General Assembly Session 63 meeting 68

The Acting President

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/63/L.51, entitled "Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace".

Since the draft resolution was submitted, the following countries have become sponsors: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay.

May I take it that the General Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/63/L.51?

The Acting President

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 42?

The Acting President

Members will recall that the Assembly held the debate on this agenda item and its sub-items at its 43rd to 45th meetings, on 10 and 11 November. Members will also recall that the Assembly adopted a resolution under sub-item (b) at the 45th meeting.

I call on the representative of Indonesia to introduce draft resolution A/63/L.47.

Mrs. Asmady (Indonesia)

I have the honour to introduce, on behalf of the tsunami-affected countries, draft resolution A/63/L.47, entitled "Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster".

The Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004 is still considered one of the unprecedented natural disasters in recorded history. The casualties of this natural disaster reached historical and enormous proportions; the lives of more than 260,000 people were claimed.

Beyond the initial emergency relief, affected countries have the arduous task of reconstructing and rehabilitating the damaged areas. We attach great importance to the role of the international community and the United Nations in supporting affected countries in the emergency relief phase and in the process of transition from relief to development.

While continuing the post-tsunami disaster recovery, the affected countries have agreed that this draft resolution will be the last. In this regard, on behalf of the tsunami-affected countries, I wish to express our deepest gratitude for the General Assembly's continued support and its endorsement of past draft resolutions.

The Indian Ocean tsunami was a hard reminder that disasters can happen at any time. Years of development could easily be wiped out in a matter of minutes. This tragic event called attention to the pressing need to reduce risk and improve the management of natural hazards. For this reason, the efforts being made are not simply to restore communities to their pre-tsunami vulnerability, but instead to place them in a better position to avert and respond effectively to tsunamis.

For the tsunami-affected countries, the priority is to rebuild and rehabilitate the damaged areas so that they are better than before. We therefore urge continued strengthening of partnerships and continued support for the medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of the affected countries.

Within the last four years, with the support of the international community, progress has become visible in the tsunami-affected countries. Their Governments are working hard to prevent the same devastation in a possible future tsunami. Disaster management institutions have been developed or strengthened, so that they can enhance their rapid response to disaster. In the channelling and utilization of resources, measures to ensure accountability and financial transparency have also been taken. Despite the lingering trauma, towns and communities, individuals and families are slowly returning to their normal way of life.

In this final draft resolution on the Indian Ocean tsunami, the key actions emphasized are: first, enhancing prevention, risk reduction and humanitarian assistance measures through the sharing of lessons learned by the tsunami-affected countries and other relevant stakeholders with other disaster-affected and disaster-prone countries; secondly, improving legal and institutional frameworks of government and regional organizations for disaster management; thirdly, functionalizing tsunami early warning systems and focal points capable of receiving and disseminating tsunami advisories around the clock; fourthly, having the continued support of the international community, including the United Nations system, for the tsunami-affected countries as their efforts are mainstreamed into long-term development assistance projects and programmes.

On behalf of the tsunami-affected countries, I express our deepest and sincere appreciation to Member States that have shown interest in and supported this final draft resolution. We truly hope that it can be adopted by consensus.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to the representative of Liberia to introduce draft resolution A/63/L.45.

Mrs. Osode (Liberia)

On behalf of the sponsors, I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/63/L.45, entitled "Humanitarian assistance and reconstruction of Liberia". The draft is similar to resolution 61/218, adopted by consensus, and other consensus resolutions on the subject adopted by the General Assembly since 1990, updated to take into consideration new developments.

Draft resolutions on this subject have always signified an important act of solidarity by the Assembly with the people of Liberia in their determination to overcome conflict and dictatorship and in their hope to build a new democratic and prosperous society.

In the sixth preambular paragraph, after the words "Taking note," we have added the words "while conscious of further challenges,".

Moreover, the preambular part has three new paragraphs: the fifth, seventh and ninth. We considered it appropriate to include the fifth preambular paragraph, on national reconciliation, which is one of the focus areas for peacebuilding and a precondition for sustainable peace after conflict. In Liberia, legislation establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was passed in 2005. Its hearings, which included testimony from very high-level officials, started in January this year and will be concluded this month.

