A/65/PV.72 General Assembly

The General Assembly shall now proceed to the election of five 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, Benin, Chile, South Africa, Thailand and Uruguay are therefore eligible for immediate re-election. Regarding candidatures for the five seats, I would like to inform members of the following: for the African States, the Group has endorsed Benin and Tunisia; for the Asian States, the Group has endorsed Indonesia; and for the Latin American and Caribbean States, the Group has endorsed Brazil and Uruguay. 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 will apply to its election of members of the Committee. For this election, rules 92 and 94 will 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 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?

Since the number of candidates endorsed by the Group of African States, the Group of Asian States and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States corresponds to the number of seats to be filled, may I take it that the General Assembly decides to elect Benin, Brazil, Indonesia, Tunisia and Uruguay as members of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission for a two-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2011?

I congratulate Benin, Brazil, Indonesia, Tunisia and Uruguay on their election as members of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 112?

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/65/L.39/Rev.2 under agenda item 13, entitled, “Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields”. The draft resolution is entitled “Follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development beyond 2014”. At the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, 16 years ago, the world agreed on a Programme of Action that integrated a comprehensive range of the population, development and human rights factors necessary for ensuring that every person can live a healthy and dignified life. However, considerable gaps still exist in the implementation of various areas of the Programme, in spite of the progress that has been made towards achieving its goals and objectives. Moreover, the ICPD Programme of Action is due to formally come to an end in 2014, although its goals and objectives remain valid. That is why the Group of 77 and China have sought, by introducing this draft resolution, to extend the Programme of Action and the key actions for its further implementation beyond 2014, and to ensure its follow-up in order to fully meet its goals and objectives. The draft resolution would also have the General Assembly convene a special meeting during its sixty-ninth session in order to assess the status of the Programme of Action’s implementation and to renew political support for the actions needed for the full achievement of its goals and objectives. It would further decide that the Commission on Population and Development should also convene and enter into active discussion, during its forty-seventh session, on the assessment of the status of implementation of the Programme of Action. It is the conviction of the Group that adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels as well as new and additional resources for developing countries are vital for the implementation of the Programme of Action. After all, Governments are not expected to be able to achieve the ICPD goals and objectives without assistance. It is of great importance that the international community recommit itself at the highest political level in order to achieve the Programme’s goals and objectives. I would be remiss if I did not recognize the diligent work and dedication of Mr. John Mosoti of Kenya as the facilitator of this important draft resolution. Through the informal consultations he conducted, we were able to arrive at a consensus text. We also thank Ambassador Conrad Hunte of Antigua and Barbuda for coordinating the Group’s position, as well as our negotiating partners for their efforts and flexibility throughout the process. I have two minor technical corrections to the draft resolution. First, the first preambular paragraph should read as follows: “Recalling its resolutions 50/124 of 20 December 1995, 51/176 of 16 December 1996 and 53/183 of 15 December 1998 on the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, adopted in Cairo, Egypt, in September 1994, and its resolutions 49/128 of 19 December 1994 and 52/188 of 18 December 1997”. Secondly, in the second preambular paragraph and in paragraph 2, the phrase “the Key Actions for the Further Implementation” should be read with the initial letters capitalized. It is the hope of the Group that the Assembly will adopt the draft resolution by consensus.

Members will recall that, under agenda items 13 and 115, the Assembly adopted resolution 65/7 at its 41st plenary meeting on 29 October, as well as resolution 65/10 under agenda item 13, at its fifty-second plenary meeting on 23 November. Before we continue, I should like to consult the Assembly with a view to proceeding immediately to the consideration of draft resolution A/65/L.39/Rev.2. Since the text of the draft resolution was circulated only this morning, it will be necessary to waive the relevant provision of rule 78 of the rules of procedure, which reads as follows: “As a general rule, no proposal shall be discussed or put to the vote at any meeting of the General Assembly unless copies of it have been circulated to all delegations not later than the day preceding the meeting.” Unless I hear any objection, I shall take it that the Assembly agrees with this proposal.

The Assembly will therefore proceed to consider draft resolution A/65/L.39/Rev.2. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/65/L.39/Rev.2, entitled “Follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development beyond 2014”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/65/L.39/Rev.2, as orally corrected?

I now give the floor to the representative of Kenya, who wishes to speak in explanation of position following the adoption of resolution 65/234.

My delegation is pleased to join the consensus in adopting this important resolution, whose aim is to extend the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action and its key actions beyond 2014, when they were set to expire. Kenya was honoured to facilitate the informal consultations on the text that led to the resolution’s adoption this morning. In that regard, my delegation wishes to express its gratitude to the Group of 77 and China for providing the initial text for negotiations and for according my delegation the honour and opportunity to facilitate it. We are similarly grateful to all delegations for their active participation during the consultations and for their constructive contributions, without which this morning’s adoption could not have been possible. My delegation is also grateful to the Secretariat, in particular the United Nations Population Fund and the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Please allow me to briefly turn to the substance of the resolution. The adoption of this resolution is indeed historic. While extending the ICPD Programme of Action beyond 2014, Member States have also reaffirmed their commitment to the ICPD goals and recognized the nexus between those goals and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which, incidentally, are supposed to be achieved by 2015. It is noteworthy that the ICPD Programme of Action is being extended, not only because it is still relevant but also due to the fact that the goals have not been achieved — and most likely will not be achieved by Member States even by 2015, the last year for the MDGs. It is therefore imperative that countries strive to achieve the Goals by adhering to the principles of the ICPD. Countries must also integrate population and development strategies in national planning and put in place programmes and interventions to alleviate poverty, empower women and arrest child and maternal morbidity. These actions will definitely lead to sustained economic growth and a manageable population. It is now patently clear that the goals pertaining to maternal health and child mortality may not be achieved by countries by the target year of 2015. With this extension, we gain time to pursue those goals. We should, however, not let our guard down, as the reprieve is very brief. Genuine progress will only be made if we pursue meaningful international cooperation and partnerships, and by ensuring that the Programme of Action is implemented. Additionally, we must prudently utilize and invest resources where we can obtain the greatest returns. In conclusion, we look forward to holding the special session in 2014, when we will review the progress achieved and address the obstacles that stand in the way of implementing the Programme of Action.

