GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTS ON PREPARATIONS FOR YEAR 2000 SPECIAL SESSION ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES

Press Release
GA/9472

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTS ON PREPARATIONS FOR YEAR 2000 SPECIAL SESSION ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES

The 1995 Copenhagen Summit on Social Development, together with other global United Nations conferences of the 1990s, had led to a substantial revision and a more holistic development agenda that in theory placed participatory government, sustainable development, human rights and equity at the centre of development, Mamata Banerjee, Member of Parliament of India, told the General Assembly this afternoon as it continued its debate on the implementation of the world summit for development.

The measure of success must be the extent to which social goals were being prioritized in both national and international relations, in particular economic relations, she continued. That could be gauged from the extent to which institutions safeguarding social development, particularly in times of crisis, had evolved. The inter-relationship between social and economic development could no longer be questioned. That fact might be a crucial input into initiatives required for the follow-up of the social agenda beyond the Assembly special session in the year 2000.

The representative of Ukraine said reaffirmation of the Copenhagen Declaration should be among the main goals of the Assembly's special session in the year 2000. That session should also review implementation of initiatives since 1995. While assessing national, regional and global initiatives, it should pay attention to issues such as globalization, poverty eradication, full employment, social integration and the creation of an enabling environment.

Several speakers also addressed the issue of debt which they identified as an obstacle to social development. The representative of Norway, said urgent action was needed to end the debt burdens of developing countries. His Government had launched a national debt relief strategy whose objective was to enable those countries to enter the next millennium with a debt situation that did not impede socio-economic development. As part of that strategy, his country would grant unilateral debt reductions on a case-by-case basis on top of reductions made under multilateral operations.

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The representative of Iraq said because of aggression against his country and the imposition of sanctions, it lacked the financial resources and international cooperation necessary for development. The Iraqi economic situation was dismal. Primary medical care, public health, prenatal and family care, measures for the disabled and family planning, were all affected by the lack of equipment and financial resources.

In other action this afternoon, the Assembly adopted without a vote, a decision approving the provisional agenda of the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the General Assembly Special Session in the year 2000.

Also this afternoon, the Assembly, acting on recommendations from its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), adopted without a vote, a decision endorsing the Committee's conclusion that non-payment of arrears by Comoros and Tajikistan was due to conditions beyond their control. They would be permitted to vote in the Assembly's current session. Any extension requested would be subject to review by the Committee on Contributions.

Also this afternoon, the Assembly, again acting on recommendations of the Fifth Committee, adopted without a vote, a decision granting a temporary waiver on the non-payment of arrears for a period of three months, beginning 7 October, to Georgia and Guinea-Bissau. That decision was based on requests from the Governments of those countries.

Statements were also made by a Member of Parliament of Bangladesh, and the representatives of Viet Nam, Egypt, Syria, Jamaica, Cote D'Ivoire, Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Croatia, Philippines, Sudan and the Observer of Switzerland.

The Assembly will meet again tomorrow at 10 a.m. to hold elections for the five non-permanent members of the Security Council.

Assembly Work Programme

The General Assembly met this afternoon to continue its review of efforts to reach the goals of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development and to act on recommendations of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).

For its consideration of follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, the Assembly had before it the report of the Secretary-General (document A/53/211) on international and national efforts to achieve the goals spelled out in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Actions, adopted at the close of the Summit. The Secretary-General notes that this report concentrates on positive developments and activities in implementing the outcome of the Summit. However, he concludes that far more extensive and effective action is required at the international, regional and national levels to tackle the desperately serious problems of poverty, unemployment and social disintegration faced by most countries. The Assembly will also review preparations being made for a special session that will convene in the year 2000 to consider Social Summit follow-up. (For additional background information on follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, see Press Release GA/9470 issued 6 October.)

Also, the Assembly is expected to take action on a draft decision relating to the scale of assessments as recommended by the Fifth Committee (document A/53/464), by which it would decide the failure of the Comoros and of Tajikistan to pay the minimum amount necessary under the Charter was attributable to conditions beyond their control. The Assembly would decide that, as a result, the Comoros and Tajikistan should be permitted to vote through the fifty-third Assembly session and that any extension that may be requested shall be subject to review by the Committee on Contributions.

