A/74/PV.60 General Assembly

Before proceeding to the items on our agenda, as members of the General Assembly are aware, the World Health Organization has declared the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. While the emphasis of that decision is on global measures to control the outbreak, individuals can contribute by following the advice “think global, act local”. I urge all participants to follow the guidance provided by the Secretariat, including the following: to strictly not attend a meeting if one is unwell or has a fever, cough or respiratory symptoms; to contact the Medical Service here at Headquarters by telephone if one is unwell and has been to an at-risk location for coronavirus in the past 14 days; and to undertake regular preventive measures such as cough etiquette and regular handwashing. Those measures are for members’ safety and to safeguard the well-being of us all.

I now give the floor to the representative of India to introduce draft resolution A/74/L.39.

On behalf of India, Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2019, I have the great pleasure of introducing draft resolution A/74/L.39, entitled “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts”. The draft resolution welcomes the progress made by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in severing the links between the illicit diamond trade and armed conflict. India is one of the founding members of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and, since the Scheme’s inception, has played an active role in the progress and advancement of this unique tripartite structure recognized by the United Nations. The Kimberley Process continues to be an important and unique instrument for conflict prevention. Since the inception of the Kimberley Process, in 2003, this was the second time that India carried out the responsibility of being the Kimberley Process Chair. We see that as a testimony to India’s continuing commitment to the Process. The year 2019 was a special year, as we celebrated the one-hundred-fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the global icon of non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi was a great believer in the potential of diverse communities to come together in a positive spirit to foster cooperation and find solutions to common challenges. The draft resolution recalls the spirit of mutual cooperation and unity in diversity that guided India in the course of its chairmanship of the Kimberley Process in 2019. Draft resolution A/74/L.39 welcomes India’s commitment to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. During its chairmanship, India worked closely with Kimberley Process Vice-Chair, the Russian Federation, Chairs of the Kimberley Process working groups and all Kimberley Process participants and observers to make the Kimberley Process stronger in terms of overseeing the administration and implementation process and making the Process more efficient. The draft resolution is an important step forward for the Kimberley Process. It contributes to the broader Kimberley Process agenda for regional cooperation. During 2019, India continued with this endeavour and upheld the Kimberley Process tradition of supporting regional cooperation in Central Africa. One of the key objectives of supporting regional cooperation was to identify the challenges and opportunities in enhancing the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in Central Africa, essentially focusing on five countries, namely, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Cameroon. The draft resolution recalls India’s commitment as Chair of the Kimberley Process in 2019. India worked to ensure that the Kimberley Process would remain relevant to addressing the emerging challenges encountered by the stakeholders. In July 2019, India introduced an amendment to create a separate eight- digit code for laboratory-grown rock diamonds, thereby becoming one of the early adopters of distinct Harmonized System codes for both rough and polished synthetic diamonds. The draft resolution welcomes the work done by India as the Chair of Kimberley Process in 2019. Under India’s chairmanship, the Kimberley Process made commendable progress on several fronts, including the finalization of terms of reference for establishing a permanent secretariat, the adoption of the draft administration decision on a peer-review mechanism, the development of a set of guidelines for the collection of Kimberley Process statistics, and reporting of data for additional mining production. Significant progress was also made on the proposal for the introduction of new independent observers, the consolidation of the core document and setting up a multi-donor fund. While we are proud of what has been achieved so far, we also acknowledge that challenges lie ahead of us. The entire Kimberley Process fraternity, consisting of the participants and observers, has worked hard to move the Kimberley Process forward. The continued success of the Process remains an important goal and commitment for us. India will continue to actively participate in the work on various fronts and pursue the collective goals of the Kimberley Process. India is a participant, and as the Chair of the Committee on Participation and Chairmanship for 2020, looks forward to working with all participants and observers to ensure that the Kimberley Process continues to be inclusive and remains capable of facing the emerging challenges. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate our commitment to the Kimberley Process. We look forward to working closely with the Russian Federation, the Kimberley Process Chair for 2020, and with Botswana, the 2020 Vice-Chair. The draft resolution recalls that under the Indian chairmanship the Kimberley Process has delivered progress on multiple fronts, as highlighted previously, and has contributed to further reinforcing the Kimberley Process with a view to increasing its effectiveness. I recommend that the members of the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/74/L39, which underlines the progress made under the Indian chairmanship, by consensus.

