A/47/PV.3 General Assembly

Friday, Sept. 18, 1992 — Session 47, Meeting 3 — New York — UN Document ↗

I should like to bring to the attention of representatives that since the issuance this morning, in provisional form, of document A/47/442/Add.1, containing a letter addressed to me by the Secretary-General in which he informed me that Haiti had made the necessary payment to reduce its arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter, Niger has also made the necessary payment to reduce its arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter. Consequently, the final version of document A/47/442/Add.1 will reflect this situation. May I take it that the General Assembly duly takes note of this information? It was so decided. ITEM 3 OF THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA (continued) CREDENTIALS OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE FORTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: (a) APPOINTMENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE
Members will recall that at its first plenary meeting the General Assembly appointed eight members of the Credentials Committee: Argentina, Barbados, Burundi, China, Kenya, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States of America. I now propose that the Assembly appoint Papua New Guinea as a member of the Credentials Committee. May I take it that the State I have mentioned is hereby appointed a member of the Credentials Committee? It was so decided.
The Credentials Committee for the forty-seventh session of the General Assembly has now been fully constituted in accordance with rule 28 of the rules of procedure. ITEM 8 OF THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND ORGANIZATION OF WORK: FIRST REPORT OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE (A/47/250)
I shall refer to specific sections and paragraphs of the report which contain recommendations for consideration by the Assembly. In paragraph 2 the General Committee draws the attention of the General Assembly to the provisions reproduced in annexes V, VI, VII and VIII of its rules of procedure. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of those provisions? It was so decided.
We shall now examine section II of the report, which deals with the organization of the session. In section II B, dealing with the rationalization of work of the General Assembly, the General Committee draws our attention to paragraph 5 of the annex to Assembly resolution 45/45. In this connection, the General Committee recommends to the General Assembly that, as at recent sessions, the holding of concurrent meetings of the Special Political Committee and the Fourth Committee should be avoided, to the extent possible, and with the necessary flexibility, during the forty-seventh session. May I take it that the Assembly agrees to that recommendation? It was so decided.
In section II C, which relates to the closing date of the forty-seventh session, the General Committee recommends to the General Assembly that the forty-seventh session recess no later than Friday, 18 December 1992, and close on Monday, 20 September 1993. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation? It was so decided.
In this connection, as reflected in paragraph 7, I wish to reiterate my appeal to all the Main Committees to start their work as soon as possible. I also urge the Main Committees to make every effort to complete their work by the target date of Friday, 27 November 1992, in order to report to the Assembly in plenary meeting in early December. May I take it that the Assembly endorses this appeal? It was so decided.
Regarding the schedule of meetings referred to in Section II D, the General Committee recommends in paragraph 8 that morning meetings should start at 10 a.m. promptly for all plenary meetings and meetings of the Main Committees during the forty-seventh session. May I take it that the General Assembly approves that recommendation? It was so decided.
In paragraph 9 the General Committee also recommends that in order to avoid the late start of meetings the General Assembly should 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 of at least 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 provisions of rules 67 and 108 of the rules of procedure. Furthermore, such a waiver would not affect the provisions of the rules concerning the requirement of the presence of a majority of the members for any decision to be taken. May I take it that the General Assembly approves this recommendation? It was so decided.
None the less, in this regard, I should like to endorse strongly the practical suggestions that were made at previous sessions for each delegation to designate someone to be present at the scheduled time. Some progress has been reported but there is still considerable room for improvement. I genuinely hope that all delegations will cooperate. The General Committee, in paragraph 10, recommends to the General Assembly that delegations should be reminded of the utmost importance of punctuality in the interest of ensuring an effective and orderly organization of work and achieving economies for the United Nations. May I take it that the Assembly approves 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 Committees to do the same. I sincerely hope that all delegations will make a special effort to cooperate in this regard. In section II E, concerning the general debate, the General Committee recommends that the general debate should begin on Monday, 21 September, and end by Thursday, 8 October 1992. The General Committee also recommends that the list of speakers in the general debate should be closed on Wednesday, 23 September at 6 p.m. May I consider that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained in paragraph 11? It was so decided.
In view of the very large number of speakers already inscribed, I urge representatives to speak in the order in which they appear on the list of speakers. Those who are unable to speak at the scheduled time will be put at the end of the list for that day. In paragraph 12, the General Committee draws the General Assembly'R attention to the decision taken by the Assembly at previous sessions, namely that the practice of expressing congratulations inside the General Assembly Hall itself after a statement has been delivered is prohibited, and recommends that this provision should also apply during the forty-seventh session. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation? It was so decided.
