A/52/PV.86 General Assembly

I would like to draw the attention of the Assembly to the fact that, as announced in today’s Journal, the meeting was supposed to start promptly at 10 o’clock. We are starting almost 20 minutes late because many delegations were absent at that time. I again appeal to all delegations to observe punctuality in our meetings. Earthquakes in Afghanistan

This morning, before turning to the items on our agenda, may I, on behalf of all the members of the Assembly, extend our deepest sympathy to the Government and the people of Afghanistan for the tragic loss of life and extensive material damage which have resulted from the recent earthquakes. May I also express the hope that the international community will show its solidarity and respond promptly and generously to any request for help. In this connection, I have issued the following press release: “The President of the General Assembly has been distressed to learn about the devastating effects of a powerful earthquake that struck north-eastern Afghanistan on 30 May. Welcoming the commitment of the Secretary-General to extend all efforts of the United Nations to alleviate the suffering of the affected population, the President wishes to convey his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to express hope that any further loss of life can be prevented.” I now call on the representative of Afghanistan.

I am very grateful to you, Mr. President, for beginning this morning’s very busy meeting by referring to the devastating earthquake that happened on 30 May in the valleys in the north-east region of the country characterized by rough terrain and high mountain passages. Let me make it clear that the afflicted area is in the north-east of Afghanistan, in a region where there is no military conflict. There has been some propaganda that one party was using the earthquake against the other in the armed conflict. This is quite unacceptable; it is wrong and has no basis. We are very grateful for your sympathy, Mr. President, for your expression of hope that the international community will continue to send help to Afghanistan and for the press release, which summarizes your wishes. This earthquake, estimated at 6.9 on the Richter scale, was more intense than that of 4 February. Geographically, the afflicted area is wider and more extensive. It affected not only Rostaq, which had already been partly destroyed on 4 February, but also Chah-i-Ab, a town to the north, just south of the Amu river, with a population of about 35,000, and the surrounding villages. It also affected Shahr-i-Buzurg, a town to the east in the The main earthquake happened at 10.52 a.m. local time. Had it happened at night, like the earthquake of 4 February, the death toll would be much higher. President Burhanuddin Rabbani made an appeal to all countries and to the international non-governmental organizations for immediate assistance. We are very grateful to those countries, institutions and associations which started the work of sending humanitarian assistance to the area of the tragedy as early as 31 May. From that time, assistance has been reaching the afflicted areas through the airport in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, our neighbour to the north. In Afghanistan, the airport in Feyzabad, situated in the east of the afflicted area, and the airstrip in Khoja Ghar, are already serving the assistance operations. We express our gratitude to those countries and organizations that have already started providing assistance, to those that are busy launching their assistance, and to those that will be sending assistance in the coming days. What is immediately needed is shelter, tents, blankets, medicine for the injured and food to which people are accustomed, such as wheat, corn, potatoes and cheese. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is publishing a daily progress report of work. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced on 1 June that two helicopters chartered by the ICRC in Dushanbe reached the quake-affected area of Feyzabad early in the morning and immediately began to ferry relief supplies to survivors in the villages hit by the disaster and to fly the wounded to the nearest field clinics. The helicopters had already landed in six villages, from which they evacuated 50 casualties, mainly women and children suffering from fractures, and delivered blankets and plastic sheeting. ICRC delegates, working closely with staff of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and volunteers of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, report scenes of total devastation and stress that the immediate priorities are to evacuate and give treatment to the wounded and to provide shelter and drinking water for the survivors. I spoke about short-term assistance to be delivered to the afflicted area. Middle-term assistance is needed. Since the February earthquake, we have been in contact with the United Nations Children’s Fund with regard to establishing mother-and-child assistance clinics in Taliqan and in Faizabad. We have also been in contact with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization regarding the construction of boys’ and girls’ schools and also of the teachers’ college for women and men teachers in Taliqan and Faizabad. There is of course long-term assistance needed, and I would like to conclude by mentioning these needs. One is the construction of jeep-worthy mountain passages and roads for the transport of people and goods and also to allow assistance to reach these areas in time of tragedies and natural disasters. A second need is small hydroelectric electricity generators that can be used to help the people of the area. A third need is a study of the local architectural traditions in order to help the people of these regions in constructing dwellings that are more earthquake-resistant. Already the United Nations has had meetings regarding these natural disasters and has worked on many items that would allow us to reach the people who are afflicted by tragedies such as this one.

