A/42/PV.99 General Assembly

I request the Rapporteur c the Fifth Committee, Mr. FeUx Aboly-Bi-Kouassi of Cote d'Ivore, to introduce the reports of that Committee in one intervention. f Hr. ABOLY-BI-llOO!\SS I (Cote d' I vore ). Rappor teur of the Fifth Co""ittee (interpretation from French): I have the honour to introduce, for consideration t the General Assent>ly at this meeting, 13 reports of the Fifth Committee. The first relates to agenda item 12, "Report of the Economic and Social Council". It is contained in document A/42/888. In paragraph 4 of the report, th Fifth Committee reconunends that the General Assembly adopt a draft decision ~king note of chapters I, IV (section I), V (section A), VI (sections C and E), VII and VIII of the report of the Economic and Social Council. The second report, in document A/42/908, relates to agenda item 41, "Review 0 the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations". Consideration of this item involved several long debates in official ani unofficial meetings of the Fifth Committee. At the 67th meeting, the Fifth Committee adopted without a vote a draft resolution on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 41/213, and in paragraph 8 of the report it recommends its adoption by the General Assembly. The draft resolution calls upon Member States to demonstrate their commitment to the United Nations by, inter alia, meeting their financial obligations in accordance with the Charter. It also requests the secretary-General, in implementing those recommendations contained in General Assembly resolution 41/213 which are within his purview, to seek the approval of the General Assembly for a departure from the approved recommendations. Wi th regard to the implementation of operative paragraph 10 (a) of the draft resolution, if adopted by the General Assembly, the United Nations Comptroller has indicated how the Secretariat would interpret this sub-paragraph; and the Chairman of the Fifth Committee has expressed a legal opinion resulting from consultations with the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs. The opinion reads as follows~ "Sub-paragraph 10 (a) pro~ides guidelines to the Secretary-General with a view to implementing plans for the construction of United Nations conference facilities. It states that the General Assembly had before it recommendation 5 of the Group of 18 and that it also considered the report of the secretary-General (A/C. 5/42/4) containing his views on the question. l'After considering this document, the Assembly invited the secretary-General to undertake, as requested, the implementation of two drafts approved in paragraph 1 (a) of section I of resolution 41/213, it being understood that no additional credit would be requested in this connection for the biennium 1988-1989. In other words, the expression 'takes note' in paragraph 10 (a) has the usual meaning in this context, bearing in mind its goals and objectives, as is true of any term or expression used in a legislative instrument. The interpretation turns initially on the formulation used~ then, if there remain any uncertainties, the circumstances in which the text was drafted~ and, in the final analysis, of course, on the intentions of the organ adopting an instrument. In the present case, 'takes note' means that the General Assembly has read the report of the secretary-General and has studied it without either approving or disapproving it. "In short, the interpretation is the following. The Secretary-General has received instructions to undertake necessary work within the limits of funds available in the construction account in order, in timely-fashion, to give the Advisory Committee on Administrative and BUdgetary Questions and the General Assembly the technical and financial information needed to justify any new allocation of resources under the two drafts already approved by the General Assembly." Here, the General Assembly's attention should be drawn to the annex to document A/42/908, dealing with the contingency fund, which contains the criteria for use of the fund, for the period covered by the fund, which will be implemented during the 1990-1991 biennium. The third report is in document A/42/909 on agenda item 43, "Cur rent financial crisis of the United Nations". In paragraph 8 of this report the Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution reaffirming the obligation of all Member States under the Charter of the united Nations to finance the expenses of the Organization as appor tioned by the General Assembly and calls upon them to pay all their assessed contr ibutions in full and in a timely manner. Furthermore, the draft resolution reauests the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with the Secretary-General and the Chairmen of the regional groups, to keep under consideration the possihility of reconvening the forty-second session of the General Assembly, at an appropriate moment in 1988, to address the financial situation of the Organization. The Committee adopted this draft resolution without a vote. The fourth report is in document A/42/880 on agenda item 114, entitled "Programme budget for the biennium 1986-1987". The Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of two draft resolutions in paragraph 9 and two draft decisions in paragraph 10. Draft resolution I has two parts, A and B: part A contains the final bUdget appropriations for the biennium 1986-1987, amounting to $1,711,801,200; and part B contains the final income estimates for the biennium 1986-1987 amounting to ~304,745,lOO. Draft resolution 11 deals with the standards of accommodation for air travel and decides that, with the exception of the Secretary-General and the heads of delegations of the least developed countries to regular and special sessions of the General Assembly, all individuals travelling at united Nations expense and who were previously entitled to first-class accommodations will he reauired to travel in the class immediately below first class. However, it