A/58/PV.91 General Assembly

Friday, June 18, 2004 — Session 58, Meeting 91 — New York — UN Document ↗

The meeting was called to order at 10.10 a.m.
Vote: A/RES/58/307 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (131)

Reports of the Fifth Committee

The Acting President #41203
The General Assembly will consider the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda items 17 (j), 118, 121, 12l together with 131, 134, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 145 (a) and (b), 146 and 147, 127 together with 134, 134, 136 to 138, 140 to 143 (a), 144, 145 (a) and (b), 146, 147, 165, 167, 168, 170 and 119. 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 reports of the Fifth Committee which are before the Assembly today. It was so decided.
The Acting President #41204
Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Fifth Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. 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 remind delegations that, also 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 recommendations contained in the reports of the Fifth Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Fifth Committee, unless notified otherwise in advance. This means that, where recorded or separate votes were taken, we will do the same. I should also hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Fifth Committee.

134.  Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/582/Add.2)

Vote: 31/37 Consensus

17.  Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments (j) Appointment of a member of the International Civil Service Commission Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/819)

The Acting President #41205
In paragraph 5 of the report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly appoint Mr. Gilberto Paranhos Velloso of Brazil as a member of the International Civil Service Commission for a term of office beginning on 18 June 2004 and ending on 31 December 2005. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint the person recommended by the Fifth Committee? It was so decided. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (j) of agenda item 17? It was so decided.

118.  Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/570/Add.1)

The Acting President #41206
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/249 B).
Vote: 32/413 Consensus
The Acting President #41207
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 118? It was so decided.

121.  Programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/573/Add.2)

The Acting President #41208
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled “Estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council”. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/294).
Vote: 31/100 Consensus
The Acting President on behalf of European Union #41209
Before giving the floor to the speakers in explanation of vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to ten minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I give the floor to Ireland on behalf of the European Union.
Ms. Stanley IRL Ireland on behalf of European Union #41210
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union; the candidate countries of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey; the countries of the stabilization and association process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic area, align themselves with this statement. We wish to highlight the importance of the Capital Master Plan to the European Union and our intense disappointment that it proved impossible for the Fifth Committee to agree on a resolution at this session. Nevertheless, we feel that the preparatory work for the draft resolution that we have undertaken has been essentially meaningful. We have had a good dialogue, and the motivations and objectives of delegations and groups have been discussed on this vital issue. We regret that the key elements of our proposal did not get the approval of the host country. We obviously will come back to all these issues in the fifty-ninth session. At the plenary meeting of the Fifth Committee earlier this month, I made a statement on behalf of my group regarding the Capital Master Plan. In that statement, we have set out the clear messages we wanted to include in the draft resolution, including the responsibility of the host country and the need for more financing and construction options for the Capital Master Plan. The European Union believes that the provisional offer of an interest-bearing loan does not meet our expectations of the host country responsibility and requests the Secretary-General to study all options, including a more substantial offer from the United States, that would allow us to proceed with the Capital Master Plan in the most cost-effective manner. The European Union continues to be firmly committed to the capital master plan and we are ready to cooperate, both with the Secretariat and with delegations to take a decision on United Nations DC-5 in the fall.
Mr. Stoffer USA United States of America #41211
My delegation wishes to clarify a few points with respect to the Capital Master Plan and the provisional United States financing offer. We fully agree with all those voices urging that the Capital Master Plan move forward as quickly as possible so that we can respond to the safety and security deficiencies of the United Nations Headquarters complex and make sure that they are addressed as quickly as possible. We need to keep the Master Plan project on track. In February of this year, the President of the United States of America submitted his fiscal year 2005 budget to the United States Congress for approval, including an offer to finance the entire $1.2 billion estimated cost of the Capital Master Plan. During our negotiations on the Capital Master Plan in 2002, the United States never put forward any specific financing mechanism, certainly not an interest-free loan offer, since we could not know at that time what the President would include in his fiscal year 2005 budget presentation. The United States financial commitment to the United Nations was first demonstrated in the 1940s by providing an interest-free loan for the construction of the present Headquarters complex. The Rockefeller family donated the land on which the United Nations now stands. We are now at the beginning of the twenty- first century and the United States is prepared to make a strong commitment once again. This time our resources will be contributed for the renovation, reconstruction and modernization of the 60-year-old Headquarters of the most important international Organization in the world. The federal level of the United States Government is offering an interest- bearing loan to cover the full cost of the project. We will pay our share of principal plus interest. We believe our proposed interest rates are advantageous and will remain so over the next 30 years. Member States will need to consider how best to repay the loan over as many as 30 years, or less, as Member States decide. The interest rates will vary directly with the length of the loan repayment, with the lowest rate available for the shortest repayment period. It is a fair and reasonable offer. The United States donates well over $1 billion a year to the United Nations in voluntary contributions, in addition to its assessed contributions. We made our financial offer for the Capital Master Plan so that the project can move forward expeditiously. If other financing offers were made available, we would welcome their introduction and consideration in tandem with, or in lieu of, our offer. I want to add one final point that often gets overlooked in our discussions of the Capital Master Plan. The city and state of New York have made related offers to construct a new 37-story building at 42nd Street and First Avenue, which will be used as swing space during the renovation phase of the Capital Master Plan. Subsequently, that building will serve as a new addition to the United Nations Headquarters complex, to consolidate the many United Nations operations now located in commercial rental spaces in the vicinity of the United Nations. Over 25 years, the United Nations will pay rents at rates well below the market value for such office space. After that period, the United Nations will not only receive the keys to the building but be given the use of the land on which it stands in perpetuity. The federal, state and city offers represent a package of financial commitments to the United Nations that, taken together, are a substantial demonstration of America’s support for the United Nations and its continued presence in New York in a modern, safe and secure Headquarters. We will welcome a constructive and informed discussion of this issue during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly. While we did not have time during the current session to conduct a detailed and creative review of all the steps that will be needed to bring the vision of the Capital Master Plan to fruition, we look forward to that discussion in the autumn.
The Acting President #41212
We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 121.

