A/68/PV.71 General Assembly

The General Assembly will consider the reports of the Second Committee on agenda items 16 to 26, 61, 122, 135 and 174. I request the Rapporteur of the Second Committee, Ms. Juliet Hay of New Zealand, to introduce the reports of the Second Committee in one intervention. Ms. Hay (New Zealand), Rapporteur of the Second Committee: It is a privilege for me to introduce to the General Assembly the reports of the Second Committee on the agenda items allocated to it by the General Assembly at the sixty-eighth session. These reports, contained in documents A/68/435 to A/68/447, as well as A/68/590 and A/68/602, include the texts of draft resolutions and decisions recommended by the Committee to the General Assembly for adoption. A checklist of actions taken in the Second Committee is contained in document A/C.2/68/INF/1. During this main part of the sixty-eighth session, the Second Committee held 41 plenary meetings and six special events, including three joint formal meetings with the Economic and Social Council. The Second Committee adopted a total of 41 draft resolutions, four of which were adopted by vote, and two draft decisions. Under agenda item 16, entitled “Information and communications technologies for development”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 15 of document A/68/435, the adoption of one draft resolution. *1362895* 13-62895 (E) With regard to agenda item 16, the Second Committee requests that the General Assembly keep this item open for the resumed part of the sixty-eighth session of the Assembly for consultations to continue on one outstanding draft resolution, entitled “International Day for the Promotion and Protection of Telework”. Under agenda item 17, entitled “Macroeconomic policy questions”, the report of the Committee is issued in five parts. The report under the chapeau is contained in document A/68/436, and the recommendations are contained in the following addenda. Under sub-item (a), entitled “International trade and development”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 16 of document A/68/436/Add.1, the adoption of two draft resolutions, and, in paragraph 17, the adoption of one draft decision. Under sub-item (b), entitled “International financial system and development”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of document A/68/436/Add.2, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (c), entitled “External debt sustainability and development”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 7 of document A/68/436/ Add.3, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (d), entitled “Commodities”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of document A/68/436/Add.4, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 18, entitled “Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development and the 2008 Review Conference”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 11 of document A/68/437, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 19, entitled “Sustainable development”, the report of the Committee is issued in 11 parts. The report under the chapeau is contained in document A/68/438 and the recommendations are in the chapeau, as well as in the addenda. Under the chapeau of item 19, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 37 of document A/68/438, the adoption of five draft resolutions. Under sub-item (a), entitled “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of document A/68/438/Add.1, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (b), entitled “Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 9 of document A/68/438/Add.2, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (c), entitled “International Strategy for Disaster Reduction”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 7 of document A/68/438/Add.3, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (d), entitled “Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 10 of document A/68/438/Add.4, the adoption of one draft resolution. In connection with that draft resolution, I wish to bring to the attention of the Assembly minor oral revisions. Those revisions reflect the dates of the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change recently decided at the COP 19 in Warsaw. The COP 19 agreement states: “Decides to accept with appreciation the offer by the Government of France to host the twenty- first session of the Conference of the Parties and the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Paris, France, from Monday, 30 November to Friday, 11 December 2015”. Therefore, the dates of COP 21 contained in the last preambular paragraph and in paragraph 12 of the draft resolution will be replaced with these latest dates of 30 November to 11 December 2015. Under sub-item 19 (e), entitled “Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of document A/68/438/Add.5, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item 19 (f), entitled “Convention on Biological Diversity”, the Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/68/438/Add.6, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item 19 (g), entitled “Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its first universal session”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of document A/68/438/Add.7, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item 19 (h), entitled “Harmony with Nature”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of document A/68/438/Add.8, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item 19 (i), entitled “Sustainable mountain development”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 6 of document A/68/438/Add.9, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item 19 (j), entitled “The role of the international community in the prevention of the radiation threat in Central Asia”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 6 of document A/68/438/Add.10, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 20, entitled “Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 12 of document A/68/439, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 21, entitled “Globalization and interdependence”, the Committee’s report is issued in five parts. The report under the chapeau is contained in A/68/440 and the recommendations