A/70/PV.112 General Assembly

I wish to express my continued sorrow and anger about the recent spate of terror attacks and mass murders that have taken place around the world. I offer my deepest condolences and compassion to the victims and the relatives of those affected by these extremely cruel acts. These kinds of attacks have no place in a civilized global community and we must, through increased international cooperation, do everything we can to prevent them from happening in the future.

Members will recall that, at its 39th plenary meeting, on 26 October 2015, the General Assembly concluded its consideration of agenda item 12. In order for the General Assembly to consider agenda item 12, it will be necessary to reopen its consideration. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen consideration of agenda item 12?

I shall now read out the solemn appeal contained in document A/70/983: “The ancient Greek tradition of the ekecheiria, or ‘Olympic Truce’, born in the eighth century B.C., serves as a hallowed principle of the Olympic Games. In 1992, the International Olympic Committee renewed this tradition by calling upon all nations to observe the Truce. “Through its resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993, the General Assembly urged Member States to observe the Olympic Truce from the seventh day before the opening to the seventh day following the closing of each Olympic Games. This appeal was renewed in the Millennium Declaration. “In the 2005 World Summit Outcome, our leaders emphasized that ‘sports can foster peace and development’, and encouraged the General Assembly to foster a dialogue and agreed proposals for a plan of action on sport and development. “On 3 November 2005, the General Assembly held a plenary debate on the agenda item ‘Sport for peace and development’, and also adopted, with universal support, resolution 60/8, entitled ‘Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal’, deciding to consider this item every two years in advance of each Summer and Winter Olympic Games. “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development acknowledges sport as an important enabler of sustainable development, recognizing the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions that it makes to the Sustainable Development Goals, including the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities, as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives. “To this end, on 26 October 2015, the General Assembly adopted resolution 70/4. In that resolution, the Assembly urged Member States to observe the Olympic Truce individually and collectively, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, throughout the period from the seventh day before the start of the XXXI Olympic Summer Games until the seventh day following the end of the XV Paralympic Summer Games, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “The Olympic movement aspires to contribute to a peaceful future for all humankind through the educational value of sport, in particular youth. The Games will bring together athletes from all parts of the world in the greatest of international sports events as a means to promote peace, mutual understanding and goodwill among nations and peoples — goals that are also part of the founding values of the United Nations. For the first time ever, a team of refugees will participate under the Olympic flag in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, acting as a powerful symbol of inclusion and our shared humanity. “As an expression of these common objectives, the International Olympic Committee has decided to fly the United Nations flag at Olympic Park. The United Nations system and the International Olympic Committee have strengthened their mutual cooperation and support through joint endeavours in such fields as human development, poverty alleviation, humanitarian assistance, health promotion, HIV and AIDS prevention, child and youth education, gender equality, peacebuilding and sustainable development. “I welcome the leadership of Olympic and Paralympic athletes in promoting peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal, and the commitment made by various States Members of the United Nations to developing national and international programmes that promote peace and conflict resolution and the Olympic and Paralympic values through sport and through culture, education and sustainable development. “As President of the General Assembly at its seventieth session, I solemnly appeal to all Member States to demonstrate their commitment to the Olympic Truce for the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games and to undertake concrete actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Truce. Referring to the original tradition of the Olympic Truce practised in ancient times, as described in resolution 70/4, I also call upon all warring parties of current armed conflicts around the world to boldly agree to true mutual ceasefires for the duration of the Olympic Truce, thus providing an opportunity to settle disputes peacefully.” May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the solemn appeal in connection with the observance of the Olympic Truce?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 12?

Members will 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 also recall that, under agenda item 15, the Assembly adopted resolution 70/110 at its 82nd plenary meeting, on 23 December 2015. Members will further recall that the Assembly, at its 90th plenary meeting, on 1 April 2016, adopted resolution 70/259 under this item. I now give the floor to the representative of Thailand, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, to introduce draft resolution A/70/L.49/Rev.1.

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I have the honour to introduce the draft resolution entitled “Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (2016-2025)”, contained in document A/70/L.49/Rev.1. Africa’s average share of new factories in gross domestic product has remained about 10 per cent since the late 1970s. The slow pace of Africa’s industrialization is responsible for the region’s low performance in translating growth into good jobs and poverty reduction. Based on an assessment of the situation, the General Assembly adopted the first and second Industrial Development Decades for Africa in support of Africa’s efforts to overcome the challenges of industrialization. Unfortunately, limited progress was made owing to a lack of resources, capacities and geostrategic reasons. The time has come to invest in inclusive and sustainable industrialization as an engine for growth and provide strategic leverage to support African countries through the adoption of the third Industrial Development Decade for Africa for the year 2016 to 2025. With the present draft resolution, we have the opportunity to address industrial development challenges in the context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), in particular Goal 9, and open the door to enhanced international and regional cooperation, including North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation as well as assistance from international institutions, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, to fully support the implementation of this Third Decade and assist African countries in promoting inclusive, sustainable industrial development. In closing, I would like to thank our coordinator from Chad, facilitator from Morocco and all partners involved in the negotiation of the draft text. We hope that the General Assembly will adopt the draft resolution by consensus.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/70/L.49/Rev.1, entitled “Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (2016- 2025)”. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt the draft resolution?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 15.

The General Assembly will now take action on the draft resolution entitled “Political Declaration of the Comprehensive High-level Midterm Review of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020”, issued as document A/70/L.56. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I would like to make a statement in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. In paragraph 120 of draft resolution A/70/L.56, the Heads of State and Government and high representatives participating in the Comprehensive High-level Midterm Review of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 state that they encourage the General Assembly to consider holding, in 2021, the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries. Pursuant to this provision, it is understood that all issues related to the meetings comprising the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in 2021, including the date, format, organization and scope of the Conference, have yet to be determined. Accordingly, in the absence of modalities for the meeting, it is not possible at the present time to estimate the potential cost implications of the requirements of the meetings and of documentation. Once the modalities, format and organization of the meeting are decided, the Secretary-General will submit the relevant costs of such requirements in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Furthermore, the date of the meeting will have to be determined in consultation with the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management. Accordingly, adoption of draft resolution A/70/L.56 does not give rise to any financial implications under the programme budget.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/70/L.56, entitled “Political Declaration of the Comprehensive High- level Midterm Review of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt it?