authorizes the Secretary-General to exercise his discretion in making exceptions to allow first-class travel on a case-by-case basis. The fifth report is in document A/42/88l on agenda item 116, entitled "Programme planning". The recommendation of the Fifth Committee appears in paragraph 39. The sixth report is in document A/42/882 on agenda item 117, entitled "Financial emergency of the united Nations". In paragraph 9 the Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of two draft resolutions, A and B. Draft resolution A reaffirms the commitment of the united Nations to seek a comprehensive and generally acceptable solution to its financial problems, based on the principle of collective financial responsibility of Member states and in strict compliance with the united Nations Charter. It reauests the Secretary-Gener.al, in addition to his official communications to the Permanent Representatives of Member states, to approach, as and when appropriate, the Governments of Member states for the purpose of encouraging expeditious payment in full of assessed contributions, in compliance with the Financial Regulations of the United Nations. The seventh report is in document A/42/883 on agenda item 118, entitled "Administrative and budgetary co-ordination of the united Nations with the specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency". The Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution in paragraph 9 and the draft decision in paragraph 10. The eighth report is in document A/42/884 on agenda item 119, entitled "Joint Inspection Unit". The Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution in paragraph 9 and the draft decision in paragraph 10. The ninth report is in document A/42/885 on agenda item 122, entitled "Personnel auestions". The Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the two draft resolutions in paragraph 19 and the draft decision in paragraph 20. Draft resolution 11, A I, on the composition of the Secretariat reauests the Secretary-General, whenever appointments are made to posts subject to geographical t distribution, to make every effort to recruit nationals of unrepresented Member States, under-represented Member States and candidates successful in the national competitive examinations, taking into consideration also paragraph 4 of resolution 41/206 A. Furthermore, it is reaffirmed in the draft resolution, that the Secretary- General, in making appointments to the upper echelons, should strive to appoint only a candidate from a Memher State other than that of the incumbent to be replaced in order to reinforce the principle of rotation in the upper echelons of the Secretariat, unless there are exceptional circumstances, in the light of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter. Draft resolution C on improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat takes note of the report of the Secretary-General and of his continuing efforts to improve the status of women in the Secretariat, including his decision to extend the Office of the Co-ordinator for the Improvement of the Status of Women in the Secretariat for a period of six months. It also invites the Secretary-General, taking into account the views expressed by Member states at this session of the General Assembly and in other relevant inter-governmental bodies, to review the situation at the end of that period and to take the necessary measures to ensure the continued implementation of the action programme for the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat. The tenth report is in document A/42/886 on agenda item 123, entitled "United Nations common system". In paragraph 9 the Fifth Committee recommends the adoption of the draft resolution entitled "United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission". The eleventh report is in document A/42/887 on agenda item 124, entitled "United Nations pension system". The draft resolution recommended for adoption by the Fifth Committee appears in paragraph 8. The twelfth report is in document A/42/879 on agenda item 125 , entitled "Financing of the United Nations Peace-keeping Forces in the Middle East": sub-items (b), "United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon", and (c), "Review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States". There sri two draft resolutions recollUl1ended by the Fifth Commi ttee for adoption by the General Asseooly in paragraph 8 of the report: Draft resolution I is entitled "Financing of the united Nations Interim Force in Lebanon" and draft resolution II is enti tIed "Review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contr ibuting States". The final report for this afternoon is in document A/42/9l0 on agenda item 115, entitled "Proposed programme budget for the biennium 1988-1989", which engaged the Fifth Committee's attention for practically the whole session, for a very good reason: this is the year in which to adopt the programme budget. The Fifth Committee's recommendations under this agenda item are contained in section V of this report and consist of four draft resolutions, which, in the last paragraph, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly for adoption. For the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1988-1989 the Fifth Committee recommends appropriations totalling Sl,769,586,300 and approval of estimates other than those from staff assessment at S66,3l0,300. Thus, the net amount of expenses for the biennium 1988-1989 is therefore estimated at ~1,703,276,OOO. The Committee further recommends that the Working Capital Fund be set at $100 million. An estimated sum of $271,019,900 is recommended for staff assessment for the Tax Eaualization Fund during the biennium 1988-1989. The Fifth Committee approved the programme budget for the biennium 1988-1989 with very few abstentions. It is my pleasure, on behalf of the Fifth Committee, to recommend to the General Assembly the adoption of the draft resolutions in the reports I have just introduced.