In this connection, in the same paragraph, the General Committee recommends to the General Assembly that speakers in the general debate, after delivering their statements, should leave the Assembly Hall through Room GA-200, located behind the podium, before returning to their seats. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation? It was so decided.
We shall now turn to section II F, regarding explanations of vote, right of reply, points of order and length of statements. In paragraph 13, the General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of its decision 34/401, which deal with explanations of vote and right of reply. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of these provisions? It was so decided.
In paragraph 14, the General Committee, in line with time-limits for explanations of vote and right of reply, recommends to the General Assembly that points of order should be limited to five minutes. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to limit points of order to five minutes? I see no objection. It was so decided.
In paragraph 15, regarding the length of statements, the General Committee draws the attention of the Assembly, as it did at recent sessions, to rules 72 and 114 of the rules of procedure and to paragraph 22 of annex VI thereto, for appropriate action in plenary meeting and in the Main Committees. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of these provisions? It was so decided.
Section II G deals with records of meetings. May I take it that the Assembly approves the recommendations contained in paragraph 16? It was so decided.
The General Committee also draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraph 17 of its decision 34/401, which is reproduced in section II H, concerning concluding statements in the General Assembly and its Main Committees. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of this provision? It was so decided.
In section II I, concerning resolutions, the General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraph 32 of its decision 34/401, to recommendation 3 (f) of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts, and to paragraphs 1 and 10 of the annex to Assembly resolution 45/45. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of these provisions? It was so decided.
Section II J of the report of the General Committee refers to questions related to the programme budget. In this connection, the General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraphs 12 and 13 of its decision 34/401. The Committee also draws the Assembly's attention to paragraph 6 of its resolution 35/10 A of 3 November 1980, which deals with proposals affecting the schedule of conferences and meetings and to regulation 4.9 of the Regulations Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 37/234. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the provisions contained in paragraphs 20 and 21? It was so decided.
In paragraph 22, in connection with subparagraph 13 (d) of decision 34/401, the General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to the observations by the Secretary-General regarding the fact that, depending on the type and complexity of the proposals involving changes in the work programme and additional expenditures, the preparation of a statement of programme budget implications by the Secretary-General may take a few days. In addition, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Fifth Committee need adequate time to review the programme budget implications of a draft resolution before the latter can be acted on by the Assembly. The Secretary-General thus considers it desirable that Member States submit proposals involving statements of programme budget implications sufficiently in advance to avoid the cancellation of meetings and the postponement of consideration of items. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the observations contained in paragraph 22? It was so decided.
Section II K refers to documentation. In paragraph 23, the General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to paragraph 28 of Assembly decision 34/401 relating to reports of the Secretary-General or of subsidiary organs. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of that provision? It was so decided.
In that connection, the General Committee took note of the proposal by the Secretary-General that the Committee should examine further the question of how to respond to the increasing volume of documentation. Given the limited capacity of the documentation-processing services, it is essential that documentation requirements be met according to established priorities. Of necessity, pre- and in-session documents must take precedence over meeting records. The translation of summary records, in particular, must be delayed if demand exceeds capacity. Waiving the simultaneous distribution requirement in this case will ensure that some language versions of summary records will appear in a timely manner. Section II L concerns observances and commemorative meetings. The General Committee recommends to the General Assembly that, allowing for the necessary flexibility, and with the exception of the anniversary of the United Nations, the General Assembly adopt the following format for commemorative meetings: statements by the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General, and statements by the chairmen of the five regional groups and by the representative of the host country. The Committee also recommends that consideration be given to limiting each statement to 15 minutes. The General Committee further recommends that observances and commemorative meetings take place, as far as possible, immediately following the general debate. The advantage of such a procedure is that it might facilitate the participation of dignitaries attending the general debate. This procedure would also allow advance planning of the Assembly's work. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt the recommendations contained in paragraphs 25 and 26? It was so decided.
Section II M relates to special conferences. The General Committee draws the General Assembly's attention to recommendation 6 of the Committee on Conferences, adopted by the Assembly in paragraph (b) of its decision 34/405 and to recommendations 2 (d) and 4 of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts. I take it that the General Assembly takes ncte of those provisions? It was so decided.
