A/47/PV.110 General Assembly

I request the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee, Mr. Jorge Osella of Argentina, to introduce the reports of the Fifth Committee in one statement. Mr. OSELLA (Argentina), Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee (interpretation from Spanish): I have the honour to introduce to the General Assembly for consideration the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda items 104, "Programme budget for the biennium 1992-1993"; 117, "Financing of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission"; 120, "Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991)"; 121, "Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara"; 122, "Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador"; 123, "Financing of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia"; 124, "Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peace-keeping operations"; 137, "Financing of the United Nations Protection Force"; 145, "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Somalia"; 153, "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique"; 155, "Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991"; 157, "Financing of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus"; and, lastly, 147, "Programme budget for the biennium 1990-1991". With respect to agenda item 104, part III of the Fifth Committee’s report relates to two points: granting of travel assistance to least developed countries that are members of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and establishment of special representatives, envoys and related positions. This report appears in document A/47/835/Add.2. As paragraph 2 of that report indicates, the Committee considered this item at its 58th, 66th, 71st and 76th meetings. With respect to the granting of travel assistance to least developed countries that are members of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, the Committee at its 71st meeting decided to recommend to the General Assembly that it defer consideration of the reports of the Secretary-General contained in documents A/47/454 and A/46/349 to its forty-eighth session. At its 76th meeting, the Committee considered the establishment of special representatives, envoys and related positions. On that occasion, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, on behalf of the Chairman, introduced a draft decision contained in document A/C.5/47/L.51, entitled "Programme budget for the biennium 1992-1993". The draft decision was adopted by the Committee without a vote. As paragraph 9 of the report indicates, the Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly that it adopt two draft decisions. With respect to agenda item 117, part III of the Fifth Committee’s report is contained in document A/47/795/Add.2. As paragraph 2 of the report indicates, the Committee considered this item at its 72nd, 73rd and 74th meetings. At its 74th meeting, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, on behalf of the Chairman, introduced a draft decision, in document A/C.5/47/L.47, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission". The draft decision was adopted by the Committee without a vote. As noted in paragraph 6 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly that it adopt the draft decision. With respect to agenda item 120, entitled "Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991)", in particular sub-item 120 (b), part II of the Fifth Committee’s report is contained in document A/47/823/Add.1. As paragraph 2 of the report indicates, the Committee at its 68th, 69th, 72nd and 74th meetings considered item 120 (a), entitled "Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991): United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission". At its 74th meeting, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee, on behalf of the Chairman, introduced a draft resolution, contained in document A/C.5/47/L.39, entitled "Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991): United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission". The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. As noted in paragraph 6 of the report in document A/47/823/Add.1, the Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly that it adopt the draft resolution. With respect to sub-item 120 (b), entitled "Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991): Other activities", the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/1013. As paragraph 2 of the report indicates, the Committee considered this item at its (Mr. Osella, Rapporteur, Fifth Committee) 74th meeting and decided, without objection, to recommend to the General assembly that it defer consideration of this item to its forty-eighth session. As paragraph 3 of the report indicates, the Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly that it adopt that draft decision. (Mr. Osella, Rapporteur, Fifth Committee) As regards agenda item 121, part III of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/796/Add.2. As paragraph 2 of the report indicates, the Committee considered the item at its 73rd and 74th meetings. At the latter meeting, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee introduced, on behalf of the Chairman, a draft decision (A/C.5/47/L.48) entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara". The Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote. As paragraph 5 of the report indicates, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft decision. As regards agenda item 122, part III of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/797/Add.2. As paragraph 2 of the report states, the Committee considered this subject at its 68th, 69th, 72nd and 75th meetings. At the latter meeting, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee introduced, on behalf of the Chairman, a draft resolution (A/C.5/47/L.40) entitled "Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador", which was orally revised at that time. The Committee adopted the draft resolution, as orally revised, without a vote. