GENERAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT ASSEMBLY CONSIDER UNITED NATIONS REFORM MEASURES AND PROPOSALS, AT REQUEST OF SECRETARY-GENERAL

13 June 1997

Press Release
GA/9252

GENERAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT ASSEMBLY CONSIDER UNITED NATIONS REFORM MEASURES AND PROPOSALS, AT REQUEST OF SECRETARY-GENERAL

19970613 Secretary-General Expected to Address Plenary on 16 July To Report on Further Measures for Restructuring Secretariat

The General Committee this morning recommended that the General Assembly include in the agenda of its current session an item entitled, "United Nations reform: measures and proposals", to be considered directly in plenary. It was acting on a request from the Secretary-General.

In a 2 June letter to the President of the Assembly (document A/51/239), the Secretary-General says he would like to present his report on United Nations reform personally, and expects to be able to do so on 16 July. In an addendum to his letter, he says the report will cover further measures he intends to take for restructuring the Secretariat and improving its capacities and effectiveness in serving Member States.

The report is also to include his proposals, for consideration by Member States, in areas within their purview. The issues to be addressed in it are to be wide-ranging and interrelated. It is the Secretary-Generals's view that they would best be considered by the Assembly in an integrated manner.

"It should be added that it is not intended that this should remain a standing item on the agenda of subsequent sessions of the General Assembly", the addendum states. The sole purpose of the Secretary-General's proposal is to provide a suitable framework for the presentation of his report to the Assembly at its fifty-first session, as well as its integrated consideration at the Assembly's next session.

The Assembly will meet at 10 a.m. on 17 June to consider the Committee's recommendation. The General Committee will meet again at a date to be announced in the Journal.

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