A/77/PV.99 General Assembly

The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/77/L.104, entitled “2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/77/L.104?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 13?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 72.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to introduce draft resolution A/77/L.106.

It is my honour to present to the Assembly, also on behalf of my co-facilitators from the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of Tajikistan, draft resolution A/77/L.106, entitled “Follow-up to the United Nations Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action, ‘Water for Sustainable Development’, 2018–2028”. First of all, allow me to express our gratitude to the Republic of Senegal for its pivotal leadership in initiating the draft resolution. Over the past three months, the co-facilitators have engaged in extensive consultations and have listened attentively to the different perspectives brought by Member States. And I extend our heartfelt appreciation to all delegations for their constructive engagement throughout that collaborative process. The draft resolution brought forward today is intended as a responsive follow-up to the 2023 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in March earlier this year. The Conference brought together over 10,000 participants, including world leaders, representatives from business and civil society, youth scientists and, of course, the United Nations system. It catalysed more than 700 commitments as part of the Water Action Agenda, a testament to our shared commitment to driving impactful change towards a water-secure world. The draft resolution harnesses the renewed political momentum created by the Conference to offer a pathway to advance our collective efforts in addressing water-related challenges. Modelled after the enabling resolutions for the Oceans Conference, the draft resolution encompasses the following elements. In the preliminary section, the draft resolution welcomes the 2023 United Nations Water Conference and underlines the intricate interdependence of water, ecosystems, energy, food security and nutrition. It acknowledges the imperative to better integrate water- related issues into the agendas of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and emphasizes the importance of international cooperation to achieve water and sanitation-related goals. Moreover, the text takes note of the Water Action Agenda and advocates for strengthening the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and UN-Water to holistically address water priorities. The subsequent operational section looks at the path ahead of us. The 2026 United Nations water conference, as proposed by the draft resolution, aims to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 and spark additional commitments. Similarly, the 2028 United Nations conference on the final comprehensive review of the implementation of the decade’s objectives will provide an invaluable platform to assess the progress achieved by the decade and catalyse further water-related actions. And lastly, the operational section calls for the Secretary-General to present a United Nations system- wide strategy on water and sanitation developed in close consultation with Member States before the end of the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly. The strategy signifies a pivotal stride towards enhancing the coordination and the delivery of water priorities across the United Nations system. My co-facilitators, Ambassadors Jonibek Hikmat and Cheikh Niang, and myself would like to thank Member States once again for their dedication, flexibility and constructive approach throughout this process. We urge all delegations to support this important draft resolution moving us forward in shaping the future of water at the United Nations. Only together can we ensure that sustainable water management is not just an aspiration, but a global reality.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/77/L.106. For the Assembly’s information, the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of draft resolution A/77/L.106, and in addition to the delegations listed on the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of the draft resolution: Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chad, China, Costa Rica, Djibouti, El Salvador, Georgia, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Viet Nam.

The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/77/L.106, entitled “Follow-up to the United Nations Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action, ‘Water for Sustainable Development’, 2018–2028”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/77/L.106?

Before giving the floor for explanations of position after adoption, I would like to remind delegations that explanations of position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Our delegation joined consensus today on the adoption of resolution 77/334, on the follow up on the review of the implementation of the objectives of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”. Of course, this is an important stage for the process of discussing water at the United Nations. We note the efforts of the co-Chairs of the negotiation process to reflect a balanced approach in their document in terms of organizing future work. Clearly, the question of water use is complex. There is no need to repeat that water is a source of human life and a strategically important sovereign resource. In that connection, we hold the principled position that water discussions at the United Nations should have a progressive nature; in other words, at each new stage of international cooperation in this field they should be underpinned by previous experience and progress achieved thus far. They should take into account the whole spectrum of concerns expressed by delegations and ensure the primacy of national sovereignty over water resources. That approach would allow us to guarantee success and a positive outcome of such discussions. With that in mind, we are convinced that the so- called “water strategy” of the United Nations, which would lay the foundation for future dialogue between United Nations Member States for many years ahead, should be developed with substantive consultations held with delegations and then adopted at the General Assembly as an intergovernmental document. We are strongly convinced about including that idea in the text of the resolution. Unfortunately, operative paragraph 5 of the resolution we just adopted is actually a watered- down wording of that idea, which is a source of concern for us. Moscow has decided to dissociate itself from the unclear wording of this paragraph. We are looking forward to specific actions on the part of the Secretariat to prepare this water strategy and to present the project step by step to Member States for discussion and then further adjustment. We would like to caution immediately that if we see any signs of attempts to railroad — during its development — unilateral non-inclusive approaches to formulating this water strategy or any signs of ignoring the principled positions of delegations on any particular area, our country will not consider itself bound by the provisions of this kind of document. It is crucial to ensure that the United Nations discussions have an intergovernmental nature. Imposing biased narratives focused on limiting the unconditional principle of the national sovereignty of States, including on water-related issues, is a dead end.

Türkiye welcomes the adoption of resolution 77/334 by consensus. We would like to extend our appreciation to our co-facilitators — the Kingdom of Netherlands, Senegal and Tajikistan  — for their commitment to achieve a consensus-based text after a long negotiation process. Although this resolution does not reflect all the concerns of my delegation, Türkiye joined consensus due to the importance we attach to water issues. In line with operative paragraph 5 of the resolution, we expect the Secretary-General to closely consult with the Member States in the preparation of the United Nations system-wide water and sanitation strategy in a transparent, inclusive manner. Türkiye stands ready to contribute to that process and looks forward to working with the Secretariat. In relation to the Secretary-General’s appointment of the United Nations Special Envoy for Water, we expect the Special Envoy to approach water issues in an unbiased, impartial and independent manner, respecting the various positions, circumstances and perspectives of all Member States. For that reason, it is important that the terms of reference of the Special Envoy be defined with utmost care. We will closely follow up with, and actively engage in, future processes foreseen in this resolution.

Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor. Since the draft of resolution 77/334 was introduced, our delegation has engaged in the negotiations in a constructive manner, believing that it would lead to an outcome text that reasonably accommodates the needs and concerns of all Member States. From the start, Ethiopia raised concerns about the lack of clarity on the objectives and purposes of this resolution, but made every effort to engage throughout the negotiations, in the spirit of compromise. We have demonstrated maximum flexibility during the negotiation process. Our singular focus was on enhancing cooperation to accelerate the achievement of the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The achievement of those goals is critical to our collective aspiration of eradicating poverty in all its forms and manifestations. To that end, the United Nations has put in place robust mechanisms for the follow-up and implementation of these goals and targets. It should be noted that we have agreed to review the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including water-related goals, through existing mechanisms. In the light of all of this, we believe the resolution selectively prioritizes one goal over the others, which could undermine our modest gains towards achieving overall sustainable development with the objective of leaving no one behind. Ethiopia has been engaging in the negotiations, hoping for an outcome that falls within the scope of the SDGs and the Water Action Decade and that avoids undue prioritization of one goal over the others by making the best possible use of existing mechanisms. In spite of our good-faith effort, we regret that the resolution was made to focus on political objectives outside its intended purpose and core objective. In March this year, the conference we had on the midterm comprehensive review of the implementation generated some momentum in enhancing the Water Action Decade. In our view, the next review and final evaluation should naturally come at the end of the Water Action Decade in 2028. That could serve as a basis should the General Assembly decide to declare a subsequent Decade for Action. Alternatively, any conference should have been linked to 2030, the year set for the conclusion of the SDGs. Given the varying levels of progress, it would be appropriate to give Member States time as well as the financial and technological support they need to better implement the Action Agenda and the SDG Goals and targets related to water and sanitation. For that reason, our delegation believes the rational course of action is not to establish periodic conferences through a resolution but to look forward to the 2028 Final Review Conference. This would enable us to take stock of our progress, which would inform any potential declaration of the next Decade for Action based on the objective assessment and evaluation of the previous decade. It has now become evident that the world is not on track to achieve many of the SDGs. The international community will have to make the greatest possible effort to reverse the current trend if we are to make meaningful progress by the set deadline of 2030. If there is anything left to expedite, the task is not to have proliferating processes but to rationalize our approach and work together within the existing mechanisms. In our view, what we need is robust and concrete action that can rescue the 2030 Agenda. My delegation would therefore like to register a strong reservation, based on our view that it is counterproductive to institutionalize periodic United Nations Water Conferences outside the remit of the Water Action Decade and the SDGs, as reflected in the resolution. In fact, it duplicates existing efforts and does not complement the activities to support the implementation of SDG 6 in any way. In our view, this resolution could have been a good opportunity to further strengthen global cooperation and partnership if it had incorporated the inputs provided by some of us Member States. Unfortunately, they were ignored and have not been reflected in the text, despite the fact that we made a lot of compromises throughout the negotiations. It is important that we work together to achieve the goals and targets that we have agreed on. We need to fulfil our commitments and strengthen our cooperation in attaining these internationally agreed development goals. Establishing a periodic water conference instead of expediting implementation within the scope and objectives of the SDGs and the Water Action Decade is indeed counterproductive. For those reasons, our delegation would like to put its reservations on record.

