A/64/PV.68 General Assembly

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 127.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 128. I would now like to inform members that the Assembly will suspend the meeting and resume after the completion of the work of the Fifth Committee. The meeting was suspended at 3.35 p.m. and resumed at 3.10 a.m., Thursday, 24 December 2009. Agenda item 115 (continued) The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy

I should like to announce that, since the introduction of draft resolution A/64/L.27, the following countries have become sponsors: Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/64/L.27?

I now call on those representatives wishing to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is firmly committed to the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, whatever its origin or motivation, pursuant to its obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and the relevant international conventions and protocols, in particular the norms of human rights law and international humanitarian law. In particular, my country has fulfilled the provisions applicable with regard to the provision of mutual legal assistance and the extradition of any person who has participated in the planning, preparation, financing or carrying out of terrorist acts. However, this has not been the case for some States Members of this Organization, which, while they claim to be leaders in the fight against terrorism, aid and abet the impunity of dangerous terrorists working for their Governments in undercover operations abroad. Today, having adopted resolution 64/235, in which we reiterate our commitment to the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, we call on one State Member of this Organization to set aside its double standards and to fulfil without selectivity its international commitments in the fight against terrorism. The country to which I refer has openly protected known, convicted and self-confessed terrorists and allowed them to go free, including Cuban-Venezuelan Luis Posada Carriles. Luis Posada Carriles was responsible for many terrorist attacks, including the blowing up of a Cubana de Aviación aircraft in mid-flight over the coast of Barbados, causing the deaths of over 73 people. Contrary to that country’s commitments in the fight against terrorism, it has repeatedly refused to extradite terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela, or, failing this, to submit the case to the competent authorities in order to guarantee that this criminal be brought to trial, without condition and irrespective of whether the crime was committed or not on that State’s territory. It has also failed effectively to apply paragraphs 2 and 3 of section II of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (resolution 60/288, annex), which we are renewing today. Despite being one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, that country has not even been able to implement resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005), in which the Council urges States, among other things, not to provide refuge to terrorists and or to be swayed by political motivations in denying requests for the extradition of terrorists. My country takes this opportunity to call upon on the President of that country, who was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, to, in the spirit of that Prize, immediately free the five innocent Cuban heroes and to extradite and prosecute the terrorist Luis Posada Carriles.

My delegation joined in the consensus adoption of resolution 64/235, entitled “Institutionalization of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force”, because of the importance that Cuba attaches to agenda item 115 on the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy, and in particular because of the need to provide the resources necessary to institutionalizing the Task Force. As members of the General Assembly know, Cuba has always taken a firm, clear and unchanging position with regard to fighting and condemning all acts, methods and practices of terrorists in all their manifestations by whomever, against whomever and wherever they are committed and regardless of motivation, including those in which States are directly or indirectly involved. We wish once again to denounce the fact that, even as we adopt this resolution, major perpetrators of terrorist acts against Cuba continue to walk free on the streets of the United States of America. Their acts have claimed more than 5,000 victims, killed or injured, among the Cuban people. In contrast, on 12 September 2009, five Cuban heroes marked 11 years of unjust incarceration in United States prisons simply for having sought to prevent the planning of terrorist acts against the Cuban people from North American soil, with the tolerance and complicity of United States authorities. Cuba resolutely supports the efforts of the international community against terrorism, and hopes that other countries will act likewise, over and above their political rhetoric.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 115. Reports of the Second, Third and Fifth Committees The President: The General Assembly will now take up the remaining reports of the Second Committee on sub-item (a) of agenda item 53 and sub-item (b) of agenda item 55, as well as of the Third Committee on sub-item (c) of agenda item 69. Thereafter, the General Assembly will take up the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda items 143, 144, 131, 132, 136, 145 and 130. 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 Second, Third and Fifth Committees that are before it today.

The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of these Committees have been made clear in the Committees 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 is different from its vote in the Committee”. May I also remind delegations that, 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 Second, Third and Fifth Committees, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Committees, unless notified otherwise in advance. That means that where separate or recorded votes were taken, we will do the same. I also hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the respective Committees.

I now call on those delegations wishing to speak in explanation of vote on the resolution just adopted.