On behalf of the General Assembly again I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the Government and the people of Afghanistan.

In a letter contained in document A/52/785/Add.6, the Secretary-General informs the President of the General Assembly that, since the issuance of his communications dated 4 February, 23 and 31 March, 27 April and 6 and 15 May 1998, Uzbekistan has made the necessary payment to reduce its arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter.

We turn first to a letter dated 15 May 1998 from the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations addressed to me. In his letter, the Representative requests that sub-item (c) of item 95, entitled “Science and technology for development”, be reopened to consider the implications of the year 2000 date conversion problem of computers and that the matter be considered directly in plenary meeting during the current session. May I take it that the General Assembly, on the proposal of Pakistan, wishes to reopen the consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 95?

Representatives are aware that, by its decision 52/402 of 19 September 1997, the General Assembly decided to allocate this sub-item to the Second Committee. However, on the proposal of Pakistan and in order for the General Assembly to consider the draft resolution annexed to the request as soon as possible, may I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider sub-item (c) of agenda item 95 directly in plenary meeting?

I should like next to draw the attention of the General Assembly to document A/52/918 of 27 May 1998, which contains a note by the Secretariat. In this note, the Secretariat informs the Assembly that the Economic and Social Council recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution entitled “Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action”, the text of which is attached to the note. Representatives are aware that, by its decision 52/402 of 19 September 1997, the General Assembly decided to allocate item 106 to the Third Committee and that, by its decision 52/459 of 22 December 1997, it decided that item 106 remained for consideration during the fifty-second session. In order to take action on the attached draft resolution as soon as possible, may I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider agenda item 106 directly in plenary meeting?

The General Assembly will now consider a request by the Secretary-General contained in document A/52/236. In his note, the Secretary-General informs the General Assembly that the Security Council, in its resolution 1165 (1998) of 30 April 1998 on the establishment of a third Trial Chamber for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994, decided that the elections for the three Trial Chambers should be held together, for a term of office to expire on 24 May 2003. Pursuant to rule 15 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General requests the inclusion in the agenda of the fifty-second session of an additional item entitled “Election of judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Owing to the important and urgent nature of the item, the Secretary-General further requests that it be considered directly in plenary meeting. Unless there is any objection, may I take it that the General Assembly agrees that the provision of rule 40 of the rules of procedure, which would require a meeting of the General Committee on the question of the inclusion of this item on the agenda, could be waived?

May I take it that the General Assembly, on the proposal of the Secretary-General, wishes to include an additional item in the agenda of the current session entitled “Election of judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994”?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to consider the additional item directly in plenary meeting?

The General Assembly will now consider a request by the Secretary-General contained in document A/52/237. In his note, the Secretary-General informs the General Assembly that the Security Council, in its resolution 1166 (1998) of 13 May 1998 on the establishment of a third Trial Chamber for 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, decided that, pending the regular elections for judges for the entire Tribunal, three additional judges should be elected as soon as possible, to serve until the date of expiry of the terms of office of the existing judges, namely, 16 November 2001. Owing to the important and urgent nature of the item, the Secretary-General further requests that it be considered directly in plenary meeting. Unless there is any objection, may I take it that the General Assembly agrees that the provision of rule 40 of the rules of procedure, which would require a meeting of the General Committee on the question of the inclusion of this item on the agenda, could be waived?

May I take it that the General Assembly, on the proposal of the Secretary-General, wishes to include an additional item in the agenda of the current session entitled “Election of judges 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”?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to consider the additional item directly in plenary meeting?

