A/41/PV.3 General Assembly
The Assembly w~ll now consider the report of the General
Committee on its first meeting, held on 16 September 1986. That report has been
circulated as document A/4l/250.
We shall first examine section 11 of the report, which deals with the
organization of the session.
Members are aware that by itG decision 34/401, which is reproduced as annex VI
to the rules of procedure, and by its resolution 39/88 B, which is reproduced as
annex VII to the rules, the General AsSembly adopted a number of provisions aimed
at rationalizing its procedures and organization. Many of these provisions have
already been implemented at previous sessions, but some have not or have been only
partly implemented. It is hoped that at the present session the Assembly will
endeavour to advance this process of rationalization.
The provisions of General Assembly decision 34/401 and resolution 39/88 B, to
which ~ have just referred, that directly affect the organization of work of the
General Committee are reproduced in paragraph 2 of document A/4l/250. In that
paragraph, the General Committee informs the General Assembly that it took note of
those Assembly decisions.
As concerns the schedule of meetings referred to in paragraphs 3 to 5 of its
report, the General Committee first draws the Assembly's attention to paragraph 3
of Assembly decision 34/401 and recommends that, as has been done for the past
three sessions, morning plenary meetings during the period of the general debate
should begin at 10 a.m. instead of 10.30 a.m.
May I take it that the Assenbly approyes that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 5 of its report, the General Committee
recommends to the General Assembly that delegations should be reminded of the
utmost impor tance of punctuality in the interest of ensur ing an effective and
orderly organization of work and achieving economies for the united Nations.
May I take it that the Assembly approyes that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In this connection I should like to assure the Assembly
that I shall be in the Chair punctually at the scheduled time and I urge the
Chairmen of the Main Connnittees to do the same. I sincerely hope that all
delegations will make a special effort to co-operate in this regard.
We turn nQol to paragraphs 6 and 7 of the General Conunittee's report,
concerning the general debate.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained
in paragraph 61
It was so decided.
(The President)
In view of the very large number of speakers already
inscribed for the general debate, I shall urge. representatives to speak in the
order in which they appear on the list. Those who are unable to speak at the
scheduled time will be put at the end of the list for that day.
In paragraph 7 the General Cormnittee draws the General Assembly's attention to
the decision taken by the Assenbly at the third plenary meeting of its fortieth
sessicn, held on Friday, 20 September 1985, that the practice of expressing
congratulations in the General AsseJIbly Hall after a speech had been delivered was
prohibited.
May I take it that the Assembly wishes to decide that this provision also
applies during the forty-first session?
It was so decided.
Regarding explanations of vote and right of reply,
referred to in paragraph 8, the General Committee draws the General AsseJIbly' s
attention to paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of its decision 34/401.
Paragraph 9 deals wi th records of meetings. May I take it that the Assenbly
approves the recommendations contained in paragraph 9?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 10 the General Conunittee draws the General
AsseItbly's attention to paragraphs 18 and 19 of its decision 34/401 concerning the
election of the Chairmen of the Main Conunittees. I hope that these provisions will
be fully implemented to facilitate the organization of the work of future sessions
of the General Assembly.
The General Conunittee also draws the General Assembly's attention to
paragraph 17 of its decision 34/401, which is reproduced in paragraph 11,
concerning cOl.cluding statements in the General Assembly and its Ma in Conuni ttees.
Paragraphs 12 and 13 refer to questions related to the programme budget. Ir.
this connection, the General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention first
to paragraphs 12 and 13 of its decision 34/401. It also draws to the Assenbly' s
attention regulation 4.9 of the regulations governing progralMle planning, the
programme aspects of the budget, the monitoring of implementation and the methods
of evaluation, which reads as follows:
"No Council, Commission or other competent body shall take a decision
involving either a change in the programme budget approved by the General
Assembly or the possible requirement of expenditure unless it has received and
taken account of a report from the secretary-General on the programme budget
implications of the proposal." (resolution 37/234, annex)
As members are aware, this has been a serious problem, especially towards the
end of the sessioo. If the General Assembly decides to curtail the forty-first
session, the target date for the conclusion of the work of the Main Committees and
the mandatory deadline for the submission to the Fifth Committee of all draft
resolutions with programme budget implications should be adjusted accordingly.
