A/70/PV.108 General Assembly

Before we proceed to consider the items on our agenda for this afternoon, it is my sad duty to pay tribute to the memory of His Excellency Mr. John William Ashe, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session, who passed away on 22 June. On behalf of the General Assembly, I should like to convey our deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Antigua and Barbuda and to the bereaved family of Mr. Ashe. I now invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of His Excellency Mr. John William Ashe.

Mr. Ashe was a friend and colleague of many here in the Hall. He was a leading Caribbean diplomat who was deeply involved in international affairs for over 35 years. He was a faithful servant of his country and a member of the Diplomatic Service of Antigua and Barbuda since 1989. His career saw him embark on a journey from the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012, and finally to the Summit to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) last September. He was centrally involved in a range of multilateral processes, chairing the Fifth Committee, chairing the Group of 77 and China and serving on the governing bodies of major United Nations funds and programmes. He served as Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations for over 10 years. His passion for progress on matters of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation was immense. And his drive during the sixty-eighth session for an ambitious post-2015 development agenda was critical. Indeed, perhaps his finest achievement will not be felt for decades to come. It was under his stewardship that the ground-breaking proposal from the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals was brought forward from the sixty-eighth to the sixty-ninth session, and ultimately into the heart of the 2030 Agenda. Once again, I wish to convey my sincere sympathies to the delegation and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, Mr. Ashe’s many friends and former colleagues and, of course, Mr Ashe’s wife and two children, who last week lost a husband and a father at the young age of 61. I now give the floor to His Excellency Secretary- General Ban Ki-Moon.

I extend sincere condolences to the Government and the people of Antigua and Barbuda on the passing away of His Excellency Ambassador John William Ashe. Ambassador Ashe was based in New York for more than 25 years. During that time, he served in many important positions. He was Chair of the negotiations during the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, as well as Chair of the 2004 session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. Alongside the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, he was co-Chair of the Bureau for the Preparatory Process of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. He was also the consensus candidate of all 33 Member States of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries to serve as President of the of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session, from September 2013 to September 2014. His service during that very challenging year coincided with notable gains towards a future development agenda and set of development goals, as well as important new steps in the fight against climate change. Those efforts reached fruition a year later with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) and the Paris Climate Agreement. At this time of sorrow, my thoughts are with Ambassador Ashe’s family, particularly his wife, Anilla Cherian, his two children and all others touched by this loss.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. I now give the floor to representative of Bulgaria, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States. It is with sadness that we learned about the untimely passing away of His Excellency Mr. John William Ashe, President of the General Assembly at its sixty- eighth session. On behalf of the members of the Group of Eastern European States, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. John Ashe and to the Government and the people of Antigua and Barbuda. Ambassador Ashe dedicated more than 23 years of his professional career to the United Nations. As the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, he was an active and prominent negotiator. He was co-Chair of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012. He also served as Chair of the Group of 77 and China and took part in many important multilateral negotiations. True to his passion for sustainable development, during his tenure as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session, Ambassador Ashe spared no effort to achieve progress in that area. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the family and friends of Ambassador Ashe.

I now give the floor to the representative of Zambia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of African States. The African Group received with great sadness and shock the news of the sudden death of our colleague and former President of the General Assembly at its sixty- eighth session, His Excellency Mr. John William Ashe. The African Group extends its deepest condolences to the Ashe family, the Caribbean community and wider United Nations family for his untimely loss and death. Ambassador Ashe left a long, indelible list of legacies for us at the United Nations during his remarkable career in the service of both his country and the international community. The African Group in particular had great respect for his intellect and firm commitment to sustainable development, as was evidenced by the strong leadership and clear direction that he provided on setting the course for defining the post-2015 development agenda. Ambassador Ashe will also be remembered for the decisive, broad and practical steps he took to inject fresh impetus in the discussions on the complex and sensitive question of Security Council reform. The African Group believes that there is no better tribute to the memory of Ambassador Ashe than that of a steadfast commitment to collectively advance our common quest to serve succeeding generations and leaving no one behind on the path of sustainable development. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of Japan, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asia-Pacific States.

I have the great honour to speak on behalf of the Group of Asia-Pacific States at this solemn gathering of the General Assembly. We are deeply saddened by the demise of the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session, His Excellency Mr. John William Ashe. It is well known that Ambassador Ashe had a long and successful record of working for sustainable development, especially at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. He also served in a number of leading positions addressing climate change. Ambassador Ashe also had a long career and wide range of experience here in New York, especially as Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations from 2004 until 2013. In September 2013, he assumed the position of President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session. On this solemn occasion, on behalf of the Asia- Pacific Group, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Ashe. It is our strong belief that they have the strength to come to terms to with his sudden death and to continue to move forward towards the future. May his soul rest in peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of Barbados, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

On behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC), it is a sombre honour for me to pay tribute to the life of His Excellency Mr. John William Ashe, President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session and former Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations. Like all others who knew him, members of the GRULAC family were shocked at his untimely and tragic passing away exactly one week ago. A veteran diplomat with 27 years’ experience, Ambassador Ashe possessed a thorough grasp of the multilateral arena. He served in a leadership capacity in numerous processes, committees and other entities of the Organization — a reflection of his competence and skill. Among many other roles, in 2004 he was elected Chair of the thirteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, the first policy session in the post-Johannesburg era of the Commission. He chaired the Group of 77 and China in 2008. He co-chaired the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 and presided over the Executive Boards of UNICEF, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Office for Project Services. Ambassador Ashe’s passion for sustainable development undergirded much of the work that he undertook at the United Nations. We remember his commitment to the negotiation of a transformative and ambitious global development agenda, one that would protect our planet for future generations and create equity, justice and prosperity for all. We recall his dedication to the revitalization and reform of the United Nations, and in particular to advancing progress on Security Council reform. We mourn the loss of a colleague and friend. On behalf of GRULAC, I extend sincere condolences to Mrs. Ashe, their sons, Rohan and Arman, other members of his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of Norway, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and other States.

On behalf of the Group of Western European and other States, I extend to the people and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda our deepest condolences on the death of the former President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session, His Excellency Mr. John William Ashe. Mr. Ashe is remembered for his extensive diplomatic career representing Antigua and Barbuda and through various positions and leadership roles at the United Nations, where he championed sustainable development, in particular for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012. In 2013 and 2014, Ambassador Ashe served as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session. The members of the Western European and other States Group offer their sympathies and condolences to his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

I now give the floor to the representative of Suriname, who will speak on behalf of the Caribbean Community.

I have the sad honour to address the General Assembly today on behalf of the 14 member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at this solemn gathering to pay tribute to the memory of His Excellency Mr. John William Ashe, President of this organ at its sixty-eighth session and former Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations. We are shaken by the news of the untimely and tragic passing away of Ambassador Ashe, on 22 June. CARICOM expresses its appreciation to you, Mr. President, for presiding over the General Assembly’s tribute to Ambassador Ashe, one of our own and an extraordinary diplomat who had deep respect for the principles of multilateralism. Known for his calm demeanour and determination, Ambassador Ashe was exemplary in accepting responsibilities entrusted to him by the international community and for ensuring that concrete results were achieved in the interests of the Organization and the world. Ambassador Ashe often quoted the saying “No man is an island”. That encapsulated his view that global challenges should not be faced unilaterally but globally. He had particular passion for the cause of sustainable development and protecting the environment. During his tenure as President of the Assembly, he urged all stakeholders to work together to set the stage for the new universal global agenda for sustainable development. Ambassador Ashe’s diplomatic track record is truly remarkable, and his achievements manyfold, as he played a key role in securing consensus in a wide range of international negotiations, ranging from climate change to persistent pollutants. He was indeed at the forefront of international efforts to address the adverse effects of climate change. He summed up that matter as follows. “We have only the planet we live on, and if we are to leave it in a reasonable state for the next generation, the quest for a safer, cleaner and more equitable world is one that should consume us all”. Ambassador Ashe was also the first Chair of the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol and Chair of the Convention’s subsidiary body on implementation. We furthermore recall his chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China in 2008, the largest negotiation block of developing countries in the United Nations, and also his role as co-Chair of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. His dedication to South-South cooperation as the Chair of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation was unquestionable. It was also during the presidency of Ambassador Ashe, a son of the Caribbean region, that the winning design of the Permanent Memorial in Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade was unveiled. In my capacity as current Chair of the Caribbean Community caucus in New York, and on behalf of all colleagues and friends from the Caribbean, I convey our deepest and sincere condolences to Mrs. Ashe, their sons, Rohan and Arman, and the family and friends of the late Ambassador John William Ashe. The CARICOM region has indeed lost one of its great sons. May his soul rest in peace.

I now give the floor to the representative of Antigua and Barbuda.