Statements

NGO QUANG XUAN (Viet Nam) said that since the Summit, social development had been enhanced in three areas: poverty eradication; productive employment; and social integration. To maintain political momentum provided by the Copenhagen Summit an international meeting would be held in Hanoi this month to focus on: investment in basic social services; how to increase efficiency and effectiveness in resource spending on social services; and how to optimize the quality and accessibility of such services. That process, known as the "20/20" initiative, proposed by the Netherlands, Norway and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), represented a real endeavour of countries concerned with the implementation of the World Summit.

Vietnam, had achieved considerable success in the socio-economic field over the last few years, he said. Social development was a major component of his country's comprehensive long-term development strategy. Notable public

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investment had been made in programmes to promote employment, gender equality and poverty eradication. First, his country was trying to increase the number of skilled workers in its mostly agrarian society to between 22 and 25 per cent through a national job creation programme. Second, the national plan of action had concrete objectives and guidelines for the advancement of women in education, training, health care and access to leadership/decision-making posts. Third, the Government had given priority to the elimination of hunger and poverty reduction in mountainous and remote rural areas. It had set up various funds for infrastructure construction in those areas. During 1997, the number of households living in poverty in Viet Nam decreased by 1.5 per cent.

PATRICIA DURRANT (Jamaica) endorsed the view of the Administrative Committee on Coordination of the specialized agencies which urged the United Nations to utilize existing national-level mechanisms and frameworks to ensure translation of conference outcomes into concrete national policies.

Jamaica had achieved a greater degree of social integration over the years, due largely to the breakdown of the traditional power relations which had been based on a hierarchy of race and colour, she said. The existence of a democratic political system had been a major contributor to reducing social divisions. Nevertheless, Jamaica continued to face challenges posed by rifts among the social classes and the unequal distribution of wealth, power and prestige among the various social groups. Jamaica had adopted strategies to promote greater participation of all groups in economic, social and cultural development. Within the overall framework of poverty eradication, the Government had formulated programmes addressing: human resource development; community-based development; development of social skills; and efforts to strengthen the justice system.

MAMATA BANERJEE, Member of the Parliament of India, said that the Summit had succeeded in forging a shared global commitment at the highest level to eradicate poverty, achieve full employment and strengthen social solidarity. It had increased the attention being given to social issues at both the national and international levels. Together with other global United Nations conferences of the 1990s, the Summit had led to a substantial revision and more holistic agenda of development that, at least theoretically, placed participatory government, sustainable development, human rights and equity at the centre of development. The measure of success must be the extent to which social goals were being prioritized in both national and international relations, in particular economic relations. That could be gauged by the extent to which institutions safeguarded social development, particularly in times of crisis.

The suddenness and intensity of periodic crises, of which the Asian crisis was only the latest, aggravated global inequalities and marginalized countries, she continued. It exposed a basic separation between social goals

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and the forces of an unfettered market. The long-term development of a majority of the developing world had not been adequately supported by the international system.

Social development could be evaluated in two ways, she continued. On the one hand, social development straddled basic human rights, which must be protected independent of the economy; on the other hand, social development straddled poverty eradication, employment and social integration that were heavily dependent on the state of the economy. The inter-relationship between social and economic development could no longer be questioned. That fact might be of a crucial importance when designing the initiatives required for the follow-up of the social agenda beyond the special session in the year 2000. To fully realize the Summit's goals, three initiatives were indispensable: economic policies providing short-term stability and long-term growth and development; corresponding social policies and institutions; and a degree of international cooperation for development as broadly defined by recent United Nations conferences. A more substantive debate could be held during the organizational meeting of the Preparatory Committee next year. Efforts of financial bodies, including the "Group of Seven" industrialized countries, could be further aligned with the goals of the Social Summit.

AHMAD AL-HARIRI (Syria) said that, although three years had passed since the Copenhagen Summit, the international community still had much to do regarding social development, particularly in the face of global economic changes. The Summit was a turning point. The international community stated at the Summit that they wanted a better future for humanity, one free from poverty and other scourges.