Guatemala thanks the facilitators of resolution 77/334 for their tireless efforts and their openness during the process. We appreciate the text, which takes into account the actions that contribute to our achievement of our national development priorities in terms of access to water and management of natural resources and economic valuation of natural resources through coordination and capacity-building at the national and local levels. We highlight the resolution’s call to strengthen capacity-building and technology transfer so that developing countries such as ours can achieve the goals we have set ourselves to benefit our populations. We therefore join the consensus and would like to make the following explanation of position. Guatemala reserves its sovereign legitimacy over water as an upstream country, but in no circumstances is it obliged to grant rights to third parties. That is due to the fact that water is a finite public good and Guatemala must satisfy the needs of its population, thereby ensuring that right across generations. We emphasize that it is the duty of all States to protect and conserve water and the resources around it in order to guarantee access to water in their respective geographic circumstances.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position after adoption. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 18.

Members will recall that the General Assembly concluded its consideration of agenda item 23 at its 53rd plenary meeting, on 14 December 2022. In order for the Assembly to take action on the draft decision, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of agenda item 23. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to reopen its consideration of agenda item 23? It was so decided (decision 77/505 B).

Members will recall that at its 3rd plenary meeting on 16 September 2022, the General Assembly decided to allocate agenda item 23 to the Second Committee. To enable the Assembly to take action expeditiously on the document, may I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider agenda item 23 directly in plenary meeting and proceed immediately to its consideration?

We shall now take a decision on draft decision A/77/L.108, entitled “United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/77/L.108?

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 23?

I give the floor to the representative of El Salvador to introduce the draft resolution contained in paragraph 30 of document A/77/942.

It is an honour and an enormous privilege for me to address the General Assembly today on behalf of the co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly, a mandate entrusted to me and my dear friend Ambassador Mitch Fifield, former Permanent Representative of Australia, during the seventy-sixth and seventy-seventh sessions of the General Assembly. I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for this distinction to His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the General Assembly at its previous session, and to you, Mr. President, at this session. On the seventy-fifth anniversary of our Organization, we the Member States recognized that our challenges can be addressed only through reinvigorated multilateralism, and we committed to modernizing the United Nations. Almost three years after that milestone, I am pleased to present the outcome of the first biennial cycle of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly. This draft resolution (A/77/942, paragraph 30) is therefore the result of two years of substantive deliberations and negotiations by the Working Group, marking a step towards strengthening the authority, effectiveness and efficiency of the General Assembly in addressing global challenges. During the past two sessions the Ad Hoc Working Group held one general debate, four thematic debates and two interactive dialogues between Permanent Missions and the Secretariat. With the aim of revitalizing the revitalization process, two additional informal meetings, a dialogue among former Presidents of the General Assembly and a workshop with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research were also organized. I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the main recommendations proposed by the Ad Hoc Working Group. In the first thematic area, which is the role and authority of the General Assembly, the Member States reaffirmed the Assembly’s functions and powers and recognized its role in matters related to the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. The relationship between the Assembly and the Organization’s other principal organs was also a central topic of deliberation among Member States, with important decisions adopted on synergies, complementarity and interaction with the Security Council. In addition, practical steps were taken to preserve the primacy of the general debate during the United Nations high-level week, including mechanisms for Member States, individually and collectively, to streamline the number of high-level meetings and side events held every year in September. In the second area, the Ad Hoc Working Group also addressed the working methods of the General Assembly, recognizing that concerted and urgent efforts are needed to reduce the burdens on its agenda. Significant efforts were made to establish a mechanism to carry out in-depth analysis of the Assembly’s programme and to formulate concrete proposals to streamline it. The role of the General Committee and the process of aligning the programmes of the General Assembly, its Main Committees and the Economic and Social Council will be key. Similarly, a number of recommendations have been formulated with the aim of improving the accessibility of the United Nations for persons with disabilities, including a request for the Secretariat to provide information on impediments to accessibility and actionable options for improving the situation. Regarding the process for selecting and appointing the Secretary-General and other executive Heads, we believe the Working Group has taken important steps to improve the process and to continue to ensure that it is guided by the principles of transparency and inclusiveness. However, much remains to be done. A discussion of the process at the seventy-ninth session, that is, before the next selection and appointment process begins, will be supported by a number of mechanisms that allow for careful analysis of past processes. We hope those agreements and mechanisms will lay a foundation for necessary improvements in the future. In relation to the election and appointment of executive Heads of the United Nations, the draft resolution builds on previous efforts and encourages the Secretary-General to take further additional steps to achieve gender parity and geographic balance. It also reiterates the need to ensure improvements in both those aspects for the staff of all departments and offices and at all levels of the Organization. Regarding the Working Group’s work on the Office of the President of the General Assembly, I am pleased to inform the Assembly that significant results have been achieved for strengthening it with resources that will enable it to continue to perform its important functions. We hope those results will be supported by the decisions made by the Administrative and Budgetary Committee during the seventy-eighth session. I would also like to highlight the work of the Working Group in relation to the role of women in diplomacy. While we recognize that much remains to be done, we are encouraged by the agreements that have been reached, including on ensuring the continuity of initiatives such as the Advisory Board on Gender Equality and the meeting of the General Assembly Platform of Women Leaders. In that regard, the Ad Hoc Working Group once again pointed out that our Organization has not yet had a woman Secretary- General. We strongly encourage Member States to take that into account during the next selection process and in subsequent ones when nominating female candidates for the position. The same principle was applied in the Assembly when Member States recognized that only four  — I repeat, four  — women have been elected as Presidents of the Assembly since the creation of the United Nations, encouraging Member States to nominate women for that position as well. The Ad Hoc Working Group has made a practice of working to reach consensus for many years. The draft text that we are presenting today is no exception. After 12 weeks of exhaustive negotiations that culminated in the early hours of Saturday, 24 June, during which delegations showed a true spirit of compromise, the text was unanimously adopted by the Working Group on Friday, 7 July. We hope that today the plenary of the General Assembly will also adopt the draft resolution by consensus. However, despite that success, we fully recognize that urgent additional efforts are needed and that it is more important than ever to work to strengthen the Assembly. The work by no means stops here and in future we must continue to do everything possible to incorporate the premise of revitalizing the General Assembly into our work every day. I encourage States to follow up on and ensure the implementation of all revitalization resolutions and to actively participate in the Ad Hoc Working Group, which is a platform for dialogue, the exchange of views and discussion of action-oriented solutions. Permanently strengthening the United Nations and the Assembly, its most representative body, must be the focus of this process. After all, revitalizing the General Assembly is a demonstration of the desire to build a multilateral system that is relevant, flexible, agile and capable of facing ever-evolving challenges. Allow me to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the representatives of the Member States for their active involvement, work and constructive engagement even far into the night during the negotiations on the draft resolution. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the excellent work of the Secretariat and to thank it for its support throughout the process, especially through its Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. And I should not conclude without expressing my gratitude to the Australian and Salvadoran teams. Australia’s support, creativity, commitment and dynamism was key to us as co-Chairs, enabling us to achieve these results. I want to thank you once again, Mr. President, for placing your trust in me and my Australian colleague, enabling us to lead this initiative, in my case for three years in a row. I thank you very much and I thank the Member States.