If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Fifth Committee which are hefore the Assembly today. It was so decided.

Statements will therefore he limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the various recommendations of the Fifth Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. May I remind members that under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401 the General Assembly agreed that when the same draft resolution is considered in a main committee and in plenary meeting a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, that is, either in the Committee or in plenary meeting, unless that delegation's vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 12, dealing with those chapters of the report of the Economic and Social Council which were allocated to the Fifth Committee (A/42/888). The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision in pargraph 4 of the Fifth Committee's report. The Fifth Committee decided without objection to recommend to the General Assembly the adoption of that draft decision. May 1 take it that the Assembly adopted the draft decision? The draft decision was adopted.

This concludes our consideration of agenda item 12. The Assembly will now consider agenda item 41, "Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the united Nations." In this connection the Assembly has before it the report of the Fifth Committee (A/42/908). The Assembly will turn its attention the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 8 of A/42/908. The Fifth Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 42/211).

We have now concluded our consideration of agenda item 41. We turn now to the next report of the Fifth Committee, which is on agenda item 43, "Current financial crisis of the United Nations" (A/42/9U9). The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 42/212).

In the light of the reauest in paragraph 3 of the resolution just adopted by the General Assembly, the President of the Assembly, in consultation with the Secretary-General and the Chairmen of the regional groups, will keep under consideration the possihility of reconvening the forty-second session of the General Assembly, at an appropriate moment in 1988, to address the financial situation of the Organization. We turn now to the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 114, "Programme budget for the biennium 1986-1987", (A/42/880). The Assembly will now take a decision on the two draft resolutions and the two draft decisions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraphs 9 and 10 of document A/42/880. We shall first turn to draft resolution I, which concerns the programme budget for the biennium 1986-1987 and the final income estimates for the biennium 1986-1987. Draft resolution I was adopted by the Fifth Committee without objection. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 42/213).

Draft resolution 11 concerns standards of accommodation for air travel. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution 11 without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution 11 was adopted (resolution 42/214).

Next we turn to the draft decisions contained in paragraph 10 of A/42/880. Draft decision I, "Use of experts, consultants and participants in ad hoc expert groups," was adopted by the Fifth Committee without objection. May 1 take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft decision I was adopted.

Finally, we come to draft decision 11, which concerns the organization of methods for official travel. The Fifth Committee adopted draft decision 11 without objection. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopted draft decision 11? Draft decision 11 was adopted.

We have thus concluded our consideration of agenda iteam 114. l 1 !I I now invite members to turn their attention to the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 116, "Programme planning" (A/42/88l). The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Pifth Committee in paragraph 39 of its report, which the Fifth Committee adopted without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt the draft resolution? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 42/215).

The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 116. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 117, "Financial emergency of the United Nations" (A/42/882). The Assembly will now take a decision on the recommendations in paragraph 8 of the Fi fth Committee's report. Draft resolution A is entitled "Financial emergency," and draft resolution B concerns the issue of special postage stamps. Those draft resolutions were adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution A was adopted (resolution 42/216 A). Draft resolution B was adopted (resolution 42/216 B). The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Russian)~ We have now concluded our consideratioo of agenda item 117. The Assembly will now oonsider the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 118, "Administrative and budgetary co-ordination of the united Nations with the specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency" (A/42/883). The Assembly will now take a decision on the recommendations of the Fifth Committee contained in pargraphs 9 and 10 of its report. The Committee adopted without a vote the draft resolution in paragraph 9, entitled "Feasibility of establishing a single administrative tribunal". May I take it that the Assenbly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 42/217).

The draft decision in paragraph 10 of the Committee's report was adopted by the Committee without objection. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? The draft decision was adopted.

We have thus concluded our consideration of agenda item 118. We turn now to the repor t of the Fi fth Commi ttee on agenda item 119 concerning the Joint Inspection unit (A/42/884). The Assent>ly will now take a decision on the reconunendations contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the Fifth Committee's report. The draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report was adopted by the Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 42/218).

The draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 10 of its report was also adopted by the Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do thE same? The draft decision was adopted. The PRES IDENT (interpretation from Russian) ~ We have now concluded our consideration of agenda item 119. We turn now to the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 122, "Personnel questions" (A/42/885). The Assembly will now take a decision on the recommendations contained in pargraphs 19 and 20 of the Fifth Committee's report. We shall first turn to the four draft resolu tions in paragraph 19 of the report. Draft resolution I is entitled "Respect for the privileges and immunities of officials of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and related organizations." The Fifth Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly adopts that draft resolution? Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 42/219).

Next, we come to draft resolutions 11 A, Band C, which concern personnel questions. Draft resolu tion II A is entitled "Composi tion of the Secretariat ". The Fi fth Committee adopted that draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution 11 A was adopted (resolution 42/220 A) •

Draft resolutions ,n B and C concern the administration of justice in the Secretariat and the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat, respectively. Both were adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt the draft resolutions? Draft resolution 11 B was adopted (resolution 42/220 B). Draft resolution 11 C was adopted (resolution 42/220 C).

The General Assembly will now turn to the draft decision contained in paragraph 20 of the report in document A/42/885. It is entitled "Amendments to the staff rUles", and was adopted by the Fi fth Committee wi thou t a vo te. May I consider that the General Assembly also wishes to adopt the draft decision? The draft decision was adopted.

The Assembly has concluded its consideration of agenda item 122. The Assembly will next consider the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda i tern 123, "United Nations common system" (A/42/886). The Assembly will now take a decision on the recOl1Ullendation of the Fifth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. The draft resolution in that paragraph was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 42/221). consideration of agenda item 123. We shall now consider the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 124, "United Nations pension system" (A/42/887). The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution contained in paragraph 8 of the report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 42/222).

We have thus concluded our consideration of agenda item 124. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Fifth Committee on sub-items (b) and (c) of agenda item 125, which relates to the financing of the united Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States (A/42/879). The recommendations of the Fifth Committee are contained in paragraph 8 of its report. I shall first put to the vote draft resolution I. A recorded vote has been reauested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Bye10russian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal RepUblic of, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria; Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, SOlomon Islands, SOmalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swazi1and, SWeden, Thailand, TOgo, Trinidad and TObago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet SOcialist Republic, Union of Soviet SOcialist Republics, united Arab Emirates, united Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United RepUblic of Tanzania, United States of America, uruguay, Van.uatu, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Syrian Arab Republic Abstaining: Angola, Cuba, Democratic Yemen, Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Ma1dives, Poland, Viet Nam, Yemen Draft resolution I was adopted by 133 votes to 3, with 9 abstentions (resolution 42/223) •

I shall now put to the vote draft resolution 11. A recorded vote has been requested. In favour: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, ~ustria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Rrazil, Rrunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eauatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tohago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Repuhlic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Repuhlic of Tanzania, united States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Syrian Arab Republic Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cuba, Democratic Yemen, Iraa, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Maldives, Viet Nam, Yemen Draft resolution 11 was adopted hy 133 votes to 3, with 10 abstentions (resolution 42/224).

We have thus concluded our consideration sub-items (b) and (c) of agenda item 125. We turn now to the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 115, concerning the programme hUdget for the biennium 1988-1989 (A/42/910). The Assembly will now take a decision on the recommendations contained in paragraph 68 of the report of the Fifth Committee. For the time heing, the text of the recommendations may be found in document A/C.5/42/L.9, part II, Add.l, part 111 and Corr.l and part IV and Corr.l and Add.J.. The Assembly will first consider draft resolution I, which is found in document A/C.5/42/L.9 (part IV), and which consists of eight sections. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 42/225).

We turn now to draft resolutions II A, Band C, which are also found in document A/C.5/42/L.9 (part IV), and which concern the programme budget for the biennium 1988-1989. Draft resolution II A is entitled "Budget appropriations for the hiennium 1988-1989". A recorded vote has been reauested. (The president) A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Boli~ia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El sa1~ador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic Repuh1ic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraa, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Renya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liheria, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arah Repuhlic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist RepUblic, Union of soviet Socialist Republics, United Arah Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugosla~ia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Againat: Israel Abstaining: Australia, Japan, united States of America Draft resolution 11 A was adopted by 146 votes to 1, with 3 abstentions resolution 42/226 A).