Regardless of the national objectives of individual countries, all States wanted the best for their citizens, he continued. Syria had developed various resources to improve the living standards of its people, such as more services in education, health and social welfare. Infant mortality rates were down and health services were free for everyone. The State had undertaken measures for poverty eradication and social integration, among other things, and its development plans covered all sectors of society.

It was up to individual nations to implement Summit commitments, he said. Developed States however, had not met the obligations assumed at Copenhagen. The developing countries, meanwhile, had shouldered their responsibilities, despite their limited economic resources. One thing that had to be stressed at the General Assembly special session in the year 2000 was the need for international cooperation to guarantee development and deal with all the scourges of society. Foreign occupation, for example, was an obstacle to social development and Israel's continued occupation of the Syrian Golan -- which denied Syria the resources of the occupied area -- had resulted in poverty and suffering. Syria was trying to meet the basic needs of its people, but it needed more resources to cope with the situation.

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Syria had participated in the preparatory committee for the special session, he said. The preparations must continue in a transparent way to ensure the success of the session. The international community must act seriously to create a world that was just, equitable, and free from poverty and injustice.

MAGED A. ABDELAZIZ (Egypt) said that high priority should be placed on the social facets of development, which influenced international peace and stability. Fighting poverty and inequality among States was one of the major challenges of contemporary society and all countries must be committed to attaining that goal. However, while solving the problems of development, it was necessary to respect different cultures and civilizations without forcing one standard on others. Success of the national efforts to implement commitments undertaken in Copenhagen depended, to a large extent, on a favourable international environment.

Within the framework of the follow-up of the Summit, Egypt was trying to ensure constant growth and development while reducing demographic growth, he said. Egypt had begun to implement an integrated policy to reduce poverty and increase gross national product (GNP). While trying to protect the most disadvantaged population groups, the Government was working to increase the involvement of civil society and promote education, basic social and health services and creating more jobs.

In preparation for the special session, the review process was to begin soon, he said. Egypt hoped that the special session would get the necessary consensus, which would enable individual countries to continue their social development activities. The aim of the special session was not to renegotiate the outcome of the Copenhagen Summit, but to evaluate progress and develop recommendations regarding future work. Specialized agencies of the United Nations system should play a leading role in that process, along with non- governmental organizations and civil society. Also, the need for cooperation at regional, national and international levels should be underlined.

OLE PETER KOLBY (Norway) said the Copenhagen Summit identified the 20/20 initiative as an instrument to facilitate joint action by developed and developing countries in providing universal access to basic social services. This month, government representatives and other key actors would gather in Hanoi, Viet Nam, to discuss ways to further promote the 20/20 initiative. His country and the Netherlands would sponsor that meeting. The agreed target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP) for official development assistance (ODA) was another long-standing goal that needed reaffirmed commitment. Norway was actively seeking to counter growing donor fatigue and intended to increase its ODA in the years ahead.

He said urgent action was needed to end the debt burden of developing countries. To that end, his Government had launched a national debt relief

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strategy. The objective was to enable developing countries to enter the next millennium with a debt situation that did not impede socio-economic development. The strategy included proposals on how Norway could support and strengthen multilateral mechanisms already in place. As part of that strategy, his country would grant unilateral debt reductions on a case-by-case basis, in addition to the reductions made under multilateral operations.

He said his Government gave high priority to the problem of child labour, which was both a human rights and development issue. National plans of action in countries that experienced such problems must be developed. Enabling people with disabilities to participate fully in society was another important part of the effort to create a society for all. The United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities was a key tool to that end. Accessibility, equality and full participation in society for people with disabilities should be ensured, and their participation in planning and policy making should be facilitated.

YOUSSOUFOU BAMBA (Cote D'Ivoire) said the social consequences of globalization had been disastrous with more than 15,000 people being thrown out of work each day and social safety nets stretched to their limits. In addition, the flow of resources from the industrial world to developing countries was drying up, even as those same countries were burdened with debt. He stressed, however, that there was no need to give in to discouragement. Now, current strategies must be reviewed and people must be placed at the centre stage of the development process. The measures needed to weave social safety nets and provide access to basic social services must be determined.