I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria to make a statement in explanation of position before adoption. I would like to remind delegations that explanations of position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (NAM). At the outset, NAM would like to express its appreciation to you, Mr. President, for your interest in strengthening the work of the General Assembly and making this among the top priorities of your term during the seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly. NAM looks forward to the adoption of the draft resolution on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly (A/77/942, paragraph 30). NAM is grateful to the co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly, Ambassadors González López of El Salvador and Fifield of Australia, as well as their able teams of experts, for their leadership and tireless efforts during this session. We especially thank them for their dedication to achieving a practical and ambitious draft resolution that includes many concrete steps aimed at improving the Assembly’s efficiency and effectiveness. We also thank all the delegations that showed the flexibility needed to achieve our common goal. NAM has always been committed to this vital process, and we engaged constructively and in good faith throughout the negotiations. We regret, however, that some delegations were unable to show flexibility on significant issues. It is our hope that every delegation will make an effort to demonstrate the necessary flexibility in future negotiations. The draft resolution to be adopted today is productive and ambitious, the result of inclusive, transparent and intense consultations. We thank all delegations for their active engagement. In our view, the draft resolution presents significant progress on many important issues, including strengthening the Office of the President and reaffirming the role of the Assembly itself. If it is implemented effectively, our Organization will be more productive and efficient in future. The Movement applauds the progress that we have made in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the work of the Assembly by streamlining its agenda, and especially by eliminating duplicate and overlapping agenda items. NAM welcomes the efficiencies of the biennialized format and recent innovations in the working methods of the Ad Hoc Working Group, as well as informal interactive dialogues with former Presidents of the Assembly. NAM is also pleased that the resolution recognizes that multilingualism, as a core value of the Organization, contributes to the achievement of the goals of the United Nations. The Movement also calls for maintaining and enhancing the progress that has been made in the process for selecting and appointing the Secretary- General, while bearing in mind the need for gender balance and geographic representation in the course of identifying and appointing the best candidate for the post. NAM welcomes the ongoing efforts and progress towards achieving equal and fair distribution in terms of the gender and geographic balance of the executive Heads of the United Nations system and the Senior Management Group of the Organization. NAM looks forward to continuing to work with all delegations to further advance the process of revitalizing the General Assembly. It is now up to all of us to ensure that these measures are implemented without further delay. Let us not forget that the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly is a political process, not a procedural one, and is mainly aimed at strengthening the role of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative policymaking and representative organ of the wider United Nations system.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position before adoption. We shall now proceed to consider the draft resolution. In that connection, I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

The present oral statement is made in the context of rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. It will also be distributed to Member States. The activities referred to in operative paragraphs 9, 48, 88, 91 and 92 of the draft resolution would entail new activities in 2024, and annually thereafter, related to the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, including its working methods, and the strengthening of the accountability, transparency and institutional memory of the Office of the President of the General Assembly. The adoption of the draft resolution would give rise to budgetary implications ranging between $1 million and $1.1 million per year, including three additional positions at the P-3/P-4 level, starting in 2024. Detailed cost estimates would be developed following further internal consultation within the Secretariat. Should the General Assembly adopt the draft resolution on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, a revised estimates report would be submitted for consideration by the General Assembly through the Fifth Committee during the main part of its seventy-eighth session, detailing the requirements for which an additional appropriation would be requested for 2024. Requirements for 2025 and thereafter would be presented in the proposed programme budgets for consideration by the General Assembly in the applicable years. The statement that I just read out was distributed through the plenary space on the e-deleGATE portal and will be made available in the The Journal of the United Nations under the e-statements link for the meeting.

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly” contained in the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt the draft resolution?

Before giving the floor for explanations of position after adoption, I would like to remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

It is my honour to make this statement on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The candidate countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the potential candidate country Georgia, also align themselves with this statement. At the outset I would like to express our deep gratitude for the leadership and tireless dedication of the two co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly, Ambassadors Egriselda González López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador, and Mitch Fifield, former Permanent Representative of Australia, for leading an ambitious resolution (resolution 77/335) to a consensus result. We have made progress in the four central areas of the resolution, and I would like to underscore six specific examples of that. First, we have agreed on greater streamlining of the programme of the General Assembly, particularly through voluntary commitments to limiting the number of side events, specifically during the high-level week. In just two weeks, our commitment will be put to the test. Let us ensure that the text of the resolution and this commitment become part of the explanatory package for our leaders and that they are properly adhered to. Secondly, we agreed to make the necessary efforts for the Office of the President of the General Assembly that will enable him — or, hopefully soon, her — to address the increasing number of mandates and processes that the President of the General Assembly and their Office have to supervise. Thirdly, we have jointly made further progress towards gender equality through support to the President of the General Assembly to guarantee gender balance between rapporteurs and panellists during the ministerial week and through a renewed call to all Member States to designate women candidates for the post of President of the General Assembly. However, it is regrettable that so far only four of the 78 Presidents of the General Assembly have been women. It is also disappointing that the laudable proposal by the co-Chairs to adapt the regulation to today’s realities has not achieved the necessary consensus. Fourthly, we have also made some progress in improving transparency and accountability in the selection process for the Secretary-General, but we could have done more to lay the groundwork for the process for the appointment of the next Secretary- General. Fifthly, we have recognized the significant role of the General Assembly in peace and security, thanks to projects such as the veto initiative, and the need to cooperate closely with the Security Council in that area. Last but not least, we have finally succeeded in including strong language on improving accessibility at the United Nations. We believe that progress lays a foundation to build on for the next resolution, in two years’ time.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group, which is a cross-regional group comprised of 27 States, including my own country, Estonia. I would like to begin by thanking the Permanent Representatives of Australia and El Salvador and their teams for their outstanding co-chairing of these complex negotiations. I also thank them for proposing an ambitious zero draft that sought to go beyond the status quo, in order to make important and needed changes to our Organization, which stands at the core of the rules-based multilateral system. The ACT group invites all Member States to take stock of the advances in resolution 77/335, on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, which we have just adopted, and to actively engage in implementing it as soon as possible. ACT also requests that the elected President of the General Assembly work in close collaboration with the Secretariat for a swift implementation of the resolution. It is an ambitious text that contains a number of improvements aimed at continuing to strengthen the General Assembly and improve the accountability of the Security Council to the Assembly. What are the areas where ACT sees progress this year? The current text reaffirms the role of the General Assembly in matters of peace and security and underlines the importance of the veto initiative in that context. We also agreed to create a digital handbook on the practices and situations in which the General Assembly has had a relevant role in peace and security. We are pleased that this year’s resolution acknowledges the importance of the workshop on the relationship between the General Assembly and the Security Council. We managed to include stronger language encouraging Member States to bear in mind that we have still never had a woman Secretary-General, which is particularly relevant to the upcoming process. We agreed to create a repository of the past selections and appointments of the previous Secretaries-General. Where setting a predictable timeline for the selection and appointment process is concerned, we consider the new language on joint letters, the reference to notional events and the recognition that the Secretary-General-designate requires sufficient time to prepare for taking office, as a step in the right direction. We welcome the new language that invites future candidates to voluntarily disclose the funding sources for their campaigns, which is a necessary minimum measure of transparency. Last but not least, we also agreed to strengthen the language that now requests the presentation of vision statements. We made some progress with the outcome document, even though we again missed opportunities to introduce additional improvements. This should have been a pivotal year ahead of the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General, which is only two years away. We regret the approach that some took to simply put up blocks rather than engage substantively in negotiations towards compromise, particularly on proposals that enjoy wide support among the United Nations membership. Owing to some close cooperation in the General Assembly setting between permanent members of the Security Council, several such proposals by ACT did not make it into the final text. In our common interests, we need to find a way to change that pattern in future. What are the issues that remain unresolved and should therefore be brought into the seventy-ninth session? We need a clear and much more predictable timeline for the overall process. There was broad support for a structured time frame, including start, end and intervening dates for the entire process. All Member States, candidates, civil society and even the broader public would benefit from that clarity. We also regret that the General Assembly was unable to recommend that the Council consider adding a dedicated chapter on the veto to the annual report, which would contain an analysis of the cases in which the veto has been exercised, or appropriately reflect the special reports of the Council. We hope the Council will take up the idea in its next report. Let me conclude my statement on behalf of the ACT group on a positive note. We are making some evolutionary progress. Looking to the future, ACT stands ready to continue working tirelessly with other negotiation groups to finally formalize a process for the selection and appointment of the Secretary- General and to improve the Security Council’s overall accountability to the General Assembly. We count on the valuable support of all United Nations members to achieve those important and timely goals.

