| Date | 16 September 1996 |
|---|---|
| Started | 10:00 |
| Ended | 11:40 |
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Agenda item 120 (continued)
Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations (Article 19 of the Charter) (A/50/888/Add.11)
The President
In a letter contained in document A/50/888/Add.11, the Secretary-General informs the President of the General Assembly that, since the issuance of his communications dated 28 February, 6 March, 3, 11, 16, 23 and 25 April, 10 May, 29 August and 9 and 10 September 1996, Burundi and Niger have made the necessary payments to reduce their arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter.
May I take it that the General Assembly duly takes note of this information?
Agenda item 10 (continued)
Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization
Report of the High-level Open-ended Working Group on the Financial Situation of the United Nations (A/50/43)
Report of the Fifth Committee (A/50/1038) Draft decision (A/50/43, para. 21)
The President
The Assembly has before it the report of the High-level Open-ended Working Group on the Financial Situation of the United Nations, which was circulated as document A/50/43 and which contains a draft decision in paragraph 21.
The report of the Fifth Committee in this connection was circulated as document A/50/1038.
May I take it that the General Assembly takes note of the report of the Fifth Committee?
Mr. Hoey (Ireland)
I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the European Union. The following associated countries -- Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovenia -- align themselves with this statement. Iceland and Liechtenstein also align themselves with this statement.
The European Union is pleased to have been able to support the adoption of this draft decision by the General Assembly, taking note of the report of the High-level Open-ended Working Group on the Financial Situation of the United Nations to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session and extending the work of the High-level Group into the fifty-first session. The European Union has consistently made clear that it attaches the highest importance to the work of the High-level Group and to its efforts to achieve a comprehensive, consensus solution to the financial difficulties confronting the Organization. At this stage, the European Union would like to pay special tribute to the Co-Vice-Chairs of the Group, Ambassador Annette des Iles of Trinidad and Tobago and Ambassador Ernst Sucharipa of Austria, for their tireless and dedicated efforts in furthering the work of the Group and trying to bring it to a successful conclusion.
In welcoming the decision to extend the work of the High-level Group into the fifty-first session, the European Union also has to express its regret that, after almost two years of work, it has still not proved possible for the Group to agree upon any concrete measures for ameliorating the financial situation of the Organization -- this despite the clear urgency of the situation. At the end of August Member States owed $2.9 billion in unpaid assessed contributions to the Organization, while, at the same time, troop contributors, including member States of the European Union, which are collectively the largest financial contributor to the United Nations regular and peacekeeping budgets, and those who are associated with this statement, were owed more than $1 billion. The failure to achieve any substantial progress during the fiftieth session is disappointing compared with the widespread recognition at the fiftieth anniversary Special Commemorative Meeting of the General Assembly of the urgent need for Member States to reach an agreement which will secure a sound financial basis for the Organization and strengthen the United Nations capacity to fulfil its vital tasks.
At the same time, the European Union is encouraged by the exchange of ideas and presentation of proposals on behalf of the vast majority of Member States which characterized the work of the High-level Group during the fiftieth session. The European Union believes that considerable common ground is now evident on many of the key issues confronting the Group. In our view, the stage has now been set for a productive and, indeed, decisive stage of the High-level Group's work, with Member States working to reach agreement on those key elements which must form the basis for comprehensive financial reform.
I would now like very briefly to recall the main elements of the proposal put forward by the European Union last January for tackling the financial situation. We believe that the solution to the financial crisis must include various closely interlinked elements -- first and foremost, a commitment by all those in arrears to pay what they owe and in future to honour their financial obligations on time, in full and without conditions. The European Union has already indicated that in expecting those concerned to clear their arrears, some account should be taken of those Member States with genuine payment difficulties.
Secondly, a system of incentives and disincentives should be implemented to ensure that Member States in future observe their legal obligation to make payments in full, on time and without conditions.
The third element of any solution must be a reform of the scale of assessments in order to produce a scale whose calculation is simpler, fairer and more transparent and which better reflects the principle of "capacity to pay". For the European Union, that principle must remain the primary measure of the level of each Member State's contribution to the United Nations. Any reform of the scale must aim at ensuring as close a relationship as possible between Member States' contributions and their actual capacity to pay, and at the same time give adequate consideration to the needs of countries with low per capita income. In parallel with financial reform, the European Union believes it is necessary to carry out a general streamlining of the United Nations system in order to make it more efficient and cost-effective.