The thrust of his Government was to bring about a more homogenous society, by improving the standard of living of the most disadvantaged, he continued. Social investment was being increased to attain the priority goals set at the Copenhagen Summit. In education, the investment in capital equipment had increased, with 500 new classrooms constructed and extensive refurbishment of existing ones. In housing, the Government was building new units and rebuilding existing ones. Hydropower and the improvement of basic social services now ensured the delivery of safe drinking water to rural areas. A number of new wells had also been drilled in those locations.

Health was a priority concern, he said. There had been major restructuring of existing infrastructure and construction of health centres, hospitals, and dispensaries. Training of healthcare workers had also increased substantially. The result of such policies was a nationwide improvement in healthcare services.

He said the current trends of healthcare in his country should enable it to eradicate polio, neonatal tetanus and leprosy by the year 2000. In addition, the cost of medication had been reduced through the promotion of generic pharmaceuticals. His country was determined to progress in that area,

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through close cooperation with regional partners. The African nations, however, needed help as they attempted to provide basic social services. He appealed to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to vigorously assist African nations in addressing social problems.

VOLODYMYR YEL'CHENKO (Ukraine), said reaffirmation and not renegotiation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Plan of Action should be among the main goals of the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and Other Initiatives in the year 2000. While assessing national, regional and global initiatives, the Special Session should pay additional attention to: the impact of globalization; an integrated approach to poverty eradication; promotion of full employment; social integration; and the creation of an economic, political, social, cultural and legal environment that would enable people to upgrade social development.

He said the implementation of the decision of the Copenhagen Summit remained a very important component of Ukraine's strategy in the area of social development. The Government of his country had made every effort to ensure the successful realization of relevant national programmes and a number of legislative acts. Those were aimed at creating a system of social relationships adapted to a market reality, promoting social integration, social justice, equal rights and opportunities for all, and ensuring the rights of national minorities. His Government continued to focus its efforts on solving the problems of youth, women and children, the disabled and other vulnerable groups of the population, which should not be consigned to the margins of society by the socio-economic difficulties of societies in transition.

MOHD ABDUS SHAHID, Member of the Parliament of Bangladesh, said much more remained to be done to complete implementation of the Copenhagen Summit. The best way to progress was to ensure that social issues were not overshadowed by economic ones. "We must not sacrifice those in the periphery in our efforts to engineer a speedy global economic revival", he said. In implementing the outcome of the Summit at the national level, innovative measures were needed. The usefulness of microcredit had been illustrated in addressing poverty and increasing economic activity; it had also generated employment. The empowerment of women had resulted in a number of "fall-out" effects, including better sanitation and hygiene, an increase in the number of children at school and a rise in daily calorie intake.

While the implementation of the commitments made at the Summit were primarily the responsibility of national governments, it was clear that international cooperation and assistance were necessary, he said. The United Nations had a critical role to play in that regard. The Organization must focus on inter-agency cooperation to address the issues in a focused manner, avoid duplication and increase allocation of resources for country level and

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regional follow-up. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must also prioritize social development and allocate substantial resources for that purpose.

The participation of civil society, as a partner of government, would significantly contribute to the implementation of the commitments made at Copenhagen, he said. The grass roots effort on the part of civil society would complement the government role of setting policy and coordinating the implementation process.

IBRA DEGUENE KA (Senegal) said the Copenhagen Summit had rallied a broad consensus on the need to centralize national development policies. The Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the Summit were still common reference points for implementing social policies. Given their relevance in the midst of the international financial crisis, the Copenhagen commitments did not need to be renegotiated, but reaffirmed by countries. Its implementation must also be critically evaluated. The social crisis of the 1990s had created the need to convene a special summit on social development, he said. Despite the measures adopted three years ago, poverty had not lessened, but increased. Social inequality, fear of the future and a lack of employment remained major concerns for countries. The gap between the rich and poor had widened. The solution to social problems was beyond the capacity of one government alone. Official development assistance (ODA) had consistently declined. Integration of women as full partners in social development remained a goal to be attained. The vulnerability of children posed a major challenge to the entire international community. The picture just outlined and reflected in various United Nations reports was pretty grim. Civil war and inter-State conflicts, especially in Africa, led to the marginalization of millions of people.

