A/50/PV.89 General Assembly

This morning the General Assembly will resume its consideration of agenda item 20(a) and (b) for the purpose of taking action on draft resolution A/50/L.39, under sub-item (a), and draft resolutions A/50/L.27/Rev.1, A/50/L.29/Rev.1, A/50/L.30/Rev.1, A/50/L.31, A/50/L.32 and A/50/L.33/Rev.1, under sub-item (b). In connection with sub-item (b), the Assembly also has before it draft resolution A/50/L.41. I call on the representative of Sweden to introduce draft resolution A/50/L.39.

I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/50/L.39, entitled “Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations”. This short procedural resolution takes note of the report (A/50/203) of the Secretary-General on strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, of 14 June 1995, as well as the Economic and Social Council resolution 1995/56 of July 1995. The draft resolution decides to refer further deliberations on these matters, including those related to the Central Emergency Revolving Fund, to the substantive session of the Economic and Social Counsel in 1996. Relevant organizations of the United Nations were requested to report to the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council in 1996 on progress achieved in a number of areas concerning their role and operational responsibilities as well as operative and financial capacities to respond to broad humanitarian programmes. Sweden has not asked for co-sponsorship of this procedural resolution. The draft resolution was approved in the informal consultations conducted by His Excellency Mr. Sucharipa, Ambassador of Austria, and I hope that it will be adopted by the General Assembly by consensus. Before concluding I would like to pay special tribute to Mr. Peter Hansen, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and his staff, as well as to the United Nations agencies involved, for their continuous dedication to alleviating the sufferings of the victims of natural disasters and other emergencies.

I next call on the representative of Benin to introduce draft resolution A/50/L.41.

Under agenda item 20(b), I have the honour to introduce on behalf of the sponsors draft resolution A/50/L.41, entitled “Assistance for humanitarian relief and the economic and social rehabilitation of Somalia”. The sponsors of the draft resolution are: Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, India, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen and Zimbabwe. This draft resolution, like resolution 49/21 L of 20 December 1994, calls for the continued implementation of The draft resolution now before us includes a number of changes, in particular in the preambular paragraphs, which take into account new developments in the country since the adoption of the last resolution, as the Secretary-General’s report (A/50/447) emphasized. It is important to note with appreciation that following the departure of UNOSOM II forces Somalia has not returned to widespread anarchy and general disorder to the extent that had been feared. It has, on the contrary, as the report of the Secretary-General emphasizes, gradually committed itself to rehabilitation and reconstruction. This should make us all relieved and give us encouragement. However, the country’s political instability and lack of central authority continue to create a climate of insecurity and provide fertile soil for new emergencies, particularly among the vulnerable groups: infants, women, the elderly, the refugees and the disabled. Although the humanitarian situation is still fragile and precarious, in most regions of the country it is time to begin the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction. The United Nations agencies have accordingly decided to make efforts to launch this process even before national reconciliation is fully achieved. We welcome the efforts of these agencies and their partners to establish and maintain efficient coordination and cooperation mechanisms to provide for the delivery of assistance and work for rehabilitation and reconstruction following the withdrawal of UNOSOM II. This work is vital and should be encouraged. The draft resolution welcomes the United Nations current strategy focusing on community-based interventions aimed at rebuilding local infrastructures and increasing the self-reliance of the local population. Three or four years ago the tragedy of Somalia caught our attention and touched the emotions of all of us. Today even the most generous people feel little more than a kind of guilty indifference towards that country. The complexity of the tangled problem of Somalia has led to a certain regrettable lack of interest in the tragedy, which continues to imperil the lives of millions of human beings and the survival of a sovereign nation. The General Assembly is the last resort in order to reverse the course of this bleak history, the history of a Member country of this Organization. Somalia deserves our attention. Somalia needs renewal. The Somalis have the right to life. Therefore, on behalf of all the sponsors, I make a friendly but pressing appeal to all delegations to adopt draft resolution A/50/L.41 without a vote.

The Assembly will now take a decision on seven of the draft resolutions submitted under item 20, one at a time, under the respective sub-item. Under sub-item (a), the Assembly will take a decision on draft resolution A/50/L.39 entitled “Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/50/L.39?

