Combat Desertification (INCD) on its third, fourth and fifth
sessions (A/49/84 and Addenda 1 and 2). During the course of the
debate, most Governments noted that this Convention was
innovative in its recognition of the physical, biological and
socio-economic aspects of dese