By the seventh preambular paragraph, the Assembly would strongly condemn all acts of gender-based violence, including sexual violence committed against civilians, in particular women and children, and would underline the need to implement the Government of Liberia/United Nations joint programme to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (2008-2012). The joint programme is a tool for intervening in the fundamental issues of victims' lives.

The ninth preambular paragraph reflects the reality of the situation in Liberia today, which is generally stable but fragile.

Turning to the operative part, there is a minor editorial change to paragraph 3: after "Renews" the words "its invitation" should also be italicized. Paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 are all new, as is subparagraph (b) of paragraph 9.

The legacy of rape and other forms of sexual violence that were so pervasive during the conflict years continues to be felt today, with rape remaining the most frequently committed serious crime in post-conflict Liberia. Against this backdrop, a nationwide campaign against rape has been established, and the Government of Liberia/United Nations joint programme to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, signed in June this year, will be implemented over the four-year period 2008-2012 as indicated in paragraph 4.

During the past year, Liberia has made steady progress in meeting its reconstruction and reform objectives. In March, the Government's poverty reduction strategy was finalized, and it was strongly endorsed at the Liberia Poverty Reduction Forum, held in Berlin in June, as indicated in new paragraph 5.

By new paragraph 6 the Assembly would strongly encourage

"the international community to translate the tremendous goodwill expressed at the ... Forum into tangible resources and support for the Government's national reconstruction agenda, including its poverty reduction strategy and actions for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals".

The task of national reconstruction is principally the responsibility of the people of Liberia, who possess the political will and potential to make possible this vision.

The Government and the people of Liberia are deeply grateful to the many organizations, agencies and partners within the United Nations system that have responded with manifest goodwill since 1990 to the need for humanitarian assistance for Liberia. It is hoped that in two years the Assembly will be able to consider moving more confidently from humanitarian assistance to concrete commitments to the development of Liberia.

In view of this, by paragraph 9 (b) the Assembly would request the Secretary-General

"to present to the General Assembly, at its sixty-fifth session, the final and comprehensive report on implementation of humanitarian assistance and reconstruction of Liberia under the item 'Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance', taking into account the peacebuilding activities in this country financed through the Peacebuilding Fund".

I would like to express my appreciation to all participants in the Informal Working Group on the Humanitarian Assistance and Reconstruction of Liberia. I would also like to thank the European Union for its contributions, which enriched the text, and the Russian Federation for its flexibility and amendments which improved the draft.

Finally, I wish to take this opportunity to thank Mr. John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, for improving the coordination of the United Nations humanitarian and disaster relief assistance in areas around the globe.

In particular, I wish to express my appreciation to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report (A/63/295), dated 15 August 2008.

The draft resolution has many supporters, but I regret that owing to a colleague's sickness it was not possible to obtain the names of all of them. We have a number of sponsors which have given their names to the Secretariat, and I express my appreciation to them.

I submit draft resolution A/63/L.45 for adoption by consensus.

The Acting President

I now call on the representative of France to introduce draft resolutions A/63/L.48 and A/63/L.50.

Mr. Ripert (France)

It is my pleasure, on behalf of the European Union, to introduce draft resolutions A/63/L.48, entitled "Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel", and A/63/L.50, entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Montenegro and Serbia align themselves with this statement.

While humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel provide vital assistance to populations in distress throughout the world, their own security keeps worsening. The rise in the number of deliberate attacks against them is very worrying and calls for a firm reaction on our part. Responding to that call is the purpose of draft resolution A/63/L.48. I am grateful to all delegations that took an active part in the negotiations on the draft for their cooperation, thanks to which we have a text representing substantial progress.

The draft resolution stresses three main imperatives. The first is full respect of their international obligations by all. All States must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, and all parties involved in armed conflict must ensure the security and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel. Similarly, all States and parties must respect the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence of humanitarian action, and fully respect their obligations relating to distinctive elements of the Geneva Conventions.