I wish to focus on why brave leadership is paramount for the culture of the United Nations. Costa Rica commends the steadfast courage shown by Ambassadors González López and Fifield, of El Salvador and Australia, who in resolution 77/335 presented us with a creative, ambitious initial text that transcended routine technical rollovers. A mere technical rollover would have squandered the opportunity to make this Organization more relevant to the people it serves. El Salvador and Australia faithfully carried out the task assigned to them by the President of the General Assembly, with the objective of significantly improving the Assembly’s authority, effectiveness, and efficiency. We also applaud the negotiation groups involved, notably the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (NAM), for their skilful approaches, as well as for their conviction and resolve in demonstrating that the United Nations belongs to all of us, not just a select few. Together with ACT and NAM, we continued to improve the process for the selection and appointment of the Secretary- General and other executive heads. The determined leadership shown in achieving a bold outcome during those negotiations was in stark contrast to the conduct of the permanent members of the Security Council. Costa Rica regrets that permanent members de facto exercised their veto power, obstructing positive proposals supported by the overwhelming majority of States in the General Assembly and despite the best efforts of negotiating groups and other States in their national capacity. That is again a consequence of the tyranny of consensus. Towards the end of the negotiations some of the permanent members eventually acknowledged their lack of flexibility and offered an apology. Though that was appreciated, it does not erase the fact that their veto power effectively extended into negotiations in the General Assembly. That is as inappropriate as it is concerning, especially when the very purpose of this work is to enhance the authority and functions of the most representative, legitimate and democratic body of the United Nations — the General Assembly. Costa Rica, in its national capacity and as a member of ACT, entered the negotiations in good faith and with a genuine desire to make progress on tangible results in the four clusters of the resolution that reflect ACT’s core principles and the values and aspirations that my country upholds in our Organization. At this moment in history, when multilateralism is under severe strain, we must lay the ground to ensure that the senior leaders of this Organization are visionaries, equipped with a clear mandate from Member States to transform it and its programme of work. That is why we welcomed the proposals of the co-Chairs which, together with ACT and NAM, sought to significantly improve the process of selecting and appointing the Secretary-General and other executive heads. In that regard, I would like to highlight three points. First, in recent years there have been positive developments in how the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General are conceived. From a secretive affair dominated by the Security Council, we have worked towards an inclusive, more transparent process, with a significant role played by the General Assembly. But it is essential to continue that progress in order to assert the authority of the Assembly and achieve a more accurate reading of Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations, which establishes that it is the Assembly that appoints the Secretary-General. We regret that the groundswell of support for progress during the negotiations was not reflected in the language adopted today in decision 77/568. Costa Rica is determined to continue to press for progress on the principle of a meaningful choice for the General Assembly through the presentation of multiple candidates, and for the Assembly to set the terms of the appointment, including relating to length and renewability. Formal discussions on such issues may have been blocked in the text, against the will of the vast majority of States, but we remain committed to these unavoidable changes, and we will not give up. Secondly, another matter of concern was the obstruction of language that would have allowed the General Assembly to make recommendations to the Security Council, as established in Article 10 of the Charter. That is an extremely serious matter since it contradicts a function that is established in the Charter of the United Nations. Indeed, it was surprising to see the strong coordination of permanent members in that negotiation; we can only hope for such close cooperation within the Council itself and in its work. Thirdly, the text adopted emphasizes several key points regarding gender parity at the United Nations. The document recognizes women’s significant contributions to diplomacy and advocates for their inclusion in the rules of procedure. It strongly calls on the President of the General Assembly to prioritize gender parity in appointing co-chairs, co-facilitators, speakers and panellists for all General Assembly meetings. Additionally, it encourages the President to maintain the Advisory Board on Gender Equality and the Platform of Women Leaders. It calls on the Secretary-General to intensify efforts towards gender parity within the United Nations System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity and expresses concern about gender parity in appointing executive heads. Lastly, it highlights the historical gender disparity in electing women to the presidency of the General Assembly, emphasizing the need for States to consider that disparity when nominating candidates for the position. The next Secretary-General should be a woman. The resolution stops short of saying that, but every one of us sitting in this Hall knows it and should act on it when the time comes. Yes, there are modest achievements on gender parity and positive language on regional representation, but the reality remains that for many of the top posts at the United Nations, one must have the correct passport and friends in high places. Huge swathes of talented individuals from across the world continue to be overlooked as posts continue to be monopolized by nationals of powerful countries. That is no way to run an organization and all members of the United Nations are obliged to denounce the politicization of United Nations appointments whenever we see it. Costa Rica welcomes the advancements made towards transparency, accessibility and accountability in the resolution but urges the States Members of the United Nations to remain vigilant. We look forward to continuing to engage positively and proactively to further enhance the authority and the efficiency of our General Assembly.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position after adoption. I would now like to express my sincere thanks to Ambassador Egriselda González López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador, and Ambassador Mitch Fifield, former Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, who as co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group have so ably conducted its discussions and complex negotiations. I am sure that the members of the Assembly join me in expressing our sincere appreciation to them. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 124?

I now give the floor to the representative of Portugal to introduce draft resolution A/77/L.105.

I have the honour to introduce the draft resolution on “Model United Nations” (A/77/L.105), on behalf of the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jamaica, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and my own country, Portugal. Model United Nations simulations have made an important contribution to helping the United Nations achieve its goals and garnering support for multilateralism by teaching young people about our Organization and involving them in supporting its work. Participation in model United Nations simulations provides a training ground for youth delegates and enhances the implementation of the United Nations youth agenda. It provides valuable exposure and builds the skills that young persons can develop and harness to increase their engagement and advocacy at all levels on issues of significance for current and future generations. The text that we are presenting today is the first- ever United Nations draft resolution on the topic. It recognizes the important contribution of model United Nations to diplomacy and international cooperation, and in building young people’s capacities in the field of international affairs, providing them with the knowledge and opportunities they need. Special attention was given to encouraging Member States, the United Nations system, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to raise awareness and promote equal opportunities for all to access model United Nations programmes. The text welcomes the work of the Secretariat’s Department of Global Communications, including through its information centres and initiatives such as the United Nations Guide to Model United Nations. It also encourages organizations to consider the theme of the current General Assembly session when organizing model United Nations and notes that United Nations Day, 24 October, can be effectively used to raise awareness about the role of model United Nations in engaging young people with multilateralism. In addition, while welcoming the establishment of the United Nations Youth Office, the draft resolution encourages its follow-up on areas of potential support from the United Nations system to model United Nations. I want to take this opportunity to thank all delegations for their constructive participation and responsibility in achieving a consensus text. I also want to thank all the sponsors of the draft resolution. We believe the final draft reflects the priorities of the entire United Nations membership. I would like to add a word of appreciation to the Secretariat for its support during the process, which helped us to achieve a comprehensive draft resolution that we hope will be adopted by consensus. Finally, allow me a special word of gratitude to the experts from our Missions, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jamaica, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Portugal, who worked hard to put together the document that is before us today.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/77/L.105 and draft decision A/77/L.109. 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 the delegations listed in document A/77/L.105, the following countries have also become sponsors: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Estonia, France, the Gambia, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, Italy, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, the Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Suriname, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, Uganda, the United States of America, Uzbekistan, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/77/L.105 and draft decision A/77/L.109. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/77/L.105, entitled “Model United Nations”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/77/L.105?

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft decision A/77/L.109, entitled “Scope of the Summit of the Future”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/77/L.109?

