A/69/PV.55 General Assembly

It is with a sense of pride and satisfaction that I preside over the General Assembly at this historic moment when the United Nations is about to embark on the observation of the International Decade for People of African Descent. When one thinks of the courage and fortitude of the people of African descent emerging from the devastating reality that was slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, one cannot but be humbled to know how far they have come. However, while recognizing the progress made, we need to go much further. Racism and cultural, structural and institutional discrimination against people of African descent continue to manifest themselves in situations that limit access to quality education, employment, housing and health care. Worldwide, people of African descent are frequently among the most marginalized members of society. *1463492* 14-63492 (E) They also inhabit the poorest districts with the most precarious and neglected infrastructure. They are vulnerable to crime and violence. In attempts to seek legal redress, they too often face discrimination in access to justice. In 2001 we adopted the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The Programme of Action confirmed what we all know to be true — that people of African descent still suffer as victims from the consequences of slavery, the slave trade and colonialism. With the adoption of the theme of the International Decade — “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development” — the international community has provided an opportunity to have a global conversation about the burdens and the accomplishments of people of African descent. Evidence of the contributions of people of African descent to the development of our societies is abundant and irrefutable. The International Decade is designed to celebrate those contributions. In so doing, the International Decade can help break down the walls of stereotype and stigma that often surround people of African descent. It is equally important for the International Decade to raise awareness and contribute to the efforts of Member States and the international community to ensure the promotion, respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights of peoples of African dissent and their full and equal participation in all aspects of society. Today we have a unique opportunity to make this International Decade one of the actions of promise. By adopting the draft resolution and the programme of action before us, the General Assembly will take a bold step towards that objective. African descendants around the world are watching and counting on us to do so. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/69/L.3, entitled “Programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/69/L.3?

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of position, may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU). At the outset, I would like to thank the South African facilitator, Ambassador Mamabolo, for his stewardship of this process. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the African Group, the Caribbean Community, Brazil and other delegations that have been engaged interlocutors during the consultation process leading to today’s unanimous adoption of the programme activities for the International Decade for People of African Descent (resolution 69/16, annex). The EU has been, is and will remain a firm believer in the international fight against all forms of racism, xenophobia and intolerance, and will always advocate for the promotion and protection of the human rights of all, including those of people of African descent. As we have repeated throughout this process, it is only through the ownership and engagement of all States that the Decade can successfully achieve its objectives. In this light, we expect the Decade to be implemented in an effective and collaborative manner at the local, national and international levels. To that end, national action and political will are paramount. The European Union and its member States look forward to continue playing an active role in the implementation of the Decade. One of the main concerns for my delegation, prior to the adoption of resolution 69/16 today, was the budgetary implications of the programme activities. It is therefore important that the programme just adopted be implemented in an efficient and effective manner, under the leadership of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Let me conclude by reiterating the EU’s commitment to ensuring a successful Decade, with a focus on the added value and concrete improvements in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance everywhere in the world.

Israel recognizes that resolution 69/16 contains extremely important elements, and Israel supports its goal. However, Israel must disassociate itself from the reference in several preambular paragraphs in the resolution to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in 2001 and related processes. Thirteen years ago, the majority of countries remained silent while the Durban Conference became a vehicle for incitement, racism, anti-Semitism, intolerance and prejudice against the State of Israel. The Jewish people have fought against racism throughout our history, and Israel remains committed to this goal.

While Canada supports the essence and objectives of resolution 69/16, it opposes the references to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in 2001 and related processes contained in the perambular sections of the resolution. Instead of fostering concerted global action against racism, the 2001 Conference degenerated into a politicized forum that served to promote intolerance and anti-Semitism rather than combat it. Canada firmly believes that the Durban process remains highly politicized to this day and that it has been unable to distance itself from its controversial past, including its open and divisive expressions of intolerance and anti-Semitism. While Canada disapproves of the reference to that process in this resolution, Canada will nevertheless continue to work in practical ways with the United Nations and its Member States towards addressing racism, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination and recognizing and promoting the rights of people of African descent.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position.

Brazil takes this opportunity to welcome the adoption of resolution 69/16, on the programme of activities for the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing a high-level event to officially launch, on 10 December – Human Rights Day – the International Decade for People of African Descent, as mandated by resolution 68/237. We agree with you, Mr. President, that 13 years after the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, discrimination faced by people of African descent is still a challenge due to violence and lack of education and employment. To that we can add social and economic inequality and a lack of national legislation on combating racial discrimination. Brazil has arduously worked, both in Geneva and in New York, towards a strong agreement on the programme of activities that could serve as a road map for promoting racial equality worldwide. Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo for successfully concluding the consultation process on the programme of activities, as well as to thank the regional groups, the African group, the Caribbean Community and the European Union for contributing to this successful outcome. Brazil has the largest population of Afro-descendants outside of Africa. In 2013, that segment of the Brazilian population accounted for over 100 million, and that number is expected to rise to over 115 million by 2042. However, more than three centuries of slavery have taken their toll. Although people of African descent are a majority in Brazil, they still live on the outskirts of urban centres, earn lower wages and have less access to education. In addition, according to statistics, their sons and daughters are more vulnerable to violence. President Dilma Rousseff has made it clear that racism is not only a heinous crime but also an outrage that we must spare no effort to punish and eradicate. Public policies and the engagement of the State are essential. Brazil has implemented affirmative programmes and national policies aimed at ending extreme poverty, including conditional cash transfers, social safety nets, minimum wage legislation and Government procurement of food and services within local communities. Those have contributed significantly to poverty eradication in general and the reduction of the inequalities among different racial and vulnerable groups in particular. Over the past 10 years, Brazil has lifted over 36 million people out of extreme poverty. Seventy- five per cent of this new emerging middle class are of African descent. Whereas in 2002 only 38 per cent of the middle class was comprised of African-Brazilians, in 2012 they made up 51 per cent of the Brazilian population. Brazil attaches immense importance to the International Decade for People of African Descent and to the programme of activities, which, we expect, will contribute to the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and raise awareness on combating prejudice, intolerance and racism. The theme for the International Decade for People of African Descent is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”. We expect that by launching the Decade and implementing its programme of activities, Member States, along with civil society, the United Nations and all other relevant stakeholders, will show their resolve to promote respect for and the protection and fulfilment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms to the benefit of people of African descent. Brazil also expects that we will be able to raise awareness of the rich cultural legacy of people of African descent and their knowledge, diverse heritage and culture all over the world. Ten years from now, we hope our work will have brought justice to people of African descent, honoured their culture and history and rectified the social and economic inequality they have been subjected to. We believe diversity is an asset. By promoting respect for the human rights of all people of African descent, we are unmistakably strengthening our common bonds as human beings.

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 66.

In paragraph 4 of its report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly appoint the following persons as members of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015: Mr. Pavel Chernikov (Russian Federation), Mr. Ali A. Ali Kurer (Libya), Mr. Dietrich Lingenthal (Germany), Mr. Fernando de Oliveira Sena (Brazil) and Mr. David Traystman (United States of America). May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint Mr. Pavel Chernikov, Mr. Ali A. Ali Kurer, Mr. Dietrich Lingenthal, Mr. Fernando de Oliveira Sena and Mr. David Traystman as members of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015? (b) Appointment of members of the Committee on Contributions Report of the Fifth Committee (A/69/565)

In paragraph 5 (a) of its report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly appoint the following persons as members of the Committee on Contributions for a three-year term of office beginning 1 January 2015: Mr. Fu Daopeng (China), Mr. Kuna1 Khatri (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Mr. Nikolay Lozinskiy (Russian Federation), Mr. Henrique da Silveira Sardinha Pinto (Brazil), Mr. Thomas Schlesinger (Austria) and Mr. Yoo Dae-jong (Republic of Korea). May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint Mr. Fu Daopeng, Mr. Kuna1 Khatri, Mr. Nikolay Lozinskiy, Mr. Henrique da Silveira Sardinha Pinto, Mr. Thomas Schlesinger and Mr. Yoo Dae-jong as members of the Committee on Contributions for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015?

In paragraph 5 (b) of the same report, the Fifth Committee also recommends that the General Assembly appoint Mr. Mohamed A. Elshakshuki (Libya) as a member of the Committee on Contributions for a term of office beginning on the date of adoption of the decision and ending on 31 December 2016. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint Mr. Mohamed A. Elshakshuki as a member of the Committee on Contributions for a term of office beginning on 18 November 2014 and ending on 31 December 2016? (c) Confirmation of the appointment of members of the Investments Committee Report of the Fifth Committee (A/69/566)

In paragraph 5 of its report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly confirm the reappointment by the Secretary- General of the following persons as regular members of the Investments Committee for a one-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015: Mr. Masakazu Arikawa (Japan), Mr. Madhav Dhar (India), Mr. Nemir A. Kirdar (Iraq), Mr. Michael Klein (United States of America) and Mr. Ivan Pictet (Switzerland), in addition to the conversion of the membership of Gumersindo Oliveros (Spain) from ad hoc to regular membership, for a one-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to confirm the reappointments by the Secretary-General of Mr. Masakazu Arikawa, Mr. Madhav Dhar, Mr. Nemir A. Kirdar, Mr. Michael Klein and Mr. Ivan Pictet as regular members of the Investments Committee for a one-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015, and to convert the membership of Mr. Gumersindo Oliveros from ad hoc to regular membership for a one-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015? (d) Appointment of members of the International Civil Service Commission Report of the Fifth Committee (A/69/567)

In paragraph 5 (a) of its report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly appoint the following persons as members of the International Civil Service Commission for a four-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015: Ms. Marie-Françoise Bechtel (France), Mr. Emmanuel Oti Boateng (Ghana), Ms. Carleen Gardner (Jamaica), Mr. Kingston Papie Rhodes (Sierra Leone) and Mr. Eugeniusz Wyzner (Poland). May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint Ms. Marie-Françoise Bechtel, Mr. Emmanuel Oti Boateng, Ms. Carleen Gardner, Mr. Kingston Papie Rhodes and Mr. Eugeniusz Wyzner as members of the International Civil Service Commission for a four-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015?

