A/76/PV.2 General Assembly
The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m.
7. Organization of work, adoption of the agenda and allocation of items First report of the General Committee (A/76/250)
I invite the General Assembly to direct its attention to section I of the report of the Committee. In that section, the General Committee took note of the information contained in paragraph 2.
I now request the General Assembly to direct its attention to section II, entitled “Organization of the session”, which contains a number of recommendations concerning the General Committee, the rationalization of work, the closing date of the session, seating arrangements, the schedule of meetings, the general debate, the conduct of the meetings, and so forth. I would like to flag a few points.
In paragraph 3, the General Committee draws the attention of the General Assembly to the fact that the practical arrangements for the conduct of the seventy- sixth session of the General Assembly will continue to be affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including with regard to whether certain events take place, how they are conducted and the number of attendees. All the changes reflect risk assessments and vaccine advice provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Committee of the Crisis Operations Group. The assessments are also based on host city
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and state guidance, the current phase of the COVID-19 reintegration plan for the United Nations Headquarters complex and an up-to-date understanding of the risks posed by the pandemic to representatives and United Nations personnel.
With regard to paragraph 30, on waiving the requirements of rules 67 and 108 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly in order to declare a meeting open, I should like to encourage delegations to be present in the meeting rooms at the scheduled time in order to promote the punctuality and efficiency of the Assembly’s proceedings.
In paragraph 34, the General Committee draws the attention of the General Assembly to paragraph 19 of resolution 75/325, in which the Assembly underlined the urgent need to preserve the primacy, significance and established practice of the general debate of the General Assembly; stressed the importance of limiting the number of high-level events held in the margins of the general debate to those of key significance that require immediate attention from Heads of State and Government, and called on the President of the General Assembly and Member States, in close coordination with the Secretary-General and the heads of other relevant United Nations bodies, to be very mindful of those aspects when planning the events of the high-level week in September and to be guided by the existing mandates agreed on by Member States; and encouraged Member States and the United Nations system to singly and collectively limit the number of side events held in parallel with or in the margins of the general debate, as well as other high-level sessions, including by
consulting one another to identify side events on similar topics in an effort to minimize overlap and by informing the Secretariat of the details of planned side events. The General Committee also draws the Assembly’s attention to paragraph 40 of resolution 72/313, in which the Assembly encouraged the scheduling of side events at United Nations Headquarters outside the hours when the general debate is being held.
In paragraph 36, the General Committee draws the Assembly’s attention to the fact that the general debate will begin on Tuesday, 21 September, and recommends that it continue on Saturday, 25 September 2021. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of the information in paragraph 36 and approves the recommendation that the general debate continue on Saturday, 25 September 2021?
It was so decided (decision 76/502).
In paragraph 42, the General Committee recommends that the General Assembly adopt the following draft decision concerning participation in formal plenary meetings of the Assembly at its seventy-sixth session:
“The General Assembly, noting with concern the situation regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and noting that there are certain limitations in place on access to the United Nations premises as precautionary measures aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19, including quarantine requirements:
“(a) Decides, without setting a precedent for future plenary meetings of the General Assembly, that, during the seventy-sixth session, where quarantine requirements or travel restrictions are in place, those who are invited by the Assembly either to make a statement at a plenary meeting or to present a report, and are not a representative of a Member State or an observer delegation, may each submit a pre-recorded statement, which will be played in the General Assembly Hall after the introduction by the President of the General Assembly at the plenary meetings concerned;
“(b) Also decides that, in addition to the verbatim records of the plenary meetings, the President of the General Assembly will circulate, as a document of the Assembly, a compilation document of the statements delivered by means of pre-recorded statements at each of the formal
plenary meetings, which will be attached to the verbatim records of the meeting.”
I now give the floor to delegations wishing to make statements.
72. Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (b) Comprehensive implementation of and follow- up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action
Vote:
76/507
Consensus
In view of the fact that this paragraph of the report of the General Committee (A/76/250) concerns the specifics of conducting the session during a pandemic, I would like to make the following statement. Concerning the issue of access to the United Nations buildings and premises, including the General Assembly Hall, Mr. President, the Russian delegation will be guided by your letter of 16 September 2021, that is, the letter that was circulated yesterday.
We would like to support the statement just made by the representative of the Russian Federation, Mr. President, as well as your letter of 16 September on maintaining the practices with regard to access to the General Assembly Hall that were established during the seventy-fifth session, in accordance with your previous letter.
May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to adopt the draft decision as recommended by the General Committee?
It was so decided (decision 76/503).
In paragraph 52, the General Committee brings to the Assembly’s attention information on rights of reply to addresses made by Heads of State. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information provided?
It was so decided (decision 76/504).