Draft resolution 11 B concerns income estimates for the biennium 1988-1989. It was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do th same? adopted draft resolution 11 C without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft resolution 11 C was adopted (resolution 42/226 C).

We now turn to draft resolution Ill, which is found in the same document, and which is entitled "Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for the biennium 1988-1989". Draft resolution III was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 42/227).

Finally, we turn to draft resolution IV, which is also found in document A/C.S/42/L.9 (part IV), and which deals with the Working Capital Fund for the biennium 1988-1989. Draft resolution IV was also adopted hy the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assemhly wishes to do the same? Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 42/228).

The General Assembly has thus conclUded its consideration of agenda item 115 and all the reports of the Fifth Committee.

As indicated in the note, the General Assembly is required, during its current session, to appoint a person to fill the unexpired portion of the term of office of Hr. Nasser Kaddour, of the Syrian Arab Republic, as a member of the Joint Inspection Unit. Mr. Kaddour has resigned from membership of the Unit, effective 31 January 1988. In accordance with the procedures described in article 3, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, the regional group concerned was consulted, and it was determined that the Syrian Arab Republic should be requested to propose a candidate to replace Mr. Nasser Kaddour. As a result of further consultations in accordance with article 3, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, inclUding consultations wi th the President of the Economic and SOcial Council and wi th the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the Administrative Committee on Co-ordination, I now submi t to the Assembly the candidature of Mr. Adib Daoudy, of the Syrian Arab Republic, for appointment as member of the Joint Inspection unit for a term commencing on 27 May 1988 and expir ing on 31 December 1992. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to appoint this candidate? It was so decided.

That concludes our consideration of sub-item (h) of agenda item 17. ARMED ISRAELI 1\GGRESSION AGAINST IRAQI NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS AND ITS GRAVE a:>NSEQJENCES FOR THE ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL SYSTJ!)f a:>NCERNING THE FEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

It is my understanding that this item should be retained on the agenda of the forty-second sess ion of the General Assembly. May I take it that it i1 the wish of the Assembly to retain this item on the agenda of the forty-second session? It was so decided.

It is my understanding that consideration of this i tern should be deferred to the forty-third sess ion of the General Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to defer consideration of the item and to include it on the provisional agenda of the forty-third session? It was so decided.

That concludes our consideration of agenda item 35.