In paragraph 5 (b) of the same report, the Fifth Committee also recommends the designation of Mr. Kingston Papie Rhodes (Sierra Leone) as Chair of the International Civil Service Commission for a four-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to designate Mr. Kingston Papie Rhodes as Chair of the International Civil Service Commission for a four-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015? (e) Appointment of members of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee Report of the Fifth Committee (A/69/568)

In paragraph 4 of its report, the Fifth Committee recommends that the General Assembly appoint Mr. J. Christopher Mihm (United States of America) and Mr. Richard Quartei Quartey (Ghana) as members of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint Mr. J. Christopher Mihm and Mr. Richard Quartei Quartey as members of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2015?

May I take it that is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-items (a) to (e) of agenda item 113?

As indicated in document A/69/106, the General Assembly is required, during the sixty- ninth session, to appoint four members to fill the four vacancies on the Joint Inspection Unit that will arise from the expiration of the term of office on 31 December 2015 of Mr. Gérard Biraud (France), Mr. Papa Louis Fall (Senegal), Mr. István Posta (Hungary) and Mr. Cihan Terzi (Turkey). As also indicated in document A/69/106, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, the President of the General Assembly shall consult with Member States to draw up a list of countries, in this case four countries, which would be requested to propose candidates for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. Also, as indicated in paragraph 2 of document A/69/106, the General Assembly, by its resolution 61/238, decided that beginning on 1 January 2008, the President of the General Assembly, when drawing up the list of countries in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Unit, will invite Member States to submit the names of the countries and their respective candidates simultaneously, on the understanding that the candidates submitted would be the candidates that the respective Member States intended to propose, to the extent possible, for appointment by the Assembly in accordance with article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute. I would like to inform members that the Permanent Representative of Mauritania to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chair of the Group of African States for the month of November 2014, has requested the postponement of the election for the seat allocated to the African States. I would like to communicate the following information to the Assembly received from the Chairs of regional groups. For the one vacancy from among the Eastern European States, the Group has endorsed Romania; for the two vacancies from among Western European and other States, there are two endorsed candidates, namely, Canada and Germany. In accordance with Article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, Canada, Germany and Romania will be requested to submit the names of candidates and the curriculums vitae highlighting the candidates’ relevant qualifications for the tasks ahead. I would like to remind members that, in accordance with resolution 59/267, of 23 December 2004, the candidates should have experience in at least one of the following fields: oversight, audit, inspection, investigation, evaluation, finance, project evaluation, programme evaluation, human resource management, public administration, monitoring and all-programme performance, as well as knowledge of the United Nations system and its role in international relations. After holding the appropriate consultation described in Article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, including consultations with the President of the Economic and Social Council and with the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, I will submit the names of the candidates to the Assembly for appointment to the Joint Inspection Unit. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 113.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. The Fifth Committee adopted the draft resolution, entitled “Programme Planning”, without a vote. 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 113.

