A/55/PV.97 General Assembly

As indicated in the footnote to document A/55/L.77, in order for the General Assembly to take action on the recommendation of the Preparatory Committee for the High-level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of agenda item 101. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to reopen consideration of agenda item 101?

Members will recall that at its 9th plenary meeting, on 11 September 2000, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 101 to the Second Committee. In order for the General Assembly to proceed expeditiously on the recommendation of the Preparatory Committee, may I take it that the General Assembly wishes to consider agenda item 101 directly in plenary meeting?

May I further take it that the Assembly agrees to proceed immediately to the consideration of agenda item 101?

In connection with this agenda item, the General Assembly has before it a draft resolution issued as document A/55/L.77. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/55/L.77, entitled “Preparations for the substantive preparatory process and the International Conference on Financing for Development”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/55/L.77?

I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.

As Co-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the High-level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development, I should like, on behalf of the Bureau, to express our deep appreciation for the offer so generously made by Mexico to host the International Conference on Financing for Development. The Mexico venue for the Conference is emblematic of what this process is about. We fully trust that the Government of Mexico and its Mission here in New York will devote much energy and skill to the preparation and implementation of the Conference, which would be quite in keeping with the valuable role that Mexico has already played in the process. Let me also thank other delegations, and in particular the delegation of Kenya and other African delegations, whose magnanimity and sense of commitment to the financing for development process made it possible for the decision on the venue for the Conference to be taken immediately upon receipt of the Mexican invitation, during our last Preparatory Committee meeting. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. President, for your strong personal support for the financing for development process.

Under your wise guidance, Mr. President, the General Assembly has just adopted a resolution that represents an important step forward in the preparatory process for the International Conference on Financing for Development. My delegation would like to express its gratitude for the sense of direction you have lent to the consideration of this issue. I would also like to thank the Co-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for his statement. The resolution that has just been adopted is simultaneously the culmination of one stage of the preparatory process and the beginning of another even more important and, without a doubt, more demanding phase. Taking advantage of this opportunity to raise international cooperation to a higher political level for the benefit of more equitable and humane development on a global scale will depend on the vision, will and sustained efforts of Member States. I would like to reiterate the firm commitment of the Government of Mexico that took office last December to the process that will culminate next year in the International Conference on Financing for Development. I would also like to reaffirm the high priority we attach to achieving substantive agreements to respond to the great expectations that have been raised by the convening of that meeting. We are committed to contributing to a process of discussion and negotiation that is open, participatory and based on a convergence of the efforts of the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and many other relevant actors from every level and every sphere. That process should be devoid of confrontation and directed at identifying areas of agreement that will make it possible for the international community as a whole to agree on meaningful change in the world’s trade and financial systems, to the benefit of development . In other words, our aim is to contribute to shaping a new global consensus to meet successfully the challenges of development by adopting financing as a strategic component. In that regard, my delegation would like to recall that Mexico will be the venue for the International Conference on Financing for Development thanks to the fact that a general agreement was reached to the effect that this would help raise the visibility and political profile of the Conference, thereby attracting higher-level delegations in which national leaders in the areas of foreign affairs, trade and finance would participate as well as leaders, at the highest political level during the summit stage. My country will serve as host of the Conference also as a result of general agreement that this would contribute to achieving a better outcome of the Conference by promoting more constructive and responsible debates, by providing a cordial and friendly atmosphere for the deliberations, and by fostering convergence of views and consensus.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 101.

Members will recall that at its 9th plenary meeting, on 11 September 2000, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 94 to the Second Committee, and that sub-item (e) of agenda item 94 remained open for consideration during the fifty-fifth session. In order for the General Assembly to proceed expeditiously on the recommendation of the Commission on Human Settlements acting as the Preparatory Committee for the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), contained in document A/55/L.78, may I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider sub-item (e) of agenda item 94 directly in plenary meeting?

May I further take it that the Assembly agrees to proceed immediately to the consideration of sub-item (e) of agenda item 94?

In connection with this sub-item, the Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Commission on Human Settlements acting as the preparatory committee that has been issued as document A/55/L.78. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/55/L.78, entitled “Organizational arrangements for the Thematic Committee”. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt draft resolution A/55/L.78?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (e) of agenda item 94.