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution. As regards agenda item 123, part II of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/824/Add.1. As paragraph 2 of the report states, the Committee considered this item at its 68th, 69th, 72nd and 75th meetings. At the 75th meeting the Vice-Chairman of the Committee introduced, on behalf of the Chairman, a draft resolution (A/C.5/47/L.41) entitled "Financing of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia". The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution. As regards agenda item 124, part II of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/832/Add.1. (Mr. Osella, Rapporteur, Fifth Committee) As paragraph 2 of the report states, the Committee considered this item at its 68th, 69th, 70th, 72nd and 74th meetings. At the 70th meeting, on the proposal of the Chairman, the Committee decided to recommend that the General Assembly defer consideration of the question of the placement of member States into groups for the apportionment of United Nations peace-keeping operations. At the 74th meeting, the Vice-Chairman introduced, on behalf of the Chairman, a draft resolution (A/C.5/47/L.46) entitled "Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peace-keeping operations". The Committee adopted the draft decision and the draft resolution without a vote. In paragraph 7 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft decision and the draft resolution. As regards agenda item 137, part II of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/825/Add.1. As paragraph 2 of the report states, the Committee considered this item at its 68th, 69th, 72nd and 74th meetings. At the latter meeting, the Vice-Chairman introduced, on behalf of the Chairman, a draft resolution (A/C.5/47/L.42) entitled "Financing of the United Nations Protection Force". The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution. As regards agenda item 145, part III of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/734/Add.2. As paragraph 2 of the report states, the Committee considered this item at its 68th, 69th, 72nd and 74th meetings. At the latter meeting, the Vice-Chairman introduced, on behalf of the Chairman, a draft resolution (A/C.5/47/L.43) entitled "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Somalia". The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution. As regards agenda item 153, part II of the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/906/Add.1. As paragraph 2 of the report states, the Committee considered this item at its 68th, 69th, 72nd and 74th meetings. At the latter meeting, the Vice-Chairman introduced, on behalf of the Chairman, a (Mr. Osella, Rapporteur, Fifth Committee) draft resolution (A/C.5/47/L.44) entitled "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique". The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution. As regards agenda item 155, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/1014. As paragraph 2 of the report states, the Committee considered this item at its 70th, 72nd and 76th meetings. At the latter meeting, on behalf of the Chairman, a draft resolution (A/C.5/47/L.49) entitled "Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991" was introduced. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. In paragraph 8 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution. As regards agenda item 157, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/1015. As paragraph 2 of the report states, the Committee considered this item at its 73rd and 76th meetings. At the latter meeting the Vice-Chairman introduced, on behalf of the Chairman, a draft resolution (A/C.5/47/L.45) entitled "Financing of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus". The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. In paragraph 6 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution. Finally, as regards agenda item 147, the report of the Fifth Committee is contained in document A/47/826/Add.1. As the report states, the Committee considered this item at its 55th, 66th, 71st and 76th meetings. At the latter meeting, a draft decision was introduced, as indicated in paragraph 4 of the report under consideration. The Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote. In paragraph 4 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the draft decision. (Mr. Osella, Rapporteur, Fifth Committee) Having dealt with all the agenda items assigned to the Fifth Committee, we may consider its work concluded for this session. I am particularly grateful to all the representatives in the Fifth Committee for their cooperation during the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly while I carried out my duties as Rapporteur.

