'I BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A FRUITFUL SESSION', ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT STATES IN CONCLUDING REMARKS TO FIFTY-THIRD SESSION
Press Release
GA/SM/82
'I BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A FRUITFUL SESSION', ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT STATES IN CONCLUDING REMARKS TO FIFTY-THIRD SESSION
19981218 Following is the statement by the President of the fifty-third session of the General Assembly, Didier Opertti (Uruguay), on the occasion of the conclusion of the first part of the session:The last thing I want to inflict on you is a long speech to close this first part of the fifty-third session. I believe we have all heard more than enough words, and after three months of intensive work our spirits are better prepared to return to our countries and homes to celebrate the holidays. So, I will make a brief statement to share with you my concept of what we have done so far.
I believe we are entitled to feel a legitimate sense of satisfaction for the work we have done. Both the plenary of this Assembly and its Committees have worked very hard, and delegates at times have had to spend many long, tiring days. But the results are gratifying. The General Assembly, in this first part of the fifty-third session, adopted 250 resolutions (up to 15 December) and some 60 decisions, many of them having politically important content.
This would not be an appropriate time to evaluate our work; but I should at least like to draw attention to some elements of the context in which the debates have taken place. One factor is the financially constrained situation in which the Organization continues to survive and carry out its tasks. Unfortunately, this factor has not only characterized this session, but has been dragging on for years. There is no need to repeat that it has adversely affected the work and the outcome of the deliberations on some important items. It is to be hoped that the Organization's largest debtors will soon make the payments they owe and that forthcoming sessions will not be held under the tyranny of budgetary constraints.
Offsetting this difficulty, a spirit of cooperation and compromise among all delegations has prevailed in the debates. Thanks to this spirit of cooperation, the deliberations have taken place without serious obstacles. Even on controversial items, although the delegations expressed and defended their positions energetically and there were occasional rough spots, they
always sought to reach consensus and reconcile their opposing views. One proof of this is that during this session, 190 resolutions were adopted by consensus. For this I should like to thank and congratulate the delegations.
Perhaps I could take one of the resolutions adopted at this session as an eloquent illustration of the spirit of understanding and tolerance that seems gradually to be pervading the international community. I have chosen resolution 53/22, on the dialogue among civilizations. In adopting it, the General Assembly has opened another window to understanding and solidarity among the peoples of the world.
In some ways, resolution 53/30 on the question of equitable representation on the Security Council could also be taken as an example of how much can be achieved where there is a willingness to understand and compromise. There is no need to stress the importance and extreme complexity of the question of equitable representation on the Security Council. Of course, progress on the substance of the matter was not expected at this session, although I trust such progress will be made next year in the meetings of the Open-Ended Working Group. But this very brief resolution, 53/30, whose significance is in inverse proportion to its size, will no doubt be a contributing factor in creating a climate of mutual confidence, and thus will promote what I hope will be fruitful negotiations.
The General Assembly has given special attention to the problems affecting peace and security in Africa. With the adoption of the resolution on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, the General Assembly has not only confirmed the international community's particular interest and concern with respect to current problems, but has endeavoured to help the situation.
On the other hand, nature seems to have shown us its violent side in some parts of the world. The General Assembly has responded as much as it could within its resources, that is, modestly. But the resolutions adopted in these cases at least show that the feelings of solidarity in the international community remain very strong.
With regard to disarmament and national security, the Assembly focused on nuclear issues in view of the related events which occurred, as you know, this year. Of the 48 resolutions adopted by the First Committee, I should like to mention two which were preceded by a very lively debate: one which condemns nuclear tests in South Asia and the other, entitled "Towards a nuclear-free world: need for a new agenda".
Again this year, a resolution was adopted laying the groundwork for the convening of a fourth special session of the General Assembly on disarmament. The fact that the resolution was adopted by consensus indicates that the world
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is prepared for such a session. It is to be hoped that the nuclear stockpiles which some countries are still maintaining can be liquidated and the special session on disarmament can take place in the near future.