are contained in the following addenda. Under sub-item 21 (a), entitled “Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of document A/68/440/Add.1, the adoption of one draft resolution. I also want to inform delegations of one correction to this draft resolution. In the eleventh preambular paragraph, the words “deep concern” should not be italicized. This will be corrected in the final version. Under sub-item 21 (b), entitled “Science and technology for development”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 14 of document A/440/Add.2, the adoption of two draft resolutions. Under sub-item 21 (c), entitled “Development cooperation with middle-income countries”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 10 of document A/68/440/Add.3, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item 21 (d), entitled “Culture and development”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 10 of document A/68/440/Add.4, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 22, entitled “Groups of countries in special situations”, the Committee’s report is in three parts. The report under the chapeau is in document A/68/441 and the recommendations are contained in the following addenda. Under sub-item 22 (a), entitled “Follow- up to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 7 of document A/68/441/Add.1, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item 22 (b), entitled “Comprehensive 10-year Review Conference on the Implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 7 of document A/68/441/Add.2, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 23, entitled “Eradication of poverty and other development issues”, the Committee’s report is in four parts. The report under the chapeau is in document A/68/442 and the recommendations are contained in the following addenda. Under sub-item 23 (a), entitled “Implementation of the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017)”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 9 of document A/68/442/Add.1, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item 23 (b), entitled “Women in development”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 9 of document A/68/442/Add.2, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item 23 (c), entitled “Human resources development”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 7 of document A/68/442/Add.3, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 24, entitled “Operational activities for development”, the Committee’s report is in three parts. The report under the chapeau is contained in document A/68/443 and the recommendations are contained in the following addenda. Under sub-item 24 (a), entitled “Operational activities for development of the United Nations system”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 9 of document A/68/443/Add.1, the adoption of one draft resolution. With regard to this draft resolution, I wish to advise that the policy for independent system-wide evaluation of United Nations operational activities for development prepared by the interim coordination mechanism for system-wide evaluation of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, which is referenced in the first few lines of paragraph 8, will be issued as a note by the Secretariat under the symbol A/68/658. This reference will be included as a footnote in the final version of the draft resolution. Under sub-item 21 (b), entitled “South-South cooperation”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of document A/68/433/Add.2, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 25, entitled “Agriculture development, food security and nutrition”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 22 of document A/68/444, the adoption of three draft resolutions. Under agenda item 26, entitled “Towards global partnerships”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 10 of document A/68/445, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 61, entitled “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources”, the Committee recommends, in paragraph 10 of document A/68/446, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 122, entitled “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 5 of document A/68/590, the adoption of one draft decision. Under agenda item 135, entitled “Programme planning”, as indicated in paragraph 3 of document A/68/447, no action was required on this item. Under agenda item 174, entitled “United Nations University”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 9 of document A/68/602, the adoption of one draft resolution. Before concluding, I would like to commend the high level of cooperation and collaboration prevailing in the Second Committee at this session. Although the work of the Committee had to be extended for a week and a half to reach a successful conclusion, the Committee was able to fulfil the mandate entrusted to it by the Assembly and to complete its work effectively and constructively. I would like to thank, on behalf of the Bureau, all the facilitators and negotiators for their efforts during the negotiations. I would also like to thank all delegations for their constructive participation and cooperation, which ultimately allowed us to reach consensus on most draft resolutions and all decisions. I also take this opportunity to thank most sincerely our Chair, Mr. Abdou Salam Diallo of Senegal, as well as the Vice-Chairs, Miss Farrah Brown of Jamaica, Ms. Oana Rebedea of Romania and Mr. Waruna Sri Dhanapala of Sri Lanka, for their collaboration and partnership during this session. May I also thank the Secretariat of the Second Committee for its outstanding assistance and support to the Bureau. I would also like to request delegations having any queries about corrections to the text of draft resolutions that were adopted by the Second Committee, including translation queries, to communicate them as soon as possible to the Secretariat so that corrections can be made before the texts are issued as resolutions of the General Assembly. Finally, on a more personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my very best wishes to everyone for a wonderful holiday season and, I hope, a well-deserved break, as 2014 is already shaping up as another very busy year.

