ASSEMBLY DECIDES TO CONSIDER ELECTION OF JUDGES TO INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNALS FOR RWANDA, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

Press Release
GA/9407

ASSEMBLY DECIDES TO CONSIDER ELECTION OF JUDGES TO INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNALS FOR RWANDA, FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

The General Assembly decided this morning to include in the agenda of its current session additional items on the election of judges of the International Criminal Tribunals in Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia.

It took this action following decisions by the Security Council on 30 April and 13 May, respectively, to establish third Trial Chambers for the Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia Tribunals. The elections of judges to fill the three Trial Chambers of the Rwanda Tribunal will be held together, for a term of office to expire on 24 May 2003. The three new judges for the Former Yugoslavia Tribunal will serve until the expiry dates of the terms of the existing judges -- 16 November 2001.

In other action, the Assembly decided to reopen its agenda item on "Science and Technology for Development" at the request of Pakistan, in order to consider the year 2000 date conversion problem which is expected to affect many computers worldwide.

The Assembly also decided to consider directly in the plenary a draft resolution entitled "Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action".

Also this morning, the Assembly began its consideration of reports of the Secretary-General on the revitalization of the work of the Assembly and on the strengthening of the United Nations system. At the request of several speakers, the Assembly decided to hold further informal consultations with a view to take a decision by 12 June on a draft resolution concerning the Assembly's organization of work.

Statements on the reports were made by the representatives of Ukraine, United States, China and Pakistan.

Acting on the recommendation of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), the Assembly decided to appoint Pedro Paulo d'Escragnolle-Taunay (Brazil) to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), and Sergei I. Mareyev (Russian Federation) to the Committee on

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Contributions. It also took note of a report of its Second Committee (Economic and Financial) on the financing of development, including net transfer of resources between developing and developed countries.

At the outset of the meeting, Assembly President Hennadiy Udovenko (Ukraine) extended the Assembly's deepest sympathy to the Government and people of Afghanistan for the tragic loss of life and extensive material damage which had resulted from the recent earthquakes in that country. He said the international community should show its solidarity and respond promptly and generously to any request for help.

The representative of Afghanistan expressed appreciation for those sentiments and appealed for humanitarian assistance for his country. He also thanked those States and organizations which had already provided such assistance.

In other business, the Assembly was informed that Uzbekistan had made the necessary payments to reduce its arrears below the amount specified under Article 19 of the United Nations Charter. By that Article, a Member State which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization, would have no vote in the Assembly if the amount involved equals or exceeds contributions due for the preceding two full years.

The Assembly will meet again at a date to be announced in the Journal.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this morning to consider reports by the Secretary-General on the revitalization of the work of the Assembly (document A/52/856) and on strengthening of the United Nations system (document A/52/855). The Assembly was scheduled to consider the two reports together. It was also to consider notes by the Secretary-General requesting the inclusion of additional items (documents A/52/236 and A/52/237) on the agenda of its current session relating to the election of judges to the International Criminal Tribunals on Rwanda (document A/52/236) and the Former Yugoslavia (document A/52/237).

Also this morning, the Assembly was scheduled to consider a report of its Second Committee (Economic and Financial) on the financing of development, including the net transfer of resources between developing and developed countries. It was also scheduled to consider reports of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) regarding appointments to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) and to the Committee on Contributions.

In addition, the Assembly had before it a note by the Secretariat on implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women, as well as a letter from the Permanent Representative of Pakistan on the implications of the year 2000 date conversion problem for computers.

Reports of the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General's report on the revitalization of the work of the Assembly (document A/52/856) was submitted in response to resolution 48/264, in which the Assembly asked him to report to it on the matter after having ascertained the views and experience of the Presidents of the Assembly at its forty-ninth, fiftieth and fifty-first sessions.