I shall now give the floor to those delegations that wish to make statements following the adoption of the draft resolution.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, please allow me to express our thanks to the President for convening this meeting of the General Assembly to endorse the Political Declaration of the Comprehensive High-level Midterm Review of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020, which was adopted on 29 May in Antalya, Turkey. Our appreciation also goes to you, Mr. President, and to the Permanent Representative of Belgium as co-facilitators of the process for your leading role and tireless efforts, as well as to all the stakeholders involved in the process for their constructive engagement. As we embark on our common journey towards sustainable development, the principles of universality and inclusiveness must not be forgotten, lest we all fail as a team. It is not only important for all of us to engage in a constructive manner to reach consensus on this political outcome, we must also expedite our provision of assistance to enhance the capacities of least developed countries (LDCs) in support of their efforts to achieve the priority areas set forth in the Istanbul Programme of Action and to implement the 2030 Agenda. With strong support from all of us and with coordinated actions, we are confident that the LDCs will be able to overcome their structural weaknesses. Against that backdrop, we are hopeful that at least half, if not all, of the LDCs will meet the graduation criteria by 2020. The Group of 77 and China would like to once again express its solidarity with its LDC friends and its commitment to provide them with support in their efforts to implement the Istanbul Programme of Action and the 2030 Agenda, in order to make their development gains sustainable, inclusive and meaningful.

Japan welcomes the adoption of resolution 70/294. We would like also to express our sincere appreciation to the Permanent Missions of Belgium, Benin and Turkey for leading the process of the discussion on the Declaration. After lengthy deliberations on the part of Member States, including the meeting held in Antalya, Turkey, from 27 to 29 May, the Political Declaration was adopted unanimously. During the process, Japan engaged constructively in the discussions, and we are pleased to see several items of importance to us incorporated into the Declaration, such as our policies to support the construction of quality infrastructure, resilience to natural disasters and disaster risk reduction. Allow me now to briefly touch upon on our next step to support our least developed country (LDC) partners, namely, the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), to be held this August. Since Africa is home to 34 of the world’s 48 LDCs, sustainable development in Africa is a major concern to Japan, and so we have been co-organizing TICAD every five years since 1993. This year, for the first time, the TICAD summit meeting will be held in Africa and hosted by Kenya, in Nairobi, on 27 and 28 August. It was preceded by the preparatory ministerial meeting held in Banjul last month. This conference will be an important occasion to deepen our discussions and partnerships on critical issues such as the global health architecture, strengthening the response to public- health emergencies, violent extremism and commodity price volatility, while at the same time promoting Africa’s own efforts to achieve Agenda 2063, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). Of course, the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action is vital to all LDCs, not only to Africa, as noted in the ministerial declaration of the High-Level Political Forum adopted last week. I should like to emphasize that both the LDCs and their development partners must undertake more concerted development planning efforts to achieve the global goals of the Istanbul Programme of Action as well as of the 2030 Agenda in order to leave no one behind.

The least developed countries (LDCs) would like to express our thanks to all of the States Members of the United Nations for having adopted the very important resolution 70/294, endorsing the Political Declaration of the Comprehensive High-level Midterm Review of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries. We would like to put on record our deep appreciation for the two co-facilitators of the process, the Permanent Representative Belgium and you yourself, Mr. President, for your skilled stewardship of the process. The LDCs would also like to take this opportunity to express sincere thanks and gratitude to the peoples and the Government of Turkey for having generously hosted the midterm review.

The United States welcomes the formal adoption by the General Assembly of the Political Declaration of the Comprehensive High-level Midterm Review of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 (resolution 70/294). As we did in Antalya, we would like to begin by thanking the Government of Turkey for having hosted this successful event as well as praise the co-facilitators of the midterm review, Ambassadors Frankinet and Zinsou, for their leadership and for their hard work. The Istanbul Programme of Action presents us with an ambitious and comprehensive framework for addressing the development challenges facing the least developed countries (LDCs). The United States remains committed to supporting the LDCs, as illustrated by the fact that more than one third of our total bilateral net disbursements of official development assistance between 2011 and 2014 has been to LDCs. In 2015, such assistance increased by 8 per cent, the largest increase of any bilateral donor. But even more importantly, the United States convinced of the need to use official development assistance catalytically, to leverage new partnerships that are better placed to address the challenges of the LDCs. The United States is engaged in many such efforts, including Power Africa, the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data. As these initiatives show, the United States has been and will continue to be a willing partner with LDCs in our joint efforts to realize the aspirations and objectives of the Istanbul Programme of Action and the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). We reaffirmed these goals in Antalya, and we will continue to do both here in New York and in the least developed countries themselves.

Turkey welcomes the formal endorsement by the General Assembly today of the Political Declaration of the Comprehensive High-level Midterm Review of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 (resolution 70/294). As the host country, we would like to thank Member States for their constructive engagement and contributions to the successful conclusion of the midterm review. Our special thanks go also to the co-facilitators of the preparatory process, Ambassador Frankinet of Belgium and you yourself, Mr. President, for the leadership and cooperation shown. The robust Political Declaration that we adopted in Antalya demonstrates our collective commitment to eradicating poverty, achieving sustainable development and building a better future for all. We should all do whatever is required to ensure that the Istanbul Programme of Action is fully implemented. The Political Declaration has paved the way for taking concrete action over the next five years to this effect. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that Turkey will continue to fulfil its responsibilities and act in solidarity with the least developed countries.