Before giving the floor for explanations of position after adoption, I would like to remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

It is an honour and a pleasure for me to address the Assembly on my own behalf and that of my co-facilitator, Ambassador Antje Leendertse of Germany. As co-facilitators, our task, as set out in resolution 76/307, was “to facilitate open, transparent and inclusive intergovernmental consultations on the preparatory process” of the Summit of the Future. The resolution obliged us to provide adequate time for negotiations on the Pact for the Future. While reaching an agreement has taken us a while, Ambassador Leendertse and I would like to sincerely thank the President and delegations for the trust and confidence placed in us to facilitate this important process. We want to put on record our deep respect and appreciation for their passionate engagement, wise counsel and the outstanding spirit of cooperation and flexibility demonstrated throughout the entire process. We are happy to say that we have succeeded in fulfilling our mandate. The Assembly may recall that on 15 August we conveyed to Member States a draft decision that we put under silence procedure. We believed that the draft decision that we have just adopted as decision 77/568, which was the result of extensive consultations held since April 2023, took account of the priorities and inputs of Member States in a balanced and concise manner. We also believed that it provided a framework for negotiating an ambitious Pact for the Future during the upcoming seventy-eighth session, with adequate time for negotiations. The silence procedure pertaining to the draft decision formally concluded at 6 p.m. on Friday, 18 August. Despite the breaking of silence on six of the elements under paragraph (a), we feel reassured and optimistic that the process has provided us with a solid basis for moving into negotiations on the Pact for the Future in the next session. Thanks to open, transparent and inclusive consultations throughout the seventy-seventh session, and the very constructive and flexible approach of all delegations, we should appreciate that the majority of the draft text submitted under silence was unopposed. While we as co-facilitators were disappointed to not see the third revision adopted, we do want to remind delegations of the substantial compilation of all our hard work where silence was not broken. Please allow me to read out the following for the record. “Under the chapeau, we retain: (i) reaffirmation of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; (ii) reaffirmation that the three pillars of the United Nations  — development, peace and security and human rights  — are interlinked and mutually reinforcing; (iii) reaffirmation that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and indispensable requirement for sustainable development; and (iv) recalling the Declaration on the commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations. “Under Chapter 1: Sustainable Development and Financing for Development, we retain: (vi) accelerating the full achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals, which are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development  — the economic, social and environmental; and building on the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit; (ix) fulfilling all commitments under the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, including on financing for development, as a key framework for the provision of the means of implementation for the achievement of sustainable development; (x) building on the outcomes of recent United Nations high-level meetings related to sustainable development and financing for development; and (xi) addressing all obstacles to achieving sustainable development.” I turn now to Chapter 2: International Peace and Security. Even though silence was broken in this paragraph under Chapter 2, which we discussed intensively, there were many elements that were not opposed explicitly during the silence procedure. Those would be promoting and maintaining international peace and security, and addressing threats, including root causes thereof, through the peaceful settlement of disputes; refraining from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the United Nations Charter; prevention of conflicts while promoting a culture of peace, diplomacy and mediation; confidence-building measures; peacekeeping, peacebuilding and sustaining peace and countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in accordance with international law, including full adherence to the United Nations Charter, its purposes and principles, and United Nations resolutions. “Under Chapter 3: Science, Technology and Innovation and Digital Cooperation, we retain (xiv) strengthening all aspects of global digital cooperation and bridging digital divides, through an open and inclusive process, building on the work being done in existing processes and forums in the United Nations and on the contributions of relevant stakeholders, through the elaboration of a Global Digital Compact, to be intergovernmentally negotiated during the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly and which would be annexed to the Pact if intergovernmentally agreed. “Under Chapter 4: Youth and Future Generations, we retain the elements (xv) promoting the meaningful, inclusive and effective engagement of youth and youth-led and youth- focused organizations in the work of the United Nations; and thinking and acting in the interests of future generations, including through the elaboration of a declaration on future generations, to be intergovernmentally negotiated during the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly and which would be annexed to the Pact of the Future if intergovernmentally agreed. “Under Chapter 5: Transforming Global Governance we retain (xvii) reforming three of the principal organs of the United Nations: reform of the Security Council, revitalization of the work of the General Assembly and the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council, while avoiding overlaps with and duplication of existing intergovernmental processes; (xviii) strengthening of the Peacebuilding Commission; (xix) deepening cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations as appropriate according to their respective mandates; (xx) developing a framework on measures of progress on sustainable development that complement or go beyond gross domestic product; (xxi) reforming the international financial architecture and ongoing efforts to improve the international debt mechanisms; (xxii) promoting a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system; (xxiv) fostering peaceful and sustainable uses of outer space, recognizing the role of relevant intergovernmental bodies, including the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.” Delegations also agreed that a series of issues would be taken into account in the relevant chapters of the Pact for the Future. These included, among other things, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its pledge to leave no one behind, to end poverty and hunger everywhere, to combat inequalities within and among countries, to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies, to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources and to create conditions for sustainable, inclusive and sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and decent work for all, taking into account different levels of national development and capacities, as well as the realization of the human rights of all, the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. Finally, concerning the negotiations on the Pact for the Future in the seventy-eighth session, a clear consensus emerged that to ensure a process that is streamlined and well-coordinated while also allowing for substantive engagement on various areas, in consultation with the President of the General Assembly, coordinators should be designated as may be deemed necessary for specific chapters or elements. It is also the desire of Member States that no parallel meetings should be held. Given that overall positive assessment, we recommend that the incoming President of the General Assembly begin the preparations for the Pact on this basis, taking into account the discussions that have taken place during the seventy-seventh session. As set out in resolution 76/307, it is essential that adequate time be allotted for negotiations on the Pact for the Future during the seventy-eighth session, and we suggest that co-facilitators be appointed quickly to allow consultations on the Pact for the Future to commence as early in the session as is practicable. We highly recommend that the co-facilitators base a zero draft of the Pact on the areas in which there was broad consensus, following the structure that we are genuinely happy has been adopted by consensus today. Once again, there is a lot of substance to build on in the next session so that we can agree on an ambitious Pact for the Future. It would be remiss of me to conclude without expressing our sincere gratitude to all delegations for the work invested in this process. We appreciate their commitment, and it is our hope that the momentum built during this session will be maintained and carry us to a successful negotiating period in the seventy- eighth session. Lastly, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our colleagues in the Secretariat for their professional and diligent support.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 (G- 77) and China. At the outset, I would like to commend all the efforts and hard work of the co-facilitators of this process, Ambassadors Neville Gertze, the Permanent Representative of Namibia, and Antje Leendertse, the Permanent Representative of Germany, in order to enable us to advance towards consensus on this complex and significant process. The Group has worked in a constructive and highly committed way in the past few months in order to finalize a document that includes the priorities of developing countries for the Summit of the Future, as well as for its outcome document, entitled “Pact for the Future”, mainly related to our conditions in that regard, and to bridge the enormous gap between developed and developing countries, which would make it possible to advance towards a common future of sustainable development, peace and respect for the human rights of all, including the right to development, in a context of human dignity, for every country and every people. The achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls will also be crucial in the future we want. Since no agreement was possible on a detailed and balanced text with elements to be agreed by all Member States, today the G-77 and China would like to express its understanding that decision 77/568, which we have just adopted, is a streamlined and general text with no substance whatever in the chapeau and chapters, and that it might not be the best document to reflect the scope of the Summit of the Future. However, it is at least a minimum common ground where all delegations can find room to include their interests and priorities in the next few months, as we negotiate a Pact for the Future. Those negotiations could take into account the deep debates and the work done during the preparatory process on matters that are a priority for developing countries, considering an adequate balance for the whole document. We hope that in the coming months we will participate in open, transparent and exhaustive intergovernmental negotiations in order to incorporate all the necessary substance into the Pact for the Future, especially the needs and priorities of the global South. Since the priority for this year continues to be the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, we reiterate that, for the Group of 77, the full achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals should be at the heart of preparations for any outcome of the Summit of the Future. A balanced, comprehensive and ambitious political declaration of the SDG Summit, which we hope will finally be adopted, will constitute an essential input for the preparatory process of the Summit of the Future, including its ministerial meeting in September, as well as for the Summit itself. The ministerial meeting will also be a significant contribution to the negotiations on the Pact. The Summit of the Future should strengthen multilateralism in moving towards a more just, equitable, non-discriminatory and sustainable world that is helping all countries advance towards sustainable development and prosperity, in line with the Charter. Unquestionably, the pathway to that noble purpose is a change to the current unjust and exclusionary international order. In that regard, the Group strongly believes that a future world cannot be conceived without ending and refraining from promulgating and applying unilateral coercive economic, financial or trade measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter, since they dramatically affect the rights and dignity of the people living under such illegal measures and hinder their countries’ efforts to achieve sustainable development. The Group underlines the importance of addressing the problems and challenges of the present in order to create a better environment for future generations. In that regard, development issues should be at the centre of discussions as cross-cutting matters, as well as the eradication of poverty and hunger. To that end, it will be crucial to be able to count on the necessary means of implementation, including reforming the international financial architecture and establishing measures going beyond gross domestic product to enable a more inclusive approach to international cooperation. The Group also emphasizes that the Summit of the Future must provide concrete solutions for the promotion of technology transfer from developed countries to developing countries, as well as for capacity-building and technological and scientific cooperation aimed at closing the digital and technological divide and fostering sustainable development in its three dimensions in a balanced and integrated manner. In these times of multidimensional crises that weigh particularly on the countries of the global South, we can only look to the future in the belief that solidarity, equity, social justice and cooperation must prevail to achieve the development and well-being of present and future generations.