For more than two decades, this body has considered the agenda item entitled “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly” as an integral part of its efforts to strengthen the Organization as a whole. Although the world has drastically changed from what it was almost 70 years ago, the role of the General Assembly, as the chief deliberative body and representative organ of the United Nations, has remained central. We are now at a defining moment as we deliberate this item. We are reaching the target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, which will be succeeded by the sustainable development goals, currently being formulated, as key components of the post-2015 development agenda. As we pursue this agenda, it is essential that we continue giving urgent attention to enhancing the role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency of the General Assembly. That is one of the priorities I have laid out during this session. Resolution 68/307, of 10 September 2014, established an ad hoc working group on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. The resolution called for the Working Group to be open to all Member States and “To identify further ways to enhance the role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency of the Assembly, inter alia, by building on the progress achieved in past sessions as well as on previous resolutions, including evaluating the status of their implementation” (resolution 68/307, para. 3 (a)). I thank Ambassador František Ružička, Permanent Representative of Slovakia, and Ambassador Norachit Sinhaseni, Permanent Representative of Thailand, co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly, for their leadership and the work done during the previous session. Through the four clusters, the Working Group has made efforts to explore how best to enhance the voice and impact of the Assembly, in line with its mandate and the realities of today’s world. Let me recall some highlights of that work. The first cluster relates to the role and authority of the General Assembly. It is essential that the resolutions adopted by this body be implemented and that cooperation between the Assembly and the principle organs of the United Nations be continuously pursued. I intend to strengthen that cooperation, coordination and exchange of information with the other principle organs, and also with the Secretariat and, in particular, the Secretary-General. I welcome the progress made in improving the working methods of the Assembly and its Main Committees — the second cluster of our revitalization agenda. We have to maintain that steadfastness, as the efficient and coherent work of the Committees has far-reaching impact, particularly in the Assembly’s ability to make timely and meaningful decisions. By rationalizing our agenda and making it more focused we also enhance the quality and impact of the consideration of topics, while reflecting the priorities of Member States. We should preserve the integrity and eminence of the general debate. An important lesson from the general debate heard this year is that we need to rationalize the number of meetings and side events held on the margins of the general debate so as to enable greater focus on the matters being discussed in the Hall by world leaders. During this session, I will convene high-level meetings and thematic debates on current issues of critical importance to the international community. In my previous statements at the Assembly, I outlined the specific meetings and events. I will continue to consult with the General Committee and Member States on the preliminary programme of those debates, as well as on the possibilities for achieving results-oriented and productive outcomes from them. I wish to note the important and tangible outcome of the scheduling of early elections for members of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. Beginning with the seventieth session, elections to these organs will take place six months before the elected States assume their responsibilities. I also note that work has been progressing with regard to the third cluster, on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General and of other executive heads. That is consistent with resolution 68/307, which, inter alia, re-emphasizes the need for the Secretary-General’s selection process to be transparent and inclusive, in accordance with Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations. The fourth, and final, cluster — strengthening the institutional memory of the Office of the President of the General Assembly — will also play an important role in reinvigorating the Assembly. I commend the President of the Assembly at its sixty-eighth session for facilitating transition and continuity in the Office of the President of the General Assembly. I also recognize the vital support provided by the Secretariat, in particular the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. In the coming period, I look forward to briefing Member States on my Office’s activities against the backdrop of an increased workload. I thank Member States for their continued support to the Office of the President of the General Assembly. I will actively involve Member States in the work of the Assembly. During the last few weeks, I appointed Chairs and facilitators for different items of our work agenda. In that regard, I thank Ambassador Vladimir Drobnjak, Permanent Representative of Croatia, and Ambassador Wilfried Emvula, Permanent Representative of Namibia, for agreeing to serve as the new co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly. I call on all Member States to support their efforts to advance the agenda of the Ad Hoc Working Group. Finally, I wish to reiterate that the revitalization of the work of the Assembly will remain a priority during this session. I look forward to the Assembly’s collective support and contribution.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). At the outset, the gratitude of NAM members goes out to His Excellency Mr. František Ružička, Permanent Representative of Slovakia, and to our friend Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni, Permanent Representative of Thailand, for their tireless efforts and excellent work in co-chairing the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly during the sixty-eighth session. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Wilfried I. Emvula, Permanent Representative of Namibia, and Mr. Vladimir Drobnjak, Permanent Representative of Croatia, for their appointment as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group during the sixty-ninth session and to wish them every success. I would like to remind the General Assembly that NAM welcomed the adoption of the resolution 68/307 in September, by which the Assembly established the Ad Hoc Working Group to discuss issues related to the revitalization of the General Assembly during the this session. The Non-Aligned Movement underlines that the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly is a political process, rather than a procedural one, that aims mainly at strengthening the role of the Assembly as the chief deliberative policymaking and representative organ of the Organization in the broader United Nations system. The process should therefore be conducted in an inclusive, transparent and efficient manner. Hence, the Movement reiterates the importance of the revitalization of the General Assembly as an item that deserves consideration on an equal footing with other reform processes and important topics of the United Nations. We wish to reaffirm the role and authority of the General Assembly, including on questions related to international peace and security, and its intergovernmental, inclusive and democratic character, which have immensely contributed to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the goals of the Organization. Our group reaffirms as well the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations as such and draws attention to the need to consult with Members States on the initiatives and activities undertaken within the Organization and to the right of all Member States to express their positions before the General Assembly at any time they wish to do so. The General Assembly, as the policymaking organ of the Organization, holds the authority and the essential role of drawing the framework, setting the principles and identifying the objectives for the wider United Nations system and its numerous organs, agencies and programmes. Furthermore, the Assembly should remain the principal organ that reviews the work of all its subsidiary organs and bodies. The General Assembly should also maintain its role and mandate in setting the priorities of the United Nations in considering all budgetary and administrative issues and reforms, including its absolute authority to allocate and reallocate financial and human resources and in the appointment of senior officials of the Secretariat, in accordance with the Charter and relevant General Assembly resolutions. In that regard, the prerogatives of the General Assembly as the chief oversight organ of the Organization, including on management and procurement for peacekeeping operations, must be respected. While expressing its readiness to continue to support all ongoing efforts to strengthen the central role and authority of the Assembly, NAM wishes to state that it will not accept any approach that seeks to undermine or minimize the achievements of the General Assembly, diminish its current role and functioning or raise questions about its relevance and credibility. The Movement recalls the decision taken in paragraph 4 of resolution 68/307 requesting the Ad Hoc Working Group to continue the process of the comprehensive review of the inventory on the status of implementation of the resolutions on the revitalization of the General Assembly and to issue an updated version. NAM also recalls that in paragraph 5 of the same resolution the Secretary-General is requested to submit an update on the related provisions that have not been implemented, with an indication as to the constraints and reasons behind the lack of implementation. Furthermore, the group believes firmly, as set out in paragraph 7 of the resolution, that the implementation of General Assembly resolutions, including those related to the revitalization of its work, enhances the role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency of the Assembly, and underlines the important role and responsibility of Member States in their full implementation. Obviously, political will is indeed key to ensuring the effective implementation of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly. In that regard, NAM welcomes the decision to issue the updated inventory chart of the Assembly’s resolutions on revitalization, to be annexed to the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group submitted to the Assembly at its sixty-ninth session. The annex will provide Member States with an opportunity to assess the progress achieved in the implementation of the previous resolutions since the sixty-third session. I would like to take this opportunity to say that NAM emphasizes the need to fully respect the functions and powers of each principal organ of the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly, and to maintain the balance among the organs within their respective Charter-based functions and powers. In that regard, the Security Council must fully observe all Charter provisions, as well as all General Assembly resolutions that clarify the Council’s relationship with the Assembly and other principal organs. In that context, NAM again expresses its concern, raised during previous sessions, with regard to the continuous attempt by the Security Council to encroach upon the powers and prerogatives of the General Assembly. In fact, Article 24, paragraph 1, of the Charter does not provide the Security Council with the competence to address issues that fall within the functions and powers of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. In the same vein, NAM reiterates its request to the Security Council to submit a more explanatory, comprehensive and analytical annual report to the General Assembly, assessing the work of the Council, including in such cases where the Council has failed to act. Furthermore, in resolutions 58/126, 59/313 and 60/286, annex, paragraph 7, the General Assembly invited the Security Council to submit periodically, in accordance with Articles 15 and 24 of the Charter, special subject-oriented reports to the General Assembly for its consideration on issues of current international concern. Since the adoption of resolution 58/126, no special subject-oriented reports have been formally submitted to the General Assembly. The special subjects are to some extent covered only by the monthly assessments presented by the Presidents of the Security Council. Moreover, NAM is convinced that activities of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization will contribute greatly to the whole process of revitalization. NAM supports in particular the two proposals that are discussed by the Special Committee: first, the creation of an open-ended working group to study the proper implementation of the Charter with respect to the functional relationship of its organs, and second, the working paper on the strengthening of the role of the Organization and enhancing its effectiveness. Among other prerogatives and mandates of the General Assembly, there is the issue of the selection and appointment of Secretaries-General of the United Nations. NAM attaches the utmost importance to that question. NAM reaffirms the need for the selection of the Secretary-General to be more transparent and inclusive of all Member States. NAM deplores that up to now no consultations on the appointment of a new Secretary-General have ever taken place, as reflected in the updated inventory chart annexed to the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group. The Movement emphasizes, therefore, the necessity that the participation of the General Assembly in the selection and the appointment of future Secretaries-General should be more active, effective and efficient, in conformity with the Charter and rules of procedures of the General Assembly and in accordance with the provisions of resolutions 51/241, 60/286, 64/301, 66/294, 67/297 and 68/307. NAM stresses the importance of the full implementation of the aforementioned resolutions in the immediate next process of selection and appointment of the Secretary-General. In the run-up to the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General, which is expected to take place in two years, NAM encourages the holding of timely hearings or meetings of the General Assembly for an exchange of views and dialogue with candidates running for the post of Secretary-General. NAM also encourages the President of the General Assembly to play a proactive role in that process. The Movement emphasizes the importance of ensuring the effectiveness of the Office of the President of the General Assembly, including through the strengthening of its institutional memory. While noting with appreciation the progress already achieved in that regard, we are of the view that a particular effort should be devoted to the implementation of existing resolutions on the matter, as well as to identifying, during the upcoming discussions of the Working Group, ways and means to pursue that objective progressively and with determination. It is clear that while the prerogatives of the President of the General Assembly have not changed, his role and his activities have evolved over the past years, both in adapting to the growing activities, conferences and initiatives of the Assembly and in performing official protocol functions in representing the Assembly all over the world and making the Assembly’s work more known and more visible. Thus, the activities of the Office of the President have increased drastically over the years. The agenda of the Assembly, and consequently that of its President, includes a tremendous number of issues. The expansion in the activities of the General Assembly, including the yearly adoption of nearly 300 resolutions and decisions, the establishment of working groups and the appointment of facilitators who convene meetings and consultations throughout the year have made the presence of the President and his or her active participation necessary during the entire session. Moreover, the Assembly’s workload is no longer limited to its main session, but rather covers the whole period from the opening of the session in September to its closing the following September. Those enormous increasing activities should of course be matched with all the necessary resources, both human and financial. Hence, in order to provide further insight on the diversity and complexity of the activities and duties of the President, NAM recalls the request of Member States addressed to the President of the General Assembly at the sixty-eighth session, in cooperation with the Secretariat, to report to the Ad Hoc Working Group on the role, mandate and activities of the President. In the same spirit, the Movement seeks more clarification regarding the budgetary basis for the provision by the Secretariat of sources of the funding and staffing of the Office of the President of the Assembly, as stipulated in paragraph 35 of resolution 68/307. The Movement recalls, in that regard, that resolution 68/307 requests the Secretary-General to submit proposals, in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017, to review the budget allocation to the Office of the President. In conclusion, NAM reaffirms that a reinvigorated General Assembly, in a more responsive environment, exerting fully its role and authority, would significantly contribute to the strengthening of the wider United Nations system and to improving international governance and enhancing multilateralism.