Under sub-item (b), the Assembly will first take a decision on draft resolution A/50/L.27/Rev.1, entitled “Assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/50/L.27/Rev.1?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/50/L.29/Rev.l, entitled “International assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America”. Before proceeding to take action on the draft resolution, I should like to announce that since its introduction the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/50/L.29/Rev.1: Brazil, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Uruguay.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/50/L.29/Rev.l?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/50/L.30/Rev.1, entitled “Assistance for the reconstruction and development of El Salvador”. Before proceeding to take action on the draft resolution I should like to announce that since its introduction the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/50/L.30/Rev.l: Jordan and the United States of America. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/50/L.30/Rev.1?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/50/L.31, entitled “International assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola”. Before proceeding to take action on draft resolution A/50/L.31, I should like to announce that since its introduction Australia, Cape Verde, France, India and Japan have joined in sponsoring the draft resolution. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/50/L.31?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/50/L.32, entitled “Economic assistance to States affected by the implementation of the Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)”. Before proceeding to take action on the draft resolution, I should like to announce that since its introduction, the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/50/L.32: Albania, Brazil, Hungary, India and Norway. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/50/L.32?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/50/L.33/Rev.1, entitled “Assistance for the reconstruction and development of Djibouti”. Before proceeding to take action on draft resolution A/50/L.33/Rev.1, I should like to announce that since its introduction Argentina and Côte d’Ivoire have joined in sponsoring it. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/50/L.33/Rev.1?

Action on other draft resolutions submitted, or to be submitted, under agenda item 20 will be taken at a later date to be announced. I should like to again remind members that, as announced previously, the Assembly has deferred to a later date, to be announced, consideration of two aspects of sub- item (b) of agenda item 20, namely, the aspect concerning the special emergency assistance for the economic recovery and reconstruction of Burundi and the aspectconcerning the international cooperation and assistance to alleviate the consequences of war in Croatia, as well as sub-item (d) of agenda item 20 concerning emergency international