I would like, first of all, to thank you, Mr. President, on behalf of the Government and the people of Antigua and Barbuda for holding this solemn ceremony this afternoon in honour and as a tribute to our brother who has fallen and who served both our country, Antigua and Barbuda, and the United Nations. I would like also to express our thanks for the many kind words, good wishes and condolences expressed by so many to myself, the people and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Ashe family. We are gathered today at this solemn ceremony to reflect upon and recognize the contribution of one who has fallen. We recognize the significant contribution of Mr. John William Ashe for over three decades to both his country and this institution. Some may say that Mr. Ashe was a towering figure. Some may even say that he was a larger-than-life individual as he walked and contributed within the walls of this institution. His contribution to multilateralism and his great grasp of the issues that affect our world today were significant. Mr. Ashe started his remarkable 27-year career as a diplomat first as a scientific attaché to the Antigua Government. He transcended nation and worked on behalf of all. His significant contribution to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, which began that process, stands out. I can list a litany of his accomplishments, many of which everyone has heard. Permit me to mention just a few that perhaps stand out above all. His leadership in many of the bodies of the United Nations showed courage and bravery, as he demonstrated an appetite for change and reform. Who can forget his leadership at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, as he worked towards change and a new vision for the United Nations and the world? His courageous work on climate change and sustainable development is a legacy that has left us with the seminal outcome of 2015, which many of our leaders signed in September of that year. His work on sustainable development and climate change was crowned by the Paris Agreement and the its signing of only a few months ago. I could go on. We in the Caribbean Community were particularly proud that Mr. Ashe was with us last April when the Permanent Memorial in Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade was unveiled, reflective of his own ancestors and heritage. Despite his significant international accomplishments, I must inform the Assembly that Mr. Ashe was more than that. He was a father, and I am told by his wife that he was a very good father. He was a husband — and, yes, I was told by his wife that he was a very good husband. He was a community person. He gave much of his time to teach and tutor young boys in his community in mathematics, science and other subjects. He coached his son’s football team, and I understand that the team will be honouring him this coming season by using his initials on their helmets. Mr. Ashe came from humble beginnings in Antiga, but he proved that it is not where one starts, but the race one runs. It is the contribution that one makes along life’s journey. He proved that outstretching a helping hand to others, as he did so often as a friend and colleague, was the indelible mark that he truly left. While we mourn the loss, a loss is never forever. For mortality is held as a monument in one’s life by the lives one affects along the way. John Ashe’s mortality and monument will be the memories that he has left with so many of us and the hand print that he has left on the changing United Nations. The people of Antigua and the family of John Ashe thank the Assembly as we mourn the loss of a brother.

As Members will recall, at its 106th plenary meeting on 28 June, the Assembly elected the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and Sweden as members of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning on 1 January 2017. Members will also recall that, when the 107th plenary meeting was adjourned on the afternoon of 28 June, and following five rounds of balloting, including three rounds of restricted balloting, there remained one seat to be filled from the Group of Western European and other States. I would first like to draw the attention of members to a letter dated 29 June from the representative of Norway, in her capacity as the Chair of the Group of Western European and other States for the month of June, circulated in document A/70/964. In her letter, the representative of Norway announces that the Netherlands has withdrawn its candidacy in favour of Italy, and that Italy is the endorsed and only candidate of the Group of Western European and other States. In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, we shall now proceed to the next round of balloting by secret ballot. This sixth round of balloting, which is in accordance with rule 94 of the rules of procedure, will also be the second unrestricted ballot. May I remind the Assembly that any Member State from among the Group of Western European and other States may be a candidate except those outgoing members, those already members of the Security Council, as well as the member elected at the 106th plenary meeting. To make this clear, I shall now mention the names of those members that cannot be voted for in the present balloting, namely, France, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Before we begin the voting process, I should like to remind members that, pursuant to rule 88 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, no representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order on the actual conduct of the voting. We shall now begin the voting process. Ballot papers marked “C” will now be distributed. May I ask representatives to write on the ballot papers marked “C” for Western European and other States the name of one State for which they want to vote. Ballot papers will be declared invalid if they contain the name of more than one State. The name of a Member State on the ballot paper that does not belong to the Group of Western European and other States will not be counted at all.

The result of the voting is as follows: Group C — Western European and other States Number of ballot papers: 192 Number of invalid ballots: 2 Number of valid ballots: 190 Abstentions: 6 Number of Members present and voting: 184 Required two-thirds majority: 123 Number of votes obtained: Italy 179 Netherlands 4 San Marino 1

I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

I wish very briefly to express our very sincere thanks to the membership. I also thank my friend and colleague, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Karel van Oosterom, for his support and for having understood and accepted the agreement that Italy reached with the Netherlands, which was endorsed by the Group of Western European and other States, to divide the two-year term in the Security Council. The Netherlands very gallantly withdrew from the ballot, and Italy will do the same next year. Together with my colleague Karel, we have worked for this objective in a spirit of cooperation between two European Union members at a moment in which the cohesion of the Union is of great importance. Of course, our political leaders have done the same. We both wish to assure the membership that we will work together with all Member States for the good of the Organization and for an efficient Security Council that is able to tackle the difficult challenges we are all facing, in a spirit of true cooperation and transparency. Again, I thank the Assembly for its support, as well as on behalf of the Netherlands.