The European Union also wishes to reiterate that to resolve the United Nations financial difficulties what is required is a balanced and comprehensive package in which all aspects of the problem are adequately addressed. The European Union believes that its proposals remain the best basis for a negotiated solution that can command the support of all Member States.
The European Union stands ready to continue participating constructively in the work of the High-level Group and looks forward to an early resumption of its activities during the fifty-first session. In this regard, we have already indicated that we think it could be useful to hold, at an appropriate time, an orientation debate on the financial situation of the United Nations in plenary meeting of the General Assembly, in order to give a political impulse to the resumption of the High-level Group's work in January 1997.
In conclusion, we would urge all Member States to build both on the progress achieved to date in the High-level Working Group and on the commitment evident at the fiftieth-anniversary Special Commemorative Meeting of the General Assembly, with a view to intensifying efforts to arrive at a comprehensive agreement during the course of the fifty-first session. Only in this way will we be able to safeguard the financial future and well-being of this Organization as we approach the new millennium.
The President
We have heard the only speaker in the debate on this item. We shall now proceed to consider the draft decision contained in paragraph 21 of the report of the High-level Open-ended Working Group on the Financial Situation of the United Nations (A/50/43).
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision contained in paragraph 21 of the report of the High-level Open-ended Working Group on the Financial Situation of the United Nations. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt the draft decision?
The President
I should like now to make an announcement concerning the Informal Open-ended Working Group on an Agenda for Peace.
I am pleased to inform members that two of the sub-groups, on coordination and on the question of United-Nations-imposed sanctions, have concluded their work and have arrived at provisional texts, which are contained in documents WGAP/96/1 and WGAP/96/2. However, decisions on post-conflict peace-building and on preventive diplomacy and peacemaking are still outstanding.
Owing to time constraints and ongoing consultations, the Working Group was unable to conclude the rest of its work at this session and would like to resume its work during the fifty-first session of the General Assembly to consider outstanding issues with a view to submitting to the Assembly a draft resolution or draft resolutions for its consideration as soon as possible.
Subject to any decision that may be taken in that connection at the fifty-first session of the General Assembly, the Informal Open-ended Working Group on an Agenda for Peace would continue its work during the fifty-first session of the Assembly.
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 10?
Agenda item 47 (continued)
Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters
Report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation On and Increase In the Membership of the Security Council and Related Matters (A/50/47 and Add.1)
Draft decision (A/50/47, para. 36)
Mr. Zlenko (Ukraine)
On behalf of my delegation, Sir, I congratulate you sincerely on the terrific job you have done as President of the General Assembly. Under your skilful leadership, the Organization, which is going through times that are not of the best, has gained a significant credit of trust on the part of Member States.
The delegation of Ukraine credits you, as Chairman of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation On and Increase In the Membership of the Security Council and Related Matters, along with your brave co-Vice-Chairmen, Ambassador Breitenstein of Finland and Ambassador Jayanama of Thailand, with the first real success in the work of our Working Group. This year, our delegations, after long months of sometimes heated discussions, have reached a convergence of views on the content of the Group's discussions during the fiftieth session.
While evaluating the work of the Group positively, my delegation was among the last to drop its opposition to the content of the report. In our view, the conclusion of the Group as presented in paragraph 23 lacks impartiality and balance, reflecting only one part of the truth and not mentioning the other. The delegation of Ukraine is deeply concerned by the fact that logic and common sense are still rare guests during the discussions of our Group. My delegation strongly believes that deliberate attempts not to take notice of the legitimate interests of all Member States from all regions and groups can be, and are, detrimental to the goal of our exercise.
As far as paragraph 23 of document A/50/47 is concerned, my delegation decided to drop its objections in the spirit of compromise, having had a positive response to the Eastern European group interpretation on the part of other countries. At the same time, the delegation of Ukraine will continue to insist during the future work of the Working Group on explicit recognition of the significant increase in the number of members of the Eastern European regional group in the context of the expansion of the Security Council and the overall equitable geographical distribution of all regions in that important body.
My delegation also wishes to recall that it will be in a position to support the reform of the Security Council, specifically its expansion, only if the representation of all regional groups, including the Eastern European group, is increased.
My delegation would like to assure you, Sir, and your successor that it will be the last to cease its attempts to lead the Working Group to the successful end of its work.