In addition to the views of those former Assembly Presidents, the report addresses the efforts of the Main Committees to rationalize and streamline their respective agendas. In order to assess whether those efforts have had a quantitative impact on the Assembly's work, the report includes a brief analysis of the Assembly's workload with regard to three factors: the number of items on the agenda; the number of resolutions adopted; and the number of reports requested of the Secretary-General.

According to the report, there had been some success in rationalizing and streamlining the Assembly's agenda, particularly with respect to the clustering, biennialization, triennialization or even quadrennialization of some items. However, the Assembly had not achieved a reduction of its overall workload over the past three regular sessions. The number of items on the

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agenda at its forty-ninth, fiftieth and fifty-first sessions had not decreased. Efforts made by the Main Committees to rationalize their respective agendas had not translated into a dramatic reduction of the number of items allocated to them. The workload of the plenary meetings has further increased, as debates on some of the items allocated to Main Committees are held directly in plenary meetings.

The report states that a slight decrease in the number of resolutions adopted by the Assembly over the past three regular sessions -- from 328 at the forty-ninth session to 311 at the fifty-first session -- had not translated into a corresponding reduction in the number of reports requested of the Secretary-General. At the forty-ninth session, the Secretary-General issued 283 reports, and he issued 288 at the fiftieth session and 286 at the fifty-first session.

The Assembly also has before it the Secretary-General's report on the strengthening of the United Nations system (document A/52/855). In its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997, the Assembly adopted the recommendations of the Open-ended High-level Working Group on the Strengthening of the United Nations system, which are contained in the annex to the resolution. Implementation of the recommendations was to be effective from 1 January 1998, and the Secretary-General was asked to report to the Assembly at its fifty-second session on the implementation of the resolution.

The Working Group's recommendations address the organization and working methods of the Assembly and the functioning of the Secretariat. According to the Secretary-General's report, the implementation of resolution 51/241 was proceeding as mandated. The annex to the resolution, however, contained several provisions which, while they might not necessarily require the amendment of the rules of procedure, affected the understanding or application of those rules. In addition, a number of recommendations need further review and possible action by Member States.

With respect to the recommendations on the organization of the Assembly, the report suggests that Member States might wish to amend some of the current provisions to indicate that the Assembly should consider the report of its General Committee during the second week of the session, and that there should continue to be only one general debate each year, beginning in the third week of the session. Further, the Assembly might wish to specify that the general debate should begin on the Monday of the third week of the session. At the fifty-third session, following consultations between the President of the General Assembly and Member States, through regional group chairmen and others, it was agreed that the general debate would be held from 21 September to 2 October.

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A provision of $250,000 per year for the office of the President of the Assembly was proposed and subsequently approved in the programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999, the report states. That amount was in addition to resources already included in the budget for the President during his tenure. Existing resources made provisions for a spokesperson, security officers, drivers and two secretaries.

The Secretary-General concurs with the General Assembly's decision that, in approving appointments and extension of terms for the executive heads of programmes, funds and other bodies of the Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, uniform terms of office of four years, renewable once, should be introduced.

Regarding general staffing, the report says the question of core and non-core functions was an integral element of the ongoing discussions on the ratio of fixed-term to permanent contracts. That discussion was being conducted within the context of the newly established Task Force on Human Resources Management. The Secretary-General has been asked to report on this issue to the Assembly at its fifty-third session.

Additions to Assembly's Agenda

A note by the Secretary-General (document A/52/236) asks the Assembly to consider the inclusion in the agenda of its current session of an item entitled "Election of judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994".

By another note (document A/52/237), the Secretary-General asks the Assembly to consider the inclusion on the agenda of its current session of an item entitled "Election of judges of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991".

The annex to a note by the Secretariat (document A/52/918) contains a draft resolution recommended by the Economic and Social Council for adoption by the Assembly on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

By that draft text, the Assembly would decide that the high-level plenary review to appraise and assess the progress achieved in implementing the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and the

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Beijing Platform for Action five years after its adoption and to consider further actions and initiatives should be held as a special session of General Assembly for five days, from 5 to 9 June 2000. It would decide that the special session should reaffirm the commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action and further focus on obstacles encountered in implementation, strategies to overcome those obstacles and further action and initiatives.

