A/73/PV.18 General Assembly

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 (G-77) and China. At the outset, allow me to commend the successful convening of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which was held on 27 September. The meeting garnered high-level participation and resulted in the endorsement of a comprehensive draft political declaration (A/73/L.2) that encompasses actions expected at the national and international levels. The meeting also included a rich debate among a variety of stakeholders on avenues to better prevent, control, diagnose and treat NCDs. Of course, the final objective is to achieve relevant goals and targets set out the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I would like to express the appreciation of the Group to the Permanent Representatives of Uruguay and Italy and their staff for facilitating the process of consultations on NCDs, starting from the scope and modalities phase to the negotiations of the draft political declaration itself. The negotiations were not easy, but we should all be proud of our strong commitments in the final text. I would also like to express our gratitude to you, Madam President, along with the President of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session, for your leadership in convening a successful high-level meeting, including the very informative interactive civil society hearings held on 5 July. Finally, we would like to congratulate ourselves and our fellow colleagues on the formal adoption of the draft political declaration by the General Assembly today  — in a few moments, hopefully. I would like to stress the priorities raised in the G-77 and China statement delivered the day of the high-level meeting. It is now time for all of us to deliver the actions necessary to prevent and control NCDs.

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

I am honoured to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member States. On 27 September at the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, Heads of State and Government renewed their previous commitment to stimulate further action to prevent and manage those diseases. The draft political declaration (A/73/L.2) that emerged from the high-level meeting is a concise and action-oriented document that calls for an accelerated response. We thank the co-facilitators, the representatives of Italy and Uruguay, for their able leadership in the negotiations. The European Union is pleased with the draft political declaration. We fully agree that more and faster progress is needed in order to reach the agreed goals. It is high time to act. We now need to pool all of our efforts for the implementation of the actions set out in that document. We are of course ready to do so. Let me give members of the Assembly some examples. The eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control took a key decision last week to advance work in respect to novel tobacco products, cross-border advertising and other important issues. The European Union is proud to have substantially contributed to that effort. At the European level, we work closely with our member States, learning from each other, exchanging positive experiences and further implementing best practices. We recently established a Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and the Management of Non-Communicable Diseases to provide guidance and identify best practices that can be piloted and scaled up. For example, the Swedish best practice on general practitioners prescribing physical activity and the Italian cardiovascular screening programme Cardio 50 will be shared with other member States next year. I can also assure the Assembly that the European Union is fully committed to realizing target 3.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals and to reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. Nevertheless, the high-level meeting confirmed that we have to do more, and we have to do it quickly. Non-communicable diseases are a global concern and are exacerbated by poverty. We see time and again that non-communicable diseases are associated with health inequalities. We trust that this third high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases and the resulting draft political declaration that we are about to adopt today can create further momentum. Let us grasp this opportunity, redouble our efforts to tackle the global challenge of non-communicable diseases and epidemics and further invest in more effective health promotion, prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. We can expect high human and economic returns.