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. We would first like to take the opportunity of this formal endorsement to thank the two co-facilitators of the entire midterm review process, Ambassadors Frankinet of Belgium and you yourself, Mr. President, for your wonderful work over the past month, for your vision and for guiding us towards what we consider is a strong Political Declaration of which we can all be proud. We would also like to thank the Republic of Turkey for warmly welcoming us in Antalya, and, of course, we want to thank the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States for its support throughout the process and its tireless work for the least developed countries (LDCs), a group of countries to which the European Union attaches particular importance. Throughout the negotiations leading to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), we have consistently argued that no one should be left behind and that in this process, special attention should be given the challenges faced by the LDCs. As part of our efforts to support developing countries in implementing the Agenda, we will continue to put the LDCs at the centre of our trade and development policy. We have come a long way since the adoption of the Istanbul Programme of Action, and we would like to congratulate those LDCs that have made progress towards graduation. The European Union is determined to facilitate a smooth graduation process and is fully committed to the objective of enabling at least half of the LDCs to meet the graduation criteria by 2020. Progress over the past five years has been slow, but we are confident that the Antalya midterm review, inspired by the landmark agreements reached in 2015, can help us get back on track. The Antalya Political Declaration (resolution 70/294) is a strong, ambitious and balanced text. It builds on the major breakthroughs of Agenda 2030 and thereby provides us with a robust road map for the coming years. The European Union looks forward to working with all partners to operationalize it and thereby advance towards meeting the objectives of the Istanbul Programme of Action.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I would like to thank Her Excellency Ms. Bénédicte Frankinet, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations, and His Excellency Mr. Jean- Francis Régis Zinsou, Permanent Representative of Benin to the United Nations, and the facilitators of the intergovernmental consultations on all issues relating to the comprehensive high-level midterm review of the implementation of the Programme of Action of Istanbul for a job well done. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 23?

Members will recall that the General Assembly considered, in a joint debate, agenda item 66 and its sub-items (a) and (b) and agenda item 14 at its 34th and 35th plenary meetings, on 16 October 2015. I now give the floor to the representative of Thailand to introduce draft resolution A/70/L.48/Rev.1.

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I have the honour to introduce the draft resolution entitled “New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in implementation and international support”, contained in document A/70/L.48/Rev.1. African countries have taken concrete steps to implement the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) through a socioeconomic renewal agenda in order to transform its development agenda. Despite efforts aimed at implementing NEPAD, Africa is still far from realizing the levels of support required under the Partnership. Tremendous challenges faced by the continent, particularly the fight against poverty, high youth unemployment and rising inequality, inter alia, still require continued global cooperation and partnership and an enabling national and international environment conducive to growth and development with multi-stakeholder participation. As we are all committed to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) without leaving anyone behind, it is vital that we pay particular attention to the special needs of Africa and to the importance of implementing commitments made to African countries. On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, we would like to express our gratitude to the facilitators, the coordinator and all those partners involved in the negotiation of the draft text. We hope that the General Assembly will adopt it by consensus.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/70/L.48/Rev.1, entitled “New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in implementation and international support”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of A/70/L.48/Rev.1: Georgia and Turkey.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/70/L.48/Rev.1? Draft resolution A/70/L.48/Rev.1 was aopted (resolution 70/295).

I shall now call on those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.

Argentina welcomes the adoption of resolution 70/295, entitled “New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in implementation and international support”. We support that strategy aimed at resolving the major challenges currently facing the African continent, such as the need for African countries to embark both individually and collectively on the path to growth and sustainable development and to avoid their ongoing marginalization from the process of globalization and from fully enjoying the benefits of the global economy. While we recognize that each country faces specific challenges in achieving sustainable development, we are also aware that it is necessary to highlight the specific problems that confront the most vulnerable countries. For that reason, we showed the greatest flexibility in the course of the negotiations of this text on and for Africa, working within the Group of 77 and China with a strong feeling of cooperation and solidarity with our African brothers. We wish to point out, however, that Argentina firmly believes in the full validity of what our countries agreed in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) and the Paris Climate Change Agreement. In that regard, my country wishes to underscore that in the Paris Agreement the vulnerability associated with adapting to climate change falls on the shoulders of developing countries, without mentioning any group of countries in particular. There is also no preference accorded to any particualr group when it comes to the means for implementing climate-change efforts; instead, the Paris Agreement reiterates what was established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in terms of what developed countries provide to developing countries. Finally, we believe that it is necessary to recall that the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda recognized the importance that development and the transfer and dissemination of ecologically sound technology to developing countries should be carried out in advantageous, favourable and preferential conditions according to mutually agreed arrangements.

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 66 and of agenda item 66 as a whole?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/70/L.57, entitled “Agreement concerning the Relationship between the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt it?

I now call on representatives who wish to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.

My delegation would like to speak with regard to paragraphs 1, 41, 101 and 104 to the annex contained in resolution 70/296, which was submitted under sub-item (a) of agenda item 23 (a), and with regard to paragraph 50 of resolution 70/295, concerning the Paris Agreement, submitted under sub-item (a) of agenda item 66. Nicaragua expresses reservations with regard to the content of those paragraphs because it is not, nor will become, a State party to the Paris Agreement. In order to achieve consensus and show great flexibility and full solidarity with the least developed countries and our African brothers and sisters, our delegation did not object to the adoption of those resolutions, nor did it ask for a separate vote on those paragraphs. However, while we wish to affirm that we do not object to such a reference in the resolution, that exception should at no time become a precedent and such language should not be imposed on us in future draft resolutions, declarations and documents. Once again, my delegation reiterates for clarity’s sake that this is situation is exclusively a reflection of our solidarity with the least developed countries, our African brother States and small island States. We request that this statement be reflected in the official records under the relevant agenda items.

