A/64/PV.82 General Assembly

I now give the floor to the representative of Cape Verde, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States.

I come to this solemn rostrum at this time of mourning and reflection on behalf of the African Group, but allow me first to offer my deepest condolences to the People’s Republic of China, which has just suffered yet another disaster and is, as we speak, striving to save all the victims of a dreadful earthquake. Paying tribute to an illustrious man who has left us is never easy. To do so in a context as tragic and sad as that of the death of the late President Lech Kaczyński, his wife and the eminent personalities who accompanied him is even harder. However, it is more than just an act of protocol or a diplomatic gesture for the Members of the United Nations to commiserate with the great Polish people, so marked by the upheavals of history and today orphans of one of their most prestigious sons, a seasoned and visionary statesman and a man of faith who made politics a tool for the benefit of a nation marching towards its future. From Solidarność to the steps of the presidential palace, from militant activism at Gdańsk to Warsaw Town Hall, his destiny opened the doors of history to him before snatching him suddenly from the love of his family and his people. Throughout his long political career, he worked tirelessly for the benefit of the greatest number of people and embodied a Poland aware of its historical turmoil, proud of its national achievements and ambitious in preparing for its future. It was in quest of a singular memory that dwells at Katyn like a collective wound that he found his death, which represents the pain of an entire nation and a distressing page of a history that continues to reveal its dark side, haunted by ghosts and immeasurable suffering, branding nations and men – a history that he strove to understand in order better to guide its direction. With strong conviction and unshakeable faith in the Poland of the past and of posterity, he generated new hope for his country and a new vision for a future in the heart of Europe. His death is a terrible trial for the Polish people, who will surely overcome it together. The African Group pays tribute to the memory of President Lech Kaczyński and conveys its most sorrowful condolences to his daughter, Martha, and to the bereaved families of all the victims of a tragedy that has struck all Poles and all peace-loving men and women throughout the world whom we represent. May he rest in peace in the land of his ancestors.

I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asian States.

In the life of nations and peoples, there are grave and unexpected tragedies that test the degree of their resilience and determination. What happened on 10 April was one of those moments in history as the Polish people lost their President, the late Lech Kaczyński, together with the First Lady and the elite of the country’s military and civil leadership while on their way to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of the Polish martyrs of the Katyn massacre. The Asian Group, which I have the honour to chair for the month of April, asked me to express, on its behalf, our deepest grief and sadness and our solidarity with the people and Government of Poland in the face of their great national calamity. Indeed, history will always remember the late President as a freedom fighter from his days as a militant of the democratic opposition to the former totalitarian system. In the 1970s and 1980s, he contributed greatly to the trade union activism that heralded the advent of the democratic system and its principles in Poland. At the expense of his own freedom, he subsequently contributed to the parliamentarian life of his country, both as a senator and as a deputy, and occupied several executive and ministerial offices, notably that of Minister of Justice, in which post he helped to fight criminality and to establish social justice. History will also record his efforts to establish democracy in his capacity as a political activist, as Mayor of Warsaw and as President of the Republic. He worked to promote democratic values and practices in all aspects of life in Poland. The qualities of the late President of Poland are too numerous to list in such a brief statement. Suffice it to say, he was among the architects and most dedicated soldiers of democracy and human rights in his country and was instrumental in the making of contemporary history in this pivotal period in the life of his nation and the entire region. May he and all those who perished in the tragic accident rest in eternal peace and be forever remembered with affection and love, and may the people of Poland find solace knowing that the victim paid the ultimate price in the service of their country and nation. Although this is a private occasion, before I conclude this statement I would like to express our sincere condolences, on behalf of the Asian Group, to the people and Government of China and to the families of the victims of the earthquake that led to many casualties. All the members of the Asian Group and the international community sympathize with China in this tragedy.