The United Nations plays, and will continue to play, its part as an important tool for multilateral international cooperation, because no other international body has such multifaceted experiences, competencies and coordinating potential for accomplishing global tasks. For the United Nations to serve humankind as effectively as possible, we must strengthen the Organization, improve our multilateral dialogue and establish a rules- based international order that is acceptable to all. In accordance with the Secretary-General’s initiative, the United Nations is currently undergoing the largest-scale reform in its history, aimed at seeking innovative ideas and making its response to challenges and threats more nimble. While we appreciate the Secretary-General’s reforms of its development system, the United Nations must not be associated only with pen-pushing by civil servants at Headquarters but must be understood and called for by ordinary people. We are therefore eagerly awaiting the launch of a new generation of United Nations country teams, and we hope that the new status of Resident Coordinators will strengthen States’ capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at home. Achieving the SDGs also require supporting national efforts by ensuring favourable international economic conditions. In that regard, it will be essential to strengthen the ability of the United Nations to establish reliable partnerships with international and regional economic and financial institutions, in order to enhance coordination and agreements that will ensure that our global economic regulatory mechanisms encourage the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United Nations administrative system is an important element in the business of strengthening the Organization, and in that context Belarus commends the interim results of the management reforms undertaken by the Secretary-General. For the reforms to succeed, we must develop a straightforward, simple, transparent system for delegating authority with the aim of ensuring that responsibilities and accountability are tied together. We also hope that establishing an annual budget system will help to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations and ensure greater flexibility in the financing of its functions. The question of the reform of the Security Council has been a separate issue for a relatively long time. In our view, one of the most significant achievements of Council reform would be its budget neutrality. We support the efforts of the States Members of the United Nations to broaden the dialogue on ways to reform the Security Council, taking into account current global realities and the need to adapt the Council’s configuration to changing conditions. In principle, we support a broader representation in the Council of individual regional groups, including the countries of Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and others. However, only a balanced, gradual and consensus- based approach to the issues related to reform of the Security Council can ensure that our States’ joint efforts can succeed. The process of revising the annual report on “Revised Elements of Commonality and Issues for Further Consideration” should not be based on an arbitrary interpretation of States’ proposals. The idea of imposing non-consensus solutions that do not enjoy general support is counterproductive. Rushed or artificially imposed timetables for reaching agreements are unacceptable. Ultimately, we must keep in our sights and not forget the true goal of our joint efforts, which is improving the effectiveness of the Security Council’s work. Any attempts to substitute other short- term or opportunistic considerations for that goal are despicable. The microclimate within the United Nations itself can also make a real contribution to improving the effectiveness of the Organization in combating external threats and challenges. A dialogue between the States and the Secretariat is essential to ensure that United Nations decisions are born of a joint dialogue, which unquestionably strengthens the Organization and enhances its standing in the world. As we all know, agreement at home is the recipe for success. That is the way we must all strive for agreement within the United Nations so that it remains a genuine forum in which our States can work with international civil servants to find answers to the global problems that they cannot resolve separately.

I have the honour to take the floor to speak on behalf of the 14 member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARICOM greatly appreciates today’s forthcoming formal adoption of the draft political declaration on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (A/72/L.2). Having been credited with elevating the issue of non-communicable diseases on the global health agenda in 2011, CARICOM would like to express sincere congratulations to you, Madam President, on the General Assembly’s successful third high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, at which we witnessed the commitment of national, regional and international stakeholders through the endorsement of a comprehensive, action-oriented draft political declaration. I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Permanent Representatives of Italy and Uruguay for their facilitation of the consultations on non-communicable diseases that have led us to today’s adoption. Finally, we want to congratulate the wider United Nations membership on today’s adoption of the draft political declaration. We believe that now is the time to deliver. We therefore fully commit to accelerating our response in order to address non-communicable diseases for the health and well-being of present and future generations.

Today we would like to address the report of the Secretary-General entitled “Shifting the management paradigm in the United Nations: comparative assessment of human resources structures” (A/73/366), which we have studied with interest. It gives a comparative assessment of the Secretariat’s two proposed variations of the functioning of personnel divisions. The alternatives are either to unite all of them in one department or to split them between two new, reorganized departments, one for management strategy, policy and control and one for operational support. We were unfortunately unable to reach a consensus on this crucial aspect of management reform during the seventy-second session. In our view, any changes, if they are to be agreed by consensus, must ensure a comprehensive approach to resolving the underlying problems of improving and optimizing the work of the United Nations in the area of human resources. We want to particularly emphasize that the report (A/73/411) of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) contains a reference to a previous recommendation that supported the idea of a single structure subsuming all human-resources issues. Besides that, we think it is also important to consider section IV, paragraph 4, of resolution 72/262 C along with the report on the comparative assessment of human resources structures. It requests that the Secretary-General submit a new proposal for the global service delivery model no later than the first resumed part of the seventy-third session of the Fifth Committee. The ACABQ concluded that the new global service delivery model could have a direct impact not only on the functioning and formation of human resources structures, but also on issues of the delegation of authority and accountability. For our part, we are in favour of retaining all human resources functions under a single structure within the Secretariat, for which the most appropriate choice would be the Department of Operational Support. In conclusion, we want to point out that the Russian delegation is ready to work constructively on this agenda item in the Fifth Committee.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on these items. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/73/L.2. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

This oral statement is made in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Under the terms of paragraph 50 of the political declaration contained in draft resolution A/73/L.2, the declaration requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States and in collaboration with the World Health Organization and relevant funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, to submit to the General Assembly, by the end of 2024, for consideration by Member States, a report on the progress achieved in the implementation of the political declaration, in preparation for a high- level meeting in 2025 for a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being. With regard to the request for a high-level meeting in 2025 contained in paragraph 50, it is understood that all issues related to the meeting, including the dates, venue, format, organization and scope, are 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 for meetings and documentation. Upon the decision on the modalities, format and organization of the meeting, the Secretary-General would submit the relevant costs of such requirements in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Furthermore, the dates of the meeting will have to be determined in consultation with the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. Accordingly, the adoption of draft resolution A/73/L.2 will not give rise to any budgetary implications under the programme budget for the biennium 2018- 2019. A copy of this statement will be made available on the PaperSmart portal.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/73/L.2, entitled “Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/73/L.2?