Even if the primary responsibility lay with each government, it was important that the United Nations strengthen its assistance to countries, he said. Emphasis must be placed on national and local initiatives to achieve implementation. Senegal had drafted a national programme to combat poverty using its own budgetary resources, along with outside assistance.

MOHAMMED A. M. AL-HUMAIMIDI (Iraq) said Iraq faced a difficult situation as a result of the embargo imposed on it by the international community. Instead of concentrating on development, Iraq had been forced to devise plans to alleviate the consequences of the embargo.

Implementation of the objectives of social development required political will on the part of the States, as well as financial resources and international cooperation, he continued. Because of aggression against Iraq in 1991 and sanctions imposed on it later, Iraq lacked financial resources and international development cooperation. It had no means for development, and the overall economic situation in Iraq was dismal. Primary medical care,

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prenatal and family care, care for the disabled and family planning had been adversely affected by the absence of equipment and financial means. Public health had suffered as a result of the deterioration of public water supply, due to scarcity of chlorine and other chemicals. Due to the embargo, plans for building new schools had been completely stopped. New challenges were also being placed on women who were being forced to work in marginal and non- productive sectors.

In conclusion, he recalled a General Assembly resolution reaffirming the importance of the right to development of every people and every country. Further definite efforts were needed to eliminate obstacles obstructing Iraq's right to development. Sanctions should not prevent development of targeted countries, and social development in Iraq should start with the lifting of the sanctions, particularly in view of the fact that Iraq had implemented all the requirements placed on it by the Security Council.

MOHAMMAD J. SAMHAN (United Arab Emirates) said the outcome of the Summit had been a milestone in international cooperation. It had offered a view of the multi-dimensional nature of social development and pointed the way to priority action to be taken by governments. Efforts at the national, regional and international levels had not yet reached the goals hoped for, nor had improvements in the world social situation been secured. The social, economic and cultural gap between countries was widening. Many countries continued to be afflicted by serious ecological crises, malnutrition and other challenges. Across the board, implementation required a fresh approach and genuine partnership to expand development aid and share know-how.

Armed conflicts affecting many countries were a serious challenge blocking social development, he said. It was compounded by other major problems such as organized crime and the illegal trafficking of arms and drugs. His country looked forward to the special session in 2000. There was a need to strengthen the role played by the United Nations and its specialized agencies to deal more effectively in the area of social development. The United Arab Emirates, in the years since the Summit, had tried to follow through with its commitments by strengthening national policies, in line with its own aspirations to develop human potential to the fullest and ensure a good standard of living for its people. It had done that while strengthening family unity and cohesion, and while being mindful of its customs and the traditions of Islam. The Government had worked to strengthen grass roots initiatives and those undertaken by the private sector.

IVAN SIMONOVIC (Croatia) said that social development required an integrated approach and involved implementation of the conclusions of all the global conferences -- Rio, Vienna, Cairo, Copenhagen, Beijing and Istanbul. Social problems were spread across the world and could not be the exclusive responsibility of national governments. Rather, they required global

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attention. Even the most developed States were not immune to the problems of social development, poverty, unemployment and social disintegration.

Although his country was well aware of the fact that the least developed countries needed the greatest assistance for social development, the countries with economies in transition also required international cooperation. Dissatisfaction and frustration in those countries could eventually exact a much higher price from the international community than the amount of temporary assistance currently needed to put their economic and social development on the right track.

Speaking about the development efforts of Croatia, he said that the cost and consequences of transition and of the war of aggression against it were so great that Croatia was still not in a position to assume the role of a donor State. His country had undertaken numerous measures to implement the commitments of the Social Summit. The national programme of action for children, in conjunction with the national employment policy and special measures for the advancement, upbringing, education and social security for children were designed to help eliminate poverty -- one of the main goals of the Summit. Croatia would be greatly assisted by the scheduled pledging conference for development and reconstruction, which the international community was planning to hold in Croatia.

LINGLINGAY F. LACANLALE (Philippines) said that the preparatory committee to evaluate the implementation of the Copenhagen Summit's outcome, should seek more opportunities to bring about the implementation of commitments made at the Summit. Other related activities, involving non- governmental organizations and civil society, should be organized to increase awareness of the necessity to immediately implement the Summit's goals. Relevant national or regional activities could also be arranged to ensure maximum political momentum for the Programme of Action, for which the Secretariat should be able to provide assistance.

