A/48/PV.98 General Assembly

Before we consider the items on the agenda for this morning, the Assembly will pay tribute to the memory of the late General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, His Excellency Mr. Kim Il Sung. The President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General have already sent messages of condolences. Their messages are contained in press releases GA/8690 and SG/SM/5367, respectively. On behalf of the General Assembly, I should like now to convey our heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and to the bereaved family. I invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the late General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

I now call on the representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

On behalf of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Korean people, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all those who have expressed their deep condolences on the passing away of the respected and beloved leader, the late President Kim Il Sung. The sudden death of the respected leader, President Kim Il Sung, is the greatest possible loss to the Workers’ Party of Korea and a source of immense grief to the Korean Nation. The respected leader, President Kim Il Sung, devoted his whole life to the cause of independence for the popular masses. His tireless and energetic activities to promote the prosperity of the country, the happiness of the people, the reunification of the country and the peace and security of the world continued until the last moments of his life. He was an outstanding thinker and theoretician and a genius of leadership who conceived of the immortal Juche idea and led the country’s revolution and construction along the road of victory by successfully applying it. He was a great leader of the people who loved the people most deeply and devoted his all to them. The whole life of the respected leader President Kim Il Sung was the most brilliant life of a great revolutionary who forced his way through rigorous storms of revolution, undergoing all sorts of difficulties and trials for the country, the revolution, the working class and the people. It was the most glorious life of a great leader who walked the road of victory, turning misfortunes into bliss and adversity into prosperity with his brilliant intelligence, outstanding leadership ability and indomitable will. The respected leader President Kim Il Sung passed away to our deep regret. But he provided the rock-firm foundations for our revolution to advance vigourously and continuously along the road of victory. Standing at the head of the Korean revolution is Comrade Kim Jong Il, the great successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche, the outstanding leader of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Korean people, and the Supreme Commander of our revolutionary armed forces. The tested leadership of the dear leader Comrade Kim Jong Il constitutes a firm guarantee for successfully carrying forward and accomplishing through generations the revolutionary cause of Juche started and led by President Kim Il Sung. The Korean people will resolutely defend the revolutionary traditions of Juche that have been established and the immortal revolutionary exploits performed by respected leader President Kim Il Sung. The Korean people will change today’s sorrow into strength and courage and bring about a new great upsurge in all spheres of the revolution and construction. Although the heart of the respected leader President Kim Il Sung stopped beating, his august name and tender image will always remain in the hearts of our people and his great revolutionary cause and exploits will shine forever in history.

Members will recall that, at its 95th meeting held on 23 June 1994, the Assembly decided to reopen consideration of this item in order to consider the provisional rules of procedure of the Conference. Members will also recall that, at the same meeting, the Assembly decided to consider the provisional rules of procedure of the Conference directly in plenary meeting. The Assembly has before it a note by the Secretary- General circulated as document A/48/953. The provisional rules of procedure of the International Conference on Population and Development, as approved by the Preparatory Committee for the Conference at its third session, are contained in the annex to the note by the Secretary-General. They are submitted to the General Assembly for its approval. The Assembly will now take a decision on the provisional rules of procedure of the International Conference on Population and Development contained in document A/48/953. May I take it that the Assembly decides to approve the provisional rules of procedure of the International Conference on Population and Development?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 96?

I call on the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee to introduce the report of the Fifth Committee. Mr. Kabir (Bangladesh), Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee: I have the honour today to present to the General Assembly the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 123, "Programme budget for the biennium The question of the designation of special representatives and envoys is considered in paragraphs 3 and 4 of that report. In paragraph 21, the Fifth Committee recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/48/L.70. The question of the revised estimates under sections 3 and 8, "Africa: critical economic situation, recovery and development", is considered in paragraphs 6 and 7 of that report. In paragraph 21 of that report, the Committee recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/48/L.71. The question of decentralization of activities and resources in the fields of natural resources and energy is considered in paragraphs 9 and 10 of that report, and in paragraph 21 the Committee recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/48/L.73. The question of the reorganization of the Department of Administration and Management is considered in paragraphs 12 and 13 of that report. In paragraph 22, the Committee recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of draft decision A/C.5/48/L.72. The question of the United Nations telecommunications system is considered in paragraphs 15 and 16 of that report. In paragraph 21, the Committee recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of draft resolution A/C.5/48/L.75. Concerning the question of the Integrated Management Information System project, the question is considered in paragraphs 18 and 19 of that report. In paragraph 22, the Fifth Committee recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of draft decision A/C.5/48/L.76. All the draft resolutions and decisions were adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote.

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 report of the Fifth Committee which is before the Assembly today.

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. May I remind members that, under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401, the General Assembly decided that: "When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegations 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 and should be made by delegations from their seats. Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the report 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 has before it four draft resolutions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 21 of part IV of its report (A/48/811/Add.3) and two draft decisions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 22 of the same document. The Assembly will first take a decision on the four draft resolutions recommended by the Fifth Committee. Draft resolution I is entitled "Special representatives, envoys and related positions". The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution II is entitled "Africa: critical economic situation, recovery and development". Draft resolution II was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Draft resolution IV is entitled "United Nations telecommunications system". Draft resolution IV was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly will now take a decision on the two draft decisions recommended by the Fifth Committee.

Draft decision II is entitled "Integrated Management Information System project". Draft decision II was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it tha the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We have concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 123.