I thank the Rapporteur of the Second Committee for introducing the reports of the Committee. 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 Committee that are before the Assembly today.

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Second Committee have been made clear in the Committee 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 a plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, i.e., either in the Committee or in the plenary meeting, unless that delegation’s vote in the plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee.” May I further remind delegations that, also 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. When a report contains more than one proposal, delegations will have an opportunity to explain their positions before and after the General Assembly takes action on all of the proposals. Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Second Committee, unless the Secretariat is notified otherwise in advance. I should therefore hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Committee. Before proceeding further, I would like to draw the attention of members to a note by the Secretariat, entitled “List of proposals contained in the reports of the Second Committee”, which has been circulated in document A/C.2/68/INF/1. The note has been distributed desk to desk in the Hall as a reference guide for action on draft resolutions and decisions recommended by the Second Committee in its reports. In that connection, members will find in the third column of the note the order and numbers of the draft resolutions or decisions for action in the plenary meeting, with their corresponding titles and symbols, assigned in the Second Committee in the fourth column of the same note. The Assembly is reminded that we will now begin taking action on draft resolutions and decisions recommended for adoption by the Second Committee, and as such, those draft resolutions and decisions can no longer be additionally co-sponsored in the plenary meeting by Member States. Any clarification about sponsorship should be addressed to the Secretary of the Committee.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 15 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 16.

May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Second Committee?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 17. (a) International trade and development Report of the Second Committee (A/68/436/Add.1)

The Assembly has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 16 of its report and a draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 17 of the same report. We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I and II and on the draft decision, one by one. Draft resolution I is entitled “International trade and development”. The Second Committee adopted draft resolution I. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

We will now turn to draft resolution II, entitled “Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegations of the Bahamas and Saint Kitts and Nevis informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour; the delegation of Switzerland informed the Secretariat that it had intended to abstain.]

We will now take action on the draft decision, entitled “Venue of the fourteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in 2016”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 17?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take action on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 17?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 17?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 17 and of agenda item 17 as a whole?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 11 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 18.

The Assembly has before it five draft resolutions recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 37 of its report. The Assembly will now take action on draft resolutions I to V, one by one. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “World Wildlife Day”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to do likewise?

We turn next to draft resolution II, entitled “Oil slick on Lebanese shores”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of Saint Kitts and Nevis informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]

We turn next to draft resolution III, entitled “Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to do likewise?

We turn next to draft resolution IV, entitled “Cooperative measures to assess and increase awareness of environmental effects related to waste originating from chemical munitions dumped at sea”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

We turn next to draft resolution V, entitled “Agricultural technology for development”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of Saint Kitts and Nevis informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour; the delegations of Afghanistan, Algeria and Somalia informed the Secretariat that they had intended to abstain.]

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 19. (a) Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development Report of the Second Committee (A/68/438/Add.1)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 19. (b) Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States Report of the Second Committee (A/68/438/Add.2)

I should like to inform members that action on the draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 9 of its report is postponed to a later date to allow time for the review of its programme budget implications by the Fifth Committee. The Assembly will take action on the draft resolution as soon as the report of the the Fifth Committee on its programme budget implications is available. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 19. (c) International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Report of the Second Committee (A/68/438/Add.3)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 19? (d) Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind Report of the Second Committee (A/68/438/Add.4)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 11 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, as orally revised. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the draft resolution, as orally revised? The draft resolution, as orally revised, was adopted (resolution 68/212).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 19? (e) Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa Report of the Second Committee (A/68/438/Add.5)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 5 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (e) of agenda item 19?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its contribution to sustainable development”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (f) of agenda item 19? (g) Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its first universal session Report of the Second Committee (A/68/438/Add.7)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled, “Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its first universal session and the implementation of section IV.C, entitled ‘Environmental pillar in the context of sustainable development’, of the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 19?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (h) of agenda item 19. (i) Sustainable mountain development Report of the Second Committee (A/68/438/Add.9)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (i) of agenda item 19? (j) The role of the international community in the prevention of the radiation threat in Central Asia Report of the Second Committee (A/68/438/Add.10)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “The role of the international community in averting the radiation threat in Central Asia”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude this consideration of sub-item (j) of agenda item 19?

