A/69/PV.2 General Assembly
The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m.
May I invite the General Assembly to direct its attention to section I of the report of the General Committee. In that section, the General Committee took note of the information contained in paragraph 2.
May I request the General Assembly to now direct its attention to section II, entitled “Organization of the session”, which contains a number of recommendations concerning the General Committee, the rationalization of work, the opening and closing dates for the session, the schedule of meetings, the general debate and the conduct of the meetings, and so on.
In paragraph 21, the General Committee draws to the attention of the Assembly the fact that the general debate will be held from Wednesday, 24 September, to Wednesday, 1 October, and recommends that it continue on Saturday, 27 September 2014. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of the information contained in paragraph 21 and approves the recommendation that the general debate continue on Saturday, 27 September 2014? *1454159* 14-54159 (E)
It was so decided.
All other recommendations in section II of the report of the Committee concern established practice. Therefore, rather than going through them one by one, I believe it would be beneficial to address all those organizational matters concerning the General Assembly as a whole. There being no comments on that approach, we shall proceed accordingly.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all 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 19 on waiving the requirements of rules 67 and 108 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly to declare a meeting open, I should 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 time.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information contained in paragraph 45 concerning the timely submission of draft proposals for the review of their programme budget implications?
It was so decided.
May I now invite members to turn their attention to section III of the report, which deals
with the adoption of the agenda. The question of the 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 53 to 58. In paragraph 59, in connection with sub-item (b) of item 13 of the draft agenda, entitled “Follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading A, entitled “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 that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 60, in connection with item 39 of the draft agenda, entitled “Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading B, entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security”, on the understanding that there would be no consideration of the item by the General Assembly. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 61, in connection with item 60 of the draft agenda, entitled “Question of the Malagasy islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Bassas da India”, the General Committee decided to recommend that consideration of that item be deferred to the seventieth session of the General Assembly and that the item be included in the provisional agenda of that session. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 62, in connection with sub-item (b) of item 95 of the draft agenda, entitled “No first placement of weapons in outer space”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading G, entitled “Disarmament”. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 63, in connection with item 171 of the draft agenda, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Commonwealth
of Independent States”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 64, in connection with item 172 of the draft agenda, entitled “Observer status for the Developing Eight Countries Organization for Economic Cooperation in the General Assembly”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 65, in connection with item 173 of the draft agenda, entitled “Observer status for the Pacific Community in the General Assembly”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 66, in connection with item 174 of the draft agenda, entitled “Seventieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I, entitled “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the agenda recommended by the General Committee in paragraph 67 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 shall now 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, entitled “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 turn now to heading B, entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security”. May I take it that the items listed under heading B are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
I give the floor to the representative of Armenia.
This is the first time I have spoken in the General Assembly, and I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, although I would have preferred to be discussing a rather more substantive issue. I hope that when I do I will have an opportunity to congratulate you fully.
Meanwhile, I wish to state that the delegation of Armenia dissociates itself from the consensus on including item 38 in the agenda of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly.
Next, we turn to heading C, entitled “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, entitled “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, entitled “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.
We now turn to heading G, entitled “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, entitled “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 68 to 70. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information contained in paragraph 70 concerning the granting of observer status?
It was so decided.
We shall now turn to the recommendations contained in paragraphs 72 to 75. 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 67 of the report before us, namely document A/69/250?
We shall now turn to paragraphs 72 (a) to (m), which relate to a number of plenary items. We turn first to paragraph 72 (d), which relates to sub-item (b) of item 13, entitled “Follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development”. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation contained in paragraph 72 (d)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraph 72 (l), which relates to sub-item (y) of item 123, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States”. May I take it that
the General Assembly approves the recommendation contained in paragraph 72 (l)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraph 72 (m), which relates to item 129, entitled “Seventieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War”. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendation contained in paragraph 72 (m)?