Today we will adopt a draft resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict (A/74/L.39). The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which was adopted in Interlaken in 2002, had only 37 participants. Since then, the goal of the Kimberley Process has been to eliminate from international trade channels conflict diamonds that are used in the arms trade and to support anti-Government organizations. The import-export operations we are monitoring through the Kimberly Process today account for 99 per cent of the total volume of the global diamond trade. The Kimberley Process is becoming not only a platform to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Certification Scheme, but also a platform to determine and facilitate the development of the market for rough diamonds. The diamond trade is the most regulated sphere of mineral raw-materials trade in the world. The Certification Scheme sets forth minimum requirements for countries to monitor the origin of diamonds and establishes rules for the trade in rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process has greatly contributed to restoring peace, including by supporting the legitimate trade in diamonds in Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. In addition, thanks to its tripartite structure, comprising the State, the diamond-mining industry and civil society as observers of the Process, the international community as a whole is interested in its work. Thanks to the Kimberley Process, we have fundamentally changed approaches to the trade in rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process today includes 55 participants from 82 countries, and every year new countries show interest and want to join. However, we are seeing an overall change in essential ideas and life principles in today’s society in general, and specifically the change in the major consumers of diamonds, including the new generation of consumers, which have become the main driving force in the market. Consumers have new requirements for our products: maximum transparency, responsible delivery chains and the principled conduct of business, including respect for human rights, labour rights, combating money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, minimizing the impact on and protecting the environment, and the socioeconomic development of the regions of origin. Therefore, as it reaffirms the dominant role of the United Nations, the Kimberley Process must strengthen its mandate to control the trade in rough diamonds, which does not mean that we will be seeking to establish additional obligations for all participants. We wish only to enlist support from the Kimberley Process family to establish new objectives of the Process for the near future. From 2017 to 2019, we undertook a three-year review of the Kimberley Process core document — the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to complete the process. Thanks to the adoption of draft resolution A/74/L.39, therefore, we will have an opportunity to win the significant support of our entire Organization, to pursue our work on this process and to continue our discussions. The Russian proposals are based on the need to comply with international humanitarian law as the only international instrument to determine the extent of compliance with labour, environmental and humanitarian norms. We actively participated in the negotiations on the draft resolution, which will allow us to continue working on key areas in developing the Kimberley Process. Among our proposals, which elicited response from our partners and were incorporated in the draft resolution, were continuing the work on the term, engaging new countries as members of the Kimberley Process, calling for assistance for the return of the Central African Republic to the Kimberley Process, and support for industry initiatives for responsible business conduct. As Chair of the Kimberley Process in 2020, the Russian Federation will prioritize continuing the work on defining the term “conflict diamonds” to meet today’s challenges, developing and adopting a framework of principles for the responsible supply of rough natural diamonds that meets the current realities of the changing diamond market, developing a road map for the reintegration of the Central African Republic into the Kimberley Process, involving new countries in the Kimberley Process, establishing a permanent secretariat, converting Kimberley Process certificates into digital format and separating the natural and synthetic diamond markets. As part of the proposed draft administrative decision on guidelines, we studied these industry initiatives and, based on internal industry documents, we propose supporting seven principles of responsible business conduct: labour rights, human rights, environmental protection, community development, the separation of natural and synthetic diamonds, combating corruption and opposing the legalization of proceeds from diamond sales. The essence of the draft administrative decision is the declared support of States for universally recognized standards of business conduct in our industry. We support the adoption of the current version of the draft resolution A/74/L.39, entitled “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict”.

