General Assembly Session 63 meeting 82

The President

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 report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) which is before the Assembly today.

The President

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth 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, that is, either in the delegation's vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee."

May I also 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 recommendation contained in the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/63/402/Add.1), I should like to advise representatives that we are going to proceed to take a decision in the same manner as was done in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), unless notified otherwise in advance.

The General Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) in paragraph 6 of its report. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President

Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of position, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote or position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I give the floor to the representative of the Czech Republic.

Mr. Palous (Czech Republic)

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. At the outset, I would like to thank you, Sir, for your opening remarks and take this opportunity to reaffirm the European Union's strong support to the United Nations in the field of peacekeeping.

Despite some difficulties observed in United Nations peacekeeping during the past few years, the European Union considers United Nations peacekeeping to be not only the most visible United Nations activity, but also an effective factor for ensuring security, protecting civilians and providing humanitarian assistance. Nevertheless, nearly a decade after the Brahimi report, it is time to revisit the Panel's recommendations, review their implementation and look strategically into future United Nations peacekeeping challenges.

In that regard, I would like to seize this opportunity to present the European Union member States' perspective on the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) outcomes. The European Union considers the timely adoption of the C-34 report (A/63/19 (SUPP)) this year to have been a success. In particular, the European Union is heartened by the mutual understanding and cooperation that was achieved amongst delegations. This collaborative spirit significantly contributed to the overall progress achieved during discussions on the improvement of United Nations peacekeeping operations. A streamlined and meaningful 2009 C-34 report, delivered in due time, should provide other United Nations forums with a useful tool for dealing with peacekeeping issues.

The initiative recently launched by France and the United Kingdom within the Security Council, the Australian-Uruguayan workshop on the protection of civilians, Canada's thematic peacekeeping seminars and the New Horizons project constitute an invaluable source of data to enable the C-34 to play its institutional role as the only United Nations mandated forum to consider United Nations peacekeeping in all its aspects. Those discussions should provide a rich source of background information for the C-34's own deliberations on what should be developed to enhance United Nations peacekeeping operations and on what should be asked of the Secretariat and the Secretary-General in preparing the annual report.

The European Union would like to stress the necessity to achieve, in due time, a focused, streamlined and meaningful C-34 report next year. The European Union will continue its efforts to give particular attention to the most pressing and contemporary issues related to current and upcoming peacekeeping operations. In that regard, we recognize the paramount importance of close cooperation with all regional groups and other important players.

The European Union sincerely hopes that its view on the purpose and potential of the C-34 is shared by all those who consider peacekeeping to be a flagship United Nations activity.

In closing, I would like to express thanks on behalf of the European Union to all of the delegations involved in the C-34 substantive session for their contributions to our common United Nations peacekeeping endeavour. I would also like to thank Mrs. U. Joy Ogwu, Permanent Representative of Nigeria, for chairing the C-34 substantive session, as well as Mr. Henri-Paul Normandin, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada, for his leadership of the ad hoc C-34 Working Group.

The President

We have heard the only speaker in explanation of position. May I take it that the Assembly decides to conclude its consideration of agenda item 31?

The President

The Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of all the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee).

The President

I should like to remind members that, at its 74th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2008, the Assembly decided to consider agenda item 48 directly in plenary meeting. Members will also recall that, in resolution 63/277, of 7 April 2009, the General Assembly decided to hold a Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development from 1 to 3 June 2009 at United Nations Headquarters.

The General Assembly has before it a draft decision that has been issued under the symbol A/63/L.71. The Assembly will now take action on the draft decision, entitled "Arrangements and organization of work of the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development (New York, 1-3 June 2009)".

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft decision A/63/L.71?

The President

The representative of Turkey has asked to speak in explanation of position of the draft decision just adopted. I should like to remind him that explanations of position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I call on the representative of Turkey.