It was so decided.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all the information that the General Committee wishes it to take note of and approve all the recommendations of the General Committee contained in paragraphs 72 (a) to (m)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 73 (a) and (b), which relate to sub-item (b) of item 94, entitled “No first placement of weapons in outer space”, and item 96, entitled “General and complete disarmament”, for consideration bythe First Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained in paragraphs 73 (a) and (b)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 74 (a) and (b), which relate to item 133, entitled “Programme planning”, and item 144, entitled “Administration of justice at the United Nations”, for consideration by the Fifth Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained in paragraphs 74 (a) and (b)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 75 (a) and (b), which relate to item 171, “Observer status for the Developing Eight Countries Organization for Economic Cooperation in the General Assembly”, and item 172, “Observer status for the Pacific Community in the General Assembly”, for consideration by the Sixth Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly approves the recommendations contained in paragraphs 75 (a) and (b)?
It was so decided.
We shall now turn to paragraph 76 of the report of the General Committee, on the allocation of items to the plenary and to each Main 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 consideration directly in plenary meeting.
It was so decided.
Next, we come 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 decision just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these items for consideration by the First Committee?
It was so decided.
We now turn to the list of items which the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decision just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these items for consideration by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee).
It was so decided.
We now come to the list of items which 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 these items for consideration by the Second Committee?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items which the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Third Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decision just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these 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 decision just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these 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 decision just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of these items for consideration by the Sixth Committee?
It was so decided.
The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of the first report of the General Committee. I wish to thank all the 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 the representatives to a matter concerning the participation of the Holy See in its capacity as an observer State in the session 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-ninth 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 the State of Palestine, in its capacity as an observer State, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with resolutions 3237 (XXIX), of 22 November 1974; 43/177, of 15 December 1988; 52/250, of 7 July 1998; and 67/19, of 29 November 2012, and the note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/52/1002, the State of Palestine, in its capacity as an observer State, will participate in the work of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly, with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
In addition, I would like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with resolution 65/276, of 3 May 2011, and the note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/65/856, representatives of the European Union will participate in the work of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly, with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
As announced in the Journal of the United Nations, I should now like to consult members on the appointment of the Credentials Committee for the twenty-ninth special session of the General Assembly on the follow- up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development beyond 2014.
In accordance with resolution 67/250, of 21 February 2013, the special session will be composed of plenary meetings on 22 September 2014 from 1 to 9 p.m. In the light of the limited duration of the special session, there will not be sufficient time to constitute that Committee and provide it with the opportunity to examine the credentials in accordance with rule 28 of the rules of procedure.
I understand that it is therefore desirable to proceed to the appointment of the Credentials Committee for the special session at this plenary meeting in order to allow the Committee to proceed with its work in a timely manner.
In that regard, may I take it that the Assembly, recalling rule 28 of the rules of procedure and taking into account the duration of the twenty-ninth special session of the General Assembly, as stipulated in resolution 67/250, of 21 February 2013, decides to proceed to the appointment of the Credentials Committee for the twenty-ninth special session?
It was so decided.
3. Credentials of representatives to the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly (rule 28) (a) Appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee
Members will recall that at its 1st plenary meeting, on 16 September 2014, the Assembly, on the proposal of the President, decided to appoint a Credentials Committee for the sixty-ninth session consisting of the following Member States: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Denmark, Jamaica, Namibia, the Russian Federation, Senegal and the United States of America.
May I take it that, on the proposal of the President, the Assembly decides that the States I have just mentioned are hereby appointed the members of the Credentials Committee for the twenty-ninth special session of the General Assembly?
It was so decided.
The Credentials Committee for the twenty-ninth special session of the General Assembly is now fully constituted.
Before concluding, I would like to remind members that draft resolution A/69/L.2, entitled “Measures to Contain and Combat the Recent Ebola Outbreak in West Africa,” submitted under agenda item 124 (Global Health and Foreign Policy), will be considered this afternoon, at the 3rd plenary meeting.
The meeting rose at 10.30 a.m.