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

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU). We are happy to join consensus on draft resolution A/74/L.39 today. The EU and its member States would like to thank India for the excellent manner of conducting the negotiations on the draft resolution and the transparent and inclusive manner in which consultations were held. The European Union and its member States, which act as a single participant in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, would like to thank India for its chairmanship of the Process and welcome the results achieved in addressing broader matters pertinent to the diamond trade. Furthermore, the EU welcomes the Russian Federation as the current Chair and Botswana as the current Vice-Chair and Chair for 2021. The EU is proud of what the Kimberley Process has achieved since the Certification Scheme entered into force in 2003. This joint initiative of Governments, civil society and the industry has reinforced the message that diamonds belong to the communities that mine them, not to militias. For several countries and communities, the Kimberley Process has made the difference between war and peace. One of the unique, defining features of the Kimberley Process is its tripartite structure. Both industry and civil society are essential elements of the Process. They have greatly contributed to its establishment and operation. The EU has been at the forefront of this unique global partnership, grounded in the United Nations, since the very beginning. It has worked, and will continue to work, to advance the objectives of the Kimberley Process, with a view to ensuring that all participants meet the minimum requirements. In line with the rotation of Chairs of the Kimberley Process working bodies, the EU would like to congratulate South Africa on its able leadership of the Kimberley Process Working Group on Monitoring and Botswana as the newly selected Chair, thanking it for its leadership and vision. As the newly appointed Vice-Chair of that Working Group, the EU looks forward to working closely together with Botswana in giving impetus to this work so as to further strengthen the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. The EU congratulates Angola and Canada on their leadership as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform, which completed its work in 2019. The European Union welcomes the progress made towards the establishment of a permanent secretariat. In that context, we welcome the expression of interest from Austria, a European Union member State, to host the secretariat in Vienna. The EU also welcomes the strengthened peer review mechanism and encourages participants to continue to commit to peer review visits on a regular basis. The EU would like to thank participants in and observers of the Process for their active engagement in the discussions on strengthening the scope of the Kimberley Process, which it had the honour to lead. Those discussions demonstrated the importance that participants and observers attach to capturing the changing nature of conflict and actors involved and to linking the Kimberley Process with the Sustainable Development Goals. We regret that consensus on an updated definition of conflict diamonds, while within reach, could not be achieved at the 2019 Kimberley Process plenary. The EU strongly supports the calls on the Kimberley Process to evolve and adapt to meet future challenges in the global diamond supply chain and to provide assurance that diamonds are not tainted by violence. We strongly believe in transparency and accountability in the rough diamond supply chain to ensure a responsible and diligent approach to rough diamond sourcing. The EU continues to place artisanal mining communities at the core of its work, in line with the Brussels Declaration on Internal Controls of Participants with Rough Diamond Trading and Manufacturing, the Moscow Declaration on Improving Internal Controls over Alluvial Diamond Production, the Washington Declaration on Integrating Development of Artisanal and Small-Scale Diamond Mining with Kimberley Process Implementation and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, in order to promote economic and social development and prosperity. The EU therefore continues to encourage and support cooperation on the implementation of the Process with a regional dimension to address common challenges, building on the experience of the Mano River Union. We welcome the continuing commitment of the Government of the Central African Republic to work collaboratively with the Kimberley Process monitoring team in order to ensure the traceability of rough diamond shipments and to promote legitimate trade from compliant zones. As a member of the Central African Republic monitoring team, the EU is strongly committed to seeing the operational framework in place duly implemented as a crucial element for the integrity of the Kimberley Process. The Kimberley Process stands out as an example of the positive change that the international community can bring about when we work together towards a common objective. It stands out as a practical example of rules-based multilateralism that has had a real impact on the lives of people and communities across the globe. The EU remains committed to ensuring that the Kimberley Process continues to fulfil its role as a unique tool for conflict prevention, a catalyst for good governance and transparency in natural resource management and an instrument for peacebuilding and sustaining peace. We look forward to working closely and constructively in that regard with the Russian Federation as Chair, Botswana as Vice-Chair and all participants and observers in the year ahead.