I now give the floor to the observer of the European Union.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member States. The candidate countries Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania, the country of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. I would like to thank the previous co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the General Assembly, the Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Thailand, for the excellent work done. I would also like to thank the President of the General Assembly for his appointment of the Permanent Representative of Croatia and the Permanent Representative of Namibia to serve as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the General Assembly. We wish them success and express our support. The European Union and its member States are strongly attached to effective multilateralism with the United Nations at its core. The strengthening the United Nations, based on effective and sustainable funding in line with the real capacity to pay, and increasing the efficiency of its functioning, on which there is scope to do more, remain our top priorities. In that context, we continue to be committed to revitalization and to supporting efforts aimed at strengthening the role and authority of the General Assembly, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions. Indeed, we wish that the General Assembly, as the only intergovernmental body with universal membership and given its broad mandate with far- reaching responsibilities, would be able to take up the challenge of conciliating legitimacy and efficiency in a context of emerging global challenges. At the same time, we wish to reiterate that it is imperative that concrete steps be taken at all levels to spend more wisely, to deliver in new ways and to ensure that the Organization lives within the agreed budget levels. That applies to all activities of the United Nations, from peacekeeping to construction to the regular budget. An unceasing effort to find new and creative ways to work is essential to achieve a more effective delivery on mandates and sustainable use of resources. We believe that revitalization can be ensured only when the General Assembly takes relevant action on issues of common concern to the international community and produces results. By doing so, it lives up to its role as one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The European Union and its member States welcome the adoption of resolution 68/307, with important provisions such as earlier election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of the Economic and Social Council. We welcome the reiteration of the interim arrangement on the rotation pattern of the Chairs of the Main Committees, adopted in decision 68/505 in connection with guidelines for future arrangements contained in the annex to resolution 68/307. Also, we would like to stress the importance of the implementation of all resolutions of the General Assembly, including on the revitalization of its work, and to note its impact on the Assembly’s authority, effectiveness and efficiency. The revitalization of the work of the General Assembly is clearly interlinked with the overall reform of the United Nations. The General Assembly revitalization process has already led to positive developments such as the thematic debates, which facilitate more in-depth discussions on current issues of critical importance to the international community. The European Union and its member States especially value the interactive character of thematic debates, which allows for closer engagement by the Assembly with other stakeholders, international and regional organizations and groups outside the United Nations system. We look forward to the continuation of that practice and invite the President of the General Assembly to consult with Member States on the possibilities, where appropriate, in the spirit of partnerships, engaging a broad range of stakeholders and achieving results-oriented outcomes in such debates. We also recognize the importance of the interaction between the General Assembly and international and regional forums and organizations dealing with global matters of concern to the international community, as well as the benefits to be drawn from such interaction. We appreciate the continued practice of convening periodic informal briefings by the Secretary-General on his priorities, travels and most recent activities, including his participation in international meetings and events organized outside the United Nations, and we encourage him to continue that practice. As to the relationship of the General Assembly with other principal organs of the United Nations, the European Union and its member States believe that improving transparency and cooperation remain important goals. The Assembly should benefit from information about the meetings between the Presidents of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as well as with the chairs of subsidiary bodies. Periodic briefings by the Assembly President on his recent activities, including official travels, continue to be an appreciated practice and are a valuable source of information. On the issue of working methods, we wish to recall the need to consider and take steps towards the rationalization of the agenda of the General Assembly and of the Economic and Social Council with a view to eliminating duplication and overlap and promoting complementarity in the consideration and negotiation of similar and related issues. In that context, it is important to point out resolution 68/1. We are of the opinion that it would be appropriate to examine further biennialization and triennialization of certain items, as well as their clustering or elimination, including through the introduction of a sunset clause, with the clear consent of the sponsoring State or States. In that regard, the leadership of the Chairs and the Bureaus of the Main Committees is of particular importance. We look forward to the briefings to the Ad Hoc Working Group on working methods by the Chairs of the Main Committees. Although each of the Main Committees has its own authority over the rules of procedure, we believe that streamlining and standardizing some should lead to the more efficient work by the Committees. We would like to stress as well the importance of making full use of e-services provided by the Secretariat. The widespread use by Main Committees and Member States alike of such e-services, including the PaperSmart portal, has had a positive impact on the work of the General Assembly during its main session, while it has also saved a considerable amount of resources, energy and paper. We have to continue to work in that direction. We look forward to the active roles of the Secretary- General, the President of the General Assembly, including in his capacity as the Chair of the General Committee, and the Chairs of the Main Committees, in consultation with Member States, in enhancing the coordination of the scheduling of high-level meetings with the view to optimizing their number and distribution throughout the year, while bearing in mind the need to preserve the integrity of the general debate. We believe that the General Committee could play a useful role in the process. Finally, let me emphasize the important role that the Ad Hoc Working Group plays in the revitalization of the work of General Assembly. I would like to assure the Assembly that the European Union and its member States will continue to engage in a constructive manner in the proceedings of the Ad Hoc Working Group. We look forward to receiving a workplan soon.

At the outset, before I deliver a statement on behalf of the member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), allow me to say a few words on the issue of the list of speakers. I would like to draw your kind attention, Mr. President, to the matter of the order of speakers. ASEAN member States have considered paragraph 1 (b) to the annex of resolution 65/276, on the participation of the European Union in the work of the United Nations. It states that the observer of the European Union, in order to present the position of the European Union and its member States as agreed by them, shall be invited to participate in the general debate of the General Assembly in accordance with the order of precedence as established in the practice for participating observers and their level of participation. In keeping to the letter and spirit of resolution 65/276, the member States of ASEAN are therefore of the opinion that the European Union delegation, in its capacity as observer, should speak after all regional and major groupings that are represented by States, unless the European Union is also represented by a Member State. That is a principled application of resolution 65/276. Hence, ASEAN requests that an ASEAN member State, when speaking on behalf of the grouping, should speak before the European Union if the latter is represented by the European Union delegation. Turning to agenda item 118, on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, let me express our appreciation to the co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly, Ambassador František Ružička of Slovakia and Ambassador Norachit Sinhaseni of Thailand, for their stewardship in facilitating the Ad Hoc Working Group during the Assembly’s sixty-eighth session. We are pleased by the progress made under their co-chairmanship. We are also pleased that resolution 68/307 was adopted by consensus on 10 September 2014. Let me also take this opportunity to express our appreciation to His Excellency Mr. John Ashe, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session, for his selection of the co-Chairs and the importance he accorded to the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. We welcome the opening address by Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the General Assembly at its current session, on 16 September 2014 (see A/69/PV.1), in which he highlighted his priorities, including the continued focus on both the revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council. We look forward to working with the new Co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group appointed by Mr. Kutesa. Next year we will celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations. That special occasion provides us with a unique opportunity to reinvigorate the reform of the United Nations. We should take advantage of that opportunity not only to celebrate the achievements of the United Nations over the past seven decades, but also to contemplate a fresh approach to the reform of the Organization in order to enable it to more effectively respond to the needs of Member States and to address both current and future challenges. One critical component of that reform is the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, which is the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. Let me highlight some of the key issues that we believe deserve special consideration in the sixty-ninth session. First, we welcome the reaffirmation, in accordance with resolution 68/307, of the importance and benefit of continued interaction between the General Assembly and international and regional forums. The year 2015 is special not only for the United Nations but also for ASEAN, which next year will celebrate the establishment of the ASEAN Community. As one of the most successful regional organizations, ASEAN looks forward to interacting with all international and regional forums to address issues of common interest and concern. I hope that concrete measures and actions will be taken to follow up on the important directive given by the General Assembly. Secondly, we welcome the General Assembly’s decision, beginning with the seventieth session, to hold the election for non-permanent members of the Security Council and members of the Economic and Social Council approximately six months before the elected members assume their responsibilities. We hope that the elected members, especially those from small and medium-sized developing countries, will thereby have more time to prepare for their new responsibilities. We particularly hope that the earlier election will provide an earlier opportunity for the elected non-permanent members to observe Security Council meetings. Thirdly, with respect to the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General, we welcome the reaffirmation in resolution 68/307 that the process of selecting and appointing the Secretary-General differs from that used for other executive heads in the United Nations system, given the important and unique role of the Secretary-General. We appreciate the common call by a number of Member States for the selection process to be improved without amending the Charter. For example, convening hearings or meetings of the General Assembly for an exchange of views with candidates could help to make the selection process more inclusive, transparent, interactive and credible. We hope that concrete improvement will be agreed upon in the Ad Hoc Working Group during the sixty- ninth session so that it can be implemented at the seventieth session, well in time for the selection of the next Secretary-General, which is expected to take place in 2016. We also hope that the President of the General Assembly will play an active role in that process in accordance with the role accorded to him or her by the relevant resolutions, while at the same time fully respecting the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. Last but not least, we hope to see further strengthening of the institutional memory of the Office of the President of the General Assembly. We are pleased that the Assembly, in resolution 68/307, repeated its request to the Secretary-General to submit, in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017, proposals to review the budget allocation to the Office of the President of the General Assembly in accordance with existing procedures. It is important to note that a number of Member States have continually called for an increase in the budget allocation to the Office of the President of the General Assembly, which has remained unchanged since 1998. With only minor adjustments for inflation, that salary currently stands at $300,000. As one of the most important multilateral posts, the presidency of the General Assembly, no matter which country holds that important office, should not be under financial constraints. We therefore hope that the Secretary- General’s proposals will be submitted and considered in the preparation for the next biennium. Before concluding, let me repeat the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., that Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa cited in his opening address to the Assembly: “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.” I have expressed our hopes, on behalf of ASEAN member States, and wish to assure the Assembly of the Association’s continued commitment to constructively engage in the deliberations of the Ad Hoc Working Group during the sixty-ninth session, with the aim of achieving concrete outcomes for the revitalization of the work of the Assembly on the eve of its seventieth anniversary.

