A/65/PV.2 General Assembly

Regarding all the other recommendations in section II of the memorandum of the Secretary-General concerning established practice, rather than going through them one by one, I believe it would be more efficient for us to address all of these organizational matters concerning the General Assembly as a whole. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all of the information that it is requested to take note of and to approve all the recommendations of the General Committee contained in section II of the report? It was so decided.

Having just adopted the recommendation in paragraph 15 on waiving the requirements of rule 67 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly to declare a meeting open, I would like to endorse the practical suggestion that has been made at previous sessions that each delegation designate someone to be present in the meeting rooms at the scheduled times. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information contained in paragraph 37 concerning the timely submission of draft proposals for the review of their programme budget implications? It was so decided.

I now invite members to turn their attention to section III dealing with the adoption of the agenda? The question of allocation of items will be dealt with subsequently in section IV. In section III, the General Committee took note of the information contained in paragraphs 45 to 50. In paragraph 51, in connection with sub-item (i) of item 20 of the draft agenda, “Harmony with Nature”, the General Committee recommends that sub-item (i) of item 20 be included in the agenda of the current session under heading A, “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 take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation? It was so decided.

In paragraph 52, in connection with item 29 of the draft agenda, “Intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services”, the General Committee decided to postpone its consideration of the question of the inclusion of this item to a later date. In paragraph 53, the General Committee recommends that item 41 of the draft agenda, “Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte”, be included in the agenda of the current session under heading B, “Maintenance of international peace and security”, on the understanding that there would be no consideration of this item by the General Assembly until further notice. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation? It was so decided.

In paragraph 54, the General Committee recommends that the consideration of item 61 of the draft agenda, “Question of the Malagasy islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Bassas da India”, be deferred to the sixty- sixth session and that the item be included in the provisional agenda of that session. May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation? It was so decided.

In paragraph 55, in connection with item 150 of the draft agenda, “Financing of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”, the General Committee recommends that item 150 be included in the agenda of the current session under heading I, “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation? It was so decided.

In paragraph 56, the General Assembly is informed that the General Committee decided to postpone to a later date its consideration of the question of the inclusion of item 164 of the draft agenda, entitled “Compensation for damage caused by colonialism”. In paragraph 57, the General Assembly is also informed that the General Committee decided to postpone to a later date its consideration of the question of the inclusion of item 165 of the draft agenda, entitled “Verification of the implementation of nuclear disarmament obligations”. In paragraph 58, in connection with item 166 of the draft agenda, entitled “Enhancing and expanding the functions and powers of the General Assembly”, the General Committee decided to postpone its consideration of the question of the inclusion of this item to a later date. With respect to paragraph 59, the General Committee decided to recommend to the Assembly not to include item 167 of the draft agenda, “Investigation into the invasion of Iraq”, in the agenda of the sixty- fifth session. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?

In paragraph 60, the General Committee also decided to recommend to the Assembly not to include item 168 of the draft agenda, “Investigation into the wars that have broken out since the establishment of the United Nations”, in the agenda of the sixty-fifth session. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation? It was so decided.

With respect to paragraph 61, the General Committee decided to recommend to the Assembly not to include item 169 of the draft agenda, “Investigation into assassinations carried out since the establishment of the United Nations”, in the agenda of the sixty-fifth session. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation? It was so decided.

We turn now to the agenda which the General Committee recommends in paragraph 62 of its report for adoption by the General Assembly, taking into account the decisions just adopted with respect to the draft agenda. Bearing in mind that the agenda is organized under nine headings, we shall consider the inclusion of items under each heading as a whole. I should like to remind members once again that, at present, we are not discussing the substance of any item. Items 1 and 2 have already been dealt with. We turn to items 3 to 8. May I take it that these items are included in the agenda? It was so decided.

We turn now to the inclusion of the items listed under heading A, “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 take it that the items listed under heading A are included in the agenda? It was so decided.

We come now to heading B, “Maintenance of International Peace and Security”. I give the floor to the representative of Armenia on a point of order.

The Armenian delegation would like to make a short statement. As has been the case during the previous sessions, this year again my delegation dissociates itself from the consensus on the decision to transfer the consideration of agenda item 39 to the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly.

We take note of that statement. May I take it that the items listed under heading B are included in the agenda? It was so decided.

Next, we turn to heading C, “Development of Africa”. May I take it that the item listed under this heading is included in the agenda? It was so decided.

Now we come to heading D, “Promotion of human rights”. May I take it that the items listed under heading D are included in the agenda? It was so decided.

Heading E is entitled “Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts”. May I take it that the item listed under this heading is included in the agenda? It was so decided.

Next, we turn to heading F, “Promotion of justice and international law”. May I take it that the items listed under heading F are included in the agenda? It was so decided.