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 that are before the Assembly today. It was so decided.

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Fifth Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. (Mr. Osella, Rapporteur, Fifth Committee) 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, i.e., either in the Committee or in plenary meeting, unless that delegation’s vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee." May I remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes. Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Fifth Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Fifth Committee. The Assembly will first consider part III of the report (A/47/795/Add.2) of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 117, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report (A/47/795/Add.2). The draft decision was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft decision was adopted.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 117? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider the reports (A/47/823/Add.1 and A/47/1013) of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 120 relating to the financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991). We shall first consider part II of the report (A/47/823/Add.1) of the Fifth Committee on sub-item (a) of agenda item 120, which relates to the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission. The Assembly will take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of part II of the report (A/47/823/Add.1). The draft resolution, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission", was adopted without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 47/208 B).

The Assembly will now consider the report (A/47/1013) of the Fifth Committee on sub-item (b) of agenda item 120, which relates to other activities. In paragraph 3 of its report, the Fifth Committee recommends to the General Assembly that it decide to defer consideration of the item entitled "Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991): other activities", and to include the item in the agenda of the forty-eighth session. May I take it that the Assembly decides to do so? It was so decided.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 120? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider part III of the report (A/47/796/Add.2) of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 121, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 5 of its report (A/47/796/Add.2). The draft decision was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft decision was adopted.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 121? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider part III of the report (A/47/797/Add.2) of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 122, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report (A/47/797/Add.2). The draft resolution was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 47/234).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 122? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider part II of the report (A/47/824/Add.1) of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 123, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report (A/47/824/Add.1). The draft resolution was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 47/209 B).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 123? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider part II of the report (A/47/832/Add.1) of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 124, entitled "Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peace-keeping operations". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report (A/47/832/Add.1) and on the draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 8 of the same document. The Assembly will turn first to the draft resolution contained in paragraph 7 of the report, which was adopted without objection. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 47/218 B). (The President)

The Assembly will now turn to the draft decision contained in paragraph 8 of the report, which the Fifth Committee adopted without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft decision was adopted.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 124? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider part II (A/47/825/Add.1) of the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 137, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Protection Force". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 47/210 B).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 137? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider part III (A/47/734/Add.2) of the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 145, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Somalia". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 47/41 C).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 145? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider part II (A/47/906//Add.1) of the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 153, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 47/224 C).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 153? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider the report (A/47/1014) of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 155, entitled "Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991". 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 the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 47/235).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 155? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider the report (A/47/1015) of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 157, entitled "Financing of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus". The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution A/47/236).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 157? It was so decided. (The President)

The Assembly will now consider part III (A/47/835/Add.2) of the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 104, entitled "Programme budget for the biennium 1992-1993". The Assembly has before it two draft decisions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. The Assembly will first take a decision on draft decision I, entitled "Deferral of the granting of travel assistance to least developed and other developing countries that are members of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law". The Fifth Committee adopted draft decision I without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Draft decision I was adopted.

We turn now to draft decision II, entitled "Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peace-keeping operations". The Fifth Committee adopted draft decision II without a vote. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Draft decision II was adopted.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 104? It was so decided.

The Assembly will now consider part II (A/47/826/Add.1) of the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 147, entitled "Programme budget for the biennium 1990-1991".

I call on the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee. Mr. OSELLA (Argentina), Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee (interpretation from Spanish): I wish to correct an error in document A/47/826/Add.1. The penultimate line of subparagraph (b) of the decision should read, after the semi-colon: (spoke in English) "and to submit his proposals with regard to supernumaries in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 1994-1995." (spoke in Spanish) That was the wording of the English version agreed to in the Fifth Committee. (Mr. Osella, Rapporteur, Fifth Committee)

Taking into account the correction made by the Rapporteur, the Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 5 of part II of its report (A/47/826/Add.1). The draft decision was adopted by the Fifth Committee without objection. May I consider that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft decision was adopted.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 147? It was so decided. PROGRAMME OF WORK

I should like to draw the attention of the General Assembly to document A/47/1011, which contains a letter dated 2 September 1993 from the President of the Economic and Social Council addressed to me. The annex to the letter contains the text of a draft resolution on the International Year of the Family recommended by the Economic and Social Council for adoption by the General Assembly. The President of the Economic and Social Council requests that, in order to facilitate the preparatory process to the International Year of the Family, action on the draft resolution be taken before the end of the forty-seventh session. In order to do so, it will be necessary to reopen agenda items 12 and 93 (a). If there is general agreement on granting the request, the General Assembly could reopen the pertinent agenda items and consider the draft resolution directly in plenary meeting at the last meeting of the current session on Monday, 20 September. The meeting rose at 11.25 a.m.