General Assembly Session 62 meeting 78

The President

In connection with draft resolution A/62/L.40, I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Ms. Kelley (Department for General Assembly and Conference Management)

In connection with draft resolution A/62/L.40, entitled "Organization of the 2008 comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS", I wish to put on record the following statement of financial implications on behalf of the Secretary-General in accordance rule 153 of the rules of procedure.

Under the terms of operative paragraphs 1 and 2 of the draft resolution, the General Assembly would decide

"to convene a high-level meeting on 10 and 11 June 2008, which will undertake a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, as well as promote continued engagement of leaders in a comprehensive global response to AIDS;"

and would decide that the organizational arrangements for the high-level meeting would comprise plenary meetings, five thematic panel discussions and an informal interactive hearing with civil society

"organized with the active participation of people living with HIV/AIDS and broader civil society, and will be attended by representatives of Member States, the Observer State and observers, non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, invited civil society organizations and the private sector;".

Pursuant to operative paragraphs 1 and 2 of the draft resolution, it is envisaged that a total of 10 meetings with interpretation services in the 6 official languages would be held, comprising four plenary meetings, one interactive civil society hearing and five thematic panel discussions. Documentation requirements include verbatim records for the four plenary meetings and 17 pages pre-session and 17 pages post-session documentation to be translated into the six official languages.

Should the General Assembly adopt operative paragraphs 1 and 2 of draft resolution A/62/L.40, it is estimated that their implementation would involve additional conference servicing resources for three of the envisaged five thematic panel discussions estimated in the total amount of $36,200 as follows: Section 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management, $34,300; and Section 28D; Office of Central Support Services, $1,900. No additional resources would be required for the interactive civil society hearing and the plenary meetings, since these could be serviced from within existing resources already allocated to meetings of the General Assembly.

Although provisions have not been included under the aforementioned respective sections of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009, in order to implement the activities as envisaged under operative paragraphs 1 and 2 of the draft resolution, it is anticipated the requirements could be met from within the resources proposed under the sections for the biennium 2008-2009. Accordingly, no additional appropriations will be required.

The President

The Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/62/L.40, entitled "Organization of the 2008 comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS". May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution A/62/L.40?

The President

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 44.

The President

Members will recall that, at its 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, the Assembly, on the recommendation of the Third Committee, decided that the two new members of the Consultative Committee of the United Nations Development Fund for Women shall be granted a full term of three years, commencing on 1 January 2008 and ending on 31 December 2010.

Following consultations, I have appointed Chile and the Republic of Korea as members of the Consultative Committee of the United Nations Development Fund for Women for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 2008 and ending on 31 December 2010. May I consider that the General Assembly takes note of those appointments?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (j) of agenda item 114?

The President

Members will recall that the General Assembly held its debate on agenda item 64 and its sub-items (a) and (b) jointly with agenda item 47 at the 27th to 29th plenary meetings, held on 18 and 19 October 2007.

Before proceeding further, I wish to inform members that action on draft resolution A/62/L.29 has been postponed to a later date to allow time for consultations.

I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan to introduce draft resolution A/62/L.10/Rev.1.

Mr. Amil (Pakistan)

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, as well as other sponsors, I have the honour to introduce the draft resolution under sub-item (a) of agenda item 64, entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support", contained in document A/62/L.10/Rev.1.

There is much that has been achieved in Africa since the launch of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). It represents the collective determination and commitment of Africa to place its countries on the road to sustainable economic and social development by taking control of its own development and by fighting poverty.

Today, as we stand at the halfway mark towards 2015, the target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Africa, unfortunately, remains the only continent not on track to achieve the MDGs by 2015. If we are to succeed in eradicating poverty and hunger in Africa, then urgent and concerted action by developed countries and the international community is needed. That obviously entails further strengthening and enhancement of the global partnership for development and vigorous implementation of all development commitments -- in particular the promises that have been made in support of Africa -- without any further delay. Today, the inadequacy of resources is widely seen as the main constraint on African development. While we welcome the support provided by the international community, and the United Nations in particular, much more needs to be done.

It is against that backdrop that the Group of 77 and China submitted the present draft resolution, which requires the attention of the international community.

While recognizing the progress made in the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development as well as regional and international support for NEPAD, the draft resolution acknowledges that much needs to be done in its implementation. It recognizes the need for African countries to continue to coordinate, in accordance with their respective national strategies and priorities, all types of external assistance in order to effectively integrate such assistance into their development processes.

