A/64/PV.67 General Assembly
On behalf of the Group of African States and the other sponsors, I have the honour to present draft resolution A/64/L.40, entitled “Assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence”. In addition to the sponsors listed in the document, Australia, Denmark, France, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden and the United States of America have joined the list of sponsors.
The draft resolution welcomes the Secretary-General’s report on assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence, contained in document A/64/313. It further commends the efforts of the Government and people of Rwanda and civil
society organizations, as well as the international community, to provide support for restoring the dignity of the survivors.
The draft resolution calls on Member States and the United Nations system to urgently implement the conclusions and recommendations in the report of the Secretary-General. It further requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary and practicable measures for the implementation of the draft resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly, at its sixty-sixth session, with concrete recommendations for the support of survivors of the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
The African Group and the other sponsors believe that it is imperative that, six years after a resolution of this kind was first adopted, the survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide be given the support they deserve. We hope that this draft resolution will be adopted, as usual, by consensus.
We shall now proceed to take action on draft resolution A/64/L.40. I wish to inform members that since the submission of the draft resolution Albania has become a sponsor. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt the draft resolution?
Draft resolution A/64/L.40 was adopted (resolution 64/226).
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 71?
It was so decided.
Vote:
64/226
Consensus
112. Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments (h) Appointment of members of the Consultative Committee of the United Nations Development Fund for Women The President (spoke in Arabic): The term of office of five members of the Consultative Committee, appointed under General Assembly decision 61/414 of 15 December 2006, expires on 31 December 2009. Members will recall General Assembly decision 62/521 of 6 December 2007, by which the Assembly took note of the appointment of two new members of the Consultative Committee to replace the members who had resigned from the Committee. Taking into account the remaining three vacancies and the recommendations made by the Group of African States, the Group of Eastern European States and the Group of Western European and other States, I have appointed the Czech Republic, Egypt and Sweden as members of the Consultative Committee for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2010. May I consider that the Assembly takes note of those appointments? It was so decided.
The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of sub- item (h) of agenda item 112.
Reports of the Fifth Committee The President (spoke in Arabic): The General Assembly will now consider the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda items 129, 132, 133, 135, 137, 139, 140, 142 and 154. If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Fifth Committee that are before the Assembly today.
It was so decided.
Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote or position. The positions of delegations regarding the
recommendations of the Fifth 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 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 recommendations contained in the reports of the Fifth Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Fifth Committee, unless notified otherwise in advance.
129. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors Report of the Fifth Committee (A/64/547) The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 64/227).
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 129.
132. Proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011 Report of the Fifth Committee (A/64/548) The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Capital master plan”. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 64/228).
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 132.
133. Programme planning Report of the Fifth Committee (A/64/549) The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 64/229).
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 133.
135. Pattern of conferences Report of the Fifth Committee (A/64/580) The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 64/230).
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 135.
139. United Nations common system Report of the Fifth Committee (A/64/581) The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2009”. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 64/231).
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 139.
137. Human resources management Report of the Fifth Committee (A/64/550) The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision entitled “Provisional Staff Rules”. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft decision was adopted.
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 137.
140. Report on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services Report of the Fifth Committee (A/64/551) The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its activities”. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 64/232).
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 140.
142. Administration of justice at the United Nations Report of the Fifth Committee (A/64/582) The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 64/233).
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 142.
154. Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia Report of the Fifth Committee (A/64/552) The President (spoke in Arabic): The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, which was adopted by the Fifth Committee without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 64/234).
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 154.