Further by the draft text, the Assembly would decide that the preparatory work would be carried out by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-third and forty-fourth sessions, in the years 1999 and 2000, respectively, and that those sessions would be extended by five days each to complete the preparations.

The Secretary-General would be called upon, in collaboration with the regional commissions, to develop a standardized questionnaire. It would have a focused set of indicators on all critical areas of concern, as a framework to assist national governments in their assessment of and reporting on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. The Secretary-General would also be asked to submit to the Assembly at the special session a comparative report on how different categories of projects and programmes of United Nations organizations include women's interests and gender mainstreaming, as well as on resources allocated in that regard. The Assembly would also ask him to provide by the end of 1999 a compilation of updated statistics and indicators on the situation of women and girls in countries around the world by issuing, for example, a volume of The World's Women.

Governments would be encouraged to submit their national plans of action to the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Secretariat by September at the start of the review during the forty-third session of the Commission. They would be asked to submit in 1999 information on their implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, focusing particularly on positive actions, lessons learned, obstacles, key challenges remaining and a vision for gender equality in the next millennium. The Assembly would call on States, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations to undertake measures to provide information to the public on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and on the preparations for the Assembly's special session.

Year 2000 Date Conversion

The Assembly also has before it a letter from the Permanent Representative of Pakistan (document A/52/910) which contains an explanatory memorandum and a draft resolution on the global implications of the year 2000 date conversion problem for computers.

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The notes says the year 2000 date conversion problem (also known as the "millennium bug" or "Y2K") was caused because older computer systems used chips and software that recognized only the last two digits of the year, rather than all four digits taken together. As a result, the year 2000 and beyond would be read as the year 1900 onwards. It was assumed that the older programmes would be retired prior to the 1990s, but many still remain in use in various parts of the world. That software will not work properly from 1 January 2000 unless remedial action is taken before 31 December 1999.

The task of tackling the millennium bug is time-consuming and requires technical expertise and financial resources, the note states. Once remedial action has been taken, extensive testing will be required to ensure that all potential failures have been found and that the compliance process itself has not introduced new bugs into the system. The problem has enormous implications for all the activities dependent on electronic systems all over the world. If not corrected in time, the millennium bug will affect such vital areas as power supplies, telecommunications, financial systems, transport, public health, building and factory systems, food supplies, emergency services, the organization of social welfare and utilities.

By a draft resolution annexed to the letter, the Assembly would decide to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-third session an item entitled "global implications of the year 2000 date conversion problem for computers". It would call on the Economic and Social Council to prepare at its 1998 substantive session a United Nations plan of action incorporating guidelines on which Member States would be able to draw in addressing the diverse aspects of the year 2000 problem. The Secretary-General would be asked to report to the Assembly at its fifty-third session on measures taken within the United Nations system and with Member States to resolve the problem.

Report of Second Committee

The report of the Second Committee states at its fifty-second and fifty-third meetings, on 19 March, it resumed consideration of the sub-item on the financing of development, including net transfer of resources between developing and developed countries (document A/52/626/Add.5/Rev.1.) In considering the item, it had before it papers submitted by a number of Member States outlining key elements for consideration.

Reports of Fifth Committee

In one report to the Assembly (document A/52/670/Add.1), the Fifth Committees recommends the appointment of Pedro Paulo d'Escragnolle-Taunay (Brazil) to the ACABQ. Mr. d'Escragnolle-Taunay would fill the vacancy

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created by the resignation of José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho (Brazil), whose term of office was to have expired on 31 December 1998.