121.  , 131 , 134 , 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, 145 (a) and (b), 146 and 147 Programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 Financing 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 Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor Financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East (a) United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (b) United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/820)

The Acting President #41213
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled “Strengthening the security and safety of United Nations operations, staff and premises”. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda items 134, 137, 138, 140, 141, 142, sub-items (a) and (b), of agenda item 145, and agenda items 146 and 147. May I take it that is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda items 121 and 131? It was so decided.
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/295).

127.  and 134 Human resources management Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/821)

The Acting President #41214
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report and on the draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 10 of the same report. We turn first to the draft resolution entitled “Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations”. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/296).
The Acting President #41215
We next turn to the draft decision entitled “Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse”. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft decision was adopted (decision 58/568).
The Acting President #41216
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 127? It was so decided.
The Acting President #41217
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 134.
The Acting President #41218
The Assembly will now take a decision on the three draft resolutions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Financing of the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy”. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 58/297).
The Acting President #41219
Draft resolution II is entitled “Support account for peacekeeping operations”. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 58/298).
The Acting President #41220
Draft resolution III is entitled “Reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services”. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution III without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 58/299).
The Acting President #41221
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 134?
It was so decided.

136.  Financing of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/822)

The Acting President #41222
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/300).
The Acting President #41223
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 136?
It was so decided.

137.  Financing of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/823)

The Acting President #41224
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/301).
The Acting President #41225
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 137?
It is so decided.

138.  Financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/583/Add.1)

The Acting President #41226
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/259 B).
The Acting President #41227
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 138?
It was so decided.

140.  Financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/584/Add.1)

The Acting President #41228
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/260 B).
The Acting President #41229
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 140?
It was so decided.

141.  Financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/824)

The Acting President #41230
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/302).
The Acting President #41231
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 141?
It was so decided.

142.  Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/825)

The Acting President #41232
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/303).
The Acting President #41233
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 142?
It was so decided.

143.  Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991) (a) United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/585/Add.1)

The Acting President #41234
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled “Financing of the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission”. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/304).
The Acting President #41235
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 143 and of agenda item 143 as a whole?
It was so decided.

144.  Financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/826)

The Acting President #41236
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/305).
The Acting President #41237
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 144?
It was so decided.

145.  Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East (a) United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/827)

The Acting President #41238
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled “Financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force”. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/306).
The Acting President #41239
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 145?
It was so decided.

(b) United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/828)

The Acting President #41240
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 13 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled “Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”. A single separate vote has been requested on the fourth preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 3, 4 and 13 of the draft resolution. Is there any objection to that request? There is none. I shall now put to the vote the fourth preambular paragraph and operatives paragraphs 3, 4 and 13, on which a single separate vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
The fourth preambular paragraph and operative paragraphs 3, 4 and 13 were retained by 75 votes to 2, with 48 abstentions.
The Acting President #41241
I shall now put to the vote the draft resolution as a whole. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently the delegations of Bolivia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, the Philippines and Romania informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 131 votes to 2 (resolution 58/307).
The Acting President #41242
I now give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic on agenda item 145.
Mr. Eljy SYR Syrian Arab Republic [Arabic] #41243
My delegation joined the consensus on the adoption of resolution entitled “Financing of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force” and voted in favour of the resolution entitled “Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”, based on the principle, which my delegation has always supported, that the financing of United Nations peacekeeping forces should be borne by the aggressor, which was the reason for the establishment of this Force, in keeping with the principles contained in General Assembly resolution 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963.
The Acting President #41244
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 145 and of agenda item 145 as a whole?
It was so decided.

146.  Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/829)

The Acting President #41245
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/308).
The Acting President #41246
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 146?
It was so decided.

147.  Financing of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/830)

The Acting President #41247
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/309).
The Acting President #41248
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 147?
It was so decided.

165.  Financing of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/589/Add.1)

The Acting President #41249
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/261 B).
The Acting President #41250
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 165?
It was so decided.

167.  Financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/831)

The Acting President #41251
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/310).
The Acting President #41252
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 167?
It was so decided.

168.  Financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/832)

The Acting President #41253
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/311).
The Acting President #41254
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 168?
It was so decided.

170.  Financing of the United Nations Operation in Burundi Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/833)

The Acting President #41255
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 58/312).
The Acting President #41256
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 170?
It was so decided.

119.  Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations Report of the Fifth Committee (A/58/571/Add.3)

The Acting President #41257
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The draft decision is entitled “Questions deferred for future consideration”. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft decision was adopted (decision 58/564 C).
The Acting President #41258
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 119?
It was so decided.
The Acting President #41259
The General Assembly has thus concluded consideration of all the reports of the Fifth Committee.

38.  Question of Palestine Letter from the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (A/58/841)

The Acting President #41260
The General Assembly has before it a letter dated 10 June 2004 from the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People addressed to the President of the General Assembly (A/58/841). In the letter, the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People informs the President of the General Assembly of the decision of the Government of Hungary to resign as of 1 May 2004 from the membership of the Committee. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the decision of the Government of Hungary to resign as of 1 May 2004 from the membership of the Committee?
It was so decided.
The Acting President #41261
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 38.
The meeting rose at 11.10 a.m.