A/56/PV.99 General Assembly

I should like to draw the attention of the General Assembly to document A/56/780/Add.5. In the letter contained in that document, the Secretary-General informs the President of the General Assembly that, since the issuance of his communications contained in documents A/56/780 and addenda 1 to 4, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has made the necessary payment to reduce its arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter. May I take it that the General Assembly duly takes note of the information contained in this document?

In paragraph 5 of the report of the Fifth Committee contained in document A/56/626/Add.1, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly appoint Mr. Kenshiro Akimoto of Japan a member of the Committee on Contributions for a term of office beginning on 22 May 2002 and ending on 31 December 2003. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint the person recommended by the Fifth Committee?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 17.

Members will recall that, at its 3rd plenary meeting on 19 September 2001, the General Assembly decided to allocate sub-item (a) of agenda item 98 to the Second Committee. Members will also recall that the sub-item remains open for consideration during the fifty-sixth session. As mentioned in the footnote to document A/56/L.78, under agenda items 46 and 98 (a), in order for the General Assembly to take action expeditiously on the draft resolution, the Assembly will have to decide to consider the sub-item directly in plenary meeting. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider sub-item (a) of agenda item 98 directly in plenary meeting?

May I further take it that the Assembly agrees to proceed immediately to the consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 98? As I see no objection, we shall proceed accordingly.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/56/L.78, entitled “Participation of East Timor in the World Summit on Sustainable Development and its preparatory process”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/56/L.78?

The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 46. The Assembly has concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 98.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) in paragraph 10 of its report. I request the Rapporteur of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) to introduce the report of the Fourth Committee. Mr. Maitland (South Africa), Rapporteur of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee): It is an honour for me to present to the General Assembly document A/56/551/Add.l, which contains the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (the Fourth Committee) covering a comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects, under item 89 of the Assembly’s agenda. As those present may recall, my previous appearance before this body, on 10 December last, was for the purpose of introducing all the other reports of the Fourth Committee on agenda items 85 through 94, as well as items 12 and 18. Those reports, contained in documents A/56/547 to A/56/557, included the texts of draft resolutions and decisions recommended to the General Assembly for adoption. With the presentation today of A/56/551/Add.l, which recommends the draft resolution on item 89 to the General Assembly by the Fourth Committee, the reporting obligations of the Fourth Committee for and to this session are fulfilled. In its operative paragraphs, the draft resolution proposed by the Fourth Committee in A/56/551/Add.1 welcomes the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations; endorses the proposals, recommendations and conclusions contained in that report; urges Member States to take all necessary steps to implement them; reiterates the conditions under which personnel-contributing countries may become members of the Special Committee; decides that the Special Committee shall continue its efforts; and requests it to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. In the course of its 20th to 22nd meetings, held during the first part of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, and in its resumed session on 26 April 2002, the Fourth Committee examined agenda item 89 from a number of different perspectives. These began with a comprehensive introductory statement by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and a general debate under this item. They continued with an informal interactive meeting covering the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects. They also included informal interactive discussions in the Committee with the Under- Secretary-General and other senior officials of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Subsequently, in April 2002, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee again took up this agenda item to examine the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and to approve a draft resolution endorsing it. Today, those labours result in the report that those present see before them, which I now have the honour to present to the General Assembly for its approval. In so doing, I would be remiss were I to fail to acknowledge those whose efforts have been particularly vital in bringing it to fruition: the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, its Bureau and those delegations that coordinated the draft resolutions adopted by it; the Chairman of the Fourth Committee, Ambassador Hasmy Agam of Malaysia and Vice-Chairpersons Ms. Anna-Maija Korpi of Finland, Mrs. Alexandrina Rusu of Romania and Mr. Cristián Streeter of Chile. I should also like to express appreciation to the Under-Secretary-General of the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, Mr. Chen Jian; the Secretary of the Committee, Ms. Lesley Wilkinson, and her very competent team from the Secretariat. The document before us is a testament to the diligence and dedication that each and all of them have brought to this endeavour. With that in mind, it is my particular pleasure to submit to the General Assembly for its consideration and adoption the recommendations of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee contained in document A/56/551/Add.1, covering a comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects.

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 Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) which is before the Assembly today.

May I remind members that, under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401, the General Assembly agreed that “When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, that is, 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 also remind delegations that, 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 draft resolution, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take a decision in the same manner as was done in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), unless notified otherwise in advance. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 89?