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted, May I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Ambassador Elbio Rosselli Frieri, the Permanent Representative of Uruguay, and I, continuing the work done by my predecessor, had the honour to co-facilitate the negotiations on the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, held in New York on 27 September. Let me congratulate you, Madam President, on your successful leadership on that occasion. In addition, on behalf of my fellow co-facilitator, I want to warmly thank all Member States for their active and constructive engagement during the negotiations, which enabled us to reach consensus on a draft text, which was then approved during the high- level meeting and today is reflected in resolution 73/2, which we have just adopted. The result, which we can all be proud of, is a concise, balanced and action-oriented document that builds on the opportunities and challenges presented by the implementation of previous commitments and highlights some key concrete areas of action for the achievement of target 3.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals, such as the importance of healthy lifestyle choices for the effective prevention of non-communicable diseases. I would like to remind the Assembly that today is World Mental Health Day, and that the declaration that we just adopted addresses that issue extensively and concretely. While the Organization’s discussions and activities related to non-communicable diseases will continue mostly in Geneva, we are confident that the outcome of our efforts in New York will be able to effectively guide the action of the membership at the international, national and local levels in the fight against non-communicable diseases, keeping in mind the review of the related targets scheduled for 2025.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ambassador Elbio Rosselli Frieri of Uruguay and Ambassador Maria Angela Zappia of Italy, the co-facilitators of the informal consultations, who showed great ability and patience in their conduct of the discussions and complex negotiations on the draft of resolution 73/2. I also want to thank all Member States for their valuable contributions to reaching a substantive agreement on the resolution. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda items 14, 125 and its sub-items (a) and (b), and 126.

I have been informed that no Member State has requested to take the floor under this item. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 119.

I would like to remind members that the debate on agenda item 129 is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 13 December, as announced in the programme of work set out in document A/INF/73/3. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/73/L.4. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

This oral statement is made in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Under the terms of paragraph 53 of the draft political declaration contained in draft resolution A/73/L.4, the Secretary-General is requested, with the support of the World Health Organization, to provide a progress report in 2020 on global and national progress, across sectors, in accelerating efforts to achieve agreed tuberculosis goals within the context of achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including on the progress and implementation of the present draft declaration towards agreed tuberculosis goals at the national, regional and global levels, which will serve to inform preparations for a comprehensive review by Heads of State and Government at a high-level meeting in 2023. It is anticipated that the request in paragraph 53 for documentation related to the progress report in 2020 will constitute an addition to the documentation workload of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management of one document of 8,500 words to be issued in all six languages. That would entail additional requirements in the amount of $26,000 for documentation services in 2020. With regard to the high-level meeting in 2023 referred to in paragraph 53, it is understood that all issues related to the meeting, including the venue, format, organization and scope, are 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 for meetings and documentation. Upon a decision on the modalities, format and organization of the meeting, the Secretary-General would submit the relevant costs of such requirements in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. Furthermore, the dates of the meeting will have to be determined in consultation with the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. Accordingly, should the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution A/73/L.4, additional requirements of $26,000 under section 2, “General Assembly and Economic and Social Council Affairs and Conference Management”, would be included in the proposed programme budget for the year 2020. Copies of this statement will be made available on the PaperSmart portal.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/73/L.4, entitled “Political declaration of the high- level meeting of the General Assembly on the fight against tuberculosis”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/73/L.4?