In another report (document A/52/671/Add.1), the Fifth Committee recommends that Sergei I. Mareyev (Russian Federation) be appointed to the Committee on Contributions. Mr. Mareyev would fill the unexpired portion of the term of office of Evgueni N. Deineko (Russian Federation), which expires on 31 December 1999.

RAVAN A.G. FARHADI (Afghanistan) said the area affected by the recent earthquake in his country was in a region where there was no conflict. Statements by some to the contrary was propaganda and had no basis in fact, he said. Compared with the earlier earthquake, which occurred in February, the 30 May quake was of greater intensity and had destroyed a number of inaccessible villages. Had it struck at night -- the earthquake occurred at 10:52 a.m. -- the death toll would have been higher. His Government had launched an appeal for humanitarian assistance and he thanked countries which had already provided help. He also expressed gratitude for those who had promised assistance.

Among the immediate requirements were blankets and tents, he said. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance in Afghanistan had been publishing daily reports on the relief efforts. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had provided helicopters, which were ferrying relief supplies and flying wounded to nearby field hospitals. The ICRC and local Red Crescent organizations had reported total devastation and injuries to many, including school children. His Government had been in contact with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) regarding assistance for those children. Long-term assistance requirements included the construction of mountain passages and of small hydro-electric dams. The United Nations was the only body which could organize the assistance his country needed.

Strengthening UN System; Revitalizing General Assembly

HENNADIY UDOVENKO (Ukraine), Assembly President, said the Assembly had decided to continue its in-depth consideration of the Secretary-General's recommendations aimed at the rationalization, streamlining and enhancing of its work. Member States should take the Secretary-General's reform proposals into account at this juncture, with a view to reaching agreement and taking decisions on them.

There were several pending issues which required urgent decisions by the Assembly because of their impact on future sessions, he said. Those decisions would affect the session's opening and closing dates, the first meeting of the General Committee, the meeting of the Assembly to consider the report of the General Committee and the beginning of the Assembly's general debate. As

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mentioned in the Secretary-General's report, the Assembly might wish to consider opening its fifty-third session on the Wednesday following the first Monday in September and to close the current session of the preceding day.

VOLODYMYR Y. YEL'CHENKO (Ukraine) said the issues of strengthening the United Nations system and revitalizing the Assembly's working methods had been considered extensively in the respective working groups, which had produced tangible suggestions. It was in that framework that the Assembly should begin its important work. His Government noted with appreciation that most recommendations of the working group on strengthening the United Nations system had been implemented or were in the process of implementation. Member States should address the report's suggestions regarding the timing of the Assembly's plenary meetings, general debate and agenda.

He expressed disappointment, however, that despite the recommendations of the working group, the Assembly had not achieved a reduction in its overall workload. In addition, the number of items referred to plenary meetings had increased. The General Committee should take a fresh look at the provisional agenda for the fifty-third session and prepare suggestions for the Assembly. While there had been welcomed improvements in the working methods of most of the Main Committees, it was regrettable that the Fifth Committee had not been able to review questions relating to its organization of work.

HUGH T. DUGAN (United States), recalling the various recommendations of the Presidents of the forty-ninth, fiftieth and fifty-first sessions on the work of the Assembly, said it was up to the Assembly to ensure their implementation. The United States agreed with the various proposals on amending the Assembly's rules of procedure, and it looked forward to the Secretary-General's report on them. The United States took special interest in the Office of Internal Oversight Services and would like to see improvements in its work.

SHEN GUOFANG (China) said his delegation had received the Secretary- General's reports only last Friday and had therefore not had enough time to study them. Action on the related draft resolution should be postponed to permit further consultations among delegations.

MUHAMAD NAJM AKBAR (Pakistan) said that consideration of the two reports should be without prejudice to other issues being discussed elsewhere. He supported the proposal by China that further consultations be carried out before action was taken.

Mr. UDOVENKO (Ukraine), Assembly President, said that action should be taken on the matter as soon as possible. He proposed that further consultations should take place, to enable the draft to be adopted by 12 June.

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