A/62/PV.121 General Assembly

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendation of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth 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, i.e., 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, 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 recommendation contained in the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), 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 General Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) in paragraph 7 of its report. 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 34?

The Assembly has thus concluded consideration of all the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee).

Members will recall that at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 21 September 2007, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 56 to the Second Committee. In order for the General Assembly to proceed expeditiously with the consideration of the draft resolution issued as document A/62/L.41/Rev.1, under that item, may I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to consider agenda item 56 directly in plenary meeting under heading B, “Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences”?

May I further take it that the Assembly agrees to proceed immediately to the consideration of agenda item 56?

I have the honour to introduce, on behalf of the sponsors, including Sweden, which has joined that group very recently, draft resolution A/62/L.41/Rev.1. The text before us is the result of an extensive process of informal consultations reflecting our willingness to attain broad support for the draft resolution. The draft resolution primarily focuses on the issues of transparency and accountability in industries, recognizing the important role of the international community, Government and the private sector in that regard. It also takes note of relevant voluntary initiatives implemented in this field, in particular the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which seeks to further strengthen transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. Launched in 2003, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is a voluntary initiative open to all countries looking for better standards of transparency and accountability in the extractive sector to the benefit of their peoples. Bringing together Government, the private sector and civil society, the EITI enables more transparent and accountable governance in the extractive sector, while aligning the interests of all stakeholders. We believe that the adoption of this draft resolution will be another important step for countries to further promote transparency and accountability. We also believe that this kind of recognition should facilitate the exchange of lessons learned and the sharing of knowledge and best practices through South-South and North-South cooperation, which will be important in developing the transparency agenda. We believe that the United Nations system, through its global reach, country presence and areas of work, will be an important partner for increasing knowledge about transparency and for assisting those countries that want to develop capacities in developing initiatives such as the EITI. Therefore, we invite all member States to adopt the draft resolution by consensus. In conclusion, I wish to thank all the sponsors of the draft resolution for their contribution and support, and also to thank those delegations that participated in the harmonization of the text.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/62/L.41/Rev.1. I call first on the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on a point of order.

My delegation wishes to point out some differences between the Spanish version and the English version of draft resolution A/62/L.41/Rev.1. The title in Spanish should conform to the English text, “Strengthening transparency in industries”, with the word “industries” in the plural. The sixth preambular paragraph too should conform to the English text, which reads “Taking note of all relevant voluntary initiatives, including the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, aimed at improving transparency in the extractive industries”. We also request that footnote 3, which refers to the website of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, be deleted. It is our understanding that footnotes are used to refer to official documents of the United Nations, and the decision to include this footnote was not a consensus-based decision among Member States. Finally, we request that the Spanish text of paragraph 4 be corrected to conform to the English text, which reads as follows: “Notes the efforts of countries that are participating in all relevant voluntary initiatives to improve transparency and accountability in industries, including in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in the extractive sector, and to share their experience with interested Member States.”

I now give the floor to the representative of China on a point of order.

I, too, wish to point out some problems with the Chinese version of draft resolution A/62/L.41/Rev.1. First, with regard to the title of the draft resolution, the Chinese version, when translated back into English literally, is “Strengthening transparency in industries and business”. There is a similar problem in operative paragraph 4. I understand that in Chinese there is no word corresponding to the word “industries”, but I trust that the translators have the wisdom to find a perfect Chinese word for “industries”. Also in operative paragraph 4, in the Chinese version, when translated back into English literally, it would seem that the comma has been omitted after the word “initiatives”. So, I would ask the Secretariat to pay heed to the problems with the Chinese version and make the corresponding corrections.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation on a point of order.

We, too, would like to draw attention to the fact that there are some inaccuracies in the Russian version of draft resolution A/62/L.41/Rev.1, notably in the title. If translated into English, it would read: “Strengthening transparency in the extractive industry”. During the negotiations on the draft resolution we tried to achieve consensus, and the consensus was reached with the understanding that the title of the draft resolution in Russian would not include the word “extractive”. I would like my comments to be carefully applied to the entire Russian text of the draft resolution in order to eliminate such glaring inaccuracies.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/62/L.41/Rev.1, entitled “Strengthening transparency in industries”. The following additional countries have become sponsors of the draft resolution: Armenia, Israel, Kazakhstan and Sweden. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/62/L.41/Rev.1, taking into account the comments made regarding the Chinese, Russian and Spanish versions?