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

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 (G-77) and China. Allow me, at the outset, to welcome the successful convening of the first high-level meeting of the General Assembly on tuberculosis, which took place on 26 September. The meeting garnered high-level participation and resulted in the endorsement of a draft political declaration with clear and bold commitments. The meeting also included a rich debate with diverse stakeholders on avenues to better prevent, diagnose and treat tuberculosis (TB) in order to end TB by 2030, as we all committed to in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I would like to express the appreciation of the Group to the Permanent Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda and Japan, as well as their staffs, for facilitating the process of consultation on ending tuberculosis, starting from the scoping modalities resolution through the negotiations on the draft political declaration. The negotiations were not easy, but we should all be proud of our strong commitments in the final text. I would also like to express our gratitude to you, Madam President, along with the President of the General Assembly at its seventy-second session, and the respective teams for the leadership in convening a successful high-level meeting, along with the informative interactive civil society hearings held on 4 June. Finally, we would like to congratulate ourselves and fellow colleagues for the political declaration adopted today by the General Assembly (resolution 73/3). We would like to stress the priorities raised in the G-77 and China statement delivered during the high- level meeting. We believe it is now time for all of us to deliver the actions set out in the political declaration in order to end TB by 2030, in accordance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The European Union and its member States, on whose behalf I have the honour to speak today, welcomed the draft political declaration of the first high-level meeting on tuberculosis, held on 26 September, as a concise and action-oriented document that calls for an accelerated response and renewed commitment. First and foremost, I would like to congratulate the co-facilitators — the representatives of Antigua and Barbuda and Japan — for achieving consensus on the draft declaration. We should now concentrate all our efforts to address the actions proposed in the declaration (resolution 73/3) and work on their implementation. In the European Union there are countries with very low tuberculosis (TB) incidence that are close to eliminating TB and countries with high TB incidence. Many countries also face additional challenges, including multi-drug resistance and particular vulnerabilities faced by people infected with HIV or hepatitis. Despite recent progress, especially in the EU, sustained efforts are needed if Europe as a region is to meet the 2030 targets and eradicate TB. Tuberculosis continues to disproportionately affect the most vulnerable — the poor, the homeless and the socially marginalized, including people infected with HIV. As such, health and social policies must work hand in hand and we must work to reach those most at risk. Strengthening public health systems is paramount. We welcome the development of national and regional TB strategies that address the challenges and capacities of each country, as well as the acceleration of plans to achieve universal health coverage. We recognize that multi-drug-resistant TB is a global health threat. Resistance to antimicrobial therapies greatly increases the risk of death or serious complications and is associated with approximately 5.5 times higher treatment costs. We must urgently tackle antimicrobial resistance through a one-health approach in human and animal health, while ensuring the prudent use of antibiotics. Investment in research is critical and involves developing effective and affordable medicines, including those that address drug-resistant forms of TB and child-friendly formulas. We also need new rapid diagnostic tools. It is crucial that we invest more in new prevention tools, such vaccines, and in applied research to increase existing and new tools for maximum impact. The European Union’s contribution to research through our current research programme so far amounts to €150 million. We will continue to invest in that area and ensure that new tools for tuberculosis are rapidly made accessible to all. The European Union is at the forefront of the fight against TB in partner countries. The EU and its member States are the largest contributors to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The support of the Global Fund has led to impressive results. During 2017, in countries where the Global Fund invests, 5 million people with TB were treated and 102,000 people with drug-resistant TB went on treatment. Consequently, we commit to supporting a successful replenishment of the Global Fund in 2019. Tuberculosis can affect everyone, but every country’s capacity to respond might vary. We must approach this epidemic from all angles — funding, research, prevention, treatment and education. We need to increase solidarity with the vulnerable among us. In that regard, the European Union is contributing with almost €2 million in the early detection and integrated management of tuberculosis in Europe for irregular residence and people who inject drugs. The European Union will continue to support action to address tuberculosis at home, in the European neighbourhood and globally, while using the financial, technical and political instruments available to it.

Thailand fully endorses and welcomes the adoption of the political declaration of the first-ever high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis (resolution 73/3). It is our hope that the political declaration will serve to scale up our efforts to further reach out the ones left behind. Thailand also wishes to express its appreciation to Ambassador Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda, and Ambassador Bessho, Permanent Representative of Japan, as co-facilitators of this very important process. It was a challenging task, but indeed a successful one. The same appreciation also goes to Ambassador Cardi, former Permanent Representative of Italy, Ambassador Rosselli Frieri, Permanent Representative of Uruguay, as well as Ambassador Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica, for their stewardship of the process on non-communicable diseases. Our work does not end here, rather it is only a push from where we began three years ago. Thailand is strongly committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 and all other Goals. We also eagerly look forward to the high-level meeting on universal health coverage to be held next year, where members can be sure of our constructive role. Universal health coverage is something we appreciate, as it is truly the key to good health and well-being for all.