On 30 June, 165 Governments, including my own, as member States of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) came to consensus in Geneva to recommend that IOM enter into a relationship agreement with the United Nations. The United States fully supports the draft relationship agreement and welcomes the adoption of resolution 70/296, which approved it. We are in an era of unprecedented human mobility. Migration brings greater benefits to States of origin and destination. Migrants bring needed skills to destination countries, provide billions of dollars in remittances to help those at home and enrich the cultures of the societies that they join. Migration also brings challenges, however, as when it is not a choice but a necessity for those forced from their homes by conflict, famine, extreme human- rights abuses and serious natural disasters. The IOM and the United Nations should be commended for the work that they have done together over the years to address those migration challenges, but additional coordination is needed and welcomed. We, the international community, need to adjust our structures to meet the new challenges and demands and improve the global response to vulnerable migrants, who most need assistance. As the sole international organization with an exclusive migration mandate, the IOM has 65 years of experience in helping Governments manage migration. The organization is a flexible and responsive partner in humanitarian and development contexts, and a vast repository of knowledge and expertise in migration issues. The IOM’s status as a United Nations-related organization will help improve coordination and avoid duplication of migration-related activities and services related to migration. By bringing the IOM into a stronger relationship with the United Nations, the agreement establishes a solid foundation for strengthened coordination and collaboration to help us all better address the international migration challenges, while protecting the human rights of migrants. As a nation of immigrants, the United States is committed to promoting safe, legal and orderly migration and looks forward to the IOM and the United Nations working closer together to further those goals.

The Philippines would like to thank the President for convening this plenary meeting, which allows Member States to exchange views on resolution 70/296, concerning the relationship between the United Nations and the international Organization for Migration IOM. The Philippines recognizes migration as a multidimensional reality, and the IOM’s impact and contribution in the area of migration as well. The IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and societies. As such, it strongly believes in the positive contribution of migrants and migration and is committed to the realization of the human rights of migrants. Hence, we fully support the strengthening of the relationship between the United Nations and IOM in order to enhance the ability of both organizations to deliver on their respective mandates, in the interests of migrants and Member States. In that regard, the Philippines welcomes the adoption of a procedural resolution for the purpose of approving the draft agreement and its signing at the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly to address large movements of refugees and migrants, to be held on 19 September.

As we know, the number of people on the move, including those who are fleeing conflict and persecution, is unprecedentedly high. Through the World Humanitarian Summit last May and the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on 19 September on large movements of refugees and migrants, the international community is working to strengthen the global response and to address both immediate and long-term challenges associated with this situation. As the global lead organization on migration, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) plays an important role in the protecting the rights of migrants and assisting displaced people and migration-affected communities, including in the areas of resettlement and return. In that context, the United Nations and IOM have a strong mutual interest in strengthening international relationships during these difficult times, and the General Assembly, by its resolution 70/263, of 27 April 2016, recognized this need and invited the Secretary- General to take steps to conclude an agreement to that end between the two organizations. I therefore take this opportunity to congratulate the Secretary-General and the Director-General of IOM on the agreement that has just been approved by the General Assembly. It is an example of the kind of concrete action that is needed to face the current crisis, and as mentioned in the Secretary-General’s note, the agreement will be signed at the meeting of the Assembly to be held on 19 September 2016. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 175?

The General Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/70/L.58, entitled “Scope, modalities, format and organization of the high- level meeting on antimicrobial resistance convened by the President of the General Assembly”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt it?

On behalf of the General Assembly, I would like to thank His Excellency Mr. Juan José Gómez Camacho, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations and Co-Facilitator of the consultations on the draft modalities resolution for the high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance, for a job very well done. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 125?

The report of the Secretary-General under agenda item 124 has been circulated in document A/70/917. I now give the floor to the representative of Bangladesh to introduce draft resolution A/70/L.59.

It gives me immense pleasure to introduce, on behalf of the sponsors, the draft resolution entitled “Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union”, contained in document A/70/L.59. Bangladesh takes pride in presenting this text. We are pleased that it has been receiving the overwhelming support of Member States and that it has been adopted every time by consensus. The agenda of interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was established by resolution 65/123 as a stand-alone agenda item, in recognition of the unique role of parliaments as legislative and oversight bodies. The current President of the IPU, Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, is a distinguished parliamentarian of Bangladesh. That is why Bangladesh has taken the lead role in introducing this year’s resolution at the United Nations. The father of the nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, presented the Constitution of Bangladesh in 1972 immediately after our independence, which guarantees the democracy of our country. In line with its constitutional commitment, Bangladesh remains a strong advocate for promoting and protecting democracy and democratic values and principles not only at the national level but also at the international level. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to democracy is embedded in her ardent belief that “only democracy and freedom can empower people and ensure progress, development and social justice”. In Bangladesh, the National Parliament represents the solemn expression of the will of our people. Nothing that the United Nations decides can be implemented at the country level unless the Parliament and the parliamentarians are on board. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), of course, calls for a stronger engagement between the United Nations and the national parliaments, particularly through the IPU. There are important direct references to the oversight and legislative role of parliaments in Agenda 2030, which gives the United Nations and its Member States a clear mandate to work more closely with parliaments and parliamentarians. This agenda item refers, of course, not only to national parliaments but also to the IPU. The IPU is the oldest multilateral organization, founded in 1889, with a membership of 170 parliaments and a constellation of 11 associate members. We would like to welcome the report of the Secretary-General (A/70/917), which urges greater cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU. The United Nations works with parliaments and parliamentarians but can do so even more effectively by coordinating its work in-house and through closer cooperation with the IPU. The IPU is an observer at the United Nations and is in a unique position to ensure greater success in outcomes for “we the peoples” and for the most efficient use of Member States’ resources. We also welcome the new cooperation agreement between the United Nations and the IPU, which builds on an existing one dated 1996. We thank the Member States and their delegations for their active participation in the intense negotiation process this year. The draft provides for specific modes of interaction such as including parliamentarians in national delegations to United Nations conferences, holding a joint parliamentary hearing every year, getting United Nations country teams and parliaments to work more closely together, and so on. In the draft resolution, the role of the IPU and parliaments in supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is fully recognized. The draft welcomes the IPU contribution to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development; recognizes the tremendous work of the IPU on climate change, disaster risk and development finance; takes stock of new areas of cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU, such as in the field of disarmament; acknowledges the association of the entire United Nations development system, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in particular, with the IPU. It also refers to the seminal work of the IPU and UNDP in developing a set of Common Principles for Support to Parliaments; it encourages the United Nations system to help facilitate greater South-South and triangular cooperation; and last but not least, it calls for Governments to facilitate the orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies. The draft resolution every year receives the support of a large number of Member States from all regions of the world. I am pleased to mention that this year around 70 countries are sponsoring this important draft. We express our sincere thanks and commendations to all the sponsors for their support and commitment and also to the general membership for its continued support. I hope that, as in past years, we will be able to adopt draft resolution A/70/L.59 by consensus.