In connection with this i tern, repr es enta t i ves will recall tha t on 18 September th is year the Assent>ly decided to include this item on the agenda of the forty-second session. (spoke in English) I call upon the representative of Guatemala, who will speak on behalf of the Group of 77. Mr. AGUlLAR HECHT (Guatemala) (interpretation from spaoish make a statement on behalf of the Group of 77 with respect to aqend.a "Launch ing of globa1 negotiat ions on internat iona1 economic co-ope r a development". We reauest that consideration of that item be postPC>r1 forty-third session of the General Assembly. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 have re a f:f faith in multilateralism and their continuing support for that cance framework of the united Nations system, which is the most suitabl.e :f dialogue and negotiations. They have reiterated the need fully te> .i Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a Ne Economic Order and to launch global negotiations. Thus, our reauest: with the desire of the Group of 77 to seek agreement with its par toe developed countries; tha t is the proper way to implement Genera1 A IS lE resolution 34/138. The Group of 77 regrets that the international community has ~ agree on the launching of global negotiations because some deve1C>I>~c not shown a willingness to respond positively to the appeal of the ~ a speedy beginning of global negotiations on international economic for development. Developing countries continue to believe that th i:: important as a valid approach to find appropriate solutions to the n economic problems, for the benefit of all countries. At their eighth sununit Conference, the Heads of State or GO"err non-aligned countries reaffirmed the commitment of developing COunt:!: pressing for global negotiations as the international conununity' S TnC comprehensive effort with a view to restructuring international ~~c>r hastening the development of developing countries and strengtheni.ng co-operation. Such a call was adopted in New York by the Group of 77. They also urged the developed countries to show the political will necessary to launch global negotiations. In conformity with the decision adopted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77, as set out in this year's ministerial declaration, the Group of 77 is determined to reach agreement on the launching of global negotiations and will spare no effort to achieve that goal. We hope the developed countries will respond in the same conciliatory spirit and with the same will to negotiate. We regret that we were unable this year to achieve satisfactory results~ for that reason, after consultations with a number of our partners among the developed countries, we are proposing that the General Assembly decide to defer consideration of this item to the forty-third session and that it be included on the agenda of that session. Mr. OUDOVENKO (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) (interpretation from Russian): I wish first of all to join you, Comrade President, in expressing sincere condolences to the representative of the Philippines on the tragedy his country has suffered. We ask him to convey our deep sympathy to the people and the Government of the Philippines and to the ~amilies of the victims. I am speaking today on behalf of the delegations of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the German Democratic Republic, the Hungarian People's Republic, the Mongolian People's Republic, the Polish People's Republic, the Union of soviet Socialist Republics and my own country, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. We have consistently supported the initiative of the Group of 77 on the launching in the united Nations of global negotiations on international economic co-operation for development. Our consistent position of principle on this subject has been reaff!J times at the highest party and State levels, in both the warsaw Treaty ot'~ and the Council for Mltual Economic Assistance. The document jointly adO] May 1987 in Berlin by the states parties to the warsaw Treaty, entitled ..( Elimination of underdevelopment and the Establishment of a New InternatiQl Economic Order·, emphasized ·the importance of concrete and effective negotiations within the Et'· the united Nations wi th the participation of all States in order to • global and just solution to the most important international eoonomi' problems". (A/42/354, p. 12) Accordingly, we support the proposal just made by the Group of 77 th consideration of the item enti tled "Launching of global neqotia tions on international economic co-operation for developnent" be deferred and that be included on the agenda of the forty-third session of the General Assem delegation hopes that at that session all States Members of the United Na demonstrate the necessary political will, and that resolution 34/138, whi unanimously adopted, will be implemented in practice. It is likely that this will be my last statement at the forty-second of the General Assembly, and I should like to take this opportunity, sir I congratulate you CI'\ the success with which you have guided the work of tl session. Your profound knowledge, your energy and your impartiality haVE possible for the Assembly at th is session to solve unique problems. Tnie will help strengthen international peace and security and co-operation b~ peoples. (Hr. OUdovenko, Ukra!! the Assembly's wish to defer consideration of agenda item 44 and to include it in the provisional agenda of the forty-third session? It was so decided.

We have thus concluded our consideration of agenda item 44.

It is my understanding that there is no reauest to consider this item at the present session. As that appears to be the case, may I take it that the General Assembly decides to inclUde the item in the provisional agenda of its forty-third session? It was so decided.

That concludes our consideration of agenda item 45.

It is my understanding that it would be desirable to retain this item on the agenda of the present session. May I take it that the General Assembly agrees with that understanding and decides to retain the item on the agenda of its forty-second session? It was so decided. A.GENDA ITEM 47 CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROLONGATION OF TIlE ARMED CONFLICT BETWEEN IRAN AND IRAQ

I have received a reauest that this item be kept on the agenda of the current session. May I take it that that is the wish of the General Assembly? It was so decided. PENDING APPOINTMENTS

Under agenda item 120, entitled "Pattern of conferences, the General Assembly adopted resolution 42/207 A at its 97th plenary meeting, held on 11 December 1987. In operative paragraphs 2 and 3 of that resolution, the Assembly decided to extend the current mandate and status of the Committee on Conferences for a further year, from 1 January 1988 to 31 Decemher 1988, and requested the President of the General Assembly to reappoint the States currently members of the Committee for that further year, without its constituting a precedent. In compliance with that reauest, I have appointed the following States for a further year, from 1 January 1988 to 31 December 1988: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, the Bahamas, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Chile, Cyprus, Egypt, France, the German Democratic Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, the union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the united Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America.

