A/61/PV.106 General Assembly

In connection with draft resolution A/61/L.65, on revitalizing the role and authority of the General Assembly and strengthening its performance, I wish to place on record the following statement of financial implications on behalf of the Secretary- General, in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Under the terms of operative paragraph 2 of the draft resolution, the General Assembly decides “to establish, at its sixty-second session, an ad hoc working group on the revitalization of the General Assembly, open to all Member States, to evaluate and assess the status of implementation of relevant resolutions, to identify ways to further enhance the role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency of the General Assembly, inter alia, by building on previous resolutions, and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly”. Pursuant to the aforementioned operative paragraph of the draft resolution, it is understood that the exact dates for meetings of the working group would be determined in consultation between the substantive secretariat and Conference Services, subject to the availability of conference facilities and services allocated for the General Assembly and its working groups. It is further understood that the working group cannot meet at the same time as the General Assembly is meeting and that no two working groups of the General Assembly can meet simultaneously. Should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/61/L.65, the establishment of the aforementioned working group would constitute an addition to the draft calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations. However, as the required conference servicing resources of the working group would be allocated from those already earmarked for meetings of the General Assembly, no additional conference servicing resources would be required.

The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/61/L.65, entitled “Revitalizing the role and authority of the General Assembly and strengthening its performance”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/61/L.65? The resolution just adopted stresses the importance of implementing General Assembly resolutions on revitalization. It is our common responsibility. I am convinced that the report that will be submitted by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 1 of the resolution will assist Member States in this task. In this context, it should provide the ad hoc working group called for in paragraph 2 with the basis for its future deliberations. I welcome this new step to strengthen the performance of the General Assembly, an objective to which I am personally committed. On the basis of my discussions with the President-elect, Mr. Srgjan Kerim, I trust that this matter will be given the full attention it deserves during the sixty-second session.

First of all, I want to thank you, Madam President, on behalf of Ambassador Badji of Senegal and myself, for the very kinds words that you just used about us and for having given us, on 9 March, such a major responsibility. Paul Badji and I tried to fulfil the mission you gave to us to the best of our capacity. In that regard, I wish also to thank your staff for their great work and the Secretary-General for helping us in our work and in our planning. But most of all, I would like to thank our colleagues, who were kind enough to spend so much time with us in sometimes gruelling meetings. Paul and I are also thankful to have learned so much about our colleagues’ willingness to change the way we do business in the General Assembly. We have provided members with a paper that summarizes some of the ideas that our colleagues expressed to us. I hope that most of the ideas — and most of them are very good ideas — will not get lost and will be the basis for the process of revitalization at the sixty-second session.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 110?

The General Assembly will turn to a note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/61/101/Add.1, under sub-item (a) of agenda item 106, concerning the appointment of a member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. Members will recall that the General Assembly concluded its consideration of sub- item (a) of agenda item 106 at its 54th meeting, held on 16 November 2006. In order to enable the General Assembly to consider the note of the Secretary-General, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 106. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 106?

Representatives will also recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 13 September 2006, the General Assembly allocated this sub-item to the Fifth Committee. In order for the Assembly to proceed expeditiously on this sub-item, may I take it that the Assembly agrees to consider this sub-item 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 106?

In his note, the Secretary-General informs the General Assembly that he has received notification of the resignation of Mr. Jun Yamazaki of Japan from the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. The Assembly will therefore be required to appoint, at its current session, a person to fill the unexpired portion of the term of office of Mr. Yamazaki, that is, until 31 December 2007. The Secretary-General also informs the General Assembly that the Government of Japan has nominated Ms. Misako Kaji to fill the vacancy arising from the resignation of Mr. Yamazaki. The note further states that the Secretariat was informed by the Chairman of the Group of Asian States that the candidature of Ms. Kaji has been endorsed by the Group. May I take it therefore that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint Ms. Misako Kaji as a member of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for a term of office beginning on 2 August 2007 and ending on 31 December 2007?

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 106 and of agenda item 106 as a whole.