I would also like to refer to the information in paragraph 74 concerning the timely submission of draft proposals for the review of their programme budget implications.
In paragraph 79, the General Committee draws the attention of the Assembly to the views expressed by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the use of the phrase “within existing resources”, as well as to the Committee’s report contained in document A/54/7, in which the Committee emphasized the responsibility of the Secretariat to inform the General Assembly thoroughly and accurately about whether there are enough resources to implement a new activity.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information provided?
It was so decided.
I believe it would be beneficial to address all the remaining organizational matters concerning the General Assembly as a whole.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all of the information and to approve all the recommendations of the General Committee contained in section II of the report as a whole?
It was so decided (decision 76/505).
I now invite members to turn their attention to section III, which deals with the adoption of the agenda. The question of the allocation of items will be dealt with subsequently, in section IV.
In section III, the General Committee took note of the information contained in paragraphs 90 to 92. In paragraph 93, in connection with sub-item (l) of item 20 of the provisional agenda, entitled “Strengthening cooperation for integrated coastal zone management for achieving sustainable development”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading A.
May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 94, in connection with sub-item (b) of item 26 of the provisional agenda, entitled “Natural plant fibres and sustainable development”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading A.
May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 95, in connection with item 41 of the provisional agenda, entitled “Question of the Comorian island of Mayotte”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading B, on the understanding that there would be no consideration of the item by the General Assembly.
May I take it that the Assembly approves that recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 96, in connection with item 64 of the provisional agenda, entitled “Question of the Malagasy islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Bassas da India”, the General Committee decided to recommend that consideration of the item be deferred to the seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly and that the item be included on the provisional agenda for that session.
May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 97, in connection with item 68 of the provisional agenda, entitled “The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading B.
I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation on a point of order.
For the third time in the past two weeks, we have been obliged to request a vote on the agenda item entitled “The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine”. There are no occupied territories in Ukraine. There is a civil war going on there. The eastern part of Ukraine does not want to live under the rule of the nationalists who came to power in Kyiv in 2014 as the result of a coup. That is why the title of the agenda item, which was devised in Kyiv, does not correspond to the actual situation in the country.
Instead of coming to an agreement with its own people, Kyiv spends its time heaping accusations on Russia. Kyiv’s fantasies, and sometimes blatant lies, are supported by its Western allies, which are prepared to turn a blind eye to Ukraine’s obvious sabotage of the Minsk agreements. I am therefore asking for a recorded vote. If our colleagues vote in favour of this agenda item, they are indulging the provocations of the Kyiv authorities and voting against Russia.
Before proceeding further, I should like to draw the attention of members to rule 23 of the rules of procedure, which reads as follows.
“Debate on the inclusion of an item in the agenda, when that item has been recommended for inclusion by the General Committee, shall be limited to three speakers in favour of, and three
against, the inclusion. The President may limit the time to be allowed to speakers under this rule”.
I give the floor to delegations wishing to make statements on the inclusion of item 68 on the agenda.
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania; the European Free Trade Association country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area; as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement.
The European Union and its member States regret that a vote has been requested on the inclusion of the agenda item entitled “The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine” on the agenda of the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly, despite the Assembly’s approval of its inclusion last week (decision 75/582) and this week’s decision of the General Committee in the same vein. We regret the substance of the request and refer the Assembly to our explanation of vote in last Thursday’s meeting, where we clearly expressed the reason for our support of the agenda item’s inclusion (see A/75/PV.102).
The EU member States and aligned countries will therefore vote in favour of retaining the item on the agenda of the General Assembly at its seventy- sixth session and call on all other Member States to do the same.
At the outset, since I am taking the floor for the first time during the current session, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your assumption of your important post, and to assure you of my delegation’s full support.
The Russian delegation is once again trying to make a kerfuffle of this meeting, which has every reason to be a successful working plenary. I have no option but to try to make the best of it in order to make sure that we in the Assembly do not end up in what the Russians call a balagan, a farce.
It is ominously very symbolic that on 17 September, the Russian Federation is once again making a desperate effort to oppose this democratic body’s consideration of the agenda item on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and I would like to remind delegations why that is the case. In 1939, on this very date, 17 September, Soviet troops moved into and occupied what was then
eastern Poland, in implementation of an agreement between Hitler and Stalin that had been signed by their Foreign Ministers in Moscow less than four weeks before. As a result, in alliance with Nazi Germany, they continued the invasion of Poland that had started the Second World War on 1 September.
It is appalling that this very morning on Twitter the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs called the occupation of Poland “a liberating crusade”. Representatives can see it on the Twitter account of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Having never cut its umbilical cord to its parent, the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation continues to be a genetic copy of its evil progenitor, with its nameplate installed in the Security Council Chamber in contravention of the Charter of the United Nations, whose Article 23, easily verifiable, still reads to this day that it is the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, not the Russian Federation, that is a permanent member of the Security Council.