We have heard the only speaker in explanation of position following the adoption of the resolution. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 13.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the 10 member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam — to introduce draft resolution A/65/L.55, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations”. The draft resolution once again expresses the strong commitment of the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to strengthen the partnership between the two organizations aimed at ensuring durable peace, stability, sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and social progress in the Southeast Asian region, as well as to contribute to the resolution of pressing global issues of mutual concern. It builds on resolution 63/35, which the Assembly adopted by consensus in 2008, and reflects new developments since then in the cooperative relationship between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. With the entry into force of its Charter, on 15 December 2008, ASEAN is entering a historic stage in its development in which its member States are making efforts to build an ASEAN community. The draft resolution recognizes that important endeavour of ASEAN and encourages the United Nations to support ASEAN’s community-building efforts in all three pillars, namely, the political and security community, the economic community and the socio-cultural community. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations — an observer at the General Assembly — has always been a cooperative partner of the United Nations. The draft resolution recognizes the concrete achievements of such partnership and encourages the two organizations to further their cooperation in all the areas mentioned in the outcome document of the third ASEAN-United Nations Summit, held in Hanoi on 29 October. We are thankful for the contributions made by interested delegations to improve the text of the draft resolution. We are likewise grateful to both the original and the new sponsors of the draft resolution. In submitting this draft resolution for action by the General Assembly today, ASEAN member States are fully confident that the cooperation between ASEAN and the United Nations will be further enhanced for the benefit of all nations. We hope that, as in previous years, the Assembly will adopt this year’s draft resolution by consensus.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Netherlands to introduce draft resolution A/65/L.56.

It is my honour and pleasure to introduce to the General Assembly draft resolution A/65/L.56, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons”. On behalf of the sponsors, I would like to express the hope that it will be adopted by consensus. There can be no doubt that one of the key objectives of the United Nations — a safer world for all — is greatly enhanced by the activities of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPWC) in the areas of the destruction of chemical stockpiles, non-proliferation and international cooperation on the peaceful uses of chemistry. The OPWC’s activities, which are often undertaken in cooperation with regional organizations, remain as valid today as when the organization was established, in 1997. The primary objective of the biennial draft resolution on this subject is to highlight the importance of the continued cooperation between the United Nations and the OPCW, an organization that, with its current membership of 188 countries, is coming ever closer to the universality of the United Nations. OPCW States parties already represent about 98 per cent of the global population and landmass, as well as an equal percentage of the world’s chemical industry. But the aim remains full universalization, which still requires special efforts by all concerned and by all stakeholders. In preparing to join the Convention and to effectively implement the global ban on chemical weapons, the OPCW provides support to all States not parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The adoption of this draft resolution will provide the basis for the General Assembly’s continued consideration of the issue of cooperation between the United Nations and the OPCW at the Assembly’s sixty- seventh session, in 2012. The Netherlands, as initiator of the draft resolution and as host country of the OPCW, welcomes the decision of the fourteenth session of the Conference of States Parties in December 2009 to appoint Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü as the Director- General of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW. Let me conclude by warmly thanking all the Member States that have sponsored the draft resolution. Their support is most valuable and highly appreciated.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/65/L.55, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I would like to announce that, since its publication, the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/65/L.55: Afghanistan, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, the Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, the Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/65/L.55?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/65/L.56, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons”. I once again give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I would like to announce that, since its introduction, the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/65/L.56: Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cuba, Estonia, Finland, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, the Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovenia, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/65/L.56?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-items (c) and (p) of agenda item 122? Programme of work The President (spoke in French): I would like to draw the attention of members to the date of recess of the current session. Members will recall that, at its 62nd plenary meeting, on 10 December, the General Assembly decided that the sixty-fifth session would recess today, Wednesday, 22 December. I expect us to finish our work today. However, should that not be the case, I would like to propose to the Assembly that the date of recess of the current session be Thursday, 23 December. Unless I hear any objection, I shall take it that the Assembly agrees to this proposal?

Following consultations with the Chairman of the Fifth Committee, we have decided that the deadline for the completion of the work of the Committee will not be extended beyond today, 22 December. The items that have not been dealt with will be dealt with in the meetings to be held in March 2011. We will thus have the entire day tomorrow to consider the proposals of the Fifth Committee that will be prepared today. As tomorrow, 23 December, is the eve of an official holiday, we will not meet beyond 6 p.m.