At the outset, I should like to thank the President of the General Assembly for having convened this meeting on interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, an issue of great importance for the effectiveness of the efforts of the international community. I should like also to express my great appreciation to the Secretary-General for having devoted a particularly important report (A/70/917) to the issue, which is extremely useful in shedding light on the extent of this cooperation. I welcome the importance attached to the interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which enables us to mobilize a common commitment to strengthening the rule of law, democracy and development; allows us to work for the effectiveness of legislative power in Member States; and, in particular, makes it possible to strengthen their contribution to global governance. Its primary aim is to promote peace, stability and optimal conditions for the sustainable development of our societies. From that standpoint, I wish to welcome the start in 2016 of the implementation of the major programmes adopted by the United Nations in 2015. The international community is therefore well equipped to retake control of the development of the planet and of humankind and to decisively address the challenges that have been identified. In so doing, it is important to mobilize all forces and all contributions so as to ensure effective action with a view to attaining the normative goals that we have set ourselves. The Sustainable Development Goals are the most elaborate and consensual reflection of this. In particular, the National Assembly of Benin welcomes the numerous initiatives undertaken by the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to strengthen the capacity of national parliaments to tackle the issue of the promotion and enhancement of the role of women in our societies and to protect them through appropriate legislation. Benin participates in these efforts and, through me, urges their intensification. Along the same lines, the importance attached to issues concerning the promotion of youth makes it a topic of common interest in the context of the interaction of parliaments with the United Nations. As testament to that, I need only cite the resolution calling for the participation of young people in the political process, adopted at the Assemblée parlementaire de la francophonie at its forty-second session held in Antananarivo from 8 to 12 July. The resolution takes its lead from the Francophone Youth Strategy 2015-2022, the subject of which is women and youth as actors for peace and development. The Strategy was adopted by the Heads of State and Government of La Francophonie at the Dakar summit in 2014. It forms part of the United Nations World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond and the numerous activities undertaken by the Organization and its Member States to implement the Programme. The remobilization of young people is essential in response to the real risks to which aimless and marginalized youth are exposed. Those risks include the radicalization and seduction of young people by the currents of violent religious extremism, which facilitate their recruitment by terrorist organizations whose misdeeds we know and deplore. Accordingly, the National Assembly of Benin intends to organize, with the support of friendly parliaments, an inter-African parliamentary conference for a strengthened and concerted effort on the issue of harmonizing counter- terrorism legislation in African countries. That initiative is essential, given the considerable rise of terrorism threat level in our countries. It is also justified by the differing levels of performance among African States, in particular with regard to integrating into our domestic legal system international instruments aimed at fighting terrorism and transnational crime to prevent terrorism. Beyond those measures, the interaction between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations must contribute to honouring the commitment to leaving no one behind, made in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Program (resolution 70/1). Situations that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable deserve special attention. Such cases include, among others, youth unemployment, the depletion of vital resources owing to the adverse effects of climate change, upheavals in the social fabric, the rising number of crises and the persistence of conflicts leading to mass migration. Those are important areas for interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. It is desirable that draft resolution A/70/L.59 on that interaction clearly explain the progress that has been achieved in those areas.

My delegation welcomes the report of the Secretary-General (A/70/917) on the interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). We appreciate the efforts undertaken by Mr. Saber H. Chowdhury, President of the IPU, and the Mission of Bangladesh, in submitting draft resolution A/70/L.59, entitled “Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union”, to the General Assembly at its seventieth session. I am delighted that my country could participate in this meeting as one of the sponsors of that significant draft resolution. The report of the Secretary-General comprehensively presents the significance of deepening and broadening the interaction and partnership between the United Nations, national parliaments and the IPU in working towards to the most efficient implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (resolution 70/1). In that regard, I welcome and reiterate our support for the outcomes of the successive World Conferences of Speakers of Parliament held in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. Myanmar views the national parliaments as pivotal institutions of national legal frameworks. They contribute greatly to the aspirations of the people by delivering democracy and good governance. In the light of that, Myanmar believes that strengthening the quality and resources of national parliaments is vital. We recognize the IPU’s worldwide initiatives in strengthening the capacities of national parliaments, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). We are pleased to note that the UNDP’s capacity enhancement supports one in three parliaments through some 70 current programmes. Thus, the UNDP’s parliamentary strengthening programme is evidently an important part of its assistance in achieving inclusive political processes. It benefits many countries in building, promoting and maintaining democracy and good governance through capacity-building and technical assistance support for elections, constitutional processes, civic engagement and leadership quality training. It also focuses on sustainable development and human rights issues, including climate change, gender equality, HIV/AIDS and combating corruption. The National Parliament of Myanmar, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, has aligned its functions in accordance with the IPU strategy of better parliaments, stronger democracies. With the support of the IPU, UNDP and donor countries, the capacity-building of the members and staff of the Myanmar Parliament has been consistently organized. The Parliament has regularly observed the International Day of Democracy since its inception in Myanmar in 2011 in order to raise the awareness of the people. I would like to reaffirm my country’s enthusiasm in engaging with the international community, enhancing the exchange of information and sharing of good practices. As such, I am pleased to inform representatives that the thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, from 29 September to 3 October, on the theme of a vibrant ASEAN Inter-Parlementary Assembly for a progressive ASEAN Community. By supporting previous resolutions inviting the IPU to participate as an observer in the work of the General Assembly, and, more importantly, those endorsing a more systematic engagement with the IPU, Myanmar is confident that the partnership between the United Nations, IPU and national parliaments will continue to be strengthened. Accordingly, the impact of agenda item 124 will continue to benefit the work of national parliaments. On that note, I wish to reaffirm Myanmar’s support for the draft resolution on this agenda item.