Pakistan associates itself with the statement made by the representative of Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We commend the efforts of the Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Thailand as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly during the sixty- eighth session. We look forward to working with the Permanent Representatives of Namibia and Croatia as they lead our efforts to revitalize the General Assembly. The General Assembly, despite its perceived operational inaction, has been working diligently on its mandated tasks. The finalization of the sustainable development goals and the creation of the high- level political forum on sustainable development are examples of its recent successes. Leadership on issues like the Millennium Development Goals, sustainable development, human rights and women’s empowerment and the creation of new architecture such as the Human Rights Council and UN-Women, testify to the normative and substantive vitality and creativity of the General Assembly over the past decade. The Ad Hoc Working Group itself has succeeded in bringing forward elections for the members of the Economic and Social Council and the non-permanent member of the Security Council to six months before the start of their terms. This will help the newly elected members prepare and contribute in a better way. The roles and mandates of the General Assembly and the Security Council have been defined clearly by the Charter of the United Nations. Instead of a discourse focused on contradictions and encroachments, we should look at areas of convergence so that the two bodies can work harmoniously in a shared space to advance our common agenda. The Charter provides enormous space to the General Assembly to play its role in the maintenance of international peace and security, economic development and the promotion and protection of human rights. The Assembly should use that space in an optimal manner. It has a leadership role to play on peacekeeping by using the full potential of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. From time to time, resorting to the Uniting for Peace mechanism would enable the Assembly to leave its indelible imprint on international peace and stability. In this millennium, the General Assembly would play a landmark and seminal role by crafting the post- 2015 development agenda, which would contribute directly to the alleviation of poverty, the empowerment of the marginalized men, women and children of the world, promoting equality, and stimulating economic growth and development. The implementation of the agenda would put the Assembly at the centre of decision-making processes and enhance its structures and stature. In addition, the Assembly has the responsibility to deliver on sustainable development in partnership with the high-level political forum on sustainable development and the Economic and Social Council. The Security Council, for its part, while taking up thematic issues, such as climate change, sexual violence in armed conflict, women and children’s rights and peacebuilding, should work in close partnership with the relevant intergovernmental forums and organizations. Two-way communication between the Council and the Assembly should not remain symbolic and cosmetic but should become substantive and consequential. Small steps could improve communication between the two bodies. These include making the largely pro forma monthly meetings between the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Council more substantive by discussing collaboration, based on the agendas of the two bodies; making the annual reports of the Council to the Assembly more analytical and allowing the Assembly’s views to feed back into the Council’s work; and by having better scrutiny and evaluation of Council’s work by the general membership. Lastly, the Ad Hoc Working Group, the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform and the General Assembly itself should work with the Security Council and its Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions to refine and improve the Security Council’s working methods to make it more accountable and transparent for the general membership. Security Council reform is an historic opportunity for the General Assembly. This time, we should get the reform process right. It should not be a partial and lopsided reform, focusing on increasing the membership, especially permanent seats. The reform has to focus on increasing representation, as well as on other equally important matters  — the veto, size and working methods, regional representation and the relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council. The General Assembly should not allow the creation of new permanent seats because that would be a negation of its own democratic character. It should pursue the principle of the greatest good of the greatest number by ensuring that all Member States — small, medium-sized and large — that make up the family of the United Nations are adequately and appropriately represented in the reformed Council. Council reform should reflect the aspirations and interests of all, not the ambitions of a few. The faithful implementation of General Assembly resolutions and decisions requires two essential conditions: the critical political will of Member States and adequate resources. Appropriate measures should be taken to avoid the selective implementation of resolutions, by design or by default. Updating the inventory of resolutions is a good practice, and the Secretariat has done a good job in this regard. The mechanism should, however, be further improved by including information on the reasons for non-implementation or delay. The Secretariat may also explore the establishment of a unit to track instances of non-implementation. As we move towards the selection of the Secretary- General in 2016, a major challenge will be to meet the expectations of Member States with regard to the transparency and inclusiveness of the process. The Ad Hoc Working Group should pursue this as an important objective this year. Finally, the United Nations is the sum of its Member States. The revitalization of the General Assembly and the faithful implementation of its decisions and resolutions would act as force multiplier in empowering the United Nations to resolve difficult issues of peace and security, development and human rights. We are glad that a statesman of your stature and wisdom, Mr. President, will lead our efforts during this momentous year.

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for your initiative on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. Like the other delegations, I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to the co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly during the previous session, the Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Thailand, and welcome the appointment of the Permanent Representatives of Croatia and Namibia as the new co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group during the current session. Both in your acceptance speech (see A/68/PV.93) in June and in your speech at the opening of the Assembly’s sixty-ninth session (see A/69/PV.1) in September, Mr. President, you emphasized the importance of revitalizing the General Assembly. Japan completely shares your views. Revitalizing the General Assembly and Security Council reform are crucial components of the reform agenda. We must make steady progress towards achieving feasible and realistic results on this item. In this context, Japan welcomes the adoption of resolution 68/307 during the previous session. In particular, the decision to hold the elections for members of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council earlier is highly regarded. We believe it will definitely resolve the legitimate concerns of newly elected members. It is also an achievement that the resolution says the General Assembly decides to reiterate the interim arrangement recommending the pattern for the rotation of the Chairs of the Main Committees from the sixty-ninth to the seventy-third sessions. It is true that in previous sessions we made some achievements regarding the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. However, much more has to be done and much more effort is needed. Enhancing fairness in the management of this United Nations body remains an important aspect for discussion. We argued last year during this same occasion that the speakers list during the high-level week should more closely reflect reality. Countries like mine, Japan, in which the Head of State plays a ceremonial role and the Head of Government has the highest political mandate, should be dealt with as such. It is appreciated that this year the Assembly has reflected on our argument to some extent. We would also like to stress the importance of strict adherence to time restraints for each speaker. In this regard, it is highly appreciated that President Kutesa starts each meeting on time. The General Assembly needs to continue discussions to achieve disciplined management. The rationalization of the General Assembly’s work is an urgent challenge. As the amount of tasks in the Assembly has increased, agenda prioritization has been indispensable. By sorting through more than 170 agenda items, as well as through the biennialization and triennialization of agenda items that are currently being discussed every year, the work of the Assembly should be rationalized. However, the process still has a long way to go. For instance, late-night sessions have become more common in some Main Committees. We hope that such situations will be improved upon immediately. The President’s strong initiative in hosting the high-level meetings next year is appreciated. In order to make these meetings even more high profile, I would like to suggest they be more distinct from similar international conferences and meetings,so that senior representatives from each capital can attend. The importance of exercising the leadership of the President of the General Assembly should also be noted. Considering United Nations budget restraints, Member States should support the activities of the President as much as possible. These are some ideas Japan believes are worth discussing under this agenda item. The revitalization of the General Assembly is, together with the reform of the Security Council, an important task that we have to address. Let me finalize my statement by saying that Japan stands ready to contribute in a constructive way to the discussions aimed at further enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting. At the outset, let me to align myself with the statement made by the representative of Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. I would like to express our appreciation for the good work done by the co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the General Assembly during the previous session, the Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Thailand. I also wish to congratulate the Permanent Representatives of Namibia and Croatia for their appointments as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group during the sixty-ninth session and wish them success in this endeavour. We believe that the issue of General Assembly revitalization has assumed particular significance in recent years. This is quite vividly captured in the emphasis which you, Mr. President, have placed on United Nations reform, including the revitalization of the General Assembly and reform of the Security Council. In your acceptance speech in June, you rightly pointed out that, “Today, the world is vastly different from what it was in 1945. While the principles of the Organization remain solid, the changing world obliges us to adjust to new and changing realities. Central to that is the continued revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council and other relevant United Nations bodies.” (A/68/PV.93, p. 2) Similarly, we also believe that urgent and comprehensive United Nations reform is imperative to make it reflective of current geopolitical realities and to enhance its capability to meet the increasingly complex and pressing transnational challenges of our time. Those include the issues of peace and security, development, human rights, the environment and health, among others. We appreciate the importance that you, Mr. President, have attached to those issues. You can count on India’s support in those endeavours of yours. We believe that the General Assembly will not be empowered merely by strengthening procedures and streamlining working methods. It will be empowered only if its position as the chief deliberative, policy- making and representative organ of the United Nations, under Article 10 of the Charter of the United Nations, is respected in letter and in spirit. This requires that the Assembly take the lead in setting the global agenda and restoring the centrality of the United Nations in formulating multilateral approaches to resolving transnational issues. In particular, revitalization must restore the primacy of the United Nations in development matters. We would like to make three points in this context. First, it is critical to address the issue of preventing encroachment on the mandate of the General Assembly and making the Security Council more responsive to it. The Council’s encroachment on issues that traditionally fall within the Assembly’s competence is of particular concern. The consequent undermining of the Assembly’s role and authority needs to be redressed. Resorting to thematic debates and, of late, resolutions in the Security Council on issues that very often fall within the purview of the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council remains an area of concern. The balance among the principal organs of the United Nations, as stipulated by the Charter, must be respected and maintained. Secondly, the General Assembly, being the voice of the international community, must be given a greater say in the selection of the Secretary-General. The continued circumscribing of the Assembly’s role and responsibilities in the process of the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General needs to change. This is in the interests of the United Nations system in general and the Assembly’s prerogatives in particular. Efforts to put in place a more inclusive and transparent procedure for the appointment of the Secretary- General, consistent with Article 97 of the Charter, need to be undertaken without further delay. Thirdly, the Assembly and the other entities that form part of the United Nations system must reflect best practices in their day-to-day functioning. This will require a review of the way the Assembly conducts its business, including, for example, the recently concluded elections to the International Court of Justice. Our attention is also drawn to the fact that the report of the Human Rights Council (A/69/53) is being debated both in the plenary and the Third Committee. Some delegations that spoke on this subject in this plenary yesterday, for example, even as I speak are making the same statements in the Third Committee today. This is perhaps not fruitful. In our view, the primacy of the Assembly flows from the universality of its membership, as well as the diligent application of the principle of the sovereign equality of its members. Therefore, ownership, of the Assembly’s decisions and activities is reflected in the degree of the participation by Member States. So, the presence of political will on the part of Member States to take on concrete measures to reinforce the role and authority of the Assembly is of utmost importance. In conclusion, let me re-emphasize the need to discuss substantive measures that would strengthen the role of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative body of the international community. Members can count on my delegation’s constructive support and participation in these efforts.