The draft resolution calls for comprehensive and sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by African countries, including external debt, the need for coherence in the trade policies towards African countries, the full integration of African countries into the international trading system through initiatives such as building Africa's capacity to compete, and the provision of assistance to address the adjustment challenges of trade liberalization.

While recognizing the need for the international community to make continued efforts to increase the flow of new and additional resources for development financing from all sources -- public and private, domestic and foreign -- to support the development of African countries, the draft resolution calls for the fulfilment of commitments by the developed countries to ensure that the increase in official development assistance translates into an actual flow of financial resources to developing countries.

The draft resolution reaffirms the General Assembly's decision to hold a high-level meeting on "Africa's development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward" during its sixty-third session and stresses the need for close consultation between the United Nations and the African Union in preparing for the high-level meeting.

Mr. Amil (Pakistan)

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I wish to thank all those Member States that sponsored this important draft resolution to express their commitment to strengthening international cooperation to achieve the goal of development in Africa. We hope that, as in the past, the General Assembly will adopt the draft resolution under this item by consensus.

Finally, I would like to announce that Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom have joined the list of sponsors.

The Acting President

We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/62/L.10/Rev.1. In connection with the draft resolution, I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Ms. Kelley (Department for General Assembly and Conference Management)

In connection with draft resolution A/62/L.10/Rev.1, entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support", I wish to place on record the following statement of financial implications on behalf of the Secretary-General, in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly.

By operative paragraphs 30 and 34 of draft resolution A/62/L.10/Rev.1, the General Assembly would reaffirm its decision

"to hold within existing resources a high-level meeting on 'Africa's development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward' during its sixty-third session"

and request the Secretary-General

"to take measures to strengthen the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa in order to enable it to effectively fulfil its mandate, including monitoring and reporting on progress related to meeting the special needs of Africa".

Pursuant to the operative paragraph 30 of the draft resolution, it is understood that the high-level meeting would be held in the context of the regular plenary meetings of the General Assembly. Provision for conference servicing costs for the Assembly's sixty-third session has been included in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009. Any additional conference servicing requirements for related activities, such as parallel meetings of the General Assembly, round tables, hearings and/or panels, will be reviewed and evaluated later, when the format and modalities of this high-level meeting are determined.

Pursuant to operative paragraph 34 of the draft resolution, resources amounting to $7,360,100 before recosting have been provided under subprogramme 1 of section 11, United Nations support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009, for the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa. Accordingly, adoption of draft resolution A/62/L.10/Rev.1 would not give rise to any financial implications under the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009.

The Acting President

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/62/L.10/Rev.1. There are two additional sponsors, namely France and Belgium. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/62/L.10/Rev.1?

The Acting President

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 64.

The Acting President

Members will recall that the General Assembly held the debate on agenda item 47, jointly with agenda item 64 and its sub-items (a) and (b), at the 27th to 29th plenary meetings, on 18 and 19 October 2007.

I now give the floor to the representative of Botswana to introduce draft resolution A/62/L.39.

Mr. Outlule (Botswana)

On behalf of the Group of African States and all sponsors, I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/62/L.39, entitled "2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa".

At the outset, let me make a correction to the text. In operative paragraph 3, in the phrase "through targeted funding from multilateral and bilateral sources", the word "targeted" should be deleted. The paragraph thus reads:

"Also welcomes the increased funding for malaria interventions and for research and development of preventive and control tools from the international community, through funding from multilateral and bilateral sources and from the private sector ...".

The Group of African States wishes to thank all Member States that participated in the negotiations on the draft resolution. Their contributions enriched the draft, the implementation of which will facilitate the eradication of that deadly disease. We also wish to express our appreciation and gratitude to Mrs. Joyce Kafanabo of the United Republic of Tanzania for skilfully and diligently facilitating the negotiations on this draft resolution.

In introducing the draft resolution, it is our hope that, as in previous years, it will be adopted by consensus, thus reflecting our unity of purpose to eradicate this disease, the vector of which, the anopheles mosquito, is one of the most infamous and insidious insects in the history of human health.

Africa bears an overwhelming proportion of the malaria burden. It costs Africa $12 billion per annum in lost gross domestic product. It consumes up to 34 per cent of household incomes and 40 per cent of Government health spending. But we all know that, with advances in science and technology, malaria is a disease that is preventable, treatable and curable.