I now call on the Rapporteur of the Preparatory Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations, Her Excellency Miss Patricia Durrant of Jamaica, to introduce the report of the Preparatory Committee. Miss Durrant (Jamaica), Rapportuer of the Preparatory Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations: It is my honour to introduce for consideration the report of the Preparatory Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations to the fiftieth session of the General Assembly and to summarize its contents. The report, which is contained in document A/50/48/Rev.1 and Corr.1, was adopted by the Preparatory Committee at its thirty-fourth meeting on 5 December 1995. The report contains five chapters. The first chapter of the report, entitled “Background and Introduction”, covering paragraphs 1-7, recalls that the General Assembly, in its decision 46/472 of 13 April 1992, entrusted the Preparatory Committee, consisting of the members of the General Committee and open to the participation of all Member States, with the task of considering and recommending to the Assembly proposals for suitable activities in connection with the observance of the fiftieth anniversary, on the understanding that all decisions of the Preparatory Committee would be taken by consensus. The Preparatory Committee has since reported to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh, forty-eighth and forty-ninth sessions. The chapter also draws attention to the adoption by the Assembly, on 9 November 1994, of two resolutions: resolution 49/11 on the United Nations fiftieth anniversary coin programme, and resolution 49/12, on the work of the Preparatory Committee. I now turn to chapter II, consisting of paragraphs 8 to 20, which is entitled “Preparations for the Special I now turn to chapter II, section B, entitled “Drafting of the Declaration”, compromising paragraphs 13 to 20. This section notes, inter alia, the establishment by the Preparatory Committee of an open-ended drafting group to prepare a solemn declaration to be adopted in 1995 to mark the observance of the anniversary. It was agreed that the Declaration should address the ordinary people of all countries; should not be grandiose; should be substantive in nature; and should reflect a thematic approach. It was also agreed that all decisions by the drafting group should be taken by consensus. The drafting group held 46 meetings and concluded its work on 20 October 1995. The group’s work was based, since February 1995, firstly on a draft declaration prepared by the Bureau, to which written amendments were presented by various delegations and groups of countries, and subsequently on “rolling texts”, prepared by the Chairman, reflecting the progress of the drafting group’s work. The list of the documents utilized by the Preparatory Committee and its drafting group is in annex II of the report. Paragraphs 18 and 19 contain the statement by the Chairman of the drafting group at the conclusion of its work; the decision of the Preparatory Committee to adopt the draft declaration; as well as the statements made after the adoption of the draft declaration by representatives of the following countries: Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Paragraph 20 reports on the adoption by the General Assembly of the Declaration at its fortieth meeting, on 24 October 1995. The Declaration was adopted as resolution 50/6. Its text is in annex III of the report. I now turn to chapter III of the report, paragraphs 21 to 33. In section A, entitled “Action by Member and observer States, including the establishment of national committees and the issuance of commemorative stamps and coins”, it is noted that some 152 national committees had been established as at 10 November 1995. The varied activities taking place at the national level are listed in paragraph 22. These focused primarily on educating youth and informing the public about the United Nations. Paragraph 23 relates to the special issue of stamps and coins, and notes that under the programme participating Member States donate a royalty to the Trust Fund for the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrations on each proof or uncirculated coin sold to collectors. These royalties are used to support educational and communications activities about the work of the United Nations. Mention is made in paragraph 24 of the special activities held in San Francisco to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter, as well as of the major commemorations undertaken in Geneva, New York and Vienna. Section B — paragraphs 25 to 27 — contains information on global projects undertaken by the secretariat of the fiftieth anniversary. The goals identified by the secretariat and endorsed by the Preparatory Committee were to promote a more balanced image of the United Nations, to enlarge its constituency of support, especially among youth and non-traditional audiences, to improve world-wide education about the work of the United Nations and to mobilize public support for the United Nations. The programmes included a global teach-in for 24 October, United Nations Day; the preparation of educational kits; and exhibitions and media campaigns. A world youth leadership training summit focusing on the rights and responsibilities of youth was held at United Nations Headquarters in August 1995. Section C — paragraphs 28 to 31 — gives information about activities within the United Nations system, organized mainly through the Administrative Section D — paragraphs 32 and 33 — reports on the important contributions of non-governmental organizations, especially the United Nations associations, to the global commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary. It should be noted that a one-day non-governmental-organization programme to examine the role of the non-governmental organizations and the United Nations and its future in the twenty-first century was held at United Nations Headquarters in November 1995. Chapter IV of the report — paragraphs 34 to 36 — deals with administrative and financial issues. It refers to the fact that, as the financial situation of the Organization precluded making funds available from the regular budget, the Secretary-General established a Trust Fund for the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrations and received contributions from a number of Member States. Sufficient resources to develop core global activities were obtained from three global sponsors and several major project sponsors. Substantial funds also came from international licensees. It should be noted that the Trust Fund is expected to continue to receive revenue from some of the licensees, particularly with respect to commemorative coins and publications. As noted in paragraph 36, the Trust Fund has had a positive impact in supporting not only global projects, but also national educational and communications initiatives about the work of the Organization. Finally, in paragraph 37 of the report, the Preparatory Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution entitled “Work of the Preparatory Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations”. The draft resolution, which was adopted by consensus, reads as follows: “The General Assembly, “Having considered the report of the Preparatory Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations, “2. Also expresses its appreciation to the secretariat of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations for the series of commemorative programmes and projects it has undertaken and coordinated and for its efforts to involve national committees, non-governmental organizations and the United Nations system and staff in the global commemoration of the anniversary; “3. Further expresses its appreciation to those Member States, corporations and individuals that have contributed to the Trust Fund for the Fiftieth Anniversary; “4. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the funds remaining in and which will be paid into the Trust Fund are applied to the purposes for which they were committed, and to report thereon to the General Assembly before the end of the fiftieth session; “5. Expresses its deep appreciation to the host country for the arrangements it made in support of the conduct of the special commemorative meeting of the General Assembly; “6. Approves the report of the Preparatory Committee, and takes note with deep appreciation of the successful conclusion of its work.” In closing, I wish to express appreciation to the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations, Ambassador Richard Butler of Australia, for having so ably guided the work of the Committee and of the drafting group, and for the skill, patience and endurance he demonstrated. My appreciation goes also to Under-Secretary-General Sorensen and to the staff of the United Nations fiftieth anniversary secretariat, and especially to those who serviced the Preparatory Committee during its deliberations.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled “Work of the Preparatory Committee for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations”, which is contained in paragraph 37 of the report (A/50/48/Rev.1) of the Preparatory Committee.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 29?

I should like to inform members that the consultations conducted by Ambassador Sucharipa of Austria on draft resolutions submitted under agenda item 20, originally scheduled for this afternoon, will take place tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m., in a conference room to be announced in the Journal.