We welcome today’s meeting on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Permanent Representatives of Croatia and Namibia on their appointments as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly and wish them every success in their work. We note the work of the Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Thailand as co-Chairs during the sixty- eighth session. The Russian Federation supports realistic initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness of the General Assembly’s work, on the condition that we remain focused on improving the Assembly’s working methods and streamlining its agenda, which is largely overburdened. We believe that it is necessary to continue the practice of transferring some agenda items from consideration on a biennial basis to a triennial schedule and of eliminating items that are no longer relevant. We endorse the proposals on lightening the high- level week in the framework of the general debate, because during their stay in New York, Heads of State and Government, a well as ministers for foreign affairs, already have a busy schedule of bilateral meetings. We must limit the number of high-level events during that period. The rest should be carried out systematically throughout the full Assembly session. That will facilitate and improve the efficiency of our work. At the same time, we believe that any reform innovations should be based on strict compliance with the prerogatives of the principal organs of the United Nations, as set out in the Charter of the United Nations. In particular, we call for maintaining the current role of the General Assembly in the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General, pursuant to Article 97 of the Charter, according to which the Secretary- General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. We must carefully consider proposals to strengthen the institutional memory of the Office of the President of the General Assembly. However, we note that, as with any other issue that might have financial implications for the regular budget of the United Nations, it should be addressed in full compliance with the generally accepted procedure, that is, in the Fifth Committee and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.

Egypt associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. At the outset, I would like to express Egypt’s appreciation for your decision, Mr. President, to include the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly at the top of your priorities during the sixty- ninth session, and for stressing the need to do more to make the Assembly effective and efficient. I seize this opportunity to thank the Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Thailand for their efforts in co-chairing the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly during the sixty- eighth session. Those efforts led to the adoption of resolution 68/307, which represents a strong basis for the discussions during the current session under the leadership of the newly appointed co-facilitators. We pledge our full support to them to achieve tangible results in the process of revitalizing the work of the Assembly. The international community is confronted with unprecedented challenges that necessitate a strong and responsive General Assembly in order to allow this universal parliament of nations to play its leading role in global governance at the political, economic and social levels. Egypt believes that the first step to achieve tangible progress in this regard is to implement various resolutions containing specific measures to revitalize the work of the Assembly as the main deliberative, policymaking and representative principal organ of the United Nations. Furthermore, we think that the main challenge facing the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly is the continuous and unprecedented encroachment by the Security Council on the Assembly’s role and functions. The Security Council is constantly attempting to redefine its scope of competence through a wider interpretation of what issues constitute a threat to international peace and security, including issues that are already under consideration in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. The Ad Hoc Working Group could identify those areas of encroachment and also areas of coordination between those two principal organs during its upcoming deliberations  – for example, how to enhance the coordination between the General Assembly and the Security Council in the admission of new Members to the United Nations pursuant to Article 4, paragraph 2 of the Charter. We stress that focusing only on the procedural aspects and working methods of the General Assembly will not suffice in leading to the comprehensive improvement of the Assembly’s work that we all aspire to. Ensuring the effectiveness of the Office of the President of the General Assembly is also important to improve the Assembly’s role and authority. We reiterate the need to strengthen the Office of the President through the allocation of more human and financial resources from the regular budget for the biennium 2016-2017 in order to allow equal opportunities for all Member States to successfully manage the presidency of the General Assembly, since voluntary contributions tend to involve unpredictable and unreliable financing, which has a negative effect on the institutional memory of this Office. Finally, the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General is yet another issue of great interest to the wider membership. We note that the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General will take place in 2016. We encourage the President of the General Assembly to actively support the process in accordance with the role accorded to him by relevant resolutions, taking into consideration Article 97 of the Charter. Moreover, we re-emphasize the need for the selection process for the Secretary-General to be transparent and inclusive of all Member States at an early stage when identifying candidates for this key post. Tthe revitalization of the General Assembly is a critical component of the overall reform of the United Nations. Therefore, it must be treated on equal footing with other reform processes of the United Nations principal organs and should be given greater attention and consideration. I would like to assure you, Mr. President, of the full support of the delegation of my country for all your efforts in order to enhance the role of the General Assembly in achieving peace, stability and prosperity for all.

Let me begin by thanking you, Mr. President, for convening this important debate on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. We wish to thank Ambassador Ružička of Slovakia and Ambassador Sinhaseni of Thailand for their valuable leadership of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly and their hard work during the sixty-eighth session. We also congratulate the new co-facilitators, Ambassador Drobnjak of Croatia and Ambassador Emvula of Namibia. The Indonesian delegation assures them of its wholehearted support in their stewardship of the Working Group’s work to help realize a General Assembly that can become a powerful pivot for achieving a more peaceful and prosperous world for all people. Indonesia associates itself with the statements made by the representatives of Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and of Cambodia on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. As the seventieth anniversary of our United Nations approaches next year, this debate and the forthcoming sessions of the Working Group are very important in taking stock of the revitalization efforts thus far and deliberating on how a more robust, widespread and dedicated undertaking that strengthens the Assembly’s functioning can be developed. Certainly, since General Assembly revitalization became a distinct agenda item in 1991, and following the 2005 World Summit, at which the Ad Hoc Working Group was formed, much important work — with some results — has transpired under the Group’s four thematic clusters, for which the Group can rightly be proud. Yet the Assembly has yet to truly be the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations, as envisaged in the Charter. There remains a gap in ensuring that the Assembly will indeed be the universal parliament of nations, with corresponding influence on international affairs of concern to its membership. My delegation has participated actively in the Ad Hoc Working Group over the years. In the meetings in the past session, very important discussions took place with the Chairs of the Main Committees on improving the Committees’ working methods, deepening the institutional memory of the Office of the President of the General Assembly, improving the selection and appointment process of the Secretaries-General and other United Nations executive heads, and enhancing the Assembly’s role and authority. Unquestionably, Indonesia stands for meaningful progress on the aforementioned issues, because our domestic stakeholders demand such progress. We will continue to play our role in advancing the Group’s efforts to support the Assembly in assuming its rightful place in global affairs in an effective manner. However, the Group can only do so much. While its meetings and processes, including the inventory chart of decisions and actions that accompanies the Group’s annual reports, remain highly useful in monitoring and orienting efforts to bolster the Assembly’s status, the Assembly’s revitalization is fundamentally a political process. It will require significantly greater political resolve by everyone, with sincere implementation of existing Assembly resolutions on revitalization. Resolution 68/307, adopted by consensus on 10 September 2014, reflects the willingness of the Member States to reinforce the gravity of the Assembly’s reform and to bolster its functioning as an invaluable principal organ of the United Nations. It is in that context that we wish to reiterate the importance of the General Assembly’s role and scope, in particular in the realm of international peace and security. We indeed believe that the Assembly can be more assertive in assuming its rightful role on issues of peace and security, which all members need to support. We are concerned by the continuing shift to the Security Council of issues that traditionally fall within the purview of the General Assembly. All Member States, in our view, should and must have a stake and a say in issues pertaining to international peace and security. If we work together better, cooperate more and, most importantly, are ready to exercise our respective political principles to empower the General Assembly to fully perform its Charter-mandated role, we have no doubt that the much-sought-after and effective revitalization of the Assembly will indeed materialize. Indonesia calls upon all countries to display their political will and support the Working Group’s work to help attain a General Assembly that is able to optimally heed the calls by the entire spectrum of the international community in all social, political, peace and security dimensions.