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

We are particularly pleased that resolution 62/274 takes note of the role of voluntary initiatives, such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, in strengthening transparency and accountability in industries. Azerbaijan is one of the pioneers in implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and we are grateful for its sponsorship of this resolution. We encourage other emerging economies and their companies to support the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. With respect to the reference in the fifth preambular paragraph to full permanent sovereignty over wealth, natural resources and economic activities, and the reference in the fourth preambular paragraph to Assembly resolution 1803 (XVII) of 14 December 1962, the United States wishes to emphasize that State sovereignty is qualified by rules of international law, including those concerning expropriation of property. For example, no State may expropriate or nationalize foreign investments, either directly or indirectly, except when four conditions are met. In particular, an expropriation must be for a public purpose; it must be non-discriminatory; it must be accompanied by prompt, adequate and effective compensation; and it must be carried out in accordance with due process of law.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has joined consensus on draft resolution A/62/L.41/Rev.1, taking into account the changes mentioned earlier, and wishes to make the following comments. We should like to underscore our concern at the trend for the Assembly to attempt to give an intergovernmental stimulus to non-intergovernmental initiatives. Here, we wish to stress that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela considers that the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, as indicated in operative paragraph 4, is voluntary and that it falls within the context of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, adopted by the Assembly as resolution 3281 (XXIX). That document states that every State has full permanent sovereignty, including possession, use and disposal, over all its wealth, natural resources and economic activities. Similarly, transparency and/or accountability in industries is interpreted as being aimed at enhancing social well-being, inclusion, participation and accountability to the people, in full conformity with the national legislation of States. However, in no way can this transparency and/or accountability mean the establishment of supranational monitoring mechanisms that undermine a State’s full permanent sovereignty, including possession, use and disposal, over all its wealth, natural resources and economic activities. With respect to paragraph 3, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela interprets the role of the international community as solely to strengthen the sovereignty of the State over its industries and over the use and disposal of its natural resources. The purpose is to increase the State’s efforts to attain its development goals, to include internationally agreed goals and the Millennium Development Goals. As regards paragraph 6, it is understood to mean that transnational corporations should fully comply with national legislation in the places where their activities take place and should cooperate with the development strategies of the States in which their activities take place. In conclusion, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela believes that this resolution will promote increased transparency in all international industrial, financial and trade sectors and will be an effective means of meeting commitments under the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the relevant resolutions.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 56?

It is my honour, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, to introduce to the General Assembly the draft resolution on causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa contained in document A/62/L.47. Under the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), African countries continue to express their determination and commitment to take control of their own sustainable economic and social development. Furthermore, in 2005, world leaders joined with their African counterparts in reaffirming their commitment to address the special needs of Africa in the 2005 World Summit Outcome document (resolution 60/1). They also jointly recognized that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. African countries have made significant progress in addressing the causes of conflict and promoting sustainable peace on the continent, including through NEPAD, the African Union and other regional and subregional organizations. The international community now needs to give increased support to these positive trends and advances. In this regard, I am pleased to present this draft resolution to the General Assembly on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. It is a very important draft resolution, which speaks to the importance of conflict prevention and the consolidation of peace on the African continent and underscores the need to develop African human and institutional capacities. Among other things, the draft resolution notes that conflict prevention and the consolidation of peace would benefit from the coordinated, sustained and integrated efforts of the United Nations system, Member States, regional and subregional organizations and international and regional financial institutions. The synergy between Africa’s economic and social development programmes and its peace and security agenda should also be developed. The draft resolution also calls upon the United Nations system to continue to mainstream the special needs of Africa in all of its normative and operational activities. My delegation is pleased, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, to recommend this draft resolution to the General Assembly for adoption. I take this opportunity to thank all members for their support of this draft resolution, and to thank as well those members that have joined the Group in sponsoring it. We invite other delegations to do so.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/62/L.47. The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/62/L.47, entitled “Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa”. I should like to announce that, since the introduction of the draft resolution, the following countries have become sponsors of A/62/L.47: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/62/L.47?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 64 and agenda item 64 as a whole?

May I further take it that the Assembly agrees to proceed immediately to the consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 98?

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the States members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). In accordance with resolution 62/29, adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2007, the Open- ended Working Group to Consider the Objectives and Agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee, for the Fourth Special Session of the General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament (SSOD IV) was to hold an organizational session in order to set a date for its substantive session in 2008 and to submit a report on its work, including possible substantive recommendations, before the end of the sixty-second session of the General Assembly. However, noting that the Open-ended Working Group could not be convened within the time allocated — namely, within the sixty-second session of the General Assembly — owing to the unavailability of a Chair for the Group, we deemed it necessary to propose a procedural decision. Following informal consultations with delegations, and for the purpose of reporting to the General Assembly before the end of the sixty-second session, as requested by the resolution, we are introducing the draft decision contained in document A/62/L.49 for consideration and adoption by the Assembly. NAM sees SSOD IV as a useful platform for promoting multilateral negotiations on disarmament and arms limitation measures. Its convening will also reaffirm multilateralism as the core principle in negotiations and strengthen the central role of the United Nations in disarmament and related issues. Therefore, I should like to reaffirm NAM’s unwavering support for the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament. At an appropriate time, NAM will request the convening of the Open-ended Working Group.

The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/62/L.49. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt the draft decision?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 98 and agenda item 98 as a whole?

I now give the floor to the representative of Nicaragua.

I wish only to thank the members of the General Assembly for having approved Nicaragua’s request to become a member of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 18.