S/PV.4700 Security Council

As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of February, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Jean-Marc de La Sablière, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of January 2003. I am sure I speak for all members of the Security Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sablière for the great diplomatic skill with which he conducted the Council's business last month. I also recognize and welcome the presence of the Secretary-General at our meeting. Adoption of the agenda

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of Côte d’Ivoire, 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 Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Members of the Council have before them document S/2003/99, which contains the text of a letter dated 27 January 2003 from the Permanent Representative of France addressed to the President of the Security Council. Members of the Council also have before them document S/2003/140, which contains the text of a draft resolution prepared in the course of the Council’s prior consultations. It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided.

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 1464 (2003). The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council will remain seized of the matter.