The Russian Federation’s inability to come to terms with the wishes of Member States is pushing it to extremes. On 9 September, in this very Hall, the Russian representative was only a step away from calling 11 votes in support of Russia a Russian victory (see A/75/ PV.102). Perhaps the best way to describe the Russian delegation’s creative mathematics is to paraphrase a line made famous by Mark Twain — that there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and Russian statistics. It is clear that only blackmail, intimidation and harassment garner the Russian Federation any support for its position against the will of the General Assembly. That has been confirmed on many occasions, including in the General Committee, where only two members supported the Russian Federation two days ago.
I call on my colleagues in the Assembly to vote in favour of the agenda item, as recommended by the General Assembly and its General Committee. Let us do it and get to work.
Let me join others in welcoming you, Mr. President, to the start of the General Assembly’s new session and to our work. We look forward to fully supporting you in all your efforts.
On this matter, I want to make it clear that the United States supports the inclusion of this item on the agenda of the General Assembly at its seventy- sixth session.
As my Ukrainian colleague pointed out, the General Assembly had already decided on 9 September by an overwhelming majority to add this item to the provisional agenda for the seventy-sixth session (decision 75/582). And on 15 September, the General Committee decided to recommend the item’s inclusion on the agenda. We are disappointed that the Russian Federation has once again called for a vote on the issue. It is entirely appropriate for the General Assembly to continue its deliberations on Russia’s acts of aggression against Ukraine, including its ongoing violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the Donbas and occupied Crimea. The United States urges all delegations to vote yes.
My country has always been keen to respect the sovereignty of States and the principle of non-interference in their internal affairs. We have also supported every effort to ensure security and stability in areas of tension wherever they may be in the world, based on our belief in the effectiveness of dialogue in international relations.
The Syrian Arab Republic therefore continues to believe that including the item entitled “The situation in the temporary occupied territories of Ukraine” on the agenda of the General Assembly at its seventy-sixth session is an irresponsible, politicized and unilateral step that reflects only the policy of certain Governments on escalating the situation in that region with a view to settling scores with the Russian Federation even if it is to the detriment of regional and international security and stability and the historically established relations between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples. This issue is governed by clear legal principles based on the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant international conventions and rules of international law, which therefore means that its inclusion on the General Assembly’s agenda should be totally reconsidered.
We will continue to warn against the negative tendency among certain Member States to exhaust the General Assembly’s agenda and the capabilities and resources of the Organization in a way that undermines the noble and fundamental purposes and principles of the United Nations. Moreover, it uses this rostrum to practice polarization and deepen divisions rather than strengthening unity with a view to achieving peace, security and sustainable development for all.
We shall now proceed to consider the recommendation by the General Committee of the inclusion of item 68, entitled “The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine”, on the agenda of the current session.
A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
The recommendation of the General Committee to include item 68, entitled “The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine”, on the agenda of the current session under heading B was approved by 65 votes to 11, with 37 abstentions.
In paragraph 98, in connection with sub-item (d) of item 99 of the provisional agenda, entitled “Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading G.
May I take it that the Assembly approves this recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 99, in connection with sub-item (jj) of item 101 of the provisional agenda, entitled “Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading G. May I take it that the Assembly approves the recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 100, in connection with sub-item (g) of item 117 of the provisional agenda, entitled “Election of members of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I. May I take it that the Assembly approves the recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 101, in connection with item 134 of the provisional agenda, entitled “International cooperation on access to justice for survivors of sexual violence”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I. May I take it that the Assembly approves the recommendation?
It was so decided.
In paragraph 102, in connection with item 177 of the provisional agenda, entitled “Observer status for the International Solar Alliance in the General Assembly”, the General Committee decided to recommend its inclusion under heading I. May I take it that the Assembly approves the recommendation?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the agenda recommended by the General Committee in paragraph
103 of its report for adoption by the General Assembly, taking into account the decisions just adopted with respect to the provisional agenda. Bearing in mind that the agenda is organized under nine headings, we shall consider the inclusion of items under each heading as a whole. I should like to remind members once again that at present we are not discussing the substance of any item.
Items 1 and 2 have already been dealt with. We shall now turn to items 3 to 8. May I take it that these items are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the inclusion of the items listed under heading A, “Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences”. May I take it that the items listed under heading A are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now to heading B, “Maintenance of international peace and security”. May I take it that the items listed under heading B are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Next we turn to heading C, “Development of Africa”. May I take it that the item listed under this heading is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Now we come to heading D, “Promotion of human rights”. May I take it that the items listed under heading D are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Heading E is entitled “Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts”. May I take it that the item listed under this heading is included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn next to heading F, “Promotion of justice and international law”. May I take it that the items listed under heading F are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Now we turn to heading G, “Disarmament”. May I take it that the items listed under this heading are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Heading H is entitled “Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. May I take it that the items listed under this heading are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
Lastly, we turn to heading I, “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. May I take it that the items listed under heading I are included in the agenda?