Our concerted efforts to roll back malaria are thus imperative because it can be done in a simple, measurable, achievable, realistic way, and within a time-bound period. That is why we speak of the period 2001-2010 for rolling back malaria. We wish to continue to count on the ongoing support and assured assistance of the international community in order to achieve the objective of rolling back malaria by 2010.

The Group of African States is presenting this annual draft resolution as part of our effort to combat malaria and to achieve Millennium Development Goals. In the fight against malaria, we must recognize that defeat is not an option, because with the huge advances in science and technology, it would be a shame to the international community if human civilization were to surrender to the mosquito.

This draft resolution updates a similar resolution adopted last year to take into account new developments and measures to combat malaria. The draft further welcomes the decision by the World Health Assembly to commemorate Malaria Day annually, the increase in funding to combat malaria and the improved predictability of such funding.

We appeal to Member States and the international community as a whole to work in a spirit of cooperation towards effective, increased, harmonized and sustained bilateral and multilateral support to combat malaria.

Once again, it is our wish that this draft resolution be adopted by consensus.

The Acting President

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/62/L.39, as orally corrected. Additional sponsors of the draft are Canada, Croatia, Finland, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar and Portugal.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt A/62/L.39, as orally corrected?

The Acting President

I now give the floor to the Observer of the Observer State of the Holy See for a general statement after adoption of the resolution.

Father Meyer (Holy See)

The Holy See welcomes the adoption of resolution 62/180, entitled "2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa", and expresses its gratitude to the United Republic of Tanzania, the resolution's main sponsor, along with the African Group and the many delegations that worked cooperatively to advance this valuable text.

The Holy See commends the adoption of this consensus resolution, particularly because it recognizes that malaria can be substantially eliminated by educating and sensitizing the public and by committing resources towards this issue.

Further, there is an ongoing need to ensure greater distribution of resources for research and treatment. As a world community, we know that malaria is a threat to health security; this threat will be addressed if the global family commits itself to affordable, action-oriented programmes involving research, vaccination, treatment and preventative education. This resolution is a step in that direction.

The Acting President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 47?

The Acting President

The General Assembly will consider the reports of the Second Committee on agenda items 41, 51, 52 and its sub-items (a) to (c), 53, 54 and its sub-items (a) to (i), 55, 56 and its sub-items (a) to (c), 57 and its sub-items (a) and (b), 58 and its sub-items (a) to (c), 59 and its sub-items (a) to (c), 60, 61, 121 and 129.

I request the rapporteur of the Second Committee, Ms. Tamar Tchitanava of Georgia, to introduce in one intervention the reports of the Second Committee.

Ms. Tchitanava (Georgia)

I have the honour to present for the Assembly's consideration the following reports of the Second Committee on the agenda items allocated to it by the General Assembly at its sixty-second session.

Ms. Tchitanava (Georgia)

Under agenda item 41, entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 14 of document A/62/415 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 51, entitled "Information and communication technologies for development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 10 of document A/62/416 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 52, entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the report of the Second Committee is issued in four parts. The report under the chapeau "Macroeconomic policy questions" is contained in document A/62/417, and the recommendations are contained in the following addenda: Under sub-item 52 (a), entitled "International trade and development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 12 of document A/62/417/Add.1 the adoption of two draft resolutions; Under sub-item 52 (b), entitled "International financial system and development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/417/Add.2 the adoption of one draft resolution; Under sub-item 52 (c), entitled "External debt crisis and development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 9 of document A/62/417/Add.3 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 53, entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development", the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 12 of document A/62/418 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 54, entitled "Sustainable development", the report of the Second Committee is issued in eleven parts. The following recommendations are contained in Part I and Part II of the report under the chapeau "Sustainable development", as well as in the various addenda. Under the chapeau of item 54, in paragraph 14 of document A/62/419 (Part I), the draft resolution entitled "Non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests" was adopted by the General Assembly at its 74th plenary meeting on 17 December. Also under the chapeau of item 54, the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 10 of document A/62/419 Part II the adoption of one draft resolution entitled "Oil slick on Lebanese shores".

Under sub-item 54 (a), entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 13 of document A/62/419/Add.1 the adoption of two draft resolutions.