We welcome the latest report of the Secretary-General (A/70/917), which highlights the long and rich tradition of interaction and partnership between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Those links of cooperation among parliaments — the solemn incarnation of democracy within the political system — and the United Nations system, which seeks to disseminate democratic values, such as human rights and good governance throughout the world, are perfectly natural. The cooperation between parliaments and the United Nations allows us to understand the activities of the latter in different and vital areas of society, such as human rights, public health, gender equality and sustainable development. But it also provides us all with the possibility to make our voices heard in decision-making processes at the national, regional and global levels. In another respect, and as spokesman for the populations that they represent, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other parliamentary organizations have helped the United Nations to take account of their views, as expressed through their parliaments as intermediaries. I cite as examples the consultations on the post-2015 development agenda and the work of bodies such as the Human Rights Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission on the Status of Women and the World Health Organization. Besides reporting back to their people on the work of the United Nations in various areas, parliaments themselves adopt and implement United Nations programmes and strategies and integrate them into their national Government and peoples. Parliaments’ role in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) is one of the best examples of that process. By adopting and modifying laws and allocating budgets in order to reach the Agenda’s stated objectives, parliaments verify that the executive branch has signed on to the decision and promote regional and international cooperation for its implementation. The importance of the decisive role of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, one of the world’s most venerable multilateral organizations, in promoting the commitment of parliaments to the major projects and activities of the United Nations is growing day by day. With its 164 member national parliaments, the Inter-Parliamentary Union works tirelessly to facilitate the participation of parliamentarians in the main United Nations mechanisms, particularly through their joint annual hearings. In that connection, we fully endorse the recommendation of the Secretary-General to promote regular interaction between the senior officials of both organizations with a view to enhancing the coherence of their activities. We also welcome the signing on Thursday of a new cooperation agreement between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which seeks to further strengthen the ties between the two organizations through the ongoing consideration of new avenues for cooperation, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The Kingdom of Morocco, a constitutional monarchy, shares the same values and ideals as the Inter-Parliamentary Union in undertaking innovative and ongoing efforts to entrench the universal values of freedom, human rights and peace and to promote the culture of dialogue, openness and tolerance among civilizations and peoples. The cooperation between Morocco and the Inter-Parliamentary Union in ensuring that their ideals prevail is long-standing and will only increase with the passage of time. The substantive draft resolution A/70/L.59 before us today is a testament to the mutually beneficial partnership between the United Nations and national parliaments and to the flourishing relationship between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. We are proud to have co-sponsored the draft resolution and encourage all Member State to join in the consensus.

The delegation of Cyprus welcomes the opportunity to offer some brief remarks on this important agenda item. I would also like to convey Cyprus’ appreciation for the Secretary-General’s report (A/70/917), which represents a comprehensive review of the specific actions and political interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Cyprus resolutely supports enhancing this interaction. In an international system based on the principles of the rule of law and democratic governance, stronger parliamentary participation on the global scale is needed so as to identify possible solutions to global problems and to work on implementing those solutions at the national level. Based on our own experience, we can testify that cooperation between the United Nations, the IPU and national parliaments also contributes to improving the role of the latter in promoting the rule of law and bringing national legislation in line with international commitments. Cyprus has co-sponsored draft resolution A/70/L.59 as a sign of its recognition of the strong relations between the United Nations, national parliaments and the IPU. We hope that it will be adopted by consensus and that it will make a concrete contribution to further strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU.

I would like to express our appreciation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for its efforts to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations. We thank the delegation of Bangladesh for introducing and facilitating draft resolution A/70/L.59, entitled “Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union”, which Viet Nam co-sponsors and strongly supports. The IPU was created in 1889 in a quest for peace and democracy. Since then, the organization has played an increasingly important role in the international arena, provided a platform for regular interaction between parliamentarians and United Nations, and helped shape parliamentary input to major United Nations processes, making active contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, development and the promotion of human rights. As we have embarked on the implementation of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), Viet Nam joins other countries in encouraging the continued active involvement of the IPU and national parliaments in mobilizing parliamentary action in support of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We wish to see strengthened cooperation between the United Nations and the IPU in various fields, in particular peace and security, economic and social development, financing for development, disaster risk reduction, climate change, international law, human rights, democracy, good governance and dialogue among civilizations. Viet Nam became a member of IPU in 1979. As an active, constructive and responsible member of the IPU for nearly four decades, the National Assembly of Viet Nam has been working closely with the IPU to fulfil the Union’s aspirations, principles and objectives, and has continuously expanded friendly relations with parliaments and peoples around the world. Viet Nam was very proud to successfully host the 132nd IPU General Assembly in Hanoi in March 2015, under the theme “Parliament and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals beyond 2015”. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Viet Nam’s commitment to promoting closer cooperation among national parliaments and bolstering interaction between the United Nations and the IPU with a view to achieving our common global objectives and building the future we want.

