A/63/PV.75 General Assembly

In paragraph 1 (b) of its report, the General Committee further recommends that the item be allocated to the Fifth Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly decides to allocate the item to the Fifth Committee? The Chairman of the Fifth Committee will be informed of the decision just taken by the General Assembly. I should like to inform members that the item entitled “Financing of activities arising from Security Council resolution 1863 (2009)” becomes item 157 of the agenda of the current session.

I would like to make this oral statement in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Under the terms of the operative paragraph of draft decision A/63/L.65, the General Assembly would decide that “the general debate for the sixty-fourth session shall be held from Wednesday, 23 September, to Saturday, 26 September, and from Monday, 28 September, to Wednesday, 30 September 2009, and that these arrangements shall in no way create a precedent for future sessions”. With respect to the holding of the general debate of the General Assembly on Saturday, 26 September 2009, it should be noted that meetings have not been planned on that date, although regular meetings servicing requirements for the general debate during weekdays have been provided for within the official calendar of meetings. Therefore, a meeting on a Saturday implies overtime compensation for meetings servicing and other related staff. Accordingly, resources related to overtime for meeting servicing staff would be required. In addition, other related staff from the Office of Central Support Services, the Department of Safety and Security and the Department of Public Information would be required to provide sound engineers, safety and security services, press coverage and webcasting; and radio and television services. The relevant costs under the programme budget, which total $100,500, are as follows: $59,600 under section 2, “General Assembly affairs and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management”; $25,600 under section 27, “Public information”; $5,100 under section 28 (D), “Office of Central Support Services”; and $10,200 under section 33, “Safety and security”. No provisions have been made under the programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 for servicing the general debate of the General Assembly on a Saturday. Should the decision to hold the general debate of the General Assembly on Saturday, 26 September 2009 be adopted, indicative additional conference servicing and other requirements amounting to $100,500 would arise. It is the intention of the Secretariat to make every effort to meet those requirements within the provisions under the relevant sections of the programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009, namely, section 2, “General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management; section 27, “Public information”; section 28 (D), “Office of Central Support Services”; and section 33, “Safety and security”.

The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/63/L.65, entitled “General debate of the sixty-fourth regular session of the General Assembly”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt the draft decision?

The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 105. (h) Appointment of a member of the Joint Inspection Unit Note by the President of the General Assembly (A/63/667) The Acting President: As indicated in the President’s note, the General Assembly is required, during its current session, to appoint a member to fill the vacancy in the Joint Inspection Unit that will arise from the expiration of the term of office, on 31 December 2009, of Mr. Tadanori Inomata of Japan. In accordance with the procedures described in paragraph 1 of article 3 of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, and having consulted the regional group concerned, the President requested the delegation of Japan to propose a candidate to replace Mr. Inomata. In accordance with resolution 59/267 of 23 December 2004, the candidate should have experience in at least one of the following fields: oversight, audit, inspection, investigation, evaluation, finance, project evaluation, programme evaluation, human resources management, management, public administration and monitoring and/or programme performance, as well as knowledge of the United Nations system and its role in international relations. In addition, as indicated in document A/63/667, as a result of the consultations held in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 3 of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, including consultations with the President of the Economic and Social Council and with the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, I should like to submit to the Assembly the candidature of Mr. Tadanori Inomata of Japan for reappointment as a member of the Joint Inspection Unit for a five-year term of office beginning 1 January 2010 and expiring 31 December 2014. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to appoint the candidate?

The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of sub-item (h) of agenda item 105.