Apart from matters which may arise relating to the agenda and organization of the session, of which the General Assembly remains seized, and bearing in mind the action already taken at the 28th and 98th plenary meetings concerning agenda items 34 and 136 and action taken at the present meeting concerning agenda item 43, the General Assembly will retain on the agenda of the forty-second session the following agenda items: item 28, "Armed Israeli aggression against the Iraai nuclear installation and its grave conseauences for the established international system concerning the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and international peace and securitY"J item 34, "The situation in Central America: threats to international peace and security and peace initiatives"~ item 43, "Current financial crisis of the United Nations"~ item 46, "Question of Cyprus"; item 47, "Conseouences of the prolongation of the armed conflict between Iran and Iraa"; and item 136, "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country". STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

I believe I can rightly note that our work has been successful not only auantitatively but, above all, Qualitatively. The credit for this is not only ours. In the final analysis, it is the result of the activities of all those people who work for peace and prosperity on our planet; it is the result of the activities of responsible statesmen. Allow me to recall my opening statement on 15 September, when I said that there existed a potential for political progress in important fields and that a :urn for the better - that is, an easing of international tension - was certainly ~ssible. I think that the forty-second session of the General Assembly and the ime it has heen held constitute an important step forward in that direction. The 144 items on the agenda of this session dealt with the major issues facin~ mankind. Thus, the session has made a significant contribution to the search for ways and means to resolve those issues. It has been marked by an increasing and serious effort to safeguard world peace and strengthen international security, to overcome underdevelopment and poverty, to settle the tragic conflicts that are taking a heavy toll. It has been characterized by a greater understanding of global problems that pose a challenge to all Governments and peoples, and by a greater understanding of the need to meet those challenges together. I believe that in the face of the realities of the nuclear and space age, a new political thinking has emerged which goes along with a new constructive approach to many international issues. At this session, we have demonstrated that the united Nations is not isolated from the course of world events. On the contrary, this session has proved more than ever before that the Organization is both in harmony and in an active interrelationship with the development of international relations. The timely decision the General Assembly adopted at its 46th meeting, on 21 October 1987, urging the Governments of the Soviet union and the united States of America to conclude at the earliest possible date a treaty on the elimination of their intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles, and the unanimously-adopted resolution on the situation in Central America stand for that, along with the debate on the relationship between the environment and development, the substantive resolution on the critical economic situation in Africa, and the global action to be taken jointly with the World Health Organization with a view to undertaking research into and combatting acouired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS). r I I I I I o Particular mention should be made of the Declaration on the Enhancement of the Effectiveness of the principle of Refraining from the Threat or Use of Force in International Relations. That document, while reaffirming the main principles enshrined in the Charter of our Organization, takes into account new realities. The decision to convene the third special session devoted to disarmament was a welcome one: That decision will indeed encourage the international community not only to dedicate even more attention to arms limitation and disarmament at a time when there is a parallel intensification of the bilateral and multilateral negotiation processes, but also to initiate proposals that will have a positive influence on the course and outcome of the special session. I call on all Member states to contribute their share in a constructive manner. The important addresses delivered by 13 Heads of State and the statements made by Heads of delegation of 139 Member States, including 10 Heads of Government and 108 Ministers for Foreign Affairs, have drawn an impressive picture of the tasks that the international community is facing. It is to be hoped that the United Nations will be used increasingly as a venue for result-oriented dialogue and negotiations so as to enable our Organization to render an even greater contribution towards resolving international problems. Often the call has been heard from this Hall: "More weapons do not mean more secur i ty" or "We need more confidence, more disarmament". Today we can say that this call has not passed unheeded anywhere. The bold, even historic, step taken by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United states of AIDer iea to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons under strict verification is of importance not only for Europe, where those weapons will be eliminated. It shows to the world that nuclear disarmament is feasible. New doors have been pushed open, the issues of security, stability and strategy have been placed in a new context. The 62 relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, including 24 without a vote, as well as the decision I mentioned are a weighty and substantive contribution to this process. It is only logical now for us to take the next steps: to ban war once and for all from the life of mankind. The agenda nOW' contains further measures of nuclear disarmament, the prevention of an arms race in outer space, the prohibition of chemical weapons and conventional disarmament - issues which, taken together, have acquired a new urgency. It follows, therefore, that the deliberations on the establishment of a comprehensive system of world peace and international security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations has its place in this process. Naturally, many questions are still open today. When looking for an answer we should show the same