S/PV.4076 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council's agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them the second report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Preliminary Deployment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, document S/1999/1116 and Corr.1. Members of the Council also have before them document S/1999/1207, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council's prior consultations. It is my understanding that the Security Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution (S/1998/1207) before it. If I hear no objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1279 (1999). The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. Expression of farewell by the outgoing President

Before adjourning this meeting, since this is the last meeting of the Slovene presidency of November 1999, I would like to express on behalf of my delegation our gratitude to all the members of the Security Council. We are grateful for the assistance and understanding that members have rendered to the presidency throughout this month, for the moral support and for the great spirit in which the Council worked in the month of November. We are particularly grateful to Mr. Stephanides and Ms. Blenman and their team for the very efficient support and assistance which has been ever available to the President of the Security Council. They have helped greatly in overcoming a variety of technical and other obstacles to the work of the Council. I would like to express today our particular admiration for the interpreters, who have been with us for many long hours, showing great patience and professionalism. They have made our agreements and differences perfectly understood. This has helped us in our work. We are grateful to the entire staff of the Secretariat, all the document officers, technicians, conference room officers, security officers and others who make the operation of the Security Council possible. The Security Council is a complex mechanism, and without all this support it would not be able to organize its work. As the outgoing President, I would like to inform the Council that the reception that I am hosting is starting within a few minutes and all are invited.