South Africa wishes to congratulate you, Madam President, on the successful convening of the historic high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis (TB). Equally, we wish to thank the Permanent Representatives of Japan and Antigua and Barbuda for facilitating the entire process. Tuberculosis is not just a medical condition, it has many social determinants. They include poverty, unemployment, poor nutrition, overcrowding and social stigma, which fuel the spread of diseases. That means that the poor and marginalized carry a disproportionate disease burden. Africa bears a significant burden of disease related to TB, in Southern Africa in particular, and it is fuelled by the HIV epidemic. Linked to the antimicrobial resistance global problem is the threat and seriousness of multi-drug- resistant TB, which will exacerbate the high incidence, prevalence and related mortality per capita in Africa. Despite the strides made by the South African Government, drug-resistant TB remains the leading cause of death in our country, especially among HIV- positive patients. It is for that reason that South Africa joins and welcomes the adoption of resolution 73/3, which comprehensively addresses the challenge. We see this as a historic opportunity to generate effective change and offer a concrete way forward. But this is only the beginning. We need to intensify our efforts at the national, regional and global levels, with accountability at the core at all levels. Investing in research and development is critical if we are to develop new diagnostics, vaccines and medicines and find innovative ways to deal with the social determinants of tuberculosis and its transmission. To succeed, we need to ensure that drugs are affordable. Therefore, the principle of delinkage as agreed in the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on antimicrobial resistance is essential. We must adhere to the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) as well as to the 2001 Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which recognizes that intellectual property rights should be interpreted in a manner that supports public health and promotes access to medicine for all. Please be assured of our commitment to ensuring that we do everything possible to end tuberculosis as a public health threat by 2030, if not earlier.

On behalf of His Excellency Ambassador Alfonso Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda, and myself as co-facilitators of the high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis (TB), I would like to express sincere appreciation to all the Member States and observers for the commitment and spirit of flexibility exhibited while we jointly worked to draft the first ever political declaration (resolution 73/3) by the General Assembly on the fight against tuberculosis. Thanks to their constructive engagement, we were able to agree on a strong groundbreaking declaration, which was endorsed unanimously by Heads of State and Government and Ministers during the high-level meeting convened on 26 September and formally adopted by consensus today. We would like to thank you, Madam President, and the President of the General Assembly at its seventy second session, the Office of the President of the General Assembly, the Office of the Secretary- General and the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Tuberculosis, the World Health Organization and other key partners, notably the Global TB Caucus and the Stop TB Partnership, for their strong support and assistance. As we prepared for the negotiations on the final document while building on the Moscow Declaration on Tuberculosis, we were able to listen to the voices of many stakeholders, including, most important, those of TB survivors and their families and supporters. The process included mission briefings, civil society hearings organized by the President of the General Assembly and bilateral meetings — all of which profoundly enriched the consultations concerning the political declaration. This first-ever political declaration on tuberculosis by the General Assembly includes some key commitments: treatment target figures of 40 million people and preventive treatment target figures of 40 million people, commitments to mobilizing $13 billion for tuberculosis response, as well as $2 billion for research and development. The declaration also highlights important issues in the fight against tuberculosis, including special attention to children and vulnerable populations, gender and human rights, access to affordable medicines, resilient health systems and incentives to research and development. In order to measure our progress, the declaration requests the Secretary-General to prepare a progress report in 2020 and to convene a high-level review meeting in 2023. It also highlights important linkages to HIV/ AIDS and in microbial resistance, non-communicable diseases and, most notably, universal health coverage. We must now implement the commitments made by our leaders to end tuberculosis. Member States will convene the high-level meeting on universal health coverage next September. We must capitalize on this opportunity to accelerate our efforts to end tuberculosis in a way that synergizes with our efforts to address both communicable and non-communicable diseases, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of our contribution, Japan will convene a series of relevant meetings next year, including the Summit of the Group of 20 in Osaka and the seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development, which will promote our collective efforts in those areas. Let us also work together to make next year’s high-level meeting on universal health coverage an important milestone in following through on our pledge to end tuberculosis so that no one will be left behind from the highest attainable health, which everyone deserves.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ambassador Walton Alfonso Webson of Antigua and Barbuda and Ambassador Koro Bessho of Japan, who served as co-facilitators of the informal consultations and demonstrated great skill and patience in conducting the deliberations and complex negotiations on resolution 73/3, which, as has been said, is a historic resolution — the first General Assembly resolution on tuberculosis. I would also like to commend the involvement and commitment of the civil society organizations whose purpose and objective is the fight against tuberculosis. I also thank Member States for their valuable contributions, flexibility and commitment in reaching agreement on the resolution. The Assembly has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of agenda item 129.