Allow me to begin by expressing our gratitude to you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting to take action on the streamlined version of decision 77/568, on the scope of the Summit of the Future. Pakistan joined the consensus on the decision. My delegation greatly appreciates the efforts of the Permanent Representatives of Germany and Namibia as co-facilitators of the preparatory process for the Summit of the Future. They tried to complete their tasks during the seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly by presenting to you, Mr. President, an abridged version of the decision on the scope of the Summit. At the same time, they annexed the third draft to the letter addressed to you. I want to express my appreciation for their efforts as co-facilitators to enlist the elements of the third draft, which had broad support from Member States, in order to preserve those elements for subsequent negotiations. While my delegation has joined the consensus on the decision, I would like to underline that the following important elements in Chapter 2, entitled “International peace and security”, were not mentioned in the letter addressed to you despite the fact that there was no objection to them. Those elements are root causes of conflicts, confidence-building measures, and full adherence to the United Nations Charter, its purposes and principles, and to United Nations resolutions. My delegation appreciates the statement just made by Ambassador Gertze of Namibia in his capacity as co-facilitator. He mentioned and included the elements in his statement, but we sincerely believe that those elements will be enumerated either through a subsequent co-facilitators’ letter or in an alternate supplemental letter addressed to you, Mr. President, before the start of the negotiations on the Pact for the Future. My delegation believes that it is vital that all elements, including those on which there was convergence, be included in a letter before the start of the negotiations, because they provide a solid basis for negotiations on a very comprehensive, inclusive and forward-looking Pact for the Future.

Brazil aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Cuba on behalf of the Group of 77 (G-77) and China. Let me start by thanking Germany and Namibia for the enormous efforts they put into the preparatory process for the Summit of the Future in this last semester. We also thank Pakistan and Cuba for their leadership in the Like-Minded Group and in the G-77 and China, respectively. We are pleased that the General Assembly continued to make progress on the preparations for the Summit of the Future. The provisions in the text will guide Member States in our future work and will provide a clearer path for the negotiations on the Pact for the Future. Its consensus adoption as decision 77/568 is therefore a positive step forward that should be duly recognized. Nevertheless, we must register Brazil’s disappointment with the final outcome of the work done in the last few months. We all devoted enormous amounts of time and effort to negotiating a substantial scope that would provide specific tracks for future negotiations, ensuring an important basis for the ambitious multilateral reforms and innovations we want to see reflected by the end of the process in September 2024. In that vein, we would like to thank the co-facilitators for preserving and forwarding to the Office of the President of the General Assembly the third revised draft of the decision on the scope of the Summit of the Future. We understand that the tracks to which no objection was made should be guiding elements for Member States to build on for the Pact for the Future. Brazil will remain committed to advancing many of those elements, such as the reaffirmation of the principles of the Rio Declaration, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, reform of the international financial architecture and of the Security Council, and the strengthening of the Peacebuilding Commission, among others. Notwithstanding the shortcomings of today, Brazil remains a firm believer in the potential of multilateralism to bring about the transformational progress needed to achieve sustainable development, protect human rights for all and ensure a peaceful and just international order. That is what will animate us in working towards the Summit of the Future.

While aligning myself with the statement delivered by the representative of Cuba on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on decision 77/568, entitled “Scope of the Summit of the Future”, I would like to add some comments in our national capacity. At the outset, we want to express our sincere appreciation to the co-facilitators, Ambassador Leendertse, Permanent Representative of Germany, and Ambassador Gertze, Permanent Representative of Namibia, for their commendable efforts to ensure open, transparent, inclusive and constructive facilitation during the preparatory process of the Summit of the Future. Throughout the consultation process on the draft decision regarding the scope and limits of the Summit of the Future, the delegation of Bangladesh was actively and constructively engaged. Although we are a small delegation, we spent countless hours in the negotiation room and engaged with delegations to bridge gaps and find common ground. Our efforts led to agreement on most of the issues, including those to which we attach high importance, such as a culture of peace, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, climate change, gender equality and bridging the digital divide, to name only a few. Regrettably, with the streamlined draft that was presented to us and adopted, we now face the unfortunate situation of losing the gains that were the product of our efforts over five months. While we understand the circumstances that led the co-facilitators to present the streamlined version of the decision, we regret that there was no broader consultation within the membership subsequent to the breaking of the silence. Given that the third revision of the decision was placed under silence and the silence was broken, it was reasonable to expect that Member States would be consulted before presenting a very different version straight for action. That came as a surprise to us and we are not entirely happy about it. Having said that, we would like to express our appreciation to the co-facilitators for their transparency and for putting the text of the streamlined draft on record. We also appreciated the statement by the Permanent Representative of Namibia in that regard. We hope their letter will serve as a useful reminder of the agreements that were reached on most of the issues and that delegations will pay due attention to it during the negotiations on the Pact for the Future. In conclusion, we would like to reiterate our commitment to remaining constructively engaged in the upcoming negotiation process for the Pact for the Future.

Chile aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of Cuba on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. My delegation also aligns itself with the adoption of decision 77/568, for which we have great expectations. We would like to express our gratitude for the efforts of the co-facilitators in reaching consensus. The decision covers the main areas of interest encompassed by a Summit of the Future very broadly and gives us space to tackle the main aspects and the concerns of developing countries during the substantive negotiations. I want to underscore the fact that it includes, as cross-cutting issues, the Sustainable Development Goals with a view to 2030 and beyond, as well as gender equality, human rights and social and sustainable development issues, among others, all of which should be integral to the Pact. The social dimension sketches out everyday life for all citizens, including its shortcomings and aspirations. That impacts our democracies and the building of peaceful, inclusive societies. The Summit of the Future is another link in the chain of our efforts and must be consistent with this cross-cutting concern. The text adopted and others under way should enable us to begin work on a second social summit in 2025 without delay, which should update the Copenhagen commitments in 2025 in the light of our new challenges. And we believe that the General Assembly should continue to progress in this direction.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position after adoption. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ambassador Antje Leendertse, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, and Ambassador Neville Melvin Gertze, Permanent Representative of Namibia to the United Nations, co-facilitators of the preparatory process of the Summit of the Future during the seventy-seventh session who have so ably conducted the discussions and complex negotiations of the consultative process. I am sure the members of the Assembly join me in extending to them our sincere appreciation. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 126.

I give the floor to the representative of Jamaica to introduce draft resolution A/77/L.103.