111. Elections to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other elections (g) Election of two members of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission The President (spoke in Arabic): Members will recall that, in accordance with paragraphs 4 (a) to (e) of General Assembly resolution 60/180, of 20 December 2005, the Organization Committee shall comprise the following: seven members of the Security Council, including five permanent members; seven members of the Economic and Social Council, elected from regional groups; five top providers of assessed contributions to United Nations budgets and of voluntary contributions to United Nations funds, programmes and agencies, including a standing peacebuilding fund; five top providers of military personnel and civilian police to United Nations missions; and seven additional members elected by the General Assembly, giving due consideration to representation from all regional groups in the overall composition of the Committee. At its 73rd plenary meeting of the sixty-third session, on 22 December 2008, the General Assembly elected Benin, Chile, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay as members of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission for a two-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2009. Members will also recall that by resolution 63/145, of 18 December 2008, the General Assembly decided that the term of office of the two members of the General Assembly on the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission due to expire on 22 June 2009, namely Georgia and Jamaica, shall be extended to 31 December 2009. The Assembly also decided that, beginning with the election to be held during the sixty-third session, the term of office for the members of the General Assembly on the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission shall begin on 1 January instead of on 23 June. The General Assembly will now proceed to the election of two members of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission. By resolution 60/261, the Assembly decided that the members of the Organizational Committee shall serve for renewable terms of two years, as applicable. Accordingly, Georgia and Jamaica are eligible for immediate re-election. Regarding candidatures for the two seats, I should like to inform members that for the Eastern European States, the Group has endorsed the Czech Republic; for the Latin American and Caribbean States, the Group has two candidates, Jamaica and Peru. Members will recall that in resolution 60/261, the General Assembly decided that the rules of procedure and established practice of the Assembly for the election of members of its subsidiary bodies shall apply to its election of members of the Committee. For this election, rules 92 and 94 shall be applicable. Accordingly, the election will be held by secret ballot and there will be no nominations. However, I should like to recall paragraph 16 of General Assembly decision 34/401, whereby the practice of dispensing with the secret ballot for elections to subsidiary organs when the number of candidates corresponds to the number of seats to be filled should become standard, unless a delegation specifically requests a vote on a given election. In the absence of such a request, may I take it that the Assembly decides to proceed to the election on that basis? It was so decided.
Since the number of candidates endorsed by the Group of Eastern European States corresponds to the number of seats to be filled, may I take it that the General Assembly decides to elect by acclamation the Czech Republic as a member of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission for a two-year term of office, beginning 1 January 2010?
It was so decided.
I congratulate the Czech Republic on its election as a member of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission.
Since there are two candidates from among the Latin American and Caribbean States for one vacancy, we shall proceed now to an election by secret ballot, in accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure. Before we begin the voting process, I should like to remind members that, pursuant to rule 88 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, no
representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order on the actual conduct of the voting.
We shall now begin the voting process. Members are requested to remain seated until all ballots have been collected. Ballot papers will now be distributed. I request representatives to use only those ballot papers that have been distributed.
May I ask representatives to write clearly on the ballot paper the name of the one State for which they wish to vote. A ballot will be declared invalid if it contains more than one name or if the name of the Member State on that ballot does not belong to the Latin American and Caribbean States region.
At the invitation of the President, Mr. Toba (Brazil), Mr. Plunkett (Canada), Mr. Gheghechkori (Georgia), Mr. Ogweno (Kenya), Mr. Ayub (Pakistan) and Mrs. Bademli Angel (Turkey) acted as tellers.
A vote was taken by secret ballot.
The result of the voting is as follows:
Number of ballot papers: 175 Number of invalid ballots: 0 Number of valid ballots: 175 Abstentions: 4 Number of members voting: 171 Required majority of members: 86 Number of votes obtained: Peru 97 Jamaica 74
Having obtained the required majority, Peru was elected a member of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission for a two-year term beginning on 1 January 2010.
I congratulate the Czech Republic and Peru on their election as members of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission, and I thank the tellers for their assistance in the election.
This concludes our consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 11.
Programme of work The President (spoke in Arabic): I should like to consult Members regarding an extension of the work of the Fifth Committee for one day. Members will recall that at its 66th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2009, the General Assembly approved the recommendation that the Fifth Committee would complete its work by Tuesday, 22 December 2009. However, I have been
informed by the Chairman of the Fifth Committee that the Committee was not able to finish its work by today, Tuesday, 22 December.
May I therefore take it that the General Assembly agrees to extend the work of the Fifth Committee until tomorrow, Wednesday, 23 December 2009?
It was so decided.
The meeting rose at 4.10 p.m.