TNAG-2752-FCO40-3967-Organisation-for-Economic-Co-operation-and-Development-(OECD-1994 — Page 218

1993-04-07

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[UK]

093/2

6 April 1993

45 24 98 37

P.02

26

United Kingdom Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

19 rue de Franqueville

75116 Parin

Telephone: 45 24 98 28 Facsimile: 45 24 98 97

I Ruff Esq

ERD FCO

(FAX) 270 3443)

HKB 091/3

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

14 APR 1993

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTAV

Dass Tian,

DEVELOPMENT CENTRE: DIALOGUE WITH DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

1.

2.

Would you please refer to your letter of 31 March.

I think there may be some confusion between the OECD ́s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) and the Development Cooperation Directorate (DCD), part of the OECD Secretariat which services the activities of the former, and the OECD Development Centre (DC), which is a semi-autonomous research institute under OECD auspices and which is not part of the OECD Secretariat. Indeed when there was a move last year by the United States to abolish the Centre and merge it with DCD (1.e. the OECD Secretariat) we successfully led the opposition to it, because we believe the preservation of the Centre's autonomy is essential if it is to continue to produce high quality work as a research institute. As an alternative to merger, our efforts have concentrated on trying to improve the working relationship between the Centre and the OECD Secretariat. We have also put forward a British candidate, John Williamson, to succeed Louis Emmerij as the President of the Centre. The selection process for the new President is currently under way.

No

3. The Centre is voluntarily financed by most but not all OECD member states. The UK contribution comes from the ODA research budget. Ever since it was set up in 1962 it has been encouraged to develop a network of contacts in the areas of academic research with its counterparta in all developing countries. political bars have hitherto been placed to such gontacts enabling it for instance to cultivate as close a relationship with research institutes in China as in Taiwan; even when contact

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