Furthermore, the General Committee draws the attention of the General Assembly
to paragraph 6 of its resolution 35/10 A, of 3 Novenber 1980, which reads as
follows:
"Decides that all proposals affecting the schedule of conferences and
meetings made at sessions of the General Assembly shall be reviewed by the
Committee on Conferences when administrative implications are being considered
under the requirements of rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the
Assembly." (resolution 35/10 A, para. 6)
Paragraphs 14 and 15 refer to documenta tion. In paragraph 14 the General
Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraph 28 of its
decision 34/401.
(The President)
Regarding paragraph 15, may I consider that the General Assenbly approves the
recommendation of the General Conunittee concerning the need to adopt stricter
measures in urging all Menber states and subsidiary organs to exercise maximum
restraint in requesting circulation of mater ial as official documents of the
General Assenbly?
It was so decided.
In paragraphs 16 and 17, the General Conuni ttee draws the
General AsseliDly's attention to paragraph 32 of its decision 34/401, concerning
resolutions, and to paragraphs 17, 18 and 19 of the relevant reconunendations made
by the Presidents of the General Assembly in the appendix to document A/40/377.
Paragraph 18 relates to special conferences. The General Conunittee draws the
General Assel'lbly's attention to recommendation 6 of the Conunittee on Conferences,
adopted by the Assembly in paragraph (b) of its decision 34/405, and to paragraphs
10 (h) and (i) of AsseliDly decision 40/243, section I.
In parag.t'aph 19 the General Conunittee, in the light of reconunendations
submitted by the Committee on Conferences, recommends to the General Assenbly that
the following sullsidiary organs of the Jllssembly should be author ized to hold
meetings during the forty-first session: the Conunittee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People~ the united Nations Council for
Namibia~ and the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Furthermore, the General Committee decided to recommend to the Assembly that
the Special Conunittee against Apartheid should also be authorized to hold meetings
dur ing the forty-first session.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves those reconunendations?
It was so decided.
(The President)
That completes our consideration of section 11 of this
report of the General Committee, which rela tes to the organization of the session.
W"I turn now to section III of the first report of the General Conmittee,
relating to the adoption of the agenda.
May I recall to members of the General Assembly rule 23 of the rules of
procedure, which provides that
"Debate on the inclus ioo of an i tern in the agenda f when that item has
been recommended for inclusion by the General Committee, shall be limited to
three speakers in favour of, and three against, the inclusioo."
I should like to stress that at this time we are not discussing the substance
of any item.
In paragraph 21 the General Committee decided to reco!lltlend that item 42 of the
draft agenda, ·Celebration of the ooe-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the
emancipation of slaves in the British Empire", and item 44, "Observance of the
quincentenary of the discovery of America", should be deleted.
May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt that recoImlendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 22, which relates to item 111 of the draft
agenda, "Question of East Timor", the General Conunittee informs the Asseni:>ly of its
decisioo to defer for the time being a decision on the inclusion of this item.
May I take it that the AsseItbly takes note of this decision of the General
Committee?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 23, which concerns item 143 of the draft
agenda, "External debt crisis and development", the G'T:neral Conunittee informs the
Assembly of its decision to defer to a subsequent meeting its decision on the
inclus ion of this i tern.
I take it that the Assembly takes note of this decision of the General
Committee.
It was so decided.
The PRESIDalT: We shall return to this item later.
Finally, in paragraph 24, wich relates to item 145 of the draft agenda,
"Establishment of a comprehensive system of international seeur ity", the General
Committee recommends to the Assel'lbly that the wording of the title of the item be
amended to read "Establishment of a comprehensive system of international peace and
security" and that the Assembly should include the item in the agenda as amended.
I take it that the Assembly adopts those reconunendations.
It was so decided.
We turn now to the agenda which the General Committee
reconunends for adoption by the General Assembly.
In accordance with past practice, we shall follow the nUmbering given in
paragraph 25 of the General Committee's first report (A/41/250) and s~all consider
several items in groups, where that seems appropriate. I should like to remind
members once again that at present we are not discussing the substance of any item
except when such discussion can assist the Assembly in deciding whether or not to
include an item in the agenda.