The General Assembly approved 35 resolutions submitted by the Second Committee, fewer than last year. All but one, which referred to Palestine, were adopted by consensus.
Globalization was the dominant issue in the Second Committee. The high-level dialogue held in September on the subject undoubtedly led to a better understanding of this phenomenon, which emerges as the major issue before the international community at the threshold of the twenty-first century. The related resolution recognizes the key role that the United Nations is called upon to play and the need for coordination between the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and international organizations.
The idea that the United Nations is the appropriate forum for a dialogue on development issues that may impact on the forthcoming discussions in the Bretton Woods institutions is gaining acceptance. The dialogue between the intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions should continue, taking advantage of the experience gained from the High-level Meeting of the Economic and Social Council held in April of this year.
Another major question was the financing of development. There was broad support on the need for a genuine partnership in that process and on the urgency of agreeing on the agenda to be considered by the Open-Ended Working Group of the General Assembly for the high-level intergovernmental discussion of that item.
In the area of cooperation on the social, humanitarian and cultural issues, 59 resolutions were adopted, most of them by consensus. In this area, a concern was also expressed over the current economic situation and its negative impact on social development.
Various resolutions on human rights were adopted, among them the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Institutions in Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, as well as the resolution confirming the agreements reached in the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted in Vienna in 1993. Another important resolution dealt with international cooperation in dealing with the world drug problem.
Twenty-seven resolutions were adopted on special political and decolonization items, 12 of them by consensus. In addition to the recurrent items on decolonization, the effects of atomic radiation on international
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cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space and questions relating to information, resolutions were adopted on two hotly debated items, namely, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the item on Israeli practices in the occupied territories. The United Nations financial crisis and the difficulties encountered in completing the peace process were the aspects most emphasized. The Wye River Memorandum injected a positive element in this process.
As for administrative and budgetary matters, the deliberations of the Fifth Committee continue. The issues that it dealt with required that resolutions be adopted before the end of the year, including those on the programme budget outline for the 2000-2001 biennium, first performance report for the 1998-1999 biennium, scale of assessments and other issues.
Among the important pending issues that need to be discussed during next year are those of human resources management, Development Account, reform of the budgetary system, internal oversight services, all matters relating to peacekeeping operations and the procurement system.
Thirteen resolutions were adopted on the reports of the Sixth Committee, including one referring to assistance to third States affected by sanctions.
Furthermore, a decision was adopted providing that the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court would hold three meetings next year. The work of this Preparatory Commission is fundamentally important, indeed essential, for the establishment and functioning of the Court in the near future. Equally important is the resolution confirming a number of guiding principles of international law for international negotiations. Other resolutions refer to the United Nations Decade of International Law.
The work on one important item in this area has remained unfinished. I am referring to the draft international convention on the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism. Most of the provisions of this draft enjoy general support, but there are still some elements that require further negotiations. It is to be hoped that the latter will be successfully completed next year.
This year was marked by important celebrations. The fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration provided an occasion for the adoption of two important resolutions. First, the Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Second, the General Assembly solemnly reaffirmed its commitment to the fulfilment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations and as a source of inspiration.
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The General Assembly also celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of peacekeeping operations, which was an appropriate occasion to reaffirm that the United Nations continues to be a key element in the maintenance of international peace and security.
In conclusion, I return to my point of departure: I believe that this has been a fruitful session. Credit for this should be attributed to all of you. In particular, I should like to thank the Vice-Presidents, who replaced me on so many occasions, and the Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Rapporteurs of the Main Committees, who also did excellent work. Of course, we would not have achieved these positive results had we not been able to rely on the invaluable support and professionalism of the staff of the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services -- among whom I wish to make specific mention of the interpreters and translators -- and of the press release section of the Department of Public Information.
I and my team are deeply grateful to all of them. Allow me to wish you all very happy holidays and a successful new year in 1999 and to say goodbye until we meet again in the near future to resume our work.
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