A/53/PV.104 General Assembly
In the absence of the President, Mr. Mra (Myanmar), Vice-President, took the Chair.
The meeting was called to order at 3.15 p.m.
118. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations (A/53/1020)
I should like to draw the attention of the General Assembly to document A/53/1020. It contains a letter from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly in which he informs the Assembly that 31 Member States are in arrears of the payment of their financial contributions to the United Nations within the terms of Article 19 of the Charter.
I should like to remind delegations that, under Article 19 of the Charter,
“A member of the United Nations which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization shall have no vote in the General Assembly if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years.”
May I take it that the General Assembly duly takes note of the information contained in document A/53/1020?
It was so decided.
8. Adoption of the agenda of the fifty-third session of the General Assembly, allocation of items and organization of work Request for inclusion of an additional item submitted by the Secretary-General (A/53/238 and Add.1)
The Secretary-General has the honour to request, pursuant to rule 15 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, the inclusion in the agenda of the fifty-third session of an additional item, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo”.
Owing to the nature of the item, the Secretary- General further requests that the item be allocated to the Fifth Committee.
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?
I see no objection.
It was so decided.
It was so decided.
May I further take it that the General Assembly, also on the proposal of the Secretary- General, wishes to allocate this item to the Fifth Committee?
It was so decided.
The Chairman of the Fifth Committee will be informed of the decision just taken.
Consideration of the reopening of agenda item 37 (Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development) to enable the General Assembly to consider the request contained in the letter from the Deputy Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives (A/53/1015)
Members will recall that in its resolutions 50/161 and 51/202, the General Assembly decided, inter alia, to hold a special session in the year 2000 to review the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and to consider further initiatives. The Assembly also decided to establish a preparatory committee of the whole of the General Assembly.
The Preparatory Committee held its first substantive session from 17 to 28 May 1999 and will hold its second substantive session from 3 to 14 April 2000. In his letter, the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee requests that the General Assembly authorize the Preparatory Committee to hold a resumed half-day session during the week beginning 12 July 1999, in order to enable the Preparatory Committee to formalize the consensus agreements that have been reached and to finish its work on time.
In order for the General Assembly to consider the request, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of agenda item 37. May I take it that the General Assembly
It was so decided.
Members will recall that at its 3rd plenary meeting on 15 September 1998, the Assembly decided that item 37 would be considered directly in plenary meeting. If there is no objection, I shall take it that the Assembly agrees to consider the item again directly in plenary meeting.
It was so decided.
In order to enable the Assembly to consider expeditiously the request contained in document A/53/1015, I should like to propose that the Assembly proceed immediately to the consideration of agenda item 37.
If there is no objection, we shall proceed accordingly.
37. Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development Letter from the Deputy Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives (A/53/1015)
As mentioned earlier, in his letter contained in document A/53/1015, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives, requests that the General Assembly authorize the Preparatory Committee to hold a resumed half-day session during the week beginning 12 July 1999 in order to enable the Preparatory Committee to formalize the consensus agreements that have been reached, and to finish its work on time.
The holding of a resumed half-day session of the Preparatory Committee of the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives would entail the provision of one additional meeting in 1999 with full interpretation and documentation services in six languages.
The understanding is that the meeting will be held during the week of 12 July 1999, the exact date to be determined in consultation with the substantive secretariat and subject to prior confirmation of availability of conference facilities and interpretation services by the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to authorize the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives to hold a resumed half-day session during the week beginning 12 July 1999?
It was so decided.
We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of agenda item 37.
The meeting rose at 3.25 p.m.