Items 1 to 6 have already been acted upon in plenary meeting; therefore their
inclusion has been approved.
We come now to items 7 to 23.
I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to include those items
i.n the agenda.
It was so decided.
Next we turn to item 24, entitled "Armed Israeli
aggression against the Iraqi nuclear installations and its grave consequences for
the established international system concerning the peaceful uses of nuclear
energy, the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and international peace and
security". May I take it that item 24 is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Item 25 is entitled "The situation in Kampuchea". May!
consider that item 25 is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Next we turn to item 26, "The situation in Afghanistan
and its implications for international poace and security". May I take it that
item 26 is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
The next item is item 27, "Co-operation between the
united Nations and the Organization of African Unity". May I take it that this
item is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Item 28 is entitled "Question of the Falkland Islands
(Malvinas)". May I take it that item 28 is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We now turn to item 29, "Critical economic situation in
Africa". May I take it that item 29 is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Next we turn to item 30, ·Co-operation between the United
Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee". I take it that the
Assembly wishes to include that item in the agenda.
It was so decided.
The next item, item 31, is entitled -Question of the
Cornorian Island of Mayotte". Taking into account the report of the General
Committee and the statement made in that Committee, may I take it that item 31 is
included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Next we come to item 32, entitled "Law of the Sean • May
I take it that this item is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Item 33 is entitled "Polices of apartheid of the
Government of South Africa". May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to
include this item in the Agenda?
It was so decided.
We come now to item 34, entitled "United Nations
Conference for the Promotion of Internation~l Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of
Nuclear Energy". I take it that this item is included in the agenda.
It was so decided.
Next we come to item 35, entitled "Question of
Pa1estinel". I take it that the Assembly wishes to include this item in the agenda.
It was so decided.
May I take it that item 36, entitled "Question of
Namibia", this item is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Item 37, entitled "The situation in the Middle East", is
recommended for inclusion. I take it that this item is included in the agenda.
It was so decided.
We come next to item 38, entitled "Review of the
efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations:
report of the Group of High-Level Intergovernmental Experts to Review the
Efficiency of the Administrative and Financial Functioning of the United Nations".
I take it that the Assembly wishes to include this item in the agenda.
It was so decided.
We turn now to item 39, entitled "Question of peace,
stability and co-operation in South-East Asiaw• May I take it that item 39 is
included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
. I take it that the Genel:a1 Assembly has no objection to
the inclusion in the agenda of item 40, "Launching of global negotiations on
international economic co-operation for development"?
It was so decided.
Item 41, entitled "Question of equitable representation
on and increase in the membership of the Security Council", has been recommended
for inclusion in the agenda. May I take it that the Assembly approves this
recommendation?
It was so decided.
We turn next to item 42, "The situation in Central
America: threats to international peace and security and peace initiatives". May
I take it that item 42 is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
!he PRESIDENT: Item 43, "Question of Cyprus", has been recommended for
ir.clusion in the agenda. I take it that the Assembly approves that recommen(ltion.
It was so decided.
Next we turn to item 44, "Implementation of the
resolutions of the united Nations". I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly
to include this item in the agenda.
It was so decided.
Item 4S is entitled "Consequences of the prolongation of
the armed conflict between Iran and Iraq". I take it that the Assembly wishes to
inclUde this item in the agenda.
It was so decided. ~
We come now to the includion of items 46 to 58. May I
take it that those items are included in the agenda?
It was decided.
Next we come to item 59, entitled "Chemical and
bacteriological (biological) weapons". May I take it that this item is included in
the agenda?
It was so decided.
I now put before the Assembly the question of the
inclusion of items 60 to 65. I take it that those items are included in the agenda.
It ~~s so decided~
We now turn to the question of the inclusion of item 66,
entitled "Question of Antarctica". I take it that the Assembly wishes to include
this item in the agenda.
It was so decided.
Next we come to items 67 to 69. May I take it that these
items are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
May I also take it that items 70 to 16 are included in
the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now ~o the ques,~on of the inclusion of item 77,
entitled "Question of the Malagasy Islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and
Bassas Da India". Taking into account the report of the General Committee and the
statements made in that Committee, may I take it that item 77 is included in the
agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the question of the inclusion of item 78,
entitled "Question of the composition of the relevant organs of the United
Nations". May I take it that item 78 is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We now come to items 79 to 82. I take it that they are
included in the agenda.