Now we turn to heading G, “Disarmament”. May I take it that the items listed under this heading are included in the agenda? It was so decided.

Heading H is entitled “Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. May I take it that the items listed under this heading are included in the agenda? It was so decided.

Lastly, we turn to heading I, “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the items listed under heading I are included in the agenda? It was so decided.

We turn now to section IV of the report of the General Committee on the allocation of items. The General Committee took note of the information contained in paragraphs 63 to 66. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information contained in paragraph 65 concerning the granting of observer status? It was so decided.

We shall now turn to the recommendations contained in paragraphs 67 to 71. We shall take up the recommendations one by one. Before we proceed, may I remind members that the item numbers cited here refer to the agenda in paragraph 62 of the report before us, namely, document A/65/250. We turn first to paragraphs 67 (a) to (k), which relate to a number of plenary items. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all of the information that the General Committee wishes it to take note of and approve all of the recommendations of the General Committee contained in paragraphs 67 (a) to (k)? It was so decided.

We now turn to paragraph 68, concerning item 97, “General and complete disarmament”. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation contained in paragraph 68? It was so decided.

We turn now to paragraph 69, on sub-item (i) of item 20, concerning the Second Committee. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to approve the recommendation contained in paragraph 69? It was so decided.

We turn now to paragraph 70, on the Second Committee, referring to item 28. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to approve the recommendation and to take note of the information contained in paragraph 70? It was so decided.

We turn now to paragraphs 71 (a) and (b), on the Fifth Committee, referring to items 130 and 140. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained in paragraphs 71 (a) and (b)? It was so decided.

We shall now turn to paragraph 72 of the report of the General Committee on the allocation of items to the plenary and to each Committee. I first turn to the list of items recommended by the General Committee for consideration directly in plenary meeting under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items listed for plenary meeting?

We turn next to the list of items that the General Committee has recommended for allocation to the First Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the First Committee? It was so decided.

We turn now to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee)? It was so decided.

We come now to the list of items that the General Committee has recommended for allocation to the Second Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Second Committee?

We turn now to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Third Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Third Committee? It was so decided.

Next, we come to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Fifth Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Fifth Committee? It was so decided.

Lastly, we come to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Sixth Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Sixth Committee?

The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of the first report of the General Committee. I wish to thank all members of the Assembly for their cooperation. Each Main Committee will receive the list of agenda items allocated to it so that it may begin its work in accordance with rule 99 of the rules of procedure. I would now like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation of the Holy See, in its capacity as an Observer State, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 58/314 of 1 July 2004 and the note by the Secretary- General contained in document A/58/871, the Holy See, in its capacity as an Observer State, will participate in the work of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention. I would also like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation of Palestine, in its capacity as observer, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly. In accordance with General Assembly resolutions 3237 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 43/177 of 15 December 1988, and 52/250 of 7 July 1998, and the note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/52/1002, Palestine, in its capacity as observer, will participate in the work of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention. I now give the floor to the representative of Azerbaijan on a point of order.

I apologize for having requested the floor at this stage. I would like to make a short remark in regard to the statement made by the representative of Armenia. It is more than astonishing that while both Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the co-chair countries of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Minsk Group have, as a result of the efforts made in their respective capitals and here in New York, agreed without reservation on the inclusion of the item entitled “The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan” in the agenda of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, the delegation of Armenia has surprisingly dissociated itself from the consensus. This is not the first time that Armenia has not taken the trouble to respect not only its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, but also gentlemen’s agreements achieved with the facilitation of other Member States. Furthermore, the interference of Armenia in the process of approval of the agenda of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly seems curious for the following reasons, at a minimum. First, it should be recalled that Armenia remained silent when the decision was adopted at the 119th plenary meeting of the General Assembly at its sixty- fourth session, held on 9 September 2010, to include the aforementioned item on the agenda of the sixty- fifth session of the General Assembly. In other words, today Armenia has dissociated itself from the consensus on a decision in respect of which it had formally expressed consent a few days earlier. Secondly, Armenia has acknowledged the validity and value of the agenda item entitled “The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan” on a number of occasions. Thus, on the request of the delegation of Armenia, 12 documents were circulated under this agenda item during the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly alone. Finally, by dissociating itself from the consensus, Armenia decided to act in a manner contrary to the position of the States Members of the United Nations and remains in isolation with its destructive political agenda, which is fated never to be realized. In reality, Armenia has demonstrated once again that it bears the primary responsibility for unleashing war against Azerbaijan, occupying its territories and committing the most serious international crimes in the captured Azerbaijani territories.

I give the floor to the representative of Armenia.

I do not think attaching labels to Member States in this Hall can be considered to be a procedural statement on a point of order.

I remind the representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia that, as I said earlier in my preliminary comments, we are not currently discussing the substance of the agenda items, but only the agenda of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly.