A/59/PV.117 General Assembly

I should like, on behalf of all the members of the General Assembly, to extend our deepest sympathy to the Government and the people of the United States of America for the tragic loss of life and the material damage that have resulted from the recent hurricane in the Gulf states.

I would like to invite the attention of the General Assembly to document A/59/874/Add.1, in which the Secretary- General informs the President of the General Assembly that, since the issuance of his communication contained in document A/59/874, Chad 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? It was so decided.

Members will recall that the General Assembly held the debate on this item, together with agenda item 54, at its 18th to 20th plenary meetings, on 4 and 5 October 2004. The General Assembly now has before it a draft resolution, issued as document A/59/L.69/Rev.1, and a report of the Fifth Committee on the programme budget implications of the draft resolution, contained in document A/59/912. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/59/L.69/Rev.1, entitled “A strengthened and revitalized General Assembly”. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt draft resolution A/59/L.69/Rev.1?

I should like to express my sincere thanks to the facilitators — Ambassador Bruno Stagno Ugarte, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations; Ambassador Hynek Kmoníček, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations; Ambassador Judith Mbula Bahemuka, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations; Ambassador Vanu Gopala Menon, Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations; and Ambassador Anders Lidén, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations — for their valuable assistance in negotiating the resolution just adopted, and to Member States for their cooperation. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 52? It was so decided.

Members will recall that the General Assembly held a joint debate on agenda items 11 and 53 at its 25th to 29th plenary meetings, on 11 and 13 October 2004. Members will also recall that the Assembly also held a debate on item 53 at its 111th, 112th, 114th and 115th plenary meetings. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision contained in paragraph 19 of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council (A/59/47). May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt the draft decision?

I should like to express my sincere thanks to the two Vice- Chairpersons of the Open-ended Working Group, Ambassador Paulette Bethel of the Bahamas and Ambassador Christian Wenaweser of Liechtenstein, who have so ably conducted the discussions and complex negotiations of the Working Group. I am sure that the members of the Assembly will join me in extending to them our sincere appreciation. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 53? It was so decided.

Members will recall that, at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include this sub-item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. In connection with this item, the Assembly has before it a letter dated 2 September 2005 from the Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the General Assembly (A/59/908). In the letter, the Permanent Representative of Slovenia, on behalf of the member States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, requests that the consideration of this sub-item be postponed to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly and that it be included in the draft agenda of that session, with the understanding that, without setting a precedent, this sub-item will again fall under the item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations”, which is to be included in the agenda of the sixty-first session and which will be considered biennially, pursuant to Assembly resolution 55/285 of 7 September 2001. Bearing in mind the understanding stated in the letter, may I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to defer consideration of sub-item (n) of agenda item 56 and to include it in the draft agenda of the sixtieth session? It was so decided.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (n) of agenda item 56 and of agenda item 56 as a whole? It was so decided.

The Assembly has before it one draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft decision 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 the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 107? It was so decided.

The General Assembly has thus concluded consideration of all the reports of the Fifth Committee.

Members will recall that, at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. Members will also recall that the General Assembly, in its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003, on the prevention of armed conflict, requested the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of resolution 57/337, for its consideration no later than at its fifty-ninth session. It is my understanding that it would be preferable for the Assembly to consider the report at its sixtieth session. In that connection, may I therefore take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to defer consideration of this item and to include it in the draft agenda of its sixtieth session? It was so decided.

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 24.

Members will recall that, at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. Members will also recall that the Assembly held a debate on this item at its 48th plenary meeting, on 1 November 2004. Members will further recall that, in its resolutions 58/117 of 17 December 2003 and 58/239 of 23 December 2003, the General Assembly requested the Secretary- General to submit a complete consolidated report on the implementation of all the relevant resolutions on Central America at the sixtieth session under this item. Accordingly, agenda item 26 has been included in the draft agenda of the sixtieth session. The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 26.

Members will recall that, at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include items 29 to 34 and 42 in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session, in accordance with paragraph 4 (b) of the annex to its resolution 58/316 of 1 July 2004. In that resolution, the General Assembly decided that these items shall remain on the agenda for consideration upon notification by a Member State. Accordingly, these items have been included in the draft agenda of the sixtieth session.

Members will recall that, at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. Members will also recall that the Assembly held a debate on this item at its 43rd plenary meeting, on 27 October 2004. Members will further recall that, in its resolution 58/282 of 9 February 2004, the Assembly decided to convene a commemorative plenary meeting in 2007, on a date to be decided at the sixtieth session. Accordingly, agenda item 40 has been included in the draft agenda of the sixtieth session. The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 40.

Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. Members will also recall that, under this item, the Assembly held a high-level meeting on 2 June 2005, to review progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration on HIV/AIDS. Members will further recall that, in its resolution S-26/2 of the twenty-sixth special session, the General Assembly decided to devote at least one full day of the annual session of the Assembly to review and debate a report of the Secretary-General on this item. May I therefore take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to include this item in the draft agenda of the sixtieth session? It was so decided.

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 43.

Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. Members will also recall that, in accordance with paragraph 4 (d) of the annex to its resolution 58/316 of 1 July 2004, the General Assembly decided that this item should be considered every three years. Accordingly, agenda item 48 will be included in the provisional agenda of the sixty-second session. The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 48.

Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. Members will also recall that the General Assembly held a debate on this item, together with agenda item 52, at its 18th, 19th and 20th plenary meetings, on 4 and 5 October 2004. Members will further recall that in its resolution 58/269 of 23 December 2003, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit a report at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the resolution. Accordingly, agenda item 54 has been included in the draft agenda of the sixtieth session. The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 54.

Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. It is my understanding that it would be desirable to defer consideration of this item to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to defer consideration of this item and to include it in the draft agenda of its sixtieth session? It was so decided.

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 110.

Members will recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 17 September 2004, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. It is my understanding that it would be desirable to defer consideration of this item to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to defer consideration of this item and to include it in the draft agenda of its sixtieth session? It was so decided.

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 128.

Members will recall that at its 46th plenary meeting, on 29 October 2004, the Assembly decided to include this item in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. It is my understanding that the sponsor of this item has requested that the consideration of this item be deferred to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. I give the floor to the representative of Armenia, who wishes to speak in explanation of position before a decision is taken.

Almost one year ago, agenda item 163 was included in the agenda of the General Assembly on the pretext of urgency. At that time, Armenia unequivocally opposed the introduction of the item, stating clearly that all allegations levelled against Armenia were false, and suggested facilitating the dispatch of a fact-finding mission to assess the situation. A fact-finding mission was launched by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the results were made available to all Member States represented at the United Nations. It clearly affirmed what Armenia had been stating all along: first, that overall settlement is quite limited and, secondly, that there is no clear organized resettlement, no non-voluntary resettlement and no recruitment. The fact-finding mission concluded that the overwhelming majority of settlers are displaced persons from various parts of Azerbaijan. Most important, the fact-finding mission saw no evidence of direct involvement by the authorities of Armenia in the territories. The result of the fact-finding mission should have put Azerbaijani concerns to rest and convinced Azerbaijan of the necessity of making a genuine effort to negotiate a lasting solution to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, within the OSCE Minsk Group. As a matter of fact, there was a common understanding between the parties concerned that, with the convening of the fact- finding mission, the matter would be put to rest. It is with sadness that we note the futile effort of our negotiating partner to keep an agenda item alive by transferring its consideration to the sixtieth session, which is both pointless and counterproductive. We express our strong dissatisfaction with the Azerbaijani decision. We remind the General Assembly that Armenia is negotiating on behalf of Nagorny Karabakh within the OSCE Minsk group framework because Azerbaijan refuses to negotiate directly with the authorities of Nagorny Karabakh. Any Azerbaijani exploitation of that fact within international organizations will therefore result in Armenia’s disengagement from the negotiation process. Armenia was opposed to the inclusion of item 163 in the agenda of the fifty-ninth session. Armenia is opposed to the deferral of the consideration of the agenda item to the sixtieth session. Hence, Armenia dissociates itself from the decision to defer consideration of agenda item 163, “The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan,” to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to defer consideration of this item and to include it in the draft agenda of its sixtieth session? It was so decided.

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 163. Agenda items remaining for consideration during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly

I should like to remind delegations that the following agenda items, on which action has been taken at previous meetings, have remained open for consideration during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly: items 7, 10 to 12, 15 (c), 17, 17 (h), 17 (i), 19, 20, 27, 36, 37, 39, 75, 84, 106, 108, 109, 111 to 119, 121 to 123, 126, 127, 129 to 137, 146, 153 to 155 and 164. As members are aware, those items — with the exception of sub-item (h) of agenda item 17, entitled “Appointment of members of the Joint Inspection Unit”; sub-item (i) of agenda item 17, entitled “Appointment of the Under-Secretary- General for Internal Oversight Services”; agenda item 111, entitled “Administrative and budgetary coordination of the United Nations with the specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency”; agenda item 117, entitled “United Nations pension system”; and agenda item 119, entitled “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218 B and 54/244” — have been included in the provisional agenda of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of those items at the present session? It was so decided.