Under the draft resolution the Assembly would emphasize that the security of humanitarian personnel is a fundamental condition for their safe and unhindered access to populations in need, and require that the relevant actors ensure that their public statements do not compromise the security of humanitarian personnel. It would also urge States to end impunity for acts of violence against humanitarian and United Nations personnel.

The second imperative is more effective coordination between all actors. The Assembly would stress the need to strengthen coordination between the United Nations and host Governments to facilitate the deployment and use of essential safety and security equipment, and to plan emergency operations, exchange information and assess the risks. For their part, host States must as soon as possible facilitate the use of communications equipment by United Nations personnel by limiting and expeditiously lifting the restrictions placed on them.

The final imperative is strengthening of the normative framework for protecting United Nations personnel and associated personnel. By the draft resolution the Assembly would call on Member States to consider becoming parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, and recommend that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of key provisions of the Convention in host country agreements and other related agreements negotiated between the United Nations and the countries concerned.

The Assembly would also reaffirm the need to ensure appropriate protection for locally recruited personnel, who account for the majority of victims and cases of arbitrary detention and harassment, and call for the provision by the United Nations of an adequate level of security for that category of personnel.

We hope that draft resolution A/63/L.48 will contribute to improving the security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel. My delegation and the 80 co-sponsors also hope that it can be adopted by consensus.

I now turn to draft resolution A/63/L.50, entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Armenia, align themselves with this statement.

The European Union reaffirms its commitment to providing assistance to the Palestinian people. The sustained support from international community donors, working in collaboration with the parties, is essential in order to improve Palestinian economic and social infrastructures and meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people.

The International Donors Conference for the Palestinian State, which was held in Paris on 17 December 2007, was an important milestone in the political process set in motion in Annapolis, as it gave the international community a unique opportunity to support the economic and financial development of a future viable Palestinian State, to which the international community has pledged to donate more than $7.7 billion over three years. The aid mobilized at the Paris Conference is a sign of the confidence that the international community places in the reforms undertaken by the Palestinian Authority.

The European Union would like to underscore the important role played by the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which met in London on 2 May, in addition to its meeting alongside the General Assembly on 22 September. The Committee should allow careful follow-up to the outcome of the Paris Conference to be carried out in order to ensure that the promises made in Paris translate into real financial assistance. The European Union also commends the Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security and the Rule of Law, which was held in Berlin on 24 June 2008.

For its part, the European Union has continually increased its assistance. The total amount of European Union aid to the Palestinian people, including humanitarian and non-humanitarian assistance, as well as contributions to the European Commission's specialized mechanism, will this year exceed 540 million euros, meaning that once again the European Union and its member States are the Palestinian Authority's biggest donor.

The European Union remains determined to lend its support to the ongoing negotiations between parties which began in Annapolis, and is ready to work closely with the Palestinian Authority, the Quartet and regional partners to contribute to the recovery of the Palestinian economy as well as to the well-being, safety and security of all people in the region. To this end, last year, the European Union adopted an action strategy in order to adapt and strengthen its activities in areas such as security, law and order, strengthening of institutions, good governance, contributions to civil society and support for the economy. It has a Special Representative who is primarily responsible for coordinating these efforts on the ground, in partnership with the European Commission.

We would also like to highlight the decisive role played by the Quartet Special Representative, Mr. Tony Blair, commend the work which he has accomplished, and encourage him to continue his efforts.

The European Union, however, remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, in particular in the Gaza Strip, and urges that barriers be removed so that there is free access to goods and basic services, in particular of a humanitarian nature, but also to those which can help facilitate a genuine economic recovery.

The situation in the West Bank also gives cause for concern, as the numerous checkpoints and the route of the security fence are severely hindering efforts to maintain a viable economy, especially with regard to agriculture.

Finally, I would like to express our gratitude to the delegations that requested to be put on the list of sponsors of draft resolution A/63/L.50. The European Union and the other sponsors hope that the draft resolution will be adopted by consensus.

We would also like to thank the Palestinian and Israeli delegations for their cooperation during these negotiations.

The Acting President

I now call on the representative of Sweden to introduce draft resolution A/63/L.49.