The President
We have heard the only speaker in the debate on this item.
In view of the desire of members to dispose of this item expeditiously, I should like to consult the Assembly with a view to proceeding immediately to consider the draft decision contained in paragraph 36 of document A/50/47. In this connection, since the report containing the draft decision was circulated only this morning, it would be necessary to waive the relevant provision of rule 78 of the rules of procedure, which reads as follows:
"... As a general rule, no proposal shall be discussed or put to the vote at any meeting of the General Assembly unless copies of it have been circulated to all delegations not later than the day preceding the meeting".
Unless I hear any objection, I will take it that the Assembly agrees with the proposal to waive that provision.
The President
The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft decision contained in paragraph 36 of document A/50/47, the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council.
May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt the draft decision?
The President
May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 47?
Agenda item 99 (continued)
Agenda for development
Report of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group of the General Assembly on an Agenda for Development (A/50/45)
Draft decision (A/50/45, section III)
Mr. Berrocal Soto (Costa Rica)
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| <type 'exceptions.UnicodeEncodeError'> | Python 2.6.6: /usr/bin/python Mon May 20 07:02:06 2013 |
A problem occurred in a Python script. Here is the sequence of function calls leading up to the error, in the order they occurred.
| /data/vhost/www.undemocracy.com/docs/trunk.py in |
| 194 if __name__ == "__main__": |
| 195 pathpart = os.getenv("PATH_INFO") |
| 196 maintrunk(pathpart) |
| 197 |
| 198 |
| maintrunk = <function maintrunk>, pathpart = '/generalassembly_50/meeting_126' |
| /data/vhost/www.undemocracy.com/docs/trunk.py in maintrunk(pathpart='/generalassembly_50/meeting_126') |
| 131 elif pagefunc == "gameeting": |
| 132 LogIncomingDB(hmap["docid"], hmap["gadice"] or "0", referrer, ipaddress, useragent, remadeurl) |
| 133 WriteHTML(hmap["htmlfile"], hmap["pdfinfo"], hmap["gadice"], hmap["highlightdoclink"]) |
| 134 elif pagefunc == "agendanumexpanded": |
| 135 LogIncomingDB(pagefunc, hmap["agendanum"], referrer, ipaddress, useragent, remadeurl) |
| global WriteHTML = <function WriteHTML>, hmap = {'docid': 'A-50-PV.126', 'gadice': '', 'gameeting': 126, 'gasession': 50, 'highlightdoclink': None, 'htmlfile': '/home/undemocracy/undata/html/A-50-PV.126.html', 'pagefunc': 'gameeting', 'pdfinfo': <pdfinfo.PdfInfo instance>} |
| /home/undemocracy/unparse-live/web2/unpvmeeting.py in WriteHTML(fhtml='/home/undemocracy/undata/html/A-50-PV.126.html', pdfinfo=<pdfinfo.PdfInfo instance>, gadice='', highlightth=None) |
| 322 if dclass == "spoken": |
| 323 if not gadice or agendagidcurrent == gadice: |
| 324 WriteSpoken(gid, dtextmu, councilpresidentnation) |
| 325 elif dclass == "subheading": |
| 326 if agendagidcurrent and (not gadice or agendagidcurrent == gadice): |
| global WriteSpoken = <function WriteSpoken>, gid = u'pg004-bk08', dtextmu = u'<h3 class="speaker"> <span class="name">Mr. Berr...ent is finally adopted in the United Nations.</p>', councilpresidentnation = None |
| /home/undemocracy/unparse-live/web2/unpvmeeting.py in WriteSpoken(gid=u'pg004-bk08', dtext=u'<h3 class="speaker"> <span class="name">Mr. Berr...ent is finally adopted in the United Nations.</p>', councilpresidentnation=None) |
| 69 print '</cite>' |
| 70 |
| 71 print dtext[mspek.end(0):] |
| 72 |
| 73 print '</div>' |
| dtext = u'<h3 class="speaker"> <span class="name">Mr. Berr...ent is finally adopted in the United Nations.</p>', mspek = <_sre.SRE_Match object>, mspek.end = <built-in method end of _sre.SRE_Match object> |
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encoding =
'ascii'
end =
5263
message =
''
object =
u'\n\t<p id="pg004-bk08-pa01">I have the honour to a...ent is finally adopted in the United Nations.</p>'
reason =
'ordinal not in range(128)'
start =
5262