We are entirely convinced that the terms of the agreement with which we are familiar and which was the product of negotiations are crucial in guiding the important relationship between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). That is because we understand that as the world evolves, political relationships become increasingly complex. I am among those who believe that the relationship between the United Nations and the IPU is important not only from a declarative point of view, but also in everything linked to the implementation of the declarations we issue at the United Nations, as well as the agreements of the IPU. Why do I say so? I say so because, among the many subjects we address, that which encourages me a great deal is the question of climate change. How can we ensure that progress in that area? Even more to the point, when will the day come when we can say that these norms are mandatory? We know it is a difficult subject, but I believe that humankind’s progress obliges us to take an approach along those lines. That is why, on behalf of the delegation of Chile and of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, which I have honour of presiding over in the IPU, we welcome this agreement and think it will be very important for the future of the relationship between the IPU and the United Nations.

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 57/32 of 19 November 2002, I call on Mr. Saber Chowdhury, President of the Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

I am pleased that we have fellow parliamentarians among us. It is a distinct honour and pleasure for me, as President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the world’s organization of national parliaments, to address the General Assembly today on the very important agenda item of interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. At the outset, let me pay tribute to the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, a distinguished parliamentarian and former Speaker of the Danish Parliament, for his vision, his energy, his steadfast support and his passion for stronger engagement between the United Nations and the global parliamentary community. I should also add — and I think it is not just a coincidence — that there are two men who have presided over the two most important agreements at the United Nations over the past years — the Millennium Declaration of 2000, which for the first time formally acknowledged the need for cooperation between the United Nations and parliaments through the IPU, and more recently, the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) adopted in 2015. I refer to Mr. Theo-Ben Gurirab of Namibia, who was a Foreign Minister, a former Speaker and a former President of the IPU, and former President of the General Assembly, and Mr. Lykketoft of Denmark. They are prominent parliamentarians and very active IPU members. I am also delighted that we have among us, as I acknowledged at the beginning, speakers and honourable members of parliament who have in fact been here as members of the official delegations of their countries. This is a sight that we encourage and that we would like to see more of in the future, because I think that this is really what the cooperation is all about — bringing a parliamentary component and dimension to the work of the United Nations. The Assembly has before it the report of the Secretary-General (A/70/917), which provides an excellent overview of the comprehensive engagement and the growing and evolving relationship between the United Nations system and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as between the United Nations and national parliaments — including through various regional and other parliamentary organizations, in a wide variety of areas and fields ranging from peace and security, to democracy and human rights, to climate change, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. I am sure members will join me in acknowledging the richness of this report, which attests to the breadth and scope of our growing cooperation and relationship. The Assembly does not need me to tell it that the world today is faced with multiple challenges, unprecedented in their complexity and gravity. In many parts of the world, the rule of law and our basic rights and fundamental freedoms are under assault. Inequality and social injustice are on the rise. In the wake of massive humanitarian and political crises and the difficulties in managing the waves of migration that follow, populism and xenophobia are once again rearing their ugly heads. In the face of all this, the United Nations stands as the critical cornerstone of multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation among all nations. The IPU shares the objectives of the United Nations. It brings the perspective of parliamentarians as the direct voices of “we the peoples” and thereby complements and brings added value to the work of the United Nations. We are hence deeply committed to working with parliaments and parliamentarians around the world to promote peace and security, better understanding and cooperation, and a world free from want and free from fear for all citizens. Much has transpired since the last debate on this General Assembly agenda item two years ago (see A/68/PV.86). The year 2015 brought major international processes promoted and initiated at the United Nations and those include the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Declaration on disaster risk reduction and the historic agreement on climate change agreed in Paris. Throughout the process leading up to these decisions, the IPU has been working to raise awareness and engage the global parliamentary community, helping to mobilize parliamentary action and support in shaping and following up on these major international commitments. We must remember that commitments are only as good as the extent to which they are implemented and that is where we, as parliamentarians, and the global parliamentary community bring huge value. When it comes to the three United Nations processes, in addition to trying to encourage national ownership, we are also trying to make parliaments see the connection and connect the dots between the Sustainable Development Goals, disaster risk reduction and climate change. They mutually reinforce each other and we have to see them as part of one holistic agenda. We must also remember that the agreements tell us where we want to be in 15 years time and they are very aspirational — they have to be — but they do not actually tell us how we get there. Therefore, devising our own national plans in trying to find out how we move from A to B becomes of critical importance. That is something that the countries themselves, in their national parliaments, will have to try to address. At the parliamentary level, we also talk about the five Ps. I know that in the cooperation agreement that has just been signed between the IPU and the Secretary- General, we talk about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development transforming our world. That is essential because what brings the IPU and the United Nations together is a critical central focus on people and their welfare. So, the centrality of people is something that brings us together. We are natural partners. When we talk about the interest of the people, that is where the other four Ps come in. We talk about prosperity, which is the second P. To ensure prosperity, we have to make sure there is peace. Peace is not simply the absence of war. Peace is an environment that allows us to realize our potential as human beings. It is about social justice. It is about dignity. That is the third P — peace. The first three Ps are, in short, people, prosperity” and peace. Then, of course, we come to living within the planetary boundaries. If our current patterns of consumption continue, we are going to require at least three planets Earth to meet our needs. We therefore are going to have live within the bounds of what the planet can provide. That is the fourth P. The final P, which is really what this agenda item is all about, is about partnerships — strategic, collaborative, across-the-system partnerships, which is the piece where we, as parliaments and the IPU, seek to cooperate with the United Nations system. These are the five Ps that bring us together. In our own National Assemblies, we have examined the main expectations that parliaments have for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the critical modalities of turning words into action. Time and again, our members have underscored the need for democratic governance as an essential enabler of sustainable development and as a goal in itself. When we go back to the 2000 Millennium Declaration, governance was also mentioned, but it was more as an aspiration and did not form part of the Millennium Development Goals per se; it was just part of the political declaration. This time around, the difference is that, in Goal 16, we actually have a governance Goal. So governance is an enabler; it is also an end in itself. This is our entry point into the whole development agenda. It was the focus of the Speakers of Parliament Conference, which was held here in this very Hall, when Speakers from around the world came, debated and gave their input regarding the United Nations system. The Declaration of the World Conference, the fourth held so far, submitted as a parliamentary contribution to the global talks on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , stressed the awareness of and the need for strong linkages between democracy, peace and sustainable development in the service of the people. As we engage with parliaments, we are trying to help them become fit for purpose. This is also a debate within the United Nations — how to make the United Nations and its system fit for purpose. We are having a similar debate within the parliamentary community, as to how we make ourselves fit for purpose. We are looking at Goal 16 — peace, justice, rule of law and accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels — as the natural entry point for us. We have been encouraging parliaments around the world to look at the SDGs and take ownership for them and try to come up with their own responses. Already, we have arranged a number of regional seminars, starting with the one in Dhaka, where South Asian Speakers got together to look at tobacco control under the rubric of “Health for all”. In April, we held a regional seminar in Bucharest for Central and Eastern Europe, which tackled education for sustainable development. Other regional seminars are in the pipeline. We are expecting to hold one in the second half of the year in Latin America through Parlatino and the Latin American Parliament in Panama and another in Africa in cooperation with the Parliament of Uganda. We also expect that the second Global Parliamentary Report, produced jointly with the United Nations Development Programme and expected to be issued towards the end of this year, will provide valuable insight on accountability and oversight, in particular as these relate critically to the implementation of the SDGs. We have also expanded our work with parliaments to help bridge legislative gaps in meeting international commitments in a variety of areas — human rights, including a greater parliamentary involvement in the Universal Periodic Review conducted by the United Nations Human Rights Council, the elimination of discrimination against women, child and maternal health, discriminatory legislation as it relates to HIV- AIDS, climate change — including through the adoption of the Parliamentary Action Plan in support of the Paris Agreement — as well as in efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, which is unfortunately the sad reality of today. Just a few weeks ago, following up on our work with parliaments in Africa to enhance implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), parliamentarians for the first time joined and contributed here in New York to the United Nations comprehensive review of international efforts to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including into the hands of non-State actors. For many years, the IPU has been supporting international efforts to advance nuclear disarmament. We have produced tools for parliamentarians, adopted robust political resolutions and are now closely following and supporting the work of the United Nations Open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament. The partnership between the United Nations and the IPU has grown and evolved considerably over the past 20 years, and I am pleased to note and report to the General Assembly that on 21 July, just a few days ago, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong signed a new and revised cooperation agreement between our two organizations. That agreement takes stock of the work and progress that have taken place since 1996, when the initial agreement was concluded. The agreement places the institutional relationship on a stronger footing and sets the course for even closer cooperation in the years ahead. Needless to say, I welcome this positive development in our relationship. I also very much welcome draft resolution A/70/L.59, under consideration by the General Assembly today. It expresses strong support for interaction among the United Nations, national parliaments and the IPU, and it identifies key areas of joint work and cooperation ahead. I am confident that it will provide a valuable framework for taking our strategic partnership even further for the good of our global community and the common good. We have found in Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon an outstanding leader and a strong supporter of robust engagement with parliaments and the global parliamentary community. On behalf of the IPU, I wish to record our sincere thanks, appreciation and gratitude to him for his inspiring leadership. I would also like to thank the Permanent Mission of my own country, Bangladesh, for guiding the consultations among States Members of the United Nations on the draft resolution. Its staff has done a sterling job, and I wish to compliment and commend them for it. I further wish to thank each and every one of the many official sponsors of the draft resolution — and I know we would have had a lot more if we had the time to do reach them. I also wish to thank the staff members who have worked tirelessly and diligently behind the scenes, both at the United Nations and the IPU, as well as colleagues from around the world, and everyone else who, in his or her own way — small or large — has tried to make a difference for the good of us all. I sincerely hope that at the end of today’s debate, all delegations will support — and support strongly — the draft resolution and thus give us a renewed mandate to pursue our cooperation for the common good, helping to shape a better world for the people that we are privileged to serve and represent.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/70/L.59. One representative has asked to speak in explanation of position before adoption. I remind him that explanations of position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