Under sub-item 54 (b), entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 7 of document A/62/419/Add.2 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 54 (c), entitled "International Strategy for Disaster Reduction", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/419/Add.3 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 54 (d), entitled "Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind", in paragraph 10 of document A/62/419/Add.4, the draft resolution entitled "Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind" was adopted by the General Assembly at its 65th plenary meeting on 10 December.

Under sub-item 54 (e), entitled "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 9 of document A/62/419/Add.5 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 54 (f), entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 7 of document A/62/419/Add.6 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 54 (g), entitled "Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-fourth session", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/419/Add.7 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 54 (h), entitled "Sustainable mountain development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 7 of document A/62/419/Add.8 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 54 (i), entitled "Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 9 of document A/62/419/Add.9 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 55, entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 12 of document A/62/420 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 56, entitled "Globalization and interdependence", the report of the Committee has been issued in four parts. The report under the chapeau is contained in document A/62/421, and the recommendations are contained in the following addenda.

Under sub-item 56 (a), entitled "Globalization and interdependence", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/421/Add.1 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 56 (b), entitled "Science and technology for development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 14 of document A/62/421/Add.2 the adoption of two draft resolutions. In connection with that report, I wish to make the following corrections to draft resolution II, entitled "Science and technology for development". In operative paragraph 8, the word "affordable" and the words "including on concessional and preferential terms" should be deleted. The latter part of that paragraph should thus read as follows: "technology for developing countries, under fair, transparent and mutually agreed terms, in a manner conducive to social and economic welfare for the benefit of society".

Under sub-item 56 (c), entitled "Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/421/Add.3 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 57, entitled "Groups of countries in special situations", the report of the Committee has been issued in three parts. The report under the chapeau is contained in document A/62/422, and the recommendations are contained in the following addenda.

Under sub-item 57 (a), entitled "Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/422/Add.1 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 57 (b), entitled "Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/422/Add.2 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 58, entitled "Eradication of poverty and other development issues", the report of the Committee has been issued in four parts. The report under the chapeau is contained in document A/62/423, and the recommendations are contained in the following addenda.

Under sub-item 58 (a), entitled "Implementation of the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/423/Add.1 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 58 (b), entitled "Women in development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/423/Add.2 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 58 (c), entitled "Human resources development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/423/Add.3 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 59, entitled "Operational activities for development", the report of the Committee has been issued in four parts. The following recommendations are contained in the report under the chapeau as well as in the various addenda.

Under the chapeau of item 59, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 7 of document A/62/424, the adoption of one draft decision, entitled "Amendments to the General Regulations of the World Food Programme".

Under sub-item 59 (a), entitled "Operational activities for development of the United Nations system", the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 3 of document A/62/424/Add.1, the adoption of one draft decision, entitled "Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report on the activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women".

Under sub-item 59 (b), entitled "Triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 9 of document A/62/424/Add.2 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under sub-item 59 (c), entitled "South-South cooperation for development", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 8 of document A/62/424/Add.3 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 60, entitled "Training and research: United Nations Institute for Training and Research", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 12 of document A/62/425 the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 61, entitled "Towards global partnerships", the Second Committee recommends, in document A/62/426, paragraph 10, the adoption of one draft resolution.

Under agenda item 121, entitled "Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly", the Second Committee recommends in paragraph 5 of document A/62/427 the adoption of one draft decision.

Under agenda item 129, entitled "Programme planning", as indicated in paragraph 3 of document A/62/428, no action was taken by the Second Committee.

Ms. Tchitanava (Georgia)

I thank members for their patience in listening to my rather lengthy notes. I request delegations with technical corrections to the texts of draft resolutions adopted by the Second Committee to communicate as soon as possible with the Committee secretariat so that those corrections can be made prior to the issuance of the final texts as resolutions of the General Assembly.

I take this opportunity, to thank the President of the General Assembly most sincerely. I wish also to thank the Chairperson of the Second Committee, Ms. Kirsti Lintonen of Finland, as well as the Vice-Chairpersons, Ms. Melanie Santizo-Sandoval of Guatemala, Mr. Hassan Ali Saleh of Lebanon and Mr. Peter Le Roux of South Africa, for their extraordinary collaboration and partnership.