I take this opportunity to thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this plenary meeting on agenda item 30, “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict”. At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation to India, the outgoing Chair of the Kimberley Process, for its distinguished leadership and hard work in facilitating and coordinating the negotiations on draft resolution A/74/L.39, which we will adopt today. The Kimberley Process is one of the most successful partnerships between Governments, the private sector and civil society to ensure that diamonds used to finance conflicts do not enter the legitimate diamond trade. The challenges are not limited to stopping the blood diamond trade but include making the diamond trade more sustainable. In that regard, during its chairmanship in 2016, my country initiated a discussion on establishing a permanent secretariat for the Kimberley Process, among other initiatives. We are pleased to see the commitment among the members of the group to establishing a permanent secretariat, equipped with professional skills and resources, which will be a major source of support to the group, improve its work and assist the Chair in achieving the desired goals. We look forward to continuing to discuss this issue. Moreover, the Dubai Diamond Exchange looks forward to receiving the final version of the updated System of Warranties of the World Diamond Council. We expect to receive the toolkit over the next 12 months. We are also very grateful for the draft resolution, which continues to address the initiative to establish a permanent secretariat. Finally, on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, I would like to congratulate the Russian Federation as Chair of Kimberly Process for 2020, and Botswana as Vice-Chair for the same year.

At the outset, our delegation joins others in thanking you, Sir, for convening this annual briefing on the Kimberley Process and draft resolution A/74/L.39, entitled “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to the prevention and settlement of conflicts”. We express our sincere appreciation to the delegation of India for its able stewardship of the Kimberley Process throughout 2019. My delegation is grateful for the hospitality they afforded us and the 84 Kimberly Process members, as well as the leadership role they played. During India’s tenure, the Kimberley Process managed to hold its two main meetings — the intersessional and plenary sessions — successfully, a process that led to the adoption of the 2019 Kimberly Process final communiqué and culminated in our gathering here today. In adopting today’s draft resolution, the 193 States Members of the United Nations will once again reaffirm our support to the Kimberley Process. We therefore welcome the report just delivered by the representative of India as 2019 Chair of the Kimberly Process, as well as the draft resolution itself. As both the report and the draft resolution emphasize, the Kimberley Process has over the past 17 years made great strides in combating the illicit flow of conflict diamonds from the mainstream diamond market. Today, as the 2019 Kimberly Process communiqué reiterates, 99.9 per cent of the world’s rough diamonds are from legitimate sources, as compared to where we were before the establishment of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme. In adopting today’s draft resolution, we will reconfirm the resolve of the United Nations to continue supporting the mandate of the Kimberly Process as per resolution 55/56 of 2003. As a founding member of the Kimberly Process and a co-sponsor of pertinent resolutions for the past 17 years, Botswana continues to place a very high premium on the ethical exploitation, sale and trade of rough diamonds, with the sole aim of protecting both the integrity and reputation of this most sought- after jewel. Diamonds have played an important part in transforming the lives of our people and their communities; they have put food on the table of every Motswana; sent the young to school; provided free health care; and enabled us to build the infrastructure of modern Botswana. As a member of this body and the largest producer of diamonds by value, Botswana values its membership in the Kimberly Process both to safeguard the integrity and reputation of the diamond industry and to enable the world to see this commodity called diamonds through our eyes. For Botswana diamonds always have been and will be for development. The good that we have brought about by the prudent use of our natural resources, in this case diamonds, is unquestionable. For the past 54 years, the proceeds we have obtained from diamond sales have contributed to the implementation of our national development plans and strategies. Informed by our long-term national interests and an overall strategic vision to harness natural capital, Botswana is committed to doing good with diamonds and using the industry to invest in its people, as outlined in our current National Development Plan 11, Vision 2036, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, all of which Botswana subscribes to. Therefore, the continued usage of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme to eliminate illicit and conflict diamonds from the world diamond market is, in Botswana’s view, of paramount importance and great necessity. Given its contributions to humankind to date, the Kimberley Process remains relevant in contributing to sustainable development, peacebuilding and sustaining peace. It is in that regard that Botswana supports continued discussion in the Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform on the areas of consolidation of the core document, the strengthening of the peer- review mechanism, the establishment of a permanent secretariat and a multi-donor fund and ways to strengthen the scope of the Kimberley Process. The collective efforts of the Kimberley Process and the United Nations have seen the settlement of conflicts and the consolidation of peace in several African countries. The last standing member of the Kimberly Process whom we want to see declared a full green zone exporting State is the Central African Republic. Botswana makes itself available to the Central African Republic and its neighbours for continued assistance in that regard. Further efforts are needed to enhance cooperation with, and assistance to, diamond-producing countries with regard to best practices, capacity-building and compliance with Kimberly Process minimum requirements, rules and procedures and certification. In this light, Botswana stands ready to share lessons, experiences and best practices with other diamond- producing countries, especially those emerging from conflict situations so as to assist them in avoiding relapse into conflict. From national legislation and competent institutions to stringent internal and border controls, responsible diamond sourcing and mining should be vigorously promoted. Botswana stands ready to discuss this at forthcoming Kimberley Process meetings. In conclusion, we wish to reiterate our strong support for and faith in the Kimberley Process and its Certification Scheme, and their contributions to the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as Africa’s Agenda 2063. The Kimberley Process has been instrumental in saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war. The mechanism has further been instrumental in helping implement Security Council measures targeting the illicit trade in rough diamonds, for the good of humankind. We therefore reaffirm Botswana’s commitment to the Kimberly Process initiative and welcome the selection of the Russian Federation as Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2020. As incoming Vice-Chair, my delegation stands ready to serve the Chair. We assure the Russian Federation of our continued cooperation, support and goodwill during its tenure.