On behalf of the 14 member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/77/L.103, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community”. The members of the Caribbean Community have presented a draft resolution that builds on its predecessor resolutions 73/347 and 75/323, adopted during the seventy-third and seventy-fifth sessions, respectively. Apart from providing the rollover of the agenda item to the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly, the draft resolution ensures that the strong foundation of partnership between CARICOM and the United Nations can continue to be vigorously pursued and deepened. It acknowledges the region’s inherent vulnerabilities, including to climate change and to external economic and financial shocks. CARICOM is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary since its establishment with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in July 1973. Our region has made significant progress since then to consolidate democracy, build peaceful and resilient societies, strengthen our integration and empower our peoples. However, our region has also had to contend with persistent challenges, including natural disasters, the illicit trade in drugs, small arms and light weapons and ammunition, high prevalence of non-communicable diseases and de-risking and the withdrawal of correspondent banking relations in the region. International cooperation and collaboration, including with the United Nations, is essential to address those challenges. Climate change is a fundamental threat to the sustainable development of the member States of the Caribbean Community. Global responses to climate change must be ambitious and guided by science to meet the commitments of the Paris Agreement. Cooperation between CARICOM and the United Nations will be essential in addressing the adaptation and resilience of the region. The Caribbean Community remains committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway. Challenges in accessing development finance, high debt burdens and the lingering impacts of the coronavirus disease pandemic continue to impede our development aspirations. We look forward to the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in 2024 as an opportunity to forge a new programme of action for the sustainable development of small island developing States. It is also imperative to take forward the work of the high-level panel on the multidimensional vulnerability index. Lastly, CARICOM underscores the commitment of the United Nations to Haiti’s long-term stability and socioeconomic development as an important cornerstone of the Organization’s engagement with the region. We therefore acknowledge the critical nature of the role played by the United Nations in assisting the Haitian Government and its people through the United Nations country team and the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. In conclusion, I would also like to express CARICOM’s gratitude to all the delegations that took an active part in drafting the text before us today and whose spirit of solidarity and consensus will, I trust, enable us to adopt the draft resolution by consensus. We express our appreciation to the delegations that have sponsored draft resolution A/77/L.103 and encourage those who have not done so to lend their support and become sponsors of a draft resolution that is so important for our region, the United Nations system and the international community.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/77/L.103. 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 the delegations listed in document A/77/L.103, the following countries have also become sponsors of the draft resolution: Canada, Georgia, Guatemala, Kenya, Lesotho, Marshall Islands, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/77/L.103, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/77/L.103?

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

The United States has joined consensus on resolution 77/337 and welcomes cooperation between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations to address the Caribbean’s most pressing challenges. That includes, as the resolution states, addressing the coronavirus disease and other public health challenges, public education, peace and security, and the need to urgently respond to the risks posed by climate change. We were disappointed that some Member States insisted on language in the resolution that distorts the best available science, as reflected in the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and that downplays the need to urgently reduce global net greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 from 2019 levels to limit warming to 1.5°C. Those distortions are counterproductive, since the impacts of climate change are particularly dire for the members of CARICOM. The United States is taking action to tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad to avoid the most catastrophic impacts and to seize the opportunity that tackling climate change presents. That includes, for example, efforts to reduce United States emissions by 50 to 52 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and to build global resilience through the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience. That plan will help more than half a billion people in developing countries adapt to and manage the impacts of climate change and scale up climate finance. The United States looks forward to working with CARICOM and other partners, including the United Nations, to continue efforts to address the threat posed by climate change. To that end, in 2022, Vice President Harris launched the United States-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030, an umbrella initiative under which the United States is supporting the clean energy transition, improving access to development financing, promoting food security and building human and technical capacity in the Caribbean to mitigate the effects of climate change.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. The European Union and its member States support resolution 77/337 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and encourage further cooperation between the two organizations. The Caribbean Community and the European Union share historical, cultural and economic ties, common interests and shared values. The EU is committed to strengthening development efforts in the region on the basis of almost 50 years of cooperation, including through the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement. However, we are disappointed that the resolution was submitted for adoption before the different delegations reached an agreement on operative paragraph 11, which remains problematic to our group. We strongly regret that language on climate change has been weakened compared to the last iteration of the resolution (resolution 75/323) at a time when the devastating impact of climate change on the Caribbean is every year more obvious. While we value our partnership with the Caribbean Community and therefore joined consensus on the resolution today, we stress that operative paragraph 11 does not reflect the latest language on climate at the United Nations and cannot be used as a basis for future negotiations. We reaffirm our strong commitment to United Nations-CARICOM and European Union-CARICOM cooperation, with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of the Paris Agreement at the forefront of our shared interests.

In a spirit of solidarity with countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Russian Federation joined consensus on resolution 77/337 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community. At the same time, once again we would like to underscore our position that rather than endlessly raising ambitions, the international community, especially developed countries, would do better to pay greater attention to honouring their commitments in terms of mobilizing financing, ensuring access to the necessary technologies and providing training. Those issues should be the focus of the resolution, in particular its section on climate, and should be a springboard for cooperation between the United Nations and countries in the region. If we look simply at the pledges in that area, according to a number of expert estimates such as those presented by Oxfam in its “Climate Finance Shadow Report 2023”, of the $83.3 billion pledged by donors in 2020 for climate objectives, the real amount of financial support was only between $21 to $24.5 billion. That is less than a quarter of what was pledged. Against that backdrop, it is unlikely that simply publicly declaring an increase in ambition will contribute to tangible progress in the fight against climate change.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position after the adoption. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (h) of agenda item 127?

I give the floor to the representative of Kazakhstan to introduce draft resolution A/77/L.107.

The delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on behalf of the nine members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), has the honour to introduce draft resolution A/77/L.107, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization”. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on 15 June 2001, consisting of nine member States, three observers and 14 dialogue partners. On 2 December 2004, the General Assembly granted observer status to the SCO within the United Nations. Since then, there has been increasingly close cooperation between the SCO and the United Nations Secretariat, specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has worked diligently to jointly implement projects to achieve the goals of the United Nations as enshrined in its Charter. It is noteworthy that the SCO has played a decisive role in regional affairs since its member States account for half of the world’s population and a quarter of the global gross domestic product. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been a partner of the United Nations in key political, economic and security spheres, among others, including measures to promote peace and counter terrorism and transnational crime, including drug trafficking and illegal migration. It is significant to note that there are regular consultations that the Secretary-General has with his counterparts in SCO through existing inter-agency dialogue platforms. In April 2010, the United Nations and SCO Secretariats signed a joint declaration on cooperation. I would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all delegations for their active participation and consistent contributions during the negotiation process. I strongly encourage Member States to not only endorse and support the draft resolution but also to consider joining it as co-sponsors. We hope to see it adopted by consensus.

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/77/L.107. 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 the delegations listed in document A/77/L.107, the following countries have also become sponsors of the draft resolution: Belarus, Cambodia, the Gambia, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Niger.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/77/L.107, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegations of Azerbaijan, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, Guyana and Yemen informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour; the delegations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom informed the Secretariat that they had intended to abstain.]

Before giving the floor for explanations of vote after the voting, may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

The United States supports close cooperation between the United Nations and various international organizations to make progress on our international challenges, in line with the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant international law. Accordingly, the United States has joined consensus on numerous resolutions similar to this one that encourage cooperation between such organizations and the United Nations. However, at the behest of some of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members, the SCO has continued to emphasize policies and positions that are inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations. Those policies and positions include justifying Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine and emphasizing the concepts of cultural and civilizational diversity as a cover for attempts to undermine universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. SCO member States are challenging the rule of law and international asylum practices by prosecuting individuals for speaking out about regional political autonomy and by committing to repatriating dissidents based on the accusations of other SCO members. Additionally, the United States disagrees with the SCO’s position that equates terrorism, separatism and extremism. That position provides States with the pretext to repress political opponents and dissent, restrict the activities of civil society and marginalize ethnic and religious minorities, ostensibly in the name of countering terrorism. Such Government overreach is wrong and in addition actually undermines counter- terrorism efforts. As the General Assembly has underscored repeatedly in reviews of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law are complementary and mutually reinforcing with effective counter-terrorism measures. Taken together, the United States cannot support resolution 77/338, which emphasizes policies and positions that are inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations. That is why we have voted no accordingly.

I give the floor to the representative of China, who wishes to speak on a point of order.

We would like to know which delegation requested a vote on resolution 77/338.