It was so decided.
We come next to items 83 to 103. May I take it that
those items are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We come now to items 104 to 108. May I take it that
those items are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We now turn to items 109 to 120. May I take it that
those items are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Items 121 to 136 have been recommended for inclusion in
the agenda. I take it that the General Assembly approves that recommendation.
It was so decided.
Next we turn to item 137, entitled "Question of thCl
review of the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space N •
Hay I take it that the Assembly includes this item in the agenda7
It was so decided.
Now we turn to item 138, entitled "Vienna Convention on
the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between
International Organizations". I take it that this item is included in the agenda.
It was so decided.
Next we turn to item 139, entitled NZone of peace and
co-operation of the South Atlantic". I take it that the Assembly wishes to include
this item in the agenda.
It was so decided •
We turn now to item 140, entitled ftCurrent financial
crisis of the United Nationsft • May I take it that it is the wish of the General
Assembly to include this item in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Item 141 is entitled "Establishment of a comprehensive
system of international peace and security". I take it that this item is included
in the agenda.
It was so decided.
The last item recommended by the General Committee for
inclusion in the agenda, item 142, is entitled "Declaration of the Assembly of
Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African unity on the aerial
and naval military attack against the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya by
the present united States Administration in April 1986ft •
May I take it that the Assembly includes item 142 in the agenda?
It was so decided.
The ~RESIDENT: We now turn to the question of the allocation of items
dealt with in section IV of the first report of the General Committee. I~ this
connection, the General Committee, in paragraph 26, draws the General Assembly's
attention to paragraph 4 of its decision 34/401, which states that
"substantive items should normally be discussed initially in a Main Committee
and, therefore, items previously allocated to plenary meetings should
henceforth be referred to a Main Committee unless there are compelling
circumstances requiring their continued consideration in plenary meetingft •
The modifications indicated in paragraph 27 are reflected in the proposed
allocation. We shall therefore consider them when we come to the relevant items
under paragraph 28.
May I now invite members to turn to the list of items recommended for
consideration in plenary meeting.
Regarding item 19, the General Committee recommends in paragraph 27 Ca) (i)
that the Assembly refer to the Fourth Committee all the chapters of the report of
the special Committee relating to specific Territories so that the General Assembly
may deal in plenary meeting with the question of the implementation of the
Declaration as a whole.
May I take it that the General Aesembly approves that recommendation?
It was so dec~.
I now invite members to consider item 28, "Question of
the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)". In this connection, as stated in
paragraph 27 (a) (ii), the General Committee decided to recommend to the General
Assembly that the item should be considered directly in plenary meeting, on the
understanding that bodies and individuals having an interest in the question would
be heard in the Fourth Committee in conjunction with the consideration of the item
in plenary meeting.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
I now invite me~bers to turn their attention to item 33,
entitled "Policies of aeartheid of the Government of South Africa". In this
connection, as stated in paragraph 27 (a) (iii), the General Committee decided to
recommend to the General Assembly that the item should be considered directly in
plenary meeting, on the understanding that representatives of the Organization of
African unity and of national liberation movements recognized by that organization
would be permitted to participate in the discussion in plenary meeting and that
organizations and individuals having a special interest in the question would be
permitted to be heard by the Special Political Committee.
(The President)
May I ,take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation of the
General Committee?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the recommendation of the GeneLal
Committee on the allocation of item 36, entitled "Question of Namibia". As
indicated in paragraph 27 (a) (iv), the General Committee decided to recommend to
the General Assembly that the item should be considered directly in plenary
meeting, on the understanding that hearings of the organizations concerned would be
held in the Fourth Committee.
I take it that the General Assembly approves that recommendation.
It was so decided.
We now turn to item 38, "Review of the efficiency of the
administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations". I should like to
inform the Assembly that in the light of further consultations among members the
following allocation of this item has been agreed upon: item 38, "Review of the
efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations",
will be considered in plenary meetings of the General Assembly. During the course
of this consid~ration, the Fifth Committee will, within the scope of its
responsibilities, undertake a factual examination of the report and submit its
findings to the plenary meeting.