I would like sincerely to thank the Secretariat for the outstanding assistance it has provided me and the other members of the Bureau during this session. I also wish to express my gratitude to all the facilitators for their excellent help during our difficult discussions, in particular Mr. Thomas Gass of Switzerland, who spared no effort to achieve consensus on the most difficult text, namely, the draft resolution on the triennial comprehensive policy review.

Finally, on a more personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to convey my best wishes to those colleagues who are celebrating an important holiday today, as well as to those who just finished celebrating the beautiful Festival of Lights and those who are looking forward to the Christmas holiday. I wish all delegations a wonderful end-of-year celebration and a well-deserved break. Last but not least, I wish all members peace and prosperity in the new year.

The Acting President

I thank Ms. Tamar Tchitanava of Georgia, Rapporteur of the Second Committee, for her introduction of the Committee's reports.

If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Second Committee which are before the Assembly today.

The Acting President

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Second Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. May I remind Members that, under paragraph 7 of decision 34/401, the General Assembly agreed that

"When the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, i.e., either in the Committee or in plenary meeting, unless that delegation's vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee".

May I remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Second Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Second Committee, unless the Secretariat is notified otherwise in advance. That means that where recorded votes or separate votes were taken, we will do the same. I also hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Second Committee.

The Assembly is reminded that shortly we will be taking action on draft resolutions recommended for adoption by the Second Committee and, thus, those draft resolutions can no longer be additionally sponsored in plenary meeting by Member States. Any corrections delegations may have concerning the reports of the Second Committee, including the listing of sponsors of a draft resolution contained in the reports of the Committee, should be submitted to the secretariat of the Second Committee for the issuance of corrigenda.

Before proceeding further, I would like to draw the attention of members to a note by the Secretariat distributed desk-to-desk. The note will serve as a reference guide for action on draft resolutions and draft decisions recommended by the Second Committee in its reports.

The President

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 14 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested.

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 41?

The President

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 51?

The President

May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Second Committee?

The President

The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 52.

The President

The Assembly has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 12 of its report. We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I and II.

Draft resolution I is entitled "Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries". A recorded vote has been requested.

The President

Draft resolution II is entitled "International trade and development". A recorded vote has been requested.

The President

I now give the floor to the representative of the United States, who wishes to speak in explanation of vote on one of the resolutions just adopted.

Mr. Rees (United States)

The United States would like to explain its vote with respect to resolution 62/183, which is entitled "Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries" and was submitted under sub-item (a) of agenda item 52.

The United States opposes this resolution. Every State has the sovereign power to restrict or cut off trade or other commerce with particular nations when the State believes it is in its national economic or security interest to do so or when it serves values about which the nation feels strongly. The suggestion that there is any international legal prohibition against such a right is at best fatuous. That is why so many countries have abstained from supporting the resolution today.

Sanctions are specifically provided for under the United Nations Charter, because the framers saw them as effective, and generally interim, measures -- targeted measures -- that, as part of a broader diplomatic and political strategy, can help the international community to restore peace and security without resort to the use of force. Sanctions should not be used in all cases and must be carefully calibrated to achieve their objectives. In some instances, sanctions are designed to pressure a State to return to generally accepted international norms such as democracy and the rule of law. In other cases, sanctions such as arms embargoes, prohibition on access to nuclear materials and others play a critical role in denying States the tools they need to engage in harmful acts that threaten international peace and security.

Member States must admit, if only to themselves, that the resolution is actually aimed at undermining the international community's ability to respond effectively to acts that, by their very nature and enormity, are offensive to genuine international norms such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law. There must be consequences for such actions, lest the offending States have no incentive or reason to abandon them.

Economic sanctions, whether multilateral or unilateral, can be, and in fact have been, effective means to achieve legitimate foreign policy objectives. For example, they have cut financial flows to corrupt Powers involved in human rights violations and have also led to a regime's choice to give up nuclear-weapons ambitions. My Government is not prepared to concede that sanctions are not a legitimate and effective tool of statecraft. This resolution will do nothing to change that view.

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 52?

The President

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 52?

The President

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled "External debt and development: towards a durable solution to the debt problems of developing countries". The Second Committee adopted the draft resolution. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 52 and of agenda item 52 as a whole?

The President

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 12 of its report.

Before the Assembly takes action on this draft resolution, I would like to extend my appreciation to the two facilitators -- His Excellency Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz, Permanent Representative of Egypt, and His Excellency Ambassador Johan Løvald, Permanent Representative of Norway -- for their tireless efforts to broker a balanced agreement. I would also like to thank the negotiators representing key groups and individual Member States for the spirit of compromise, professionalism and flexibility that prevailed throughout the extensive informal consultations on this draft resolution.