Let me start by thanking the Republic of India for the work done in steering the Kimberley Process during 2019. I also welcome the Russian Federation as Chair and Botswana as Vice-Chair of the Process and Certification Scheme and assure them of South Africa’s support during their terms in office. South Africa remains committed to upholding the integrity and credibility of the Kimberly Process and ensuring that it remains relevant. While the reform and review process that began in 2016 has formally concluded in line with the set time frames and cycle, many issues still remain. We believe that the Chair will pave the best way forward to tackle these ongoing issues in the optimum way without diverting from the core business of the Kimberley Process, which is a strengthened framework with more robust processes, mechanisms and working groups. Undertaking any reform process is always challenging but also very necessary. In that regard, the approach adopted by the Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform allowed for open discussions and negotiations, whose aim should be the continued improvement of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Over the 17 years of the Kimberley Process’s existence, producing countries have put in place legislation and systems to curb the flow of conflict diamonds. It is South Africa’s considered opinion that any deliberation on the changing nature of conflicts must be able to identify the actors in conflict diamonds, the beneficiaries of such diamonds and where those actors are operating. South Africa also welcomes the resumption of exports of rough diamonds from the Central African Republic and the terms of reference for the monitoring team with the objective of increasing legal exports and maintaining safeguards to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate supply chain. Efforts to assist the Central African Republic to achieve compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme are welcome and must continue. In that regard, the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme, with its unique tripartite nature, remains crucial to giving practical expression to the aspirations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

