A/65/PV.96 General Assembly

On behalf of the Group of 77 (G-77) and China and under sub-item (b) of agenda item 62, I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/65/L.62/Rev.1, entitled “Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa”. The Group would like to thank the following countries that have joined the list of sponsors: Australia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. The G-77 and China would also like to express its warm thanks to the delegation of Sweden for its skill and competence in conducting the deliberations on the draft resolution. We are of the view that development, peace, security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. In that regard, we stress that the responsibility for peace and security in Africa, including the capacity to address the root causes of conflict and to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner, lies primarily with African countries. However, we also recognize the need for support from the international community and the United Nations, taking into account the responsibilities of the United Nations in this regard according to the Charter. We would like to note that, despite the positive trends and advances in obtaining durable peace in Africa, the conditions required for sustainable development have yet to be consolidated throughout the continent and that there is therefore an urgent need to continue developing African human and institutional capacities, particularly in countries emerging from conflict. We welcome the progress made, in particular by the African Union and subregional organizations, in the prevention, management and resolution of conflict and in post-conflict peacebuilding in a number of African countries. Moreover, we call on the United Nations and the donor community to intensify and increase efforts in a coordinated manner to support ongoing regional efforts to wield African mediation and negotiation capacity with a view to achieving further progress towards the goal of a conflict-free Africa. The G-77 and China hopes that this draft resolution will be adopted by acclamation at this meeting.

Before we proceed to take action on the draft resolution, I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I would like to announce that, since the submission of draft resolution A/65/L.62/Rev.1, the following countries have also become sponsors: Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America.

The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/65/L.62/Rev.1, entitled “Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/65/L.62/Rev.1?

In connection with draft resolution A/65/L.76, entitled “Scope, modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action”, I wish to put on record the following statement of financial implications on behalf of the Secretary-General, in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Under the terms of paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 7 of draft resolution A/65/L.76, the General Assembly would decide that the high-level meeting would be held on Thursday, 22 September 2011. It would consist of an opening plenary meeting, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; two consecutive round tables, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and a closing plenary meeting, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The morning meeting of the general debate on that day will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. That arrangement does not constitute a precedent. The Assembly would also decide that the speakers at the opening plenary would be the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the head of State of South Africa and one speaker from each regional group, as well as selected representatives of a non-governmental organization active in the field of combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; decide on the organizational arrangements for the round tables; and decide that the closing plenary meeting would consist of the presentation of summaries of the discussions by the co-chairs of the round tables and the adoption of a short and concise political declaration aimed at mobilizing political will. It is recalled that in his statement on the programme budget implications (A/C.5/65/12) of resolution 65/240, which was draft resolution A/C.3/65/L.60, the Secretary-General informed the General Assembly about the activities by which the proposals called for in paragraphs 50, 51, 53 and 57 would be implemented and the additional requirements by programme budget section that would arise. The General Assembly, by its resolution 65/259, approved total additional requirements of $206,400 for the biennium 2010-2011 in response to the terms of resolution 65/240: $115,700 under section 2 (General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management) and $90,700 under section 27 (Public information). The Secretariat has reviewed the terms of draft resolution A/65/L.76 and wishes to inform the General Assembly that the scope, modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting contained in the draft resolution introduce only slight changes from the modality understood by it under the terms of resolution 65/240. The change relates only to timing. The General Assembly is hereby informed that, should it adopt draft resolution A/65/L.76, additional resources are not expected to arise over and above those approved at the main part of the sixty-fifth session under section 2 (General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management) and section 27 (Public information). The Secretariat continues to maintain its position as reflected in paragraph 17 of document A/C.5/65/12 with regard to the resources that would be absorbed for the holding of the high-level meeting under section 2 (General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management), section 23 (Human rights), section 27 (Public information) and section 28D (Office of Central Support Services).

The Assembly will proceed to take action on draft resolution A/65/L.76. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/65/L.76? The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 66.