UNITED NATIONS, July 2: The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) had demonstrated that it could build real coalitions for action on the economic and social front, and that was a very positive development, said Ambassador of Pakistan, Munir Akram as President of UN Economic and Social Council.

Speaking at a press conference Thursday, Mr Akram noted that the current session had brought together the key decision-makers, who were focusing squarely on the internationally agreed development goals and related policies and problems.

He said the Council was in a position to build consensus for real action on the development agenda at the September Summit. The entire substantive session was to have been held in Geneva, but members decided to hold it in New York to ensure the ECOSOC’s contribution to the high-level event in September, informally known as the September Summit.

He described the discussions so far as having been excellent, in terms of their depth and sincerity and level of commitment, from both the South and North. There was a new spirit, which had been manifested in the European Union’s decision on official development assistance and in the Group of Eight industrialized nations’ decision on debt.

Asked what practical decisions were likely to emerge that could make a real difference on the ground, including on poverty and health, Mr Akram said that the mood at the session could be taken at two levels. One concerned the way in which the discussions were impacting on the political environment, he added.