At the outset, allow me to commend the Permanent Representatives of Namibia and Croatia on their appointments as co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the General Assembly at the sixty-ninth session. Let me also express my appreciation to Mr. František Ružička, Permanent Representative of Slovakia, and Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni, Permanent Representative of Thailand, for their stewardship in the discussion in the Ad Hoc Working Group during the sixty-eight session. I wish to align my statement with the statements delivered by the representatives of Cambodia on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and of Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. My delegation would like to highlight some pertinent views on this agenda item in our collective pursuit of the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. Malaysia has remained consistent in reiterating that the General Assembly is the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations, and in highlighting the Asembly’s role in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law. The Assembly represents 193 Member States, and therefore we must duly accord it the rightful and authoritative place it deserves. We must ensure that the General Assembly continues its role as the principal policymaking and norm-setting organ of the United Nations. The Ad Hoc Working Group made significant strides during the sixty-eighth session of the Assembly. Malaysia was happy to see the adoption of resolution 68/307, on advancing the work of the Working Group. One important development is the inclusion of paragraph 17 in the resolution, in which the General Assembly has agreed to conduct the elections of the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of the Economic and Social Council six months before the elected members assume their responsibilities, beginning at the seventieth session. That will allow new members to plan ahead and to increase their missions’ capacity before assuming their responsibility and enabling their preparations. While we have made some significant progress, my delegation is still concerned with the lack of implementation of various General Assembly resolutions. That has incapacitated the Assembly, as it undermines the effectiveness of the body. Malaysia appreciates the Assembly’s decision to evaluate the status of implementation of its resolutions and to build on the progress achieved in past sessions. We welcome the decision that the Ad Hoc Working Group will continue its review of the inventory of Assembly resolutions on revitalization and to update the inventory chart annexed to those resolutions. That is the first step in realizing the implementation of all General Assembly resolutions. Apart from that, my delegation also believes that we should consider further deliberations on the biennialization and triennialization of resolutions. Malaysia is of the view that that would improve the work of the General Assembly through a better scheduling of agenda items. We call on those who call for the biennialization and triennialization of agenda items and resolutions to lead by example. In pursuit of that effort, it is vital that the sponsoring State or States consent to such measures prior to implementation. Without a doubt, the General Assembly today considers a greater number of agenda items and issues than previously. The increasing number of agenda items and issues also means the role and activities of the President of the General Assembly will continue to increase over the years to come. In that regard, my delegation wishes to call for the President to be allocated the necessary resources for him or her to perform the role entrusted to the Office by the Charter of the United Nations. At the same time, Malaysia also welcomes the Ad Hoc Working Group’s proposal to strengthen the institutional memory of the Office of the President and its relationship with the Secretariat. Malaysia would also like to highlight the need for transparency and inclusiveness in the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General. The Secretary- General represents all States Members of the United Nations, and not exclusively Security Council members. Therefore, the selection process for that important personality must respect the aspirations of Member States. We call for the implementation of past resolutions on the issue, especially paragraphs 17 to 22 of the annex to resolution 60/286, in future selections and appointments of the Secretary-General and in view of the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General in 2016. Malaysia welcomes the convening of high-level meetings and high-level thematic debates on issues that are important to Member States. We believe that there needs to be greater coordination with all relevant parties in organizing such meetings so as to avoid or at least minimize scheduling problems for delegations, especially during the high-level week of the General Assembly. We look forward to the implementation of the proposal to resolve the problem of having too many meetings and events during the high-level week, such as exploring the possibility of scheduling such meetings during the early part of the year. We must take note of the progress we have made thus far in our collective quest to revitalize the General Assembly. Member States must be reminded that the work of revitalization of the Assembly is not new, nor will it end anytime soon. We must continue to press on for further deliberations and to maintain the momentum in order to attain meaningful progress. We invite Member States to approach this issue with openness and demonstrate the political will necessary to enable us to make real substantial progress on further enhancing the effectiveness of the General Assembly.

The Cuban delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and would like to make a few additional comments on this topic. I would first like to thank the co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly for preparing resolution 68/307 on this subject and for their efforts to advance the process of revitalization of the Assembly. We would also like to congratulate the representatives of Namibia and Croatia for their appointment as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group. The revitalization of the General Assembly is a critical element in achieving true reform of the United Nations. At the present time, it will not be possible to address the overall process of United Nations reform if we do not prioritize the objective of ensuring a more democratic and effective Organization that has at its centre a General Assembly that fully exercises the powers assigned to it under the Charter. Cuba has stated on many occasions that this process of revitalization should seek to recover and strengthen the Assembly’s central role as the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative body of the United Nations, as recognized in the Charter and numerous resolutions and declarations adopted by the United Nations. In the present circumstances, the goals of the revitalization process should be directed towards helping the Assembly strengthen its independence and its nature as a comprehensive debate body, in which the freedom of Member States to consider matters of interest to them is not restricted or limited. To restore the confidence of the international community in the United Nations and its credibility in the global public opinion, we should ensure that our Organization truly responds to the collective interests of its Member States. That can be achieved only if we revitalize the guiding role of the General Assembly, the only organ of the United Nations where there is no place for hegemony, where everyone has a say and a vote, and where the obsolete right to the veto does not exist. The General Assembly has the ability, de facto and de jure, to consider crucial and urgent topics of international reality in order to adopt concrete, action-oriented resolutions. In our opinion, the Organization’s main problem is precisely the lack of implementation of the many Assembly resolutions, which constitute an important set of standards but are not always applied because their implementation depends on the political will of States. That also applies to the many resolutions on the very subject of Assembly revitalization, the execution of which is unfortunately very limited. Cuba stresses the need to find an appropriate balance among the principal organs of the United Nations, in accordance with the Charter, and to put an end to the growing trend of the Security Council to address issues that fall within the jurisdiction of General Assembly or another principal organ of the Organization. The Security Council should strictly observe the mandate conferred on it by the Charter and resolutions of the General Assembly in its capacity as a principal organ of the United Nations. The revitalization of the General Assembly cannot be a bureaucratic process. As Padre Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, of the sister Republic of Nicaragua, wisely stated in his farewell address as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, revitalization is a political rather than a technical issue (see A/63/PV.105). We hope that as a result of the revitalization process, interaction between the Secretariat and the Assembly will be strengthened so that the former can respond more effectively to the mandates set by Member States. The Ad Hoc Working Group on Revitalization must maintain strict control over the implementation of resolutions related to its mandate and maintain the appropriate updated inventory chart, which includes resolutions relating to the revitalization of the General Assembly. We already possess a broad legal arsenal with respect to the needed revitalization of this essential organ. The priority now is to amplify the numerous resolutions already adopted and to move forward decisively towards the practical implementation of the reform process. We must urgently take specific, practical steps in the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. The Organizatin will not be capable of acting effectively within the system of contemporary international relations without reforming the Security Council and making the General Assembly the centre of multilateral debate and work. The delegation of Cuba would like to close by reiterating its readiness to continue to work together to achieve the true revitalization of the General Assembly.

The United States would like to thank last year’s co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly — the Permanent Representative of Slovakia, Mr. František Ružička, and the Permanent Representative of Thailand, Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni — for their leadership of the Group. We welcome the new co-Chairs, Ambassador Vladimir Drobnjak of Croatia and Ambassador Wilfried I. Emvula of Namibia, and offer them our full support. We also look forward to working with fellow Member States as we consider the best options for revitalizing the General Assembly. During the sixty-eighth session, the Working Group discussed many issues of paramount importance to the efficacy of the General Assembly, which we strongly hope will continue in the sixty-ninth session under the leadership of our esteemed co-Chairs. We believe that the Assembly is a unique body of great importance in today’s world — a fact that was emphasized by the attendance of world leaders at the general debate in September, as well as the by day-to-day work of all our colleagues here today. In order to ensure that the General Assembly maintains its unique status among the world’s deliberative bodies, the United States believes that we must increase the Assembly’s efficiency, effectiveness and transparency. To do so, we must streamline and prioritize the agenda, improve the practices and working methods of the Main Committees, and free the Assembly’s agenda of outdated topics in order to allocate more time to addressing important, pressing and contemporary issues. Those should be among the Working Group’s highest priorities. By suggesting key areas for tangible improvement of the Assembly’s working methods, the Working Group can maintain its focus on aspects of revitalization that will result in a real difference for the work of the General Assembly. We recognize that many delegations continue to focus on other aspects of the Assembly’s work, such as the role and authority of the President of the General Assembly, the working methods of the Security Council or the process to select the Secretary-General. While these are important topics, we do not believe that they should be the primary focus of the Working Group’s efforts. The Charter of the United Nations makes clear the coequal relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council, which should be respected. In our view, the selection process for the Secretary- General has already been adequately addressed. Article 97 of the Charter provides a straightforward and clear process. The United States is fully committed to multilateral engagement in a strong United Nations system. We support the contributions of the General Assembly in that regard. Accordingly, our delegation has made it a priority to make the work of the General Assembly more focused and relevant. We call on Member States to refocus their attention on efforts to reform the Asssembly’s working methods. My delegation looks forward to working closely with you, Mr. President, the co-Chairs, and our counterparts from other delegations towards a constructive dialogue for concrete reform.

My delegation would like first of all to commend the remarkable work and tireless efforts of Mr. František Ružička and Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni, Permanent Representatives of Slovakia and Thailand, respectively, for their role as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Working Methods of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session. We also take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Vladimir Drobnjak, Permanent Representative of Croatia, and Mr. Wilfried Emvula, Permanent Representative of Nambia, on their recent appointment as facilitators of the Ad Hoc Working Group, and to assure them of our full cooperation. My delegation would like to associate itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Today’s debate addresses an issue that occupies a central place in the reform of the United Nations. It involves the major challenges that concern us, namely, the balance between the organs of the United Nations; the role, responsibility and effectiveness of the General Assembly; and the modernization of its working methods. The General Assembly holds a central place as the primary deliberative organ tasked with setting the direction of the Organization, defining international economic, social and cultural cooperation; and establishing norms and codifying the implementation of international law. For the past 20 years, the Assembly has adopted various measures to strengthen its role and authority, as well as those of its President. The Assembly has also sought to refocus its work in order to better address contemporary and future global challenges such as strengthening international peace and security, combating the ever-growing phenomenon of terrorism, strengthening the means to prevent and combat the re-emergence of crises and conflicts, and preventing the deterioration of our environment and biodiversity. Furthermore, the countdown has begun. Within the next few months, world leaders must adopt a programme for the post-2015 development agenda, agreeing on new development goals designed to improve the people’s lives and protect our planet for future generations. The recent resolutions adopted by the General Assembly have made possible a certain degree of progress towards the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly. However, much remains to be done. The strategic objectives on which we need to continue to work include improving the practices and working methods of the Main Committees; strengthening the role of the Office of the President of the General Assembly and providing it with a permanent structure in order to preserve the institutional memory of the Assembly and to enable the President to more effectively discharge the functions with which he has been entrusted; consolidating the role and authority of the President; and more efficiently organizing the Assembly’s agenda. Achieving those objectives will make the main deliberative organ a strong, credible and effective body that is able to meet the new challenges of the twenty- first century and to contribute to building a peaceful, more prosperous and more just world. That work must be conducted with respect for the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and for the balance it establishes, particularly between the General Assembly and the Security Council, in order to preserve the harmonious relationship between those two principal organs and to avoid any interference or encroachment. A bigger effort at rationalization is needed in order to fill the gaps, avoid redundancies and strengthen the Assembly’s effectiveness, while bearing in mind the need to rationalize the financial aspects of the Organization. That revitalization effort should include a search for ways and means to make more effective the work of the various subsidiary organs of the Assembly, particularly its Main Committees. We should not lose sight of the fact that through the revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council, the international community seeks to restore and strengthen confidence in multilateralism, and thereby in the United Nations, as the proper framework to ensure fair and equal consideration of the legitimate interests and aspirations of all Member States. Promoting the revitalization process requires the commitment of all Member States and unwavering political will to advance multilateralism and its noble objectives. Finally, the establishment of effective and fair governance remains dependant on revitalizing the United Nations system on the basis of realism, effectiveness and innovation as the key parameters in the search for solutions that meet the aspirations of both present and future generations.