On behalf of my delegation and in my own capacity, we would like to sincerely thank the Republic of India as Chair of the Kimberley Process in 2019. India carried out outstanding work and we have followed the discussions leading up to the adoption of draft resolution A/74/L.39 very closely. In that regard, we would like once again to congratulate the Republic of India on its chairmanship of the Kimberley Process in 2019. We take this opportunity also to congratulate the Russian Federation, which has assumed the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process for 2020, together with our brother Botswana, as Vice-Chair. We congratulate Botswana too. The Democratic Republic of Congo reiterates its resolve to support the Kimberley Process and to remain involved in it for a number of reasons. If members have not seen war in their countries, they cannot fully understand the impact and relevance of the Process. For us in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Kimberley Process is a tool to combat belligerents and the bloodshed of an entire people, not only in our country but in Africa. Thanks to the Kimberley Process, we have seen a significant improvement in Central Africa, and particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with regard to military operations that in the past were carried out by armed groups profiting from selling blood diamonds. Today, those sites exploited by armed groups have become schools for children thanks the Kimberley Process. We have seen armed groups, prevented from exporting their illegal blood diamond exports because of the effective mechanisms put in place by the Kimberley Process, lay down their weapons and become farmers, again thanks to the Process. Today, the Kimberley Process has helped us to transform areas where there were no roads by building roads, bringing a new life to our people simply because mechanisms for traceability and responsible supply chains were also implemented by the Congolese State, thanks to the Kimberley Process. Seeing the Kimberley Process solely as a mechanism for the diamond trade completely overlooks the peace and security aspect of the producers, who suffered the exploitation of armed groups first-hand, as at the time of Savimbi and Foday Sankoh. But today, if people go to the areas that were exploited by the armed groups, they will see that there are schools and children playing, just like those who live here, thanks to the Kimberley Process. For us, the Process is also a tool of war in the sense that it maximizes our revenue. When the export mechanism respects the responsible supply chain in terms of the flow not only of goods but also of finance, the Democratic Republic of Congo fully benefits from the revenue of diamond exports because the Kimberley Process has restored the responsible supply of diamonds in the world. The Democratic Republic of Congo, my country, reiterates its resolve to contribute to the Kimberley Process as a founding member of the Process. In that regard, we would like to draw a distinction between fraudulent diamonds and conflict diamonds. That distinction should ensure that the measures to be adopted and the review process to be undertaken incorporate that perspective, which we recommend to the Russian Federation as it guides the Kimberley Process in 2020. We would also like to request the Assembly that members of the Process that accept in their countries diamonds that are not certified under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme return to the producer countries diamonds that they have received without certificates and that have not followed the appropriate standards so as to discourage fraudsters in the context of the Kimberley Process. Allowing such diamonds to enter the country without Kimberley Process certification shows that we encourage fraud in our countries despite our resolve to combat the sale of fraudulent and conflict diamonds in the world. For that reason, while congratulating the Russian Federation, which has just assumed the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process for 2020, my country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, looks forward to the innovations and reforms that Russia will bring about within the Process and will support them based on our experience as a country that has known war and has also experienced the Kimberley Process in peace. We have those two assets to support the efforts of the Russian Federation in 2020.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/74/L.39, entitled “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts”. 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 document A/74/L.39, the following countries have become sponsors of the draft resolution: Albania, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Namibia, North Macedonia, Panama, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/74/L.39?

May I take it that it is wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 30?

In the letter before the General Assembly, the Chair of the Committee, referring to the decision of the Government of Ukraine to cease its membership in the Committee as from 1 January 2020, informs me that, at the 399th meeting of the Committee, on 4 February 2020, the issue was brought to the attention of the Committee members, who took note of the information. The Chair further suggests that the Assembly be informed, at a suitable time, about the change in the membership of the Committee. May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the information contained in document A/74/690? It was so decided (decision 74/415).

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 35.

As indicated in document A/74/673, as a result of the expiration of the terms of office on 31 December 2020 of Ms. Aicha Afifi (Morocco), Mr. Petru Dumitriu (Romania), Mr. Jeremiah Kramer (Canada) and Ms. Gönke Roscher (Germany), the General Assembly is required, during its current session, to appoint members to fill the vacancies in the Joint Inspection Unit. In accordance with the procedures described in article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit and in resolution 61/238, of 22 December 2006, and having held the necessary consultations with the regional groups concerned, the President of the General Assembly requested Eritrea, Germany, the Republic of Moldova and Spain to propose candidates to serve for a period of five years beginning on 1 January 2021. As indicated in document A/74/673, and in accordance with resolution 59/267, of 23 December 2004, the candidates should have experience in at least one of the following fields: oversight, audit, inspection, investigation, evaluation, finance, project evaluation, programme evaluation, human resources management, management, public administration, monitoring and/or programme performance, in addition to knowledge of the United Nations system and its role in international relations. As further indicated in document A/74/673, as a result of the consultations held in accordance with article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit, including consultations with the President of the Economic and Social Council and with the Secretary- General, in his capacity as Chair of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, the President of the General Assembly submits to the Assembly the candidatures of Mr. Tesfa Alem Seyoum (Eritrea), Ms. Gönke Roscher (Germany), Mr. Victor Moraru (Republic of Moldova) and Mr. Jesús Miranda Hita (Spain) for appointment as members of the Joint Inspection Unit for a five-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2021 and expiring on 31 December 2025. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to appoint those candidates as members of the Joint Inspection Unit? It was so decided (decision 74/416).

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 115?