A/59/PV.2 General Assembly
The meeting was called to order at 10.45 a.m.
May I invite the General Assembly to direct its attention to section I, “Introduction”, of the first report of the General Committee (A/59/250). In that section, the Committee took note of the information set out in paragraphs 2 and 3.
I now request the General Assembly to direct its attention to section II, entitled “Organization of the session”, which contains a number of recommendations concerning the General Committee, rationalization of work, opening and closing dates for the session, schedule of meetings, the general debate, conduct of the meetings, et cetera. All of those recommendations concern established practice, so rather than going through them one by one, I believe it would be better and much more efficient that we address as a whole all of those organizational matters concerning the General Assembly.
As there appear to be no comments on that approach, we shall proceed accordingly.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all of the information of
which it is requested to take note and to approve all the recommendations that the General Committee has made in section II of the report?
It was so decided.
Having just adopted the recommendation in paragraph 16 of section II, I should like to remind members that, during the final two weeks of Ramadan, from 1 to 11 November 2004, when local time will be Eastern Standard Time, the hours of plenary meetings and of meetings of the Main Committees will be from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. at the latest.
With regard to paragraph 19, on waiving the requirements to declare a meeting open, I should like to endorse a practical suggestion that has been made at previous sessions: that each delegation designate someone to be present in the meeting rooms at the scheduled time.
Next, I invite the Assembly to turn its attention to section III of the report, entitled “Observations on the organization of the work of the General Assembly”. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to take note of the information contained in that section concerning the timely submission of draft proposals for review of their programme budget implications?
It was so decided.
I now invite members to turn their attention to section IV, dealing with the adoption of the agenda. The question of
allocation of items will be dealt with subsequently in section V.
In section IV the General Committee took note of the information set out in paragraphs 45 to 51.
In paragraph 52, the General Committee recommends that the consideration of item 28 of the draft agenda (Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte) should be deferred to the sixtieth session and that the item should be included in the provisional agenda of that session.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 53, the General Committee recommends that the consideration of item 84 of the draft agenda (Question of the Malagasy islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Bassas da India) should be deferred to the sixtieth session and that the item should be included in the provisional agenda of that session.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 54, in connection with item 152 of the draft agenda (International convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings), the General Committee recommends that item 152 be moved from heading I to heading F.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 55, in connection with item 153 of the draft agenda (Observer status for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the General Assembly), the General Committee recommends its inclusion in the agenda of the current session under heading I.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 56, in connection with item 154 of the draft agenda
(Observer status for the Southern African Development Community in the General Assembly), the General Committee recommends its inclusion in the agenda of the current session under heading I.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In respect of paragraph 57, the General Committee decided not to recommend the inclusion of item 159 of the draft agenda.
In paragraph 58, in connection with item 160 of the draft agenda (Observer status for the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the General Assembly), the General Committee recommends its inclusion in the agenda of the current session under heading I.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 59, in connection with item 161 of the draft agenda (Declaration by the United Nations of 8 and 9 May as days of remembrance and reconciliation), the General Committee recommends its inclusion in the agenda of the current session under heading I.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the draft agenda which, in paragraph 60 of its report, the General Committee recommends for adoption by the General Assembly, taking into account the decisions just adopted on items 28, 84, 152 to 154, and 159 to 161 of the draft agenda.
Bearing in mind that the agenda is now organized under nine headings, we shall consider the inclusion of items under each heading as a whole. I should like to remind members once again that, at present, we are not discussing the substance of any item.
We turn first to the inclusion of the items listed under heading A (Maintenance of international peace and security). May I take it that the items listed under heading A are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now to heading B (Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences). May I take it that the items listed under that heading are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Next, we turn to heading C (Development of Africa). May I take it that the item listed under that heading is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We come now to heading D (Promotion of human rights). May I take it that the items listed under heading D are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Heading E is entitled “Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts”. May I take it that the items listed under that heading are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Next, we turn to heading F (Promotion of justice and international law). May I take it that the items listed under heading F are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Now we turn to heading G (Disarmament). May I take it that the items listed under that heading are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Heading H is entitled “Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. May I take it that the items listed under that heading are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Lastly, we turn to heading I (Organizational, administrative and other matters). May I take it that the items listed under heading I are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now to section V of the report of the General Committee, on allocation of items. The General Committee took note of the information set out in paragraphs 61 and 62. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information contained in paragraph 62 concerning the granting of observer status?
It was so decided.
We now turn to the recommendations contained in paragraphs 64 to 70. We shall take up the recommendations one by one.
Before we proceed, may I remind members that the item numbers refer to the draft agenda contained in paragraph 60 of the report before us, namely document A/59/250.
We turn first to paragraphs 64 (a) to (f), relating to plenary meetings. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all of the information of which the General Committee wishes the General Assembly to take note and to approve all the recommendations of the General Committee?
It was so decided.
We now turn to paragraph 65, relating to item 65 (General and complete disarmament). May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation contained in that paragraph?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 66 (a) and (b). May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations relating to item 20 (Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples) and to item 22 (Assistance in mine action)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraph 67, relating to item 39 (b) (Special economic assistance to individual countries or regions) and item 44 (Information and communication technologies for development). May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation relating to items 39 (b) and 44?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 68 (a) to (c). The General Committee took note of the information set out in paragraph 68 (a) relating to item 94 (Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family) and in paragraph 68 (c) relating to item 105 (b) (Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms).
May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation in paragraph 68 (b) relating to item 98 (Advancement of women)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraph 69. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation relating to item 109 (Programme planning)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 70 (a) to (c). May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained in those paragraphs, relating to items 151, 152 and 157 (Observer status for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the General Assembly; Observer status for the Southern African Development Community in the General Assembly; and Observer status for the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the General Assembly)?
It was so decided.
We shall now turn to paragraph 71 of the report of the General Committee.
I invite members to turn to the list of items recommended by the General Committee for consideration in plenary meeting under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items listed in paragraph 71?
It was so decided.
We come now to the list of items which the General Committee has recommended for allocation to the First Committee
under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items proposed for the First Committee?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items which the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of items proposed for the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee)?
It was so decided.
We come now to the list of items which the General Committee has recommended for allocation to the Second Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of items proposed for the Second Committee?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items which the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Third Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of items proposed for the Third Committee?
It was so decided.
Next, we come to the list of items which the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Fifth Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of items proposed for the Fifth Committee?
It was so decided.
Lastly, we come to the list of items which the General Committee recommends for the Sixth Committee. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of items proposed for the Sixth Committee?
It was so decided.
The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of the first report of the General Committee.
I wish to thank all the members of the Assembly for their cooperation.
Each Main Committee will receive the list of agenda items allocated to it so that it may begin its work in accordance with rule 99 of the rules of procedure.
Palestine participation in the work of the General Assembly
I should also like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation of Palestine, in its capacity as observer, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with General Assembly resolutions 3237 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 43/177 of 15 December 1988 and 52/250 of 7 July 1998 and the
note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/52/1002, Palestine, in its capacity as observer, will participate in the work of the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
Holy See participation in the work of the General Assembly
I should like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation of the Holy See, in its capacity as an Observer State, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with General Assembly resolution 58/314 of 1 July 2004, and the note by the Secretary- General contained in document A/58/871, the Holy See, in its capacity as an Observer State, will participate in the work of the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
The meeting rose at 11.05 a.m.