At the outset, we would like to express our gratitude to the delegation of Bangladesh for its efforts in preparing draft resolution A/70/L.59. The development of cooperation among the United Nations, national parliaments and one of the oldest organizations of its kind, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), can enrich all the participants in this process and promote the progress of the ideas of peace and dialogue between States, better understanding and the importance of strengthening parliamentary institutions. In paragraph 6 of the draft resolution to be adopted today, there is a reference to the convening last year of the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in New York. Such meetings are among the most effective formats for cooperation. As noted in the document, the Fourth World Conference provided a high-level parliamentary contribution to the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda. Unfortunately, the Russian delegation was deprived of an opportunity to participate in this Conference as it was unjustifiably impeded from doing so by the host country. This was far from the first occurrence of refusing access of a delegation to international events taking place at the United Nations in New York. In our view, this practice is a manifestation of a selective and discriminatory approach, and as such it needs to be addressed. During the course of the negotiations on the draft resolution, we proposed to complement the text with an expression of regret about the inability of some representatives to be granted access to participate in the conference. However, as a result of the position of one delegation, our amendment was not included in the final text. Nonetheless, mindful of the importance of this draft resolution in strengthening cooperation between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, we decided to join the consensus that traditionally prevails on the discussion of this issue at the General Assembly. In conclusion, we would like to express our hope that, in the future, Member State delegations will enjoy unimpeded access on a non-discriminatory basis to participate in similar events held at the United Nations.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/70/L.59, entitled “Interaction between the United Nations, national parliaments and the Inter-Parliamentary Union”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolutionm, in addition to those delegations listed in document A/70/L.59, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of the draft resolution: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Benin, the Central African Republic, Chad, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Viet Nam and Zambia.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/70/L.59?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 124?