It was so decided.
I now 1n~ite the General Assembly to turn its attention
to paragraph 27 (a) (vi), regarding the item entitled "Question of Cyprus", in
which the General Committee recommends that the General Assembly defer a decision
on the allocation of the item to an appropriate time in the future.
May I take it that the Assembly adopts that recommendation?
It was so decided.
(The President)
I now invite the General Assembly to turn its attention
to paragraph 27 (a) (vii), regarding the item entitled ·Zone of peace and
co-operation of the South Atlantic·, in which the General Committee recommends that
the item should be considered directly in plenary meeting.
I take it that the General Assembly adopts that recommendation.
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraph 27 (a) (viii) dealing with
item 140, ·Current financial crisis of the united Nations·. The General Committee
recommends that the Assembly consider this item directly in plenary meeting, on the
understanding that the Fifth Committee will deal with the clarification of
technical questions relating to the item.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
Finally, the General Committee has recommended in
paragraph 27 (a) (ix) that item 142, "Declaration of the Assembly of Heads of State
and Government of the Organization of African unity on the aerial and naval
military attack against the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya by the
present United States Administration in April 1986", should be considered directly
in plenary meeting.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
May I now take it that the General Assembly approves the
allocation of the other items listed for consideration directly in plenary meeting?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items which the General
Committee has recommended for allocation to the First Committee.
In connection with item 60, iiGeneral and complete disarmament", the General
Ccmrnittee has recommended in paragraph 27 (b) (i) that the relevant paragraphs of
the annual report of the International Atomic Energy Jlgency, which is to be
considered directly in plenary meeting under item 14, should be drawn to the
attention of the First COIllllittee in connection with its consideration of item 60.
May I take it that the Assenilly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
The FRES IDENT: Next we turn to paragraph 27 (b) (ii), concerning
item 141, entitled "Establishment of a canprehensive system of international peace
and security". The General Conunittee decided to reconunend that this be allocated
to the First Committee.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves that recoll1llendation?
It was so decided.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves the
allocation of the items proposed for allocation to the First Conunittee?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items which the General
Conunittee has recommended for allocation to the Special Political Committee.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items
proposed for allocation to the Special Political Conunittee?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items which the General
Committee has recommended for allocation to the second Conunittee.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves this reconunendation?
It was so decided.
We come nON to the items proposed for allocation to the
Third Committee.
In connection with item 12, entitled "Report of the Fconomic and SOcial
Council", the General Committee recommends in paragraph 27 (c) (i) that the question
entitled "Families in the development process" should be discussed by the Third
Commit tee under item 12.
May I take it that the General Assembly adopts that recolllUendation?
It was so decided.
In connection with item 93 (b), entitled "United Nations
Development Fund for women", the General Committee recommends in
paragraph 27 (c) (ii) that the annual report of the Administrator of the United
Nations Development Programme on the operations, management and budget of the Fund
should be referred to the second Committee for consideration under item 80,
"Operational activities for development".
May I take it that the General Assembly adopts that recommendation?
It was so decided.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves the
proposed allocation of items to the Third Committee?
It was so decided.
Are there any COlllUents on the proposed allocation of
items to the Fourth Committee? I hear none, therefore I take it that the General
Assembly approves the proposed allocation.
It was so decided.
We turn nON to the list of items proposed for allocation
to the Fifth COIlIIlittee.
Regarding item 114, entitled "Joint Inspection thit", the General Committee
recommends in paragraph 27 (d) that the item be allocated to the Fifth Committee,
on the Wlderstanding that reports of the Joint Inspection Unit dealing wi th
subject-matters assigned to the other Main Committees will be referred also to
those Conunittees.
May I take it that the General Assembly adopts that recomnendation and
apprOlTes the allocation of the other items proposed for allocation to the Fifth
Committee?
It was so decided.
Next we come to the items recommended for allocation to
the Sixth Conunittee. May I take it that the General Assembly adopts this
r econunendation?
It was so decided.
The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration
of the first report of the General Committee.