The request for a recorded vote was put forward by the delegation of the United States of America.

I would like to clarify that my delegation will not be speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We have requested the floor to speak in explanation of vote in our national capacity. The Cuban delegation would like to explain its vote on resolution 77/338 submitted under sub-item (s) of agenda item 127, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization”, which we support. We are not in favour of the politicization of United Nations cooperation issues. It is important that we return to the practice of consensus on this matter in the General Assembly. We must preserve unanimous support for the promotion of cooperation.

I thank the representative of Cuba for clarifying the background of her intervention.

My delegation takes the floor in explanation of vote after the voting. My delegation thanks the representative of Kazakhstan for introducing the resolution 77/338, entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization” and acknowledges the role that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization plays in addressing security in the region in all its dimensions, including in cooperation with relevant regional organizations. My delegation recognizes the efforts of the States members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in promoting counter-terrorism cooperation, combating drugs, addressing security, using information and communications technologies and strengthening peace, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue. Therefore, any attempt to undermine the integrity of the resolution is unacceptable as it would constitute an erosion of the tradition of consensual agreement due to the narrow political interests of some countries. My delegation considers such attempts against a resolution of a technical nature to be an indicator of the growing politicization and polarization in the United Nations, which does not bode well for the Organization. Hence, my delegation has expressed its support for this resolution by voting in favour of it in order to preserve the integrity of our work and the objectives of the United Nations in achieving cooperation and maintaining international peace and security and solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian character.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the voting. The exercise of the right of reply has been requested. May I remind members that statements made in the exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and to five minutes for the second intervention and should be made by delegations from their seats.

We would like to thank Kazakhstan for introducing resolution 77/338 and express our regret that a vote on it was requested, despite the fact that our delegation is trying to not politicize a whole host of resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, independently of how we view said organizations. It is regrettable that the United States of America is politicizing this agenda item. Moreover, we reject attempts to shirk responsibility for stoking the conflict in Ukraine and to make accusations in the context of a discussion on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which have no relevance to this issue.

China is exercising its right of reply with respect to the statement made by the United States. China is a founding member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and we were very happy to be co-sponsor resolution 77/338. We would like to thank Kazakhstan for its work, as coordinator, to promote the resolution. Since its founding in 2001, the SCO has upheld the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, maintaining and safeguarding international equity and justice, and fighting international hegemony and bullying. We have built cooperative relationships based on dialogue rather than confrontation, and partnerships rather than alliances. We have bolstered the maintenance of international peace and stability. In July, the SCO, including China, the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India issued the New Delhi Declaration, which reaffirmed that SCO cooperation is not against any country or organization and the above-mentioned countries would resolve issues and work on the basis of the United Nations Charter, the SCO Charter, international law and the principles of broad cooperation with other countries and organizations. Secretary-General Guterres attended and spoke at that meeting, congratulating the successes of the SCO and expressing his hope that the SCO member States would continue to work with the United Nations in pursuance of the commitments made. The SCO is an observer organization of the General Assembly. It signed a declaration of cooperation with the Assembly, and United Nations resolutions on cooperation between the two entities have been adopted by consensus over many years. The United States and all other Member States took part in this process of consensus. This year, however, the United States objected to the technical rollover of this resolution. Although Kazakhstan made tremendous efforts to resolve those issues, the United States still resorted to requesting a recorded vote on the resolution. We are opposed to the behaviour of the United States — extreme confrontation and dividing the unity of the membership, with the intention of politicizing cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations. The accusations lodged against the SCO and its member States by the United States are totally groundless. In a similar vein, we regret the vote by the member States of the European Union, which is a regional organization deeply involved in the work of the General Assembly, but displays a passive position with regard to cooperation between the SCO and the United Nations. I must say that this is a double standard.

The United Nations should respond to the issues of the day and reflect the diversity of international relations, including cooperation with regional organizations. That is a necessary condition for the work of the United Nations to remain effective in today’s world. In our view, these circumstances do not require further evidence. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is no exception. The territory covered by the SCO is more than two thirds of the Eurasian territory. The population of its countries amounts to 3.5 billion — half of the planet’s population. The SCO’s tasks include strengthening intergovernmental friendship, trust and good-neighbourliness. We welcome the adoption of resolution 77/338, on cooperation between the United Nations and the SCO, is important and constructive. It notes the efforts of Belarus to join the organization as a member State. My country has long been an observer and a reliable partner to the SCO. The initiative to put this resolution to a vote is both surprising and disappointing. Unfortunately, individualism and the ambitions of some States have taken precedence over multilateralism. The populist rhetoric of those States of developing cooperation between the United Nations and inconvenient or competitive regional organizations often drowns out the constructive calls for cooperation. Belarus will continue to advocate for consistent, balanced dialogue on an international level and do everything it can to strengthen multilateralism.

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (s) of agenda item 127?

Members will recall that, at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 16 September 2022, the Assembly decided to include this sub-item in the agenda of the seventy-seventh session. In connection with the item, I have received a letter dated 21 August 2023 from the Permanent Representatives of Finland and Türkiye to the United Nations requesting its inclusion in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session of the Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to defer consideration of this sub-item and to include it in the provisional agenda of its seventy- eighth session? It was so decided (decision 77/569).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 30?

Members will recall that, at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 16 September 2022, the Assembly decided to include this item in its agenda of the seventy- seventh session on the understanding that there would be no consideration of this item by the Assembly. In connection with the item, I have received a note verbale dated 12 April 2023 from the Permanent Mission of the Comoros to the United Nations requesting the inclusion of the item in the provisional agenda of the seventy- eighth session. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to include this item in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session? It was so decided (decision 77/570).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 35?

Members will recall that, at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 16 September 2022, the Assembly decided to include this item in its agenda of the seventy- seventh session. In connection with the item, I have been advised that the Permanent Mission of Croatia to the United Nations requests its inclusion in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to include this item in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session? It was so decided (decision 77/571).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 58?

Members will recall that, at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 16 September 2022, the Assembly decided to include this item in its agenda of the seventy- seventh session. In connection with the item, I have been advised that the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the United Nations requests its inclusion in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to include this item in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session? It was so decided (decision 77/572).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 61?

Members will recall that, at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 16 September 2022, the Assembly decided to include this item in its agenda of the seventy-seventh session. In connection with the item, I have received a letter dated 7 August 2023 from the Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the United Nations requesting its inclusion in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to include agenda item 87 in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session? It was so decided (decision 77/573).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 87?

Members will recall that, at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 16 September 2022, the Assembly decided to include this item in its agenda of the seventy- seventh session. It is my understanding that it would be desirable to include the item in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to include it in the provisional agenda of its seventy-eighth session? It was so decided (decision 77/574).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 123?

Members will recall that, at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 16 September 2022, the Assembly decided to include this item in its agenda of the seventy- seventh session. It is my understanding that it would be desirable to defer consideration of this item to the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to defer consideration of agenda item 157 and to include it in the provisional agenda of its seventy- eighth session? It was so decided (decision 77/575).

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 157?

I should like to remind delegations that the following agenda items remain open for consideration during the seventy-seventh session of the General Assembly: 9, 12, 14, 18, 18 (a) and (j), 20, 21, 21 (a), 27, 30, 30 (a), 32, 33, 37 to 43, 47, 55, 60, 62, 62 (a) and (b), 66, 69, 69 (a) to (c), 72, 72 (a), 78, 116, 116 (b), 118, 118 (d), (e), (f) and (i), 119, 120, 126, 126 (a) and (b), 127, 127 (a), (c), (f), (g), (m), (o), (x) and (z), 128, 134 to 156 and 158 to 167. As Members are aware, those items have been included in the provisional agenda of the seventy-eighth session of the General Assembly, with the exception of agenda item 12, “2001–2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa”; sub-item (b) of agenda item 126, “Central role of the United Nations system in global governance”; and item 127, “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations” and its sub-items. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda items 9, 12, 14, 18, 20, 21, 27, 30, 32, 33, 37 to 43, 47, 55, 60, 62, 66, 69, 72, 78, 116, 118, 119, 120, 126, 127, 128, 134 to 156 and 158 to 167 and their relevant sub-items?