It was clear to her delegation that the principal objective of the special session was to reaffirm and not to renegotiate the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. It would review implementation of the Summit's outcome and make recommendations for further concrete actions and initiatives. The Assembly must confirm that understanding lest it put the preparatory committee and the special session in disarray. Member States should actively support the Commission for Social Development since that body would initiate substantive inputs for the Preparatory Committee. The Commission had been entrusted to act as a forum for national reporting and for identifying areas for further work and, therefore, it deserved the full support of Member States.

She noted that developing countries had done their best in implementing social development commitments under trying conditions of underdevelopment,

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debilitating external debt burdens and other serious setbacks to their economies. The Philippines, for one, had initiated a social reform agenda to focus on the delivery of social services, guided by a 33 point minimum basic needs indicator system, put in place in all of its provinces, two thirds of its municipalities and more than a third of its villages.

MOHAMED M.M. AHMED (Sudan) said that Sudan endorsed the statement from Indonesia on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China, which sought to promote North-South and South-South cooperation in striving towards social development. The successful development meeting in Khartoum in 1980, coupled with the Copenhagen Summit, drew his Government's attention to the priority theme for 1998 of promoting social integration and participation of all people. In furthering that goal, Sudan had created a social defense fund to assist poor people, which included medical funding and increased aid for students and their housing needs, and it had launched a project titled "productive student". Sudan currently had 23 universities compared to only five when his Government came to power. Measures meant to help families had also been created, such as collective marriage ceremonies, which included wedding costs, that were helping families in the Muslim tradition. Those measures were part of an effort to create an integrated society.

It was increasingly difficult, he said, to impose a single development model on countries if realistic social development was to take shape. International consideration must be given to various local traditions and cultures in achieving social objectives. Foreign pressure, such as the recent United States bombing of a pharmaceutical company in his country, further increased an already heavy social burden. Civil war in southern Sudan had also created a refugee problem to which a solution was needed to enable the return of the displaced persons. He concluded saying that the upcoming special session on the implementation of the Summit's outcome should not reopen discussion on themes that had already been approved.

JENO C. A. STAEHELIN, observer for Switzerland, said the implications of globalization and interdependence were clear. It was no longer possible to remain an island of prosperity when the rest of the world suffered from a serious economic crisis. A strategy linking social and economic policies was needed. On the one hand, protectionism -- especially in developed countries -- had to be prevented and sound macroeconomic policies actively supported. On the other hand, potential gains of an open economy had to be more widely spread among and within societies. Within that framework, a key tool would be the creation of freely chosen, remunerative employment in both developed and developing countries; and the improvement of socio-economic conditions as specified recently by International Labour Organization (ILO), which had also called for new and focused assistance for developing countries. Cooperation within the United Nations and other international organizations could improve the impact of actions.

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During the Preparatory Committee meeting in May, Switzerland had invited the United Nations to hold its General Assembly special session in the year 2000 in Geneva, he said. His Government would assume all additional costs incurred to the United Nations. As a result, holding the follow-up conference in Geneva would have no programme budget implications for the Organization. Also, through voluntary contributions, Switzerland would promote the best possible conditions for conference participants. For example, Switzerland would: facilitate participation of least developed countries; provide fully equipped office space for countries with no representation in Geneva; offer special rates for accommodations; and provide further assistance based on individual needs. He hoped that a definitive decision regarding the place and date of the special session, would be taken by the end of the current Assembly session.

Action on Social Summit Draft

The Assembly, acting without a vote, endorsed the provisional agenda for the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session of the General Assembly on the Implementation of the Outcome of World Summit for Social Development and Further Initiatives, scheduled to be held in May 1999.

Action on Reports of the Fifth Committee

Acting without votes on recommendations of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), the Assembly determined that the non-payment of arrears by Comoros and Tajikistan were due to reasons beyond their control and decided that they would retain their voting rights throughout the fifty- third Assembly session; and the Assembly decided to grant a temporary waiver for non-payment of arrears to Georgia and Guinea-Bissau for a period of three months, beginning on 7 October, during which they would also retain voting rights.

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