text: freedom tocommunicate opinions toothers. Several delegations feltthatanew worldinformation andcommunication ordermightbeusedasapretext toimpose restrictions orgovernment control. 52.Anumberofdelegations urgedGovernments torespect theconsensus achieved at UNESCO, stating thattheestablishment ofanewworldinformation andcommunication orderwasacontinuous andevolving process. Anumberofdelegations saidthatthe establishment ofinternational codesornormswascontroversial. Anewordercould notbelegislated orimposed. Theysupported theefforts ofdeveloping countries toimprove theircapacity toobtainandcirculate information. 53.Several delegations described thekindsofassistance t~eywereproviding, aimedatstrengthening thecommunications infrastructures ofdeveloping countries, onaninternational orbilateral basis. Somedelegations described efforts they hadundertaken toimprove theircommunication systems infrastructures. 54.Anumberofdelegations feltthatUNESCOshouldplaythecentral roleinthe establishment ofanewworldinformation andcommunication order. Othersfeltthat theUnitedNations alsohadanimportant roletoplay. Anumberofdelegations stressed thattheCommittee shouldnotduplicate workinotherforums. Someurged thattheCommittee identify specifie goalsandavoidaproliferation of recommendations. 55.Anumberofdelegations, notingthatithadnotbeenpossible toreach consensus intheCommittae onInformation ortheSpecial Political Committee last year,saidthattheyhopedtheCommittee couldreachconsensus thisyear.Several deleg~tions saidthatalthough theyhoped th~Committee couldactbyconsensus, thisshouldnotbeconstrued tomeanthatasmallnumberof countries hadthepower ofveto. 56.Anumberofdelegations feltthattheCommittee's workhadbeenpoliticized andthatextraneous issues hadbeenintroduced. Somedelegations saidthatthe Organization dealtwithpolitical issues, andthatthoseissuesfellwithinthe mandate oftheCommittee onInformation. Information wasnotmerely atechnical issueandpoliticswasclosely related toit.BoththeUnitedNations andthe Committee reflected thepolitical realities oftheday;thoserealities, theysaid, couldandshouldnotbeignored. 57.Manydelegations expressed satisfaction withtheworkoftheDepartment of PublicInformation, observing thatithadhadtoworkunderseverebudgetary restrictions. -14-e st d e mic s at ion the uld s s, e hat ed t, !l iller58.Mostde1egations stressed theimportance ofdissemination bytheDepartment of information abouttheprincip1es oftheUnitedNations anditsactivities. Severa1 delegations expressed concern aboutthe"tarnished image"oftheUnitedNations and fe1tthataction shou1d betakentoredress thesituation. Theviewwasexpressed thatmoreattention shou1d hegiventotheneedsofjourna1ists. Thesuggestion wasmadethattherebeincreased efforts todiss~minate attractive and intere~ting information materia1s. 59.Manyde1egations stressed theimportance ofeva1uatin~ andmonitoring the Department's activities andassessing theimpactofitsactivities. Anumherof de1egations saidthattheDepartment shouldincrease itsefforts tofindout whether information materia1s reached targetgroups, andifthosetargetgroups foundthemateria1s usefu1 andappropriate. Thecostsofvarious activities shou1d beconsidered, a10ngwiththeirbenefits. Priorities shou1d heset,and duplication avoided. 60.Anumherofdelegations saidthattheinformation activity oftheDepartment should beconducted instrictconformity withthepriorities estab1isbed bythe General Assembly. 61.Somedelegations saidthatthePlanning, Programming andEvaluation Unit should bestrengthened. Some d~legations saidevaluation activities shouldtake placewithinexisting resources. Anumberofdelegations saidtheysupported ongoing andfutureefforts atinternaI andexterna1 evaluation, including possible studies onthelocation ofinformation centres andonthedistribution ofphoto materials, andamarket-survey oftheUNChronicle. 62.Mostde1egations emphasized thataIlinformation materia1s produced bythe Department should heobjective andba1anced. Somedelegations saidthatany semblance o~partiality should beavoided, andthattheDepartment shouldpresent a
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the role of the United Nations in promoting freedom of communication and information, as well as the importance of disseminating information about the United Nations and its activities. It also touches on the need for a new world information and communication order, and the role of UNESCO and the United Nations in achieving this goal. The text does not seem to be focused on any specific economic or environmental issue, and instead appears to be more concerned with the flow of information and ideas.