In section II N, concerning meetings of subsidiary organs, the General Committee, in the light of recommendations submitted by the Committee on Conferences, recommends to the General Assembly that the following subsidiary organs of the Assembly be authorized to hold meetings during the forty-seventh session: Advisory Committee on the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa; Committee of Trustees of the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa; Committee on Relations with the Host Country; Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; Executive Board of the United Nations Children's Fund; Intergovernmental Group to Monitor the Supply and Shipping of Oil and Petroleum Products to South Africa; Special Committee against Apartheid; and Working Group of the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. May I take it that the General Assembly approves those recommendations? It was so decided.
That completes our consideration of section II of the report of the General Committee, which relates to the organization of the session. We turn now to section III of the report, which contains observations and proposals on the organization of future sessions. In connection with the programme of work of the General Assembly, in paragraph 31 the General Committee recommends to the Assembly that it consider the possibility of rationalizing its meetings between January and August of each year to allow advance planning for delegations and the Secretariat. In paragraph 32, with regard to Main Committees, in the light of the experience gained in scheduling the work of the General Assembly, and making allowances for the required flexibility, the General Committee recommends to the Assembly that it examine the possibility of fixing staggered target dates for the completion of the work of the Main Committees. This would allow for better planning of meetings and processing of the reports of the Main Committees. May I take it that the Assembly adopts the recommendations contained in paragraphs 31 and 32? It was so decided.
Also with regard to Main Committees, as reflected in paragraph 33, the General Committee endorsed the suggestion of the Secretary-General that it should undertake a review of the structure and mandates of the Main Committees with a view to making improvements, including merging the mandates of some Committees or changing their responsibilities in the light of the evolving agenda of the General Assembly. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of paragraph 33? It was so decided.
We turn now to section IV of the report of the General Committee, relating to the adoption of the agenda. May I just recall to members of the General Assembly rule 23 of the rules of procedure, which provides that "Debate on the inclusion of an item in the agenda, 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 inclusion". I should like to stress that at this time we are not discussing the substance of any item. In paragraph 35, the General Committee recommends that the General Assembly direct its Main Committees to review their agenda with a view to streamlining their programme of work. In particular, the Main Committees should consider: (a) The grouping of related items under a single heading; (b) The staggering of items over two or more years. May I consider that it is the wish of the General Assembly to direct its Main Committees to review their agenda with a view to streamlining their programme of work as suggested in paragraph 35? If I hear no objection, it will be so decided. It was so decided.
In paragraph 36, concerning item 77 of the draft agenda (Question of the Malagasy islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Bassas da India), the General Committee recommends that the consideration of the item be deferred to the forty-eighth session and that the item be included in the provisional agenda of that session. May I take it that the Assembly approves those recommendations? It was so decided.
In paragraph 37, concerning item 103 of the draft agenda (Question of East Timor), the General Committee recommends that the consideration of this item be deferred to the forty-eighth session and that the item be included in the provisional agenda of that session. May I take it that the Assembly approves those recommendations? It was so decided.
We turn now to the agenda which the General Committee recommends for adoption by the General Assembly. In accordance with past practice, we shall follow the numbering given in paragraph 38 of the General Committee's report, document A/47/250, and, where that seems appropriate, we shall consider items in groups. 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 turn now to items 7 to 22. May I take it that these items are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We come now to item 23, entitled "Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte". May I take it that item 23 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
Next we turn to items 24 to 37. May I take it that these items are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
The next item, item 38, is entitled "Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)". May I take it that item 38 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now turn to item 39, entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". May I take it that item 39 is included in the agenda? Tt was so decided.
The next item is item 40, entitled "Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council". May I take it that item 40 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
Item 41 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 1986". May I take it that item 41 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
Next, we turn to item 42, 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 42 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
Item 43 is entitled "Launching of global negotiations on international economic cooperation for development". May I take it that item 43 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
Next we turn to item 44, entitled "Implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations". May I take it that item 44 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now turn to item 45, entitled "Question of Cyprus". May I take it that item 45 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
Item 46 is entitled "Consequences of the Iraqi occupation of and aggression against Kuwait". May I take it that item 46 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
May I take it that items 47 and 48 are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
I now invite members to turn to items 49 to 69 relating to disarmament. May I take it that items 49 to 69 are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
May I also take it that items 70 to 76 are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We turn now to item 77, entitled "Question of the composition of the relevant organs of the United Nations". May I take it that item 77 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now come to item 78 to 90 relating to international economic cooperation. May I take it that those items are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We turn now to items 91 to 97 relating to social and humanitarian questions. May I take it that those items are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We turn next to items 98 to 101 relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories. May I take it that items 98 to 101 are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now turn to the group of items dealing with administrative and financial questions, items 102 to 124. May I take it that those items are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now turn to items 125 to 136. May I take it that those items are included in the agenda? It was so decided.