I call on the representative of Albania, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

On behalf of the Group of Eastern European States, I would like to extend our deepest condolences and express our full sympathy and solidarity to the people and the Government of Poland; to the families of President Kaczyński and First Lady Maria Kaczyńska; and to the families of other Polish leaders and staff, including the President of the Central Bank, the Army Chief of Staff and other top military commanders, the 15 members of Parliament and the Deputy Foreign Minister, to mention but a few of the 94 lives that were tragically taken away at the terrible event that occurred on 10 April. In that dark moment, Poland, a country that has paid such a high cost during its history, was suddenly robbed of many of its brightest minds and most dedicated public servants. This is a great loss for Poland and a loss for our community of nations as well, especially for the Eastern European States. President Kaczyński will be remembered for his outstanding, continued, 30-year active political activity in his country as one of the most prominent figures in the fight against totalitarianism, and for his contribution to the restoration and promotion of democracy in Poland and in Eastern Europe. As early as the 1970s, the young Lech Kaczyński was an activist in the pro-democratic, anti-communist movement in Poland, in the Workers’ Defence Committee, and in the Independent Trade Union movement. In 1980, he became an adviser to the Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee in the Gdańsk Shipyards and the Solidarity movement. During the martial law introduced by the communists in 1981, he was interned as an anti- socialist element. After his release from internment, he returned to trade union activities, becoming a member of the underground Solidarity movement. When, in late 1988, Solidarity was legalized, Lech Kaczyński was an active adviser to Lech Wałęsa and the Solidarity Citizens’ Committee. He was elected senator in 1989, and over the past two decades he held various important high- profile responsibilities until he was elected President of Poland in 2005. Strengthening the rule of law and increasing social solidarity were the top priorities of his presidential agenda, which was so brutally interrupted on Saturday. In these moments of grievance, our thoughts and prayers are with the Polish people. Poland felt “shock at the immensity of its loss”, as one prominent newspaper wrote at the sight of so many people of all ages and political persuasions, families, and groups of boys and girls gathered in central Warsaw holding flickering flames, candles in the red and white colours; united in grief, pain and sorrow, but also in care for their nation, their democracy and the fruit of freedom to which President Kaczyński contributed so much. We feel their pain and sorrow and express our hopes that with resilience and strength they will be able to overcome this exceptionally tragic moment.

I give the floor to the representative of Paraguay, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

I take the floor in order to voice, on behalf of the Group of Latin American States and Caribbean States, our great sadness and condolences at the tragic loss of the President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, and his First Lady, the Deputy Foreign Minister, as well as other leaders and figures accompanying him to the site of the commemoration of the Katyn massacre on 10 April. The grief and mourning that have unexpectedly overwhelmed the people of Poland and the entire world as the result of an air crash only reminds us of the fragility of our lives and that all human beings without exception are subject to the whims of fate. At this very difficult and sad time for our sister Republic of Poland, the members countries of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States wish to convey to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Poland our most heartfelt support and sympathy. We trust that the people and authorities of Poland will be able to find together the necessary energy to resume their institutional life as swiftly as possible through the democratic process, despite the harsh trial of losing their political elite. That would be the best way to commemorate President Kaczyński and those who died with him in order to perpetuate the legacy of promoting inspirational democratic transition, freedom and human dignity.

I give the floor to the representative of Andorra, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States.

On behalf of the Group of Western European and other States, I would like to extend to the people and the Government of Poland our deepest condolences for all those who perished in that tragic airplane crash. Our hearts and thoughts go out particularly to the victims’ families and all their loved ones. The loss of President Lech Kaczyński, the First Lady, and so many political, military, church and cultural leaders is such a national tragedy that we are inspired at this moment to offer the people of Poland our sincerest expressions of support. President Kaczyński’s death represents a great loss for all nations that share the values of liberty and democracy here at the United Nations. We know that President Kaczyński stood firmly by these principles throughout his life. Thanks to the dedication of people like him, Poland has a legitimate framework of laws and institutions that provides continuity even in the aftermath of such an enormous blow. Allow me to express, on behalf of the Group of Western European and Other Sates, our full confidence in the resilience of the Polish people and the legitimacy of their institutions. We are sure the Polish people will overcome this tragedy, never to forget the exceptional qualities that those we mourn today embodied throughout their lives.

I now give the floor to the representative of the United States, the host country.