May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of part VI of the report of the Second Committee?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 95?

We turn first to the report of the Fifth Committee on sub-item (a) of agenda item 17, entitled “Appointment of members of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions” (A/52/670/Add.1). In paragraph 4 of its report the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly appoint Mr. Pedro Paulo d’Escragnolle-Taunay as a member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for a term of office beginning on 2 June 1998 and ending on 31 December 1998. May I take it that the Assembly appoints this person?

I welcome the new member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. We come now to part II of the report of the Fifth Committee on sub-item (b) of agenda item 17, entitled “Appointment of members of the Committee on Contributions” (A/52/671/Add.1). May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint the person recommended?

I welcome the new member of the Committee on Contributions. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-items (a) and (b) of agenda item 17?

Today’s work relates to the implementation of agreed measures for reforming the Organization for improved effectiveness and efficiency. At its forty-seventh session, the General Assembly succeeded in rationalizing the number of the Assembly’s Main Committees and in agreeing on other improvements which have borne fruit over the recent few years. At the forty-eighth session the Assembly went further by agreeing to rationalize and streamline the number of agenda items, of resolutions adopted, and of reports requested of the Secretary-General. With these measures under way, the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session was inspired by its President, Mr. Amara Essy, to create a working group for strengthening the United Nations system. This group grasped the baton on Assembly reform and that of many other areas, particularly in the Secretariat. Rigorous work towards consensus for such improvements not only drew acclaim last July but also inspired the new Secretary- General to propose his far-reaching reform of the United Nations, which is also known as the Track 2 package and which itself was twice the subject of consensus last autumn. With these many mandates for improving United Nations performance and accountability, it is now up to the Assembly to assure their implementation. Today’s review provides us a very good example of a means to that end. As we approach the fifty-third session of the General Assembly, our delegation looks forward to the Secretary- General’s report on the work of the Organization, which, as agreed, would improve Member States’ overview of system-wide issues. Setting a new tradition, last year’s report was delivered orally by the Secretary-General just before the beginning of the general debate. We support this as an effective way of capturing the world’s attention regarding the state of the Organization. The United States delegation takes special interest in implementation of measures regarding oversight and accountability, senior management — including independence of the Secretariat — and personnel and general management issues, many of which continue to be the subject of consideration by the Assembly and its machinery.

The Chinese delegation would like to thank the Secretary-General for the two reports he provided concerning the actions to be taken on strengthening the United Nations system. As delegations received the draft resolution concerned only last Friday and have not had an opportunity to study it closely, the Chinese delegation proposes that we carry out informal consultations on the questions concerned and then make a decision.

The Chinese delegation suggests to undertake informal consultations on the draft resolution and its annexes which were submitted to you a few days ago. There are several issues in these reports which concern not only the agenda items under which they were submitted, but are also being considered in the context of the report of the Secretary-General on the reform of the United Nations under agenda item 157, under which we have resolutions 52/12 A and B. We would like to submit for the Assembly’s consideration and for your attention, Sir, that the consideration of these reports is without any prejudice to the proposals being considered elsewhere. There are several issues in these reports which are being considered by the Members of the United Nations in the context of the report on reforms and also under various headings in the Fifth Committee. We therefore fully support the proposal by the representative of China that the Assembly hold informal consultations before taking action on these reports.

Are there other delegations that wish to speak on this issue at this stage? I see none. As far as this Office is concerned, we will have to take a decision very quickly on when we convene the next session of the General Assembly. While I recognize the necessity and importance of informal consultations, the Secretary-General has to send a letter to the Member States formally notifying them of the opening date of the next session. In view of the proposal made by the representative of China and supported by the representative of Pakistan, I will adjourn this meeting and we shall proceed immediately with open-ended informal consultations in conference room 3. I invite delegates to take part in these consultations and not to blame me at our next meeting for not observing transparency.