May I take it that item 137 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
Next, we turn to item 138, entitled "Observer status for the International Organization for Migration in the General Assembly". May I take it that item 138 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
The next item, item 139, is entitled "Complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territories of the Baltic States". May I take it that this item is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now turn to item 140, entitled "Coordination of the activities of the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe". May I take it that this item is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now turn to item 141, entitled "Emergency international assistance for the reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan". May I take it that this item is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
The next item is item 142, entitled "Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean". May I take it that item 142 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now come to item 143, entitled "The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina". May I take it that item 143 is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now turn to item 144, entitled "International cooperation and assistance to alleviate the conseguences of war in Croatia and to facilitate its recovery". May I take it that this item is included in the agenda? It was so decided.
We now turn to the question of the allocation of items dealt with in section V of the report of the General Committee. In this connection, the General Committee, in paragraph 39, 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 meeting". In the same paragraph, the General Committee draws the Assembly's attention to paragraph 5 of the annex to Assembly resolution 39/88 B whereby the Chairmen of the Main Committees should take the initiative, in the light of past experience, to propose the grouping of similar or related items and the holding of a single general debate on them, and to paragraph 6 of the annex to Assembly resolution 45/45 whereby the General Committee, in making recommendations as to how agenda items should be allocated to the Main Committees and the plenary of the General Assembly, should ensure the best use of the expertise of the Committees. The modifications indicated in paragraph 40 are reflected in the proposed allocation. We shall therefore consider them when we come to the relevant items under paragraph 41. Before we proceed, may I remind members that the item numbers refer to the agenda in paragraph 38 of the report before us in document A/47/250. May I now invite members to turn to the list of items recommended by the General Committee for consideration in plenary meeting. Regarding item 18 on the list, the General Committee recommends in paragraph 40 (a) (i) that the Assembly refer to the Fourth Committee 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 Assembly adopts this recommendation? It was so decided.
I now invite members to turn their attention to item 33, entitled "Policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa". In this connection, as stated in paragraph 40 (a) (ii), the General Committee decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the item be considered directly in plenary meeting, on the understanding that the 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. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation of the General Committee? It was so decided.
May I now invite members to consider item 38, entitled "Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)". In this connection, as stated in paragraph 40 (a) (iii), the General Committee decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the item 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 General Assembly approves that recommendation? It was so decided.
May I now invite the General Assembly to turn its attention to paragraph 40 (a) (iv) regarding item 45, entitled "Question of Cyprus". The General Committee decided to recommend that the General Assembly allocate the item a,t an appropriate time during the session. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that recommendation? It was so decided.
May I now invite members to turn to paragraph 40 (a) (v) regarding item 138, entitled "Observer status for the International Organization for Migration in the General Assembly". The General Committee decided to recommend that the item be considered directly in plenary meeting. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that recommendation? It was so decided.
We now turn to paragraph 40 (a) (vi) regarding item 139 (Complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territories of the Baltic States). The General Committee decided to recommend that the item should be considered directly in plenary meeting. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that recommendation? It was so decided.
Next we turn to paragraph 40 (a) (vii) concerning item 140 (Coordination of the activities of the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe). The General Committee decided to recommend that the item should be considered directly in plenary meeting. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that recommendation? It was so decided.
Taking into account the decisions just adopted regarding the allocation of specific items for consideration in plenary meeting, may I now take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of items listed in paragraph 41 of the report of the General Committee 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 61 (General and complete disarmament^, the General Committee recommends in paragraph 40 (b) (i) that the paragraphs of the annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is to be considered directly in plenary meeting under item 14, should be called to the attention of the First Committee in connnection with its consideration of item 61. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation? It was so decided.
We now turn to paragraph 40 (b) (ii) regarding item 142 (Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean). The General Committee decided to recommend that the item should be allocated to the First Committee. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that recommendation? It was so decided.
Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items proposed for the First Committee in paragraph 41 of the report of the General Committee? It was so decided.
We now turn to the list of items which the General Committee has recommended for allocation to the Special Political Committee. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items proposed for the Special Political Committee in paragraph 41 of the report of the General Committee? It was so decided.