On behalf of President Obama, Secretary Clinton and the American people, it is with great sorrow that I offer our deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Poland for their tragic loss. President Kaczyński will be long remembered and sorely missed. He played a key role in the Solidarity movement and in the advancement of democracy in this country. He was a champion of freedom and human rights not just in Poland, but around the world. The loss of the President, his wife Maria and numerous distinguished senior public servants who helped to shape Poland’s inspiring democratic transformation is an enormous tragedy that is felt deeply by all of us. The United States joins the international community and the people of Poland in mourning their untimely passing. Let their inspirational leadership and the memory of their courageous sacrifice guide Poland and the world towards the advancement of human freedom, equality and dignity for all.

I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

I never would have expected that my first address to this Assembly as the new person in charge of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations would be at a time when my nation is overflowing with grief, shock, pain and profound sorrow. The tragic accident that took place on 10 April near Smolensk in Russia took the lives of some of Poland’s finest men and women, who were on the way to the ceremonies commemorating the seventieth anniversary of the Katyn massacre. As members know, among the 96 victims were His Excellency Mr. Lech Kaczyński, President of Poland, Mrs. Maria Kaczyńska, the First Lady, representatives of the country’s highest authorities, high-level military and civilian leaders, other members of the official delegation and the crew. Let me thank all those who have expressed their condolences and have joined us in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Their compassion and heartfelt words of sympathy are very much appreciated by the people of Poland. Our special words of appreciation go to the authorities and the people of the Russian Federation, who immediately offered their help and support in dealing with this horrifying tragedy.

Members will also recall that at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 18 September 2009, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 39 to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee). In order for the Assembly to take action expeditiously on the report, may I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to consider agenda item 39 directly in plenary meeting under heading A (Maintenance of international peace and security)? It was so decided.

Cuba welcomes the decision that the General Assembly has just adopted, by which the brotherly country of Nicaragua will become a full member of the Special Committee on Decolonization. This year marks the end of the second International Decade for the Elimination of Colonialism, the period set by the General Assembly for the elimination of this scourge, a relic of another era. However, many of the decolonization goals that we agreed upon have yet to be achieved. In that context, it is now more crucial than ever that the work of the Special Committee on Decolonization continue. The admission to membership in 2008 of the brotherly nation of Ecuador and today’s admission of the Republic of Nicaragua is proof of the Decolonization Committee’s relevance in the Latin American and Caribbean region. We are certain that the work of the Committee will be strengthened through the admission of these countries. We wish the brotherly nation of Nicaragua every success as it assumes its new responsibilities as a member of the Special Committee on Decolonization.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 39? It was so decided.

Members will also recall that, at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 18 September 2009, the General Assembly decided to allocate sub-items (b) and (f) of agenda item 53 to the Second Committee. In order for the Assembly to take action expeditiously on the proposal, may I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to consider sub-items (b) and (f) of agenda item 53 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”? It was so decided.