I congratulate Italy on its election to the Security Council. I also thank the tellers for their assistance in this election. Before concluding our consideration of this agenda item, I should like to remind members that, pursuant to paragraph 17 of resolution 68/307, of 10 September 2014, the election of non-permanent members of the Security Council for the term 2018-2019 will take place during the resumed part of the next session in the spring of 2017. The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 112.

The tragic events in Istanbul this week have reminded us of the threats and dangers posed by terrorism in our world today. Once again, those left behind are in mourning, and I wish to take this opportunity to convey my sincere condolences to the people and the Government of Turkey for their painful loss. The senseless killing of innocent civilians by terrorist acts has become all too frequent the past few years. It demands a response from the international community that is both commensurate with the challenge we face and focused on both the short- and the long-term perspective. Through much closer cooperation, we must redouble our efforts to combat terrorism and prevent violent extremism. In that context, the consultations on the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy have given us a unique opportunity to discuss how to make the United Nations more relevant, more credible, more legitimate and more capable in responding to terrorism. During this discussion, we will look at the latest challenges that we must face as an international community in this area and how better to respond to these criminal and unjustifiable acts, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever they are committed. Together in this Hall, we must discharge our mandate as a competent organ with universal membership to address the issue of international terrorism. We celebrate this year the tenth anniversary of the Strategy. Ten years ago, we expressed our commitment to take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism in a decisive, unified, coordinated, inclusive and transparent manner. We all agree that the acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy. They threaten the territorial integrity and security of States and peoples and destabilize legitimately constituted Governments. In these past years, we have been alarmed by the acts of intolerance and violent extremism conducive to terrorism and violence, including sectarian violence and terrorism in various parts of the world, which claim innocent lives, cause destruction, displace people and divide communities. To all the victims of the senseless violence, we offer our solidarity and support. For in this year, I call upon the entire Assembly to also offer to our peoples a commitment to concrete action to keep the Strategy relevant and contemporary in the light of emerging new threats and evolving trends in this area. We can include a commitment not to let our differences prevent us from reaching consensus on the importance of our actions to tackle these heinous acts and to provide the proper framework for our common action. I wish to recognize the commitment and flexibility shown by all delegations during the negotiations on the United Nations Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy review. I call on all of the members of the Assembly to renew efforts in that regard. We cannot allow ourselves to send the message of disunity to the world when our peoples and our community of nations face such a grave challenge. I also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his commitment and leadership on this topic, and in particular for his initiative and Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. That Plan has allowed Member States to engage in a fundamental conversation about how to prevent those whose message of intolerance — religious, cultural, social — has had drastic consequences for many regions of the world and has challenged our shared values of peace, justice and human rights. Finally, I want to warmly thank the co-facilitators — the Permanent Representatives of Iceland and Argentina — and their legal experts for tirelessly working for a consensus draft resolution. Their commitment, efforts and leadership should allow us to agree on an outcome that sends a common message from the international community on this critical subject. Doing so will enable the United Nations to continue to improve its response to new and evolving threats to international peace and security, to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), the pursuit of the rule of law and the realization of human rights going forward. I thank them. I now give the floor to His Excellency Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon.