The General Assembly will now turn to the report of the General Committee on
its second meeting, held on 19 Septerrber 1986 (A/41/250/Add .1).
First, we shall examine section 11, "Organization of the session".
In paragraph 2 the General Committee draws the attention of the General
Assembly to the fact that, in view of the current financial cr is is of the United
Nations and the efforts being undertaken to review the efficiency of the
administrative and financial functioning of the Organization, questions relating to
the rationalization of the work of the General Assenbly must be dealt with on a
priority basis if the forty-first session is to be conducted in the most effective
manner.
May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of paragraph 2 of the
General Committee's report?
(The President)
In paragraph 3, which concerns the report of the Group of
High-Level Intergovernmental Experts to Review the Efficiency and the
Administrative and Financial Functioning of the United Nations (A/4l/49), the
Committee recommends that the General AsseJIbly consider the recommendations
contained in that report relating to the rationalization of the work of the
Asseni>ly at the earliest possible opportunity.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves that recommenda tion?
It was so decided.
Paragraphs 4 and 5 deal with the closing date of the
forty-first session. In paragraph 4, in connection with General Assel!t>ly
decision 40/472, on the secretary-General's proposal to curtail by three weeks the
duration of the forty-first session, the General Committee decided to defer
consideration of the closing date of the forty-first session to a future meeting.
May I take it that the General Assel!t>ly takes note of this decision?
It was so decided.
Further, in paragraph 5 the General Committee recomnends
that the Assenbly should draw the attention of the Chairmen of the Main Committees
to the desirability, when approving their respective programnes of wor k for the
session, of sufficient flexibility to allow for an orderly shortening of the
session if the Assembly should so decide.
May I take it that the General Assenbly approves tha t recommenda tion?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 6 the General Committee draws to the
attention of the Assenbly the fact that, owing to a 30 per cent reduction in costs
relating to overtime, the secretariat will not be able to provide all the services
rendered in previous years.
May I take it that the AssemLly takes note of that information?
It was so decided.
Paragraph 7 concerns the observance of the twentieth
anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenants on human rights.
Recalling paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 40/114, whereby the Assembly
decided, inter alia, to convene on 16 December 1986, during the forty-first
session, a commemorative plenary meeting devoted to the twentieth anniversary of
the adoption of the International Covenants on human rights, the Committee
recommends that, in the light of the fact that 16 December would normally be the
closing date of this session, a commemorative plenary meeting should be convened on
a date to be decided at a later stage.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves that recowmendation?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraph 8 of the rep,rt, in which the
Committee recommends that the General Assembly waive, at this session, the
requirement of the presence of at least one third of the members to declare a
plenary meeting open and permit the debate to proceed, and one quarter of the
members to declare a meeting of a Main Committee open and permit the debate to
proceed. This recommendation is made on the understanding that such a waiver would
not imply any permanent change in the relevant provisions of rules 67 and 108 of
the rules of procedure and that, in accordance with those rules, the presence of a
majority of the members shall be required for any decision to be taken.
May I take it that the General Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 9, regarding the length of statements, the
General Committee draws the attention of the Assembly to rules 72 and 114 of the
rules of procedure and paragraph 22 of annex VI thereof for appropriate action in
plenary meeting and in the Main Committees.
May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of that paragraph?
It was so decided.
The PRESIDENTl\ We turn now to section III of the second report of the
General Conunittee, relating to adoption of the agenda and allocation of items. In
paragraph 10 it is stated that the General Committee decided to consider at a
subsequent meeting at an early date the secretary-Generalis suggestions wi th regard
to (a) the grouping of related items under a single heading and (b) the staggering
of i terns over two or more years.
May I take it that the General Assembly takes !tote of that decision?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 11 the General Committee reconunends that
item 143 of the draft agenda, WExternal debt crisis and development", be included
in the agenda and allocated to the second Committee.
I take it that the General Assenbly wishes to include that item in the agenda
and allocate it to the second Commi ttee.
It was so decided.
The General Assembly has thus concuded its consideration
of the second report cl the General Committee.
Each Main Committee will receive promptly the list of agenda items allocated
to it so that it may begin it~ work as soon as possible, in accordance with rule 99
of the rules of procedure.
The meeting rose at 1.40 p.m.