I would like to inform members that this oral statement is made in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Under the terms of operative paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the draft decision, the General Assembly would decide that the general debate of the sixty-fifth session will be held from Thursday, 23 September to Saturday, 25 September and from Monday, 27 September to Thursday, 30 September 2010; that the meetings for the general debate on Friday, 24 September will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the meetings on Saturday, 25 September will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and that these arrangements shall in no way create a precedent for future General Assembly sessions. The General Assembly would also decide to hold the two-day high-level review to assess progress made in addressing the vulnerabilities of small island developing States through the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 of General Assembly resolution 64/199, from Friday, 24 September to Saturday, 25 September 2010, beginning with an opening plenary meeting on 24 September from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and ending with a closing plenary meeting on 25 September from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The General Assembly would further decide to hold a high-level meeting as a contribution to the International Year of Biodiversity, pursuant to paragraph 23 of resolution 64/203, on Wednesday, 22 September 2010, consisting of an opening plenary meeting from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., consecutive thematic panels from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and a closing plenary meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., taking into account that the plenary meeting of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The General Assembly would decide, in this regard, that, on the third day of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, the plenary meetings originally scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 22 September 2010 pursuant to annex I of resolution 64/184, will be held instead from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the same day. As regards the schedule of meetings contained in operative paragraphs 1 and 2, the resources required for servicing these meetings during working hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays from Monday to Friday have been included in the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2010 and, accordingly, have been provided for within the programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011. However, the meetings in the general debate to be held on Friday, 24 September 2010 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday, 25 September 2010 had not been planned for in the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2010, which implies overtime compensation to general service staff in support of these meetings. Consequently, resources related to overtime for meeting servicing staff would be required. In addition, other support functions from the Office of Central Support Services, the Department of Safety and Security and the Department of Public Information would also be required to provide sound engineering, conference room servicing, webcasting and safety and security services. The total additional requirements amount to $139,600, comprised of $65,600 under section 2, “General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management”; $10,700 under section 27, “Public information”; $21,100 under section 28D, “Office of Central Support Services”; and $42,200 under section 34, “Safety and security”. As regards the schedule of meetings contained in operative paragraphs 3 and 4, it is recalled that, in the oral statement submitted by the Secretariat before the adoption of resolution 64/203, entitled “Convention on Biological Diversity”, it was indicated that the one-day high-level meeting, including its thematic panel discussions, could be accommodated by using the resources allocated to servicing the General Assembly, provided that the General Assembly does not meet in parallel on the same date when the one-day high-level meeting is held. However, given that the General Assembly will hold the High-level Plenary Meetings on the same day, the assumption that the morning and afternoon parallel thematic panel discussions and the closing plenary meeting on the Convention on Biological Diversity could use the resources allocated for servicing the General Assembly is no longer valid. As a result, these meetings are considered to be additions to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2010 and require additional resources for interpretation services and related support services amounting to $29,400, which is comprised of $25,000 under section 2, “General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management”, and $4,400 under section 28 D, “Office of Central Support Services”. In total, the additional resource requirements stemming from the draft decision amount to $169,000, comprising $90,600 under section 2, $10,700 under section 27 (Public Information), $25,500 under section 28D (Office of Central Support Services) and $42,200 under section 34 (Safety and Security). Although it is estimated that a total amount of $169,000 is required as a result of the draft decision, no additional provisions are requested, as the Secretariat will seek to identify areas from which resources can be redeployed to meet the requirements within the programme budget for the biennium 2010- 2011.

The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/64/L.49, entitled “High- level meetings of the General Assembly in September 2010”. May I take it the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/64/L.49?

On behalf of the President of the General Assembly, I should like to express my sincere thanks to Ambassador Park In-kook of the Republic of Korea, the facilitator of the informal consultations, who so ably conducted the discussions and complex negotiations to reach agreement on the dates of these meetings. I am sure that members of the Assembly join me in extending to him our sincere appreciation. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-items (b) and (f) of agenda item 48, as well as of agenda items 53 and 114.

I would like to inform members that this oral statement is made in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Under the terms of draft decision A/64/L.51, the General Assembly would decide to convene, on 22 April 2010, a special meeting of the General Assembly on the occasion of the International Mother Earth Day. With respect to the holding of that meeting, it should be noted that the related conference servicing requirements would be met within the planned number of meetings of the General Assembly and on the understanding that the Assembly would not hold any other meetings during the same time. Accordingly, the adoption of draft decision A/64/L.51 would not give rise to any additional requirements under the programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011.

The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/64/L.51, entitled “Special meeting of the General Assembly on the occasion of the International Day of Mother Earth”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/64/L.51?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 53.

With regard to candidatures, I should like to inform members that, for the one seat from among the African States the Group has endorsed Botswana and for the one seat from among the Latin American and Caribbean States the Group has endorsed Paraguay. Since the number of candidates of the two regional groups is equal to the number of seats to be filled by each group, may I take it that the General Assembly wishes to declare those candidates elected for a six-year term of office beginning on 21 June 2010? It was so decided.

I congratulate Botswana and Paraguay, which have been elected members of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for a six-year term of office beginning on 21 June 2010. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 111? It was so decided.

Regarding the remaining vacant seats from among the Eastern European States, the President of the General Assembly will continue to hold consultations with the regional Group. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (f) of agenda item 112.