The delegation of Myanmar is greatly disappointed by the continuation of the selective adoption of a country-specific resolution on Myanmar. It is a sad commentary on the work we do in the General Assembly that selectivity and double standards still prevail here. It is clear to see that only through international cooperation, which is based on the principles of impartiality and non-selectivity, can human rights be effectively promoted and protected. It is noteworthy that Myanmar has been on track for a smooth transition to democracy, and we are determined to proceed with our seven-step political road map. We are now actively making preparations for the multi-party election to be held in 2010. The exploitation of human rights for political purposes is not acceptable to Myanmar. Moreover, Myanmar cannot allow or accept blatant interference in our home-grown political process. We therefore reject and voted against this highly politicized, country-specific resolution, and we dissociate ourselves from the resolution and will not be bound by it. Here, my delegation wishes to express our deep appreciation to Member States that took a principled position and stand shoulder to shoulder with Myanmar. Finally, I would like to reaffirm that, in conformity with our foreign policy, Myanmar will continue to cooperate with the United Nations and the good offices role of the Secretary-General.

Members will recall that the Solomon Islands delivered an explanation of vote before the vote in the Third Committee. We uphold the human rights principles of our Human Rights Council. I regret that, due to intense external pressure from a handful of countries, we have been forced to change our vote. We find this lack of respect for our sovereign position disturbing. Such politicization and this heavy-handed approach make voting on country-specific human rights resolutions even more controversial. My Government will review its position and calls on those who infringe on our foreign policy to respect us as equals. I would like this statement to be placed on record. We will leave it to history to determine how serious our Assembly is in addressing human rights globally.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 69 and of agenda item 69 as a whole? It was so decided. The President: The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of all the reports of the Third Committee. Reports of the Fifth Committee The President: The General Assembly will now consider the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda items 143, 144, 131, 132, 136, 145 and 130. I request the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee, Ms. Yuliana Zhivkova Georgieva of Bulgaria, to introduce in one intervention the reports of the Fifth Committee before the Assembly.

I have the honour today to present to the General Assembly the reports of the Fifth Committee containing recommendations on issues that required action during the main part of the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Before I begin, I would like to draw the attention of the Assembly to the fact that the following Fifth Committee reports have already been considered by the General Assembly at its 16th, 62nd and 67th plenary meetings, held on 8 October and 10 and 22 December. These reports are contained in documents A/64/482, A/64/587, A/64/548, A/64/549, A/64/550, A/64/553, A/64/580, A/64/581 and A/64/582, and their consideration is recorded in A/64/PV.16, A/64/PV.62 and A/64/PV.67, respectively. The following agenda items were considered at those meetings: item 129, “Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors”; item 132, “Proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011”, specifically the Capital Master Plan; agenda item 133, “Programme planning”; item 135, “Pattern of conferences”; item 136, “Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations”, specifically on article 19; item 137, “Human resources management”; item 139, “United Nations common system”; item 142, “Administration of justice at the United Nations”; item 154, “Financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia”; and item 163, “Financing of the activities arising from Security Council resolution 1863 (2009)”. Allow me to now present the additional reports of the Fifth Committee containing recommendations on issues that required action during the main part of the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Regarding agenda item 143, “Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994”, and agenda item 144, “Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991”, the Committee, in paragraph 6 of each of its reports, contained in documents A/64/592 and A/64/593, recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of two draft resolutions, which were adopted by the Committee without a vote. Concerning agenda item 131, “Programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009”, the Committee, in paragraph 8 of its report contained in document A/64/594, recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of two draft resolutions, which were adopted by the Committee without a vote. With regard to agenda item 132, “Proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011”, in paragraph 9 of document A/64/548/Add.1, the Committee considered five draft resolutions. The Committee decided to adopt draft resolution I without a vote. With regard to draft resolution III, a recorded vote was requested by the delegation of Israel on section V. The Committee voted to retain section V of draft resolution III, and the draft as a whole was adopted without a vote. The Committee recommends the adoption of all other draft resolutions without a vote. The Committee therefore recommends the adoption of the draft report on the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011. Also with regard to agenda item 132, the Committee considered and recommended the adoption of four statements of programme budget implications. The reports of the Fifth Committee on these statements are issued in documents A/64/597 to A/64/600. On agenda item 136, “Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations”, the Committee, in paragraph 6 of its report contained in document A/64/482/Add.1, recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of one draft resolution. An amendment to the draft resolution was proposed by the delegation of the Russian Federation. A recorded vote was requested on that amendment. The Committee voted against inclusion of the amendment. The draft resolution as a whole was adopted without a vote. On agenda item 145, “Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations”, the Committee, in paragraph 6 of its report contained in document A/64/595, recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of one draft resolution, which was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Finally, under agenda item 130, “Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations”, in paragraph 6 of its report A/64/596, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of one draft decision relating to questions deferred for future consideration. The proposal was adopted by the Committee without a vote. Mrs. Aitimova (Kazakhstan), Vice-President, took the Chair. I wish to thank delegations for their cooperation and to assure them that the changes made in the course of the Fifth Committee’s 22nd formal meeting have been duly taken into account and will be reflected in the draft resolutions and reports, which will be issued shortly. Before I conclude, allow me on a brief personal note to thank the Chairman of the Fifth Committee, Ambassador Peter Maurer of Switzerland, for the wise and noble manner in which he guided us through our difficult work. I would also like to thank my fellow Bureau members, with whom working is always a truly gratifying experience. And on behalf of all of us, I would like to express our profound thanks to the representatives of the Secretariat, most especially the staff of the Secretariat of the Fifth Committee, for their patience and support. Last but not least, we extend our appreciation to Ms. Susan McLurg, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. To all of those next to whom I have had the privilege and honour of being seated on the podium of Conference Room 3, I would like to express my thanks for their camaraderie. I wish wonderful holidays to one and all.