At the outset, I would like to thank the representatives of Slovakia and Thailand for their efforts in co-chairing the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly. My delegation concurs with the statement made by the representative of Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. We would also like to make the following comments. With regard to strengthening the role and authority of the General Assembly, we believe that revitalization is one of the pillars of the comprehensive reform of the United Nations. The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the Organization. It plays a role in the codification of international law and addresses administrative and budgetary issues. We must redouble our efforts to revitalize the Assembly. Indeed, we must continue to review resolutions on the subject, as they represent important criteria for assessing progress. My delegation believes that strengthening the Assembly’s role also requires considering the viewpoints and interests of all countries and the international community as a whole. The Assembly must assist in dealing with emerging challenges. We must also accelerate efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals as we approach 2015. My delegation also highlights the importance of the General Assembly’s continuing to organize thematic debates as a tool to enable the international community to exchange opinions and views on important issues. We are convinced that such debates will continue at this session and result in pragmatic, concrete results. My delegation also underscores the importance of follow- up. Strengthening the work of the General Assembly also involves recognizing its role in the maintenance of international peace and security. The Charter of the United Nations attributes the major responsibility in that area to the Security Council, but my delegation believes that this authority is not absolute. We believe that the Assembly should respond more quickly on issues related to international peace and security. We also believe that the contents of the annual Security Council report should be improved. The report should be more analytical and in-depth and should reflect the context of decision-making, keeping in mind situations for which no solution was found. We believe it important to hold periodic meetings among the heads of the main bodies and that countries must be kept informed of such meetings. I also note the importance of strengthening cooperation among the main bodies, including with respect to their respective programmes of work, with a view to strengthening complementarity. Regarding the working methods of the Assembly and their improvement, my delegation notes that a number of measures that have been taken have led to improvements in that respect, including the convening of high-level meetings. However, we must engage in more in-depth discussion of a number of recommendations, in particular concerning the appointment of Committee Chairs with sufficient advance notice; planning shorter meeting; exchanging best practices, bearing in mind the specificities of each of the Main Committees; avoiding simultaneous meetings of the General Assembly and the other main bodies with respect to agenda items; and coordinating the planning of high-level meetings. We thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his efforts to strengthen the overall role of the United Nations and to consult with Member States in a spirit of transparency and cooperation, in order to develop a common vision to enable the Organization to attain the goals set by the international community. We also call for improving the process of electing and appointing the executive heads of the United Nations bodies. In that regard, we should take into account the recommendations of the Joint Inspection Unit on interviews for candidates, as well as the principle of equitable geographic distribution in such appointments. With respect to the support to be given to the Office of the President of the General Assembly, it must be sufficient so that the President can deal with his areas of responsibility. Moreover, the duties of that Office should not increase financial burden on lower income States. However, it is important to maintain the Organization’s institutional memory, bearing in mind lessons learned, in order to improve the administration of the work of the General Assembly. We reiterate our support for resolution 68/307, including the decision to establish, at the sixty-ninth session, an ad hoc working group on the revitalization of the work of the Assembly. We congratulate the representatives of Namibia and Croatia on their appointments to as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group.

The current international situation is undergoing profound changes. All manner of new threats and challenges continue to emerge one after another. Interlinked security issues, traditional and non-traditional, require joint responses from the international community. The international community expects the United Nations to play a more important role in safeguarding global peace, promoting multilateral development and advancing international cooperation. The General Assembly, with its 193 members, is the most universal and representative organ under the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the chief policymaking and deliberative organ. Member States in general, and the developing countries in particular, hope that the Assembly will continue to improve its work, enhance its role and authority, and fully implement its Charter-mandated functions. The General Assembly should focus more on its policy-deliberation function and promote the vigorous participation of Member States in its work. It should also set its priorities in the light of current developments in the international situation and concentrate on major issues touching on the interests of Member States, especially development, which is a common concern of the developing countries. At this session the Assembly should focus on prioritizing and increasing investment in development and play an important role in formulating the post-2015 development agenda and promoting sustainable development. As principal organs of the United Nations, the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council should improve their coordination and division of labour and continue to exploit the comparative advantages in their respective fields, while enhancing interaction and information-exchange and forming synergies. In the maintenance of international peace and security, the General Assembly should enhance coordination and cooperation with the Security Council in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. China takes note of the results achieved by the General Assembly in improving its working methods in the election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of the Economic and Social Council. We will continue to support the Assembly’s efforts to improve its working methods, to rationalize its decision-making process, strengthen its efficiency and build a pragmatic and action-oriented culture. The efficient functioning of the Office of the President of the General Assembly is important in guaranteeing the success of the Assembly’s. efforts China favours enhancing support for the Office of the President in terms of the budget and human resources, particularly in connection with resolving the difficulties encountered by developing countries when they assume the presidency of the General Assembly. In recent years, China has contributed to the trust fund to support of the Office of the President of the General Assembly. We hope that all parties will take concrete measures to support that Office. The revitalization of the General Assembly involves the interests of all Member States. China firmly supports revitalizing the Assembly and the President’s efforts in that regard. China congratulates the Permanent Representatives of Croatia and Namibia on their assumption of the co-chairmanship of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly at this session. It is our hope that, in the framework of the Ad Hoc Working Group, all parties will pursue the principles of democratic consultations and incremental progress and will address the easier issues first, while steadily pushing for the implementation of Assembly resolutions on revitalization. The membership as a whole maintains high expectations regarding revitalization. We stand ready to work with other Member States in jointly seeking progress at this session on the important item of the revitalization of the General Assembly.

The delegation of the Republic of Belarus aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Algeria for its consistent and systematic formulation and advancement of the NAM position in the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly. We also express our sincere appreciation for the organization of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group by the representatives and experts of the delegations of Slovakia and Thailand. Our delegation is prepared to work actively and constructively under the chairmanship of the representatives of Croatia and Namibia. The Belarusian delegation welcomes the opportunity provided by the adoption of the relevant resolution (resolution 68/307) to draw Member States’ attention to the procedure for selecting the Secretary-General, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. The Belarusian delegation considers it important that, for the first time in over 40 years, every State, large and small, will be able to express its opinion regarding the next selection of the Secretary- General by means of a genuinely secret ballot in the General Assembly. Our delegation also welcomes the request contained in the resolution for an appropriate gender balance in a number of the Organization’s duty posts. We sincerely regret the fact that during the 70 years of the Organization’s history, that principle has not affected the main administrative post of the Organization. We therefore believe it highly important, overdue and timely to elect a woman to the post of Secretary-General. The Belarusian delegation also welcomes the implementation of a predictable mechanism for rotating the chairmanships of the Main Committees, which will be put into practice at this session. We look forward to further productive work in that area, as called for in the resolution.

I have the honour to deliver a joint statement on behalf of Namibia and Croatia. At the outset, allow me to thank the President of the General Assembly for appointing my colleague, the Ambassador of Namibia, and me as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly. We feel deeply honoured and privileged to be given the opportunity to participate in such a vital and far-reaching process. We have taken careful note of today’s debate and will take everything that has been said as guidelines in our future work. In our efforts, we are not starting from scratch; on the contrary, significant work has been done so far, including the adoption of resolution 68/307 on 10 September, and we take this opportunity to highly commend our predecessors and dear friends, Ambassadors Ružička of Slovakia and Sinhaseni of Thailand, for their personal commitment and leadership in that regard. We stand at the disposal of the Member States for consultations, exchange of views and the exploration new ideas in the months to come. Let me conclude by saying that we are looking forward to working with all Members and express our thanks, once again, for the privilege and opportunity of facilitating the General Assembly’s revitalization process.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on these agenda items. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda items 117 and 118.