We now turn to the list of items which the General Committee has recommended for allocation to the Second Committee. In paragraph 40 (c) (i) concerning item 79 (Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development), the General Committee decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the debate on the item should be held directly in plenary meeting on the understanding that action on the item would be taken by the Second Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt that recommendation? It was so decided.
We now turn to paragraph 40 (c) (ii) concerning item 141 (Emergency international assistance for the reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan). The General Committee decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the item should be allocated to the Second Committee. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that recommendation? It was so decided.
Next we turn to paragraph 40 (c) (iii) regarding item 144 (International cooperation and assistance to alleviate the consequences of war in Croatia and to facilitate its recovery). The General Committee decided to recommend that the item should be allocated to the Second Committee. May I take it that the Assembly adopts that recommendation? It was so decided.
Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items proposed for the Second Committee in paragraph 41 of the report of the General Committee? It was so decided.
We now come to the items proposed for allocation to the Third Committee. In paragraph 40 (d) (i) (a) regarding sub-item (a) of item 93 (Questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family), the General Committee decided to recommend that, in the light of Assembly resolution 46/96 of 16 December 1991, the plenary meetings to mark the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons should be held on Monday and Tuesday, 12 and 13 October 1992. I should like to point out that the customary consideration of recommendations under this sub-item remains in the Third Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt this recommendation? It was so decided.
In paragraph 40 (d) (i) (b) also with regard to sub-item (a) of item 93, the General Committee decided to recommend that, in the light of Assembly resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991, the plenary meetings to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing should be held on Thursday and Friday, 15 and 16 October 1992. I should like to point out that the customary consideration of recommendations under this sub-item remains in the Third Committee. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt this recommendation? It was so decided.
In paragraph 40 (d) (ii) regarding item 94 (Advancement of women), the General Committee decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the report of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme on the operations, management and budget of the United Nations Development Fund for Women should be referred to the Second Committee for consideration under item 83 (Operational activities for development). May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation? It was so decided.
In paragraph 40 (d) (iii), with regard to item 97 (b) (Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms), the General Committee decided to recommend that, in the light of Assembly resolution 46/128 of 17 December 1991, the opening ceremonies for the International Year for the World's Indigenous People should be held in plenary meeting on Thursday, 10 December 1992, in the morning. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt that recommendation? It was so decided.
Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items proposed for the Third Committee in paragraph 41 of the report of the General Committee? It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items recommended for allocation to the Fourth Committee. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items to the Fourth Committee as proposed in paragraph 41 of the report of the General Committee? It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items recommended for allocation to the Fifth Committee. In paragraph 40 (e) (i), with regard to item 105 of the draft agenda (Programme planning), the General Committee decided to recommend to the General Assembly that the item should be allocated to the Fifth Committee, on the understanding that each programme of the proposed revisions to the medium-term plan should be submitted to the plenary Assembly or to the appropriate Main Committee for review. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt this recommendation? It was so decided.
In this connection, I should like to point out that the views and recommendations of the Main Committees should be submitted to the Fifth Committee before 20 November 1992 so as to enable the Fifth Committee to finalize its recommendations to the plenary on the item. Regarding item 109 (Joint Inspection Unit), the General Committee recommended in paragraph 40 (e) (ii) that the item should be allocated to the Fifth Committee, on the understanding that the reports of the Joint Inspection Unit dealing with subject-matters assigned to the other Main Committees would also be referred to those Committees. May I take it that the General Assembly adopts that recommendation? It was so decided.
Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items proposed for the Fifth Committee in paragraph 41 of the report of the General Committee? It was so decided.
Next we come to the items recommended for allocation to the Sixth Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items proposed for the Sixth Committee in paragraph 41 of the report of the General Committee? It was so decided.
The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of the report of the General Committee. I wish to thank the members of the Assembly for their cooperation, which has made it possible for us to complete this task expeditiously. Each Main Committee will promptly receive the list of agenda items allocated to it so that it may begin its work as soon as possible, in accordance with rule 99 of the rules of procedure. Before adjourning the meeting, I should like to inform members that the lists of speakers for the plenary meetings to be held on Monday and Tuesday, 12 and 13 October 1992, to mark the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, and for the plenary meetings to be held on Thursday and Friday, 15 and 16 October 1992, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing, are now open. I therefore request representatives wishing to participate in those observances to inscribe themselves as soon as possible. I should also like to appeal to the Chairmen of the Regional Groups to provide endorsed candidatures for the remaining vacancies for officers of the Main Committees and to communicate that information promptly to the Chairman and the Secretary of the Main Committee concerned. The meeting rose at 11.25 a.m.