Before proceeding further, I would like to emphasize to representatives that, as the Fifth Committee has just finished its work, the reports are in English only. It is my understanding that they will be issued in all official languages as soon as possible. I thank representatives for their understanding.

My delegation wishes to make a statement before the adoption of draft resolution III in order to express certain concerns we have about the budget of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Implementation of Security Council resolution 1559 (2004). We would like to point out that the Special Envoy, Mr. Terje Roed-Larsen, has exceeded and continues to exceed his mandate under resolution 1559 (2004) by involving himself in the bilateral affairs of two sovereign States, Syria and Lebanon, concerning the establishment of diplomatic relations and the demarcation of the borders between them. He is also blatantly biased in favour of Israel, which has met none of its obligations under resolution 1559 (2004), particularly withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories. Mr. Roed-Larsen intentionally seeks to divert attention from the real problem his mandate covers: the practices of the Israeli occupation and the continued occupation of Arab territories. Worse, the Special Envoy seeks to promote conflict and perpetuate the occupation in the name of international legitimacy instead of trying to achieve peace and the implementation of United Nations resolutions within the framework of his mandate. Here, we highlight paragraph 12 of General Assembly resolution 63/261, which underlines “the continued importance of the role of the Secretary-General in ensuring, when appointing his special representatives and envoys, the highest standards of integrity, competency, impartiality and professionalism”. Clearly, the Special Envoy for the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004) does not exemplify these standards. Accordingly, our delegation wishes to express its reservations concerning the allocation of resources for the budget of the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004).

We will now take action on draft resolutions I to V, one by one. We first turn to draft resolution I, entitled “Questions relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011”, the text of which is contained for the time being in document A/C.5/64/L.18. The Fifth Committee adopted draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? A separate vote has been requested on section V of draft resolution III. Member States are reminded that, in accordance with rule 83 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, budgetary questions require a majority of two thirds of those present and voting. A recorded vote has been requested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen. Against: Israel. Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Section V of draft resolution III was retained by 134 votes to 1, with 3 abstentions. [Subsequently, the delegations of Algeria and Ukraine advised the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution III as a whole. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

I now give the floor to the representative of Mexico for an explanation of position.

My delegation welcomes the adoption of resolution 64/243 on the proposed programme budget of the Organization for the biennium 2010-2011. The strengthening and achievement of the goals of the United Nations are a high priority for my country. For that reason, allocating sufficient resources for the achievement of its mandates is particularly important. Budgetary discipline and efficiency have been key to our position in the negotiations concluded today, and will allow more resources to be devoted to the Organization’s substantive activities. A culture of austerity and discipline in expenditure is not only congruent with the positions adopted by a majority of Member States as a result of the international economic crisis, but will also strengthen the credibility of the United Nations. Members should seek to ensure not only that mandates are fulfilled, but also that resources are allocated according to the principles of austerity and budgetary discipline. Mexico will continue to work constructively to achieve the changes necessary to strengthen the Organization in this regard.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 132.

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 136.