It was so decided.
We turn now to section IV of the report of the General Committee, on the allocation of items. The General Committee took note of the information contained in paragraphs 104 to 106. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of the information contained in paragraph 106 concerning the granting of observer status?
It was so decided.
We shall now turn to the recommendations contained in paragraphs 108 to 112. We shall take up the recommendations paragraph by paragraph. Before we proceed, I would like to remind members that the item numbers cited here refer to the agenda in paragraph 103 of the report of the General Committee before us.
We shall now turn to paragraphs 108 (a) to (l), relating to a number of plenary items. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to take note of all of the information that the General Committee took note of and approve all of the recommendations of the General Committee contained in paragraphs
108 (a) to (l)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 109 (a) to (c), relating to the First Committee. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to approve all of the recommendations of the General Committee contained in paragraphs 109 (a) to (c)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraphs 110 (a) and (b), relating to the Second Committee. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to approve all of the recommendations of the General Committee contained in paragraphs 110 (a) and (b)?
It was so decided.
We now turn to paragraphs 111 (a) and (b), relating to the Fifth Committee. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to approve all of the recommendations of the General Committee contained in paragraphs 111 (a) and (b)?
It was so decided.
We turn now to paragraph 112, relating to the Sixth Committee. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to approve all of the recommendations of the General Committee contained in paragraph 112?
It was so decided.
We shall now turn to paragraph 113 of the report of the General Committee, on the allocation of items to the plenary and to each Main Committee.
I will first turn to the list of items recommended by the General Committee for consideration directly in plenary meeting under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of the items listed for consideration in plenary meeting?
It was so decided.
We come next to the list of items that the General Committee has recommended for allocation to the First Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the First Committee?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee)?
It was so decided.
We come now to the list of items that the General Committee has recommended for allocation to the Second Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I consider that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Second Committee?
It was so decided.
We turn now to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Third Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Third Committee?
It was so decided.
Next we come to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Fifth Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Fifth Committee?
It was so decided.
Lastly, we come to the list of items that the General Committee recommends for allocation to the Sixth Committee under all the relevant headings. Taking into account the decisions just adopted, may I take it that the General Assembly approves the allocation of those items for consideration by the Sixth Committee?
It was so decided.
The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of the first report of the General Committee. I wish to thank all the members of the Assembly for their cooperation.
I would now like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation of the Holy See, in its capacity as an observer State, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with resolution 58/314, of 1 July 2004, and the note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/58/871, the Holy See, in its capacity as an observer State, will participate in the work of the
seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
I would also like to draw the attention of representatives to a matter concerning the participation of the State of Palestine, in its capacity as an observer State, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with General Assembly resolutions 3237 (XXIX), of 22 November 1974, 43/177, of 15 December 1988, 52/250, of 7 July 1998, and 67/19, of 29 November 2012, and the note by the Secretary- General contained in document A/52/1002, the State of Palestine, in its capacity as an observer State, will participate in the work of the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
In addition, I would like to draw the attention of delegates to a matter concerning the participation of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, in the sessions and work of the General Assembly.
In accordance with resolution 65/276, of 3 May 2011, and the note by the Secretary-General contained in document A/65/856, representatives of the European Union will participate in the work of the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly with no further need for a precursory explanation prior to any intervention.
The exercise of the right of reply has been requested. I would like to remind delegations that statements in exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and five minutes for the second and should be made by representatives from their seats.
I call on the representative of the Russian Federation.
The statement by Mr. Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, clearly shows how strong anti-Russian sentiments are in Ukraine and the degree to which the nationalists who came to power in 2014 have reprogrammed the brains of the residents of their country. The references to the tragic events of the Second World War and the attempts to question our great victory and equate Hitler and Stalin go beyond the bounds of acceptable and civilized behaviour. Let me point out that Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. Millions of Ukrainians died on the battlefields fighting alongside Russians, Belarusians and representatives of other nationalities against Nazi Germany and its allies. It was thanks to Stalin himself
that Ukraine is considered a founding Member State of the United Nations. The statement by Mr. Kyslytsya is therefore one of his most shameful, because it is a betrayal of his own ancestors.
The Assembly will now take a decision on draft decision A/76/L.1, entitled
“Participation of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector in the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action”.
May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/76/L.1?
Draft decision A/76/L.1 was adopted (decision 76/507).
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 72.
The meeting rose at 10.45 a.m.