courage that the founding fathers of our Organization displayed in their time. As far as the economic issues are concerned, progress was made after hard work. Obviously, it continues to be difficult to come to an understanding with regard to international economic co-operation that takes due account of the special situation of developing countries. The adoption of the great majority of the relevant resolutions without a vote should, however, be considered as a positive trend. In the given circumstances, the resolution on the external debt problem of developing countries is a step forward. In my view, this session has confirmed that there is not only a growing awareness of the dangers emanating from focuses of conflict but also an incresed striving of the sorely afflicted peoples for their elimination. The first resolution adopted by the General Assembly at its forty-second session without a vote was aimed at prollOting the peace process in Cen tra1 Amer ica. Unfor tunately, as regards those conflicts, we have not yet exhausted all possibilities of reaching an understanding and eventual agreement that take account of the legitimate interests of the parties involved. I am convinced, however, that time will br ing its in,f1uence to bear on these issues. There is an increased awareness that an international conference on the Middle East with the participation of the five permanent members of the security Council and all parties to the conflict, inclUding the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) - the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people - is the only way to achieve a peaceful, comprehensive and just settlement of the Middle East conflict and the question of Palestine. The struggle of peoples against colonialism, racism and apartheid and for an independent Namibia, spearheaded by the South West Africa People's Organiza tion (SWAPO), has been rea.ffirmed. With respect to all those issues the challenges of today and tolOOrrow will have to be met in order to implement the right of all peoples to self-determination and to free choice of their own way of developnent in a peaceful, secure and humane w~ld. This also holds true for human rights. It is encouraging for the promotion of human rights everywhere that the General Assembly at this session adopted a nuniJer of resolutions that clearly established the comprehensive and complex ~aracter of this objective. In this connection, I also think of such tasks as taking into account the social and human aspects of rapid scientific and technological develoJ;lllent, the protection of the human environment and development as such, in developed and developing countries alike. In my opening statement I expressed the conviction that the United Nations is a living Organization; this conviction has been borne out by the forty-second session. The process of reforms initiated by resolution 41/213 has yielded its first results. We should continue to work wi th the same determination so tha t the world Organization will be well prepared for the 1990s. The resolutions adopted at this session, almost two thirds of them without a vote, are part of the balance-sheet that we can draw. I believe that the impact of these resolutions has been further increased because the auest for consensus has considerably increased and many draft resolutions have been merged. I think one conclusion we should draw is that it is possible to adopt more resolutions by consensus when common sense, realism and joint fruitful action prevail over certain special interests. Furthermore, I wish to stress that this session of the General Assembly has been much less burdened with aggressive confrontation in the deliberation of the issues on the agenda. It was, rather, marked by a distinct striving for understanding that permeated the countless meetings and encounters both inside and outside this Hall. Another achievement was that unnecessary procedural debates - which are always at the expense of substantive work - could be avoided. In view of the heavy workload and the financial constraints, it was a great achievement on the part of all those involved that the main part of our work could be concluded by the end of November and that only the consideration of certain items had for well-known reasons to be continued in December. That was possible because of the very determined work of the committees, in particular of their Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Rapporteurs, whom I should like to thank very much. Many good working methods have proved their worth: for example, close co-operation with the delegations when co-ordinating the Assembly's work programme, dispensing with the auorum in plenary meetings and in the Committees when no decisions were to be taken, or starting meetings in the plenary Assembly and in the committees at 10 a.m. In the given circumstances this is no small achievement. f I ! At this point I wish to note that it has been an honour and a privilege for me to preaide over this session. I should like to thank representatives for their confidence and close co-operation which made possible our joint success at this session. I wish to express my special gratitude to the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, for his constant advice and support. I have been very pleased with the fine co-operation I have had with the Vice- Presidents of the Assembly and their unfailing readiness to take this Chair at any hour to co-operate in consultations to solve difficult issues. My special thanks go to the Under-secretary-General for Political and General Assembly Affairs, Hr. Joseph Verner Reed, and the staff of his Department. It has been a pleasure for me to work with him. I think it has been a memorable General Assembly session for both of us. Special mention should be made of the Division of General AsseJltlly Affairs, which has fulfilled its tasks in an exemplary manner, setting a high standard for the work ethic of international civil servants. Furthermore, I wish to express my thanks to the Department of Conference Services headed by Under-Secretary-General Wyzner; to the interpreters, translators, conference and document officers, typists, to all staff members of the Department of Public Information for their excellent job, and to all those who made the success of our work possible. I am confident that our efforts were worthwhile. I wish all of you representatives restful holidays and a peaceful and prosperous year in 1988. I declare the forty-second session of the General Assentlly suspended. The meeting rose at 5.30 p.m.