As I noted at the opening of this session, financing for development is one of the key priorities for the Assembly. I wish to assure all Member States that it will remain a priority next year as we begin the comprehensive preparatory process, including several multi-stakeholder review sessions on the six thematic areas of the Monterrey Consensus. To ensure an optimal outcome from the Doha Conference, those substantive interactive review sessions should allow participation from experts from capitals and all key stakeholders involved in the Monterrey process. I would also like to see Member States taking a leading role organizing and participating in the sessions. The review session will therefore be given maximum priority, within existing resources and taking into account other informal consultation processes of the General Assembly next year.

I am confident that, by continuing to work cooperatively and with flexibility, we can produce the first draft of an outcome document by the end of July 2008, which can then serve as the initial basis for a successful outcome of Doha.

We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled "Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus". The Second Committee adopted the draft resolution. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The President

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 53.

The President

Members will recall that, at its 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, the Assembly considered the report of the Second Committee on this item contained in document A/62/419 (Part I) and adopted the draft resolution contained therein as resolution 62/98. The Assembly now has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 10 of Part II of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, entitled "Oil slick on Lebanese shores". A recorded vote has been requested.

The President

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 54.

The President

The Assembly has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 13 of its report. We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I and II.

The Second Committee adopted draft resolution I, entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development". May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The President

Draft resolution II is entitled "Agricultural technology for development". A recorded vote has been requested.

The President

I now give the floor to the representative of Israel, who wishes to speak in explanation of vote on the resolution just adopted.

Mr. Carmon (Israel)

My delegation wishes to take this opportunity to express its appreciation to all the original sponsors, to those Member States that joined along the way and to those that voted in support of resolution 62/190. We wish also to thank the representative of Finland, Chairperson of the Second Committee, and the facilitator for this resolution, whose leadership was instrumental to this successful outcome. Many thanks also go to you, Mr. President, for the continued interest that you and your Office have demonstrated on this important resolution.

As this resolution was solely of socio-economic concern, it is regrettable that some delegations felt the need to inject politicization and partisanship into the deliberations and the lengthy process surrounding its adoption. This is a non-political resolution that we feel benefits humankind and the international community as a whole and also bolsters development. My delegation would have preferred for the resolution to be free from all political elements and we were disappointed that it could not be adopted by the Assembly by consensus.

At the end of this lengthy process, some Member States felt that they could not support the resolution. We respect the decision of some Arab delegations to vote as they did. However, such a decision was the outcome of political circumstances, and not substantive and professional disagreement.

Nevertheless, my delegation is pleased that this initiative brought together a wide spectrum of sponsors and earned the support of the Assembly. There can be no greater sign of the undeniable importance of this resolution for sustainable development, achieving the Millennium Development Goals and alleviating and improving poor agricultural conditions in developing countries for all of humankind and for the betterment of our shared world. The next step is to implement the resolution. We are determined to set it in motion for the benefit of all Member States.

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 54?

The President

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted the draft resolution. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The President

I now give the floor to the representative of Venezuela, who wishes to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.

Mr. Rangel (Venezuela)

My delegation is taking the floor to explain its position with regard to the resolution entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States", as contained in document A/62/419/Add.2.

In that connection, my country participated actively and with the best of intentions in order to usefully cooperate on behalf of the sustainable development of small island developing States, which is a main goal of the policy of solidarity and cooperation of the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela vis-à-vis its brothers in small island developing States.

Nevertheless, allow me to reiterate the reservations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela with regard to paragraphs 27 (a) and (b) of the Mauritius Strategy, given that our country is not party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. As a result, unless they have been incorporated into our national legislation, the Convention's norms are not applicable to us, either as conventional or customary law.

I am grateful for this opportunity to point out those explicit reservations.

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 54?

The President

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted the draft resolution. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 54?

The President

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We shall now take a decision on the draft resolution.

A separate vote has been requested on operative paragraph 17 of the draft resolution. Is there any objection to that request? I see that there is none. A recorded vote has been requested.

The President

The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution as a whole. The Second Committee adopted the draft resolution. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (e) of agenda item 54?

The President

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted the draft resolution. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (f) of agenda item 54?