I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly and the co-facilitators — Ambassador Martín Garcia Moritán and Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson, the Permanent Representative of Argentina and the Permanent Representative of Iceland, respectively — for their hard work in steering this fifth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. I have been closely following the negotiations on draft resolution A/70/L.55, and I have to admit that I am profoundly disappointed that this year of all years might be the one that does not see the adoption of a consensus draft resolution. All Member States agree that international terrorism is affecting them at unprecedented levels and that it requires our concerted action. People the world over look to us to act with unity and resolve to address this major scourge of our time. The urgent necessity of tackling and preventing terrorism has been brought home to us once again this week in the most tragic and horrific way. The terrorist attack at Istanbul airport is an attack on all of us, on our most fundamental values and on our solidarity and unity of purpose. I express my deepest condolences to everyone affected — the families, friends, colleagues of those killed and injured — and to the Government and the people of Turkey. This review marks the tenth anniversary of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Important shifts have occurred in the global terrorism landscape since the adoption of the Strategy by consensus in 2006. While there has been important progress in its implementation, the Strategy has encountered unforeseen challenges. The spread of poisonous violent extremist ideologies through modern information technologies, our limited success in preventing new conflicts, the easy availability of arms, the flow of foreign terrorist fighters across borders and heightened media attention have all contributed to creating an environment where terrorists have taken control of vast swaths of territory, resources and populations. The result is a vortex of protracted conflicts, ungoverned spaces and terrorism. Terrorism transcends cultures and geographical boundaries. It cannot be associated with any one religion, nationality or ethnic group. It affects all countries. Violent extremists and terrorists are posing a direct assault on the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and undermining efforts to maintain peace and security, foster sustainable development, promote respect for human rights and deliver vital humanitarian aid. We are at an important juncture. We need to take tough decisions and make difficult choices, while staying true to the commitments we have made under the Strategy across all four of its pillars. Military and security measures have their rightful place. However, as leaders of Governments and institutions, we must ensure that our responses are fully consistent with our commitments under the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights law. Protecting human rights and respecting the rule of law while countering terrorism is not only a matter of principle. It is also essential to the legitimacy and efficacy of counter-terrorist measures. When we fail to uphold the values that unite us, we end up fuelling the grievances that can lead to terrorism. As I said in my Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, we need to take a more systematic, preventive approach to address the drivers of violent extremism. This lies at the heart of my call to Member States to develop national plans of action, with the support of the United Nations where and when requested. Terrorists not only shed the blood of civilians, but divide and polarize our societies. This is a leadership challenge. We must never be ruled by fear. We must refrain from assigning collective guilt to whole communities and religions. I am concerned about the growing drift in many countries and regions towards bigotry, anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, homophobia and outright racism. Terrorist groups are exploiting these negative trends and using them as a recruitment tool. We have a fundamental moral duty to oppose all forms of discrimination and exclusion, and to denounce such demagoguery, which in the past has led to unspeakable horrors. We have to build societies in which all legitimate human expressions have a place — societies that include, rather than exclude. The only responsible answer to provocation and incitement is shared resolve to uphold universal values. The General Assembly is the forum to forge and reinforce a global consensus in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. In the face of the rapidly evolving global nature of the threat, the basic tenets of the Global Counter- Terrorism Strategy are even more relevant than they were 10 years ago. Now more than ever, we need strong and effective international cooperation at the bilateral, regional, interregional and global levels, and balanced implementation across all four pillars. The time has come to fully and comprehensively implement the Global Strategy. I therefore hope that the focus will be on implementing the commitments we have made through collective action. While Member States bear the primary responsibility for the implementation of the Global Strategy, the United Nations system stands ready to provide strong, well- coordinated support, particularly through its Counter- Terrorism Implementation Task Force, which has the main responsibility for coordination and coherence in this critical area. If we want to make real and sustained impact on the ground, we will need to mobilize the necessary resources. However, apart from a generous contribution from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, few new resources have been provided to the United Nations, while demand has risen exponentially. No amount of coordination by the United Nations can make an impact without sufficient resources. I would like to conclude by remembering the thousands of victims of terrorism over the past 10 years. The pain, suffering and loss of so many men, women and children peacefully going about their lives is a tragedy for us all. We have an urgent moral duty to do all we can to prevent and end this carnage. Taking collective preventive action against terrorism, in the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, is the only way to secure peace and prosperity for succeeding generations. In conclusion I appeal to the Assembly to show the world its resolve by acting in unison and adopting the draft resolution by consensus.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. In view of the ongoing negotiations on draft resolution A/70/L.55, on the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, I propose to hold the debate on this item tomorrow morning, Friday, 1 July.

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 117.

Members will recall that the Assembly considered agenda items 15 and 116 at its 4th plenary meeting, on 25 September 2015, and adopted resolution 70/1 under those items. Members will also recall that the Assembly considered, in a joint debate, agenda items 15, 116 and 123 at its 52nd plenary meeting, on 13 November 2015. Members will further recall that, under agenda items 15 and 116, the Assembly adopted decision 70/539, at its 81st plenary meeting, and resolution 70/262, at its 93rd plenary meeting, on 22 December 2015 and 27 April 2016, respectively. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/70/L.54. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/70/L.54, entitled “High-level plenary meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants”. In this connection, I would like to draw the Assembly’s attention to the statement regarding programme budget implications contained in document A/70/967. The Fifth Committee will examine during the main part of the seventy-first session of the Assembly the revised estimate arising from the draft resolution and the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon. Consequently, the financial provisions as appropriate will be considered as an additional budget appropriation to be approved by the Assembly for the biennium 2016 to 2017. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/70/L.54?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda items 15 and 116.