I should like to inform members that action on the draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 12 of its report is postponed to a later date to allow time for the review of its programme budget implications by the Fifth Committee. The Assembly will take action on the draft resolution as soon as the report of the Fifth Committee on its programme budget implications is available. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 20.

May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Second Committee?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 21. (a) Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence Report of the Second Committee (A/68/440/Add.1)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 21?

The Assembly has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 14 of this report. We will now take decisions on draft resolutions I and II, one by one. Draft resolution I is entitled “Science, technology and inovation for development”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

Draft resolution II is entitled “International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies, 2015”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 21? (c) Development cooperation with middle-income countries Report of the Second Committee (A/68/440/Add.3)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 21?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Culture and sustainable development”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 21.

May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Second Committee?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 22. (a) Follow-up to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries Report of the Second Committee (A/68/441/Add.1)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 22? (b) Comprehensive 10-year Review Conference on the Implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action Report of the Second Committee (A/68/441/Add.2)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of the landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 22?

May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Second Committee?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 23. (a) Implementation of the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017) Report of the Second Committee (A/68/442/Add.1)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled “Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017)”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 23?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 23?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 23?

May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Second Committee?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 24. (a) Operational activities for development of the United Nations system Report of the Second Committee (A/68/443/Add.1)

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 24?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 24?

The Assembly has before it three draft resolutions recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 22 of its report. We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I, II and III, one by one. Draft resolution I is entitled “International Year of Pulses, 2016”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution II is entitled “World Soil Day and International Year of Soils”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

Draft resolution III is entitled “Agriculture development, food security and nutrition”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 25?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, which is entitled “Towards global partnerships: a principle-based approach to enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 26?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested.

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 61?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. The draft resolution is entitled “Amendments to the Charter of the United Nations University”. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 174?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 5 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision, entitled “Programme of work of the Second Committee for the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt it?

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 122.

May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Second Committee?

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 135. On behalf of the General Assembly, I would like to thank Ambassador Diallo, the Permanent Representative of Senegal and Chair of the Second Committee, members of the Bureau of that Committee, the Secretary of the Committee and all representatives for a job well done. The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of all the reports of the Second Committee before it today.

The Assembly now has before it a report of the Fifth Committee on sub-item (f) of agenda item 116, entitled “Appointment of members of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee”, issued as document A/68/562/Add.1. In order for the Assembly to consider the report of the Fifth Committee under the sub-item, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of sub-item (f) of agenda item 116. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen consideration of sub-item (f) of agenda item 116 and proceed immediately to its consideration?

In paragraph 3 of the report of the Fifth Committee before the Assembly, the Committee recommends that the Assembly should appoint Ms. Maria Gracia Pulido Tan as a member of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2014. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint Ms. Tan as a member of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2014?

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of sub-item (f) of agenda item 116. Programme of work

I would like to draw the attention of members to the date of recess of the current session. Members will recall that, at its 66th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2013, the General Assembly agreed to postpone the date of recess of the sixty-eighth session to Friday, 20 December, which is today. In the light of the work still to be completed in the Fifth Committee, I would like to propose to the Assembly that the date of recess of the current session now be further postponed to Monday, 23 December. I hope that that would be the last extension. If there is no objection, may I take it that the Assembly agrees to further postpone the date of recess of the sixty-eighth session to Monday, 23 December?

I should like to consult members regarding an extension of the work of the Fifth Committee. Members will recall that, at its 61st plenary meeting, on 6 December, the General Assembly agreed to extend the work of the Fifth Committee until Friday, 20 December, which also happens to be today. However, I have been informed by the Chairman of the Fifth Committee that the Committee requests an additional extension of its work to Monday, 23 December, in view that such an extension would facilitate reaching consensus on the pending draft resolutions before it. May I therefore take it that the General Assembly agrees to extend the work of the Fifth Committee until Monday, 23 December?