FIRST COMMITTEE HOLDS ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION

10 October 1996

Press Release
GA/DIS/3050

FIRST COMMITTEE HOLDS ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION

19961010 The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) this morning elected its Vice-Chairmen and Rapporteur and approved the programme of work for its current session.

Elected as Vice-Chairmen were Andre Mernier (Belgium) and Andelfo Garcia (Columbia). Parfait Onanga (Gabon) was elected Rapporteur. Alyaksandr Sychou (Belarus) was elected Chairman on 17 September.

The Committee approved the following work programme (document A/C.1/51/CRP.1): general debate on disarmament and international security items, 14 to 24 October; structured thematic discussion of specific disarmament and international security items, 28 to 31 October; consideration of draft resolutions, 1 to 7 November; action on draft resolutions, 8 to 18 November; general debate and action on Antarctica, 25 to 26 November.

Jargalsaikhany Enkhsaikhan (Mongolia), speaking on behalf of outgoing Committee Chairman Luvsangiin Erdenuchuluun, said the Committee's work was beginning at a time when disarmament and international security issues were high on the international community's agenda. While considerable differences on various issues still existed, there was a general commitment to move forward to implement the lofty goals of disarmament and the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free, tension-free, conflict-free world.

The First Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 14 October, to begin its general exchange of views. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali is expected to address the Committee during the course of that meeting.

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