ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF RUBENS RICUPERO FOR ANOTHER FOUR-YEAR TERM AS SECRETARY-GENERAL OF UNCTAD
Press Release
GA/9547
ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF RUBENS RICUPERO FOR ANOTHER FOUR-YEAR TERM AS SECRETARY-GENERAL OF UNCTAD
19990218 In Other Action, Comoros Elected to Committee for Programme And Coordination; Cuba, Hungary and Libya Appointed to Host Country CommitteeThe General Assembly this afternoon decided to confirm the appointment of Rubens Ricupero for another four-year term as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Following that confirmation, the representative of the Russian Federation said that, in a difficult period, he believed Mr. Ricupero's reappointment was the correct choice, as UNCTAD faced many complex tasks. The UNCTAD IX -- held in Midrand, South Africa, in 1996 -- had been a turning point for the organization. Mr. Ricupero's personal contributions were evident in progress made in carrying out the Midrand decisions.
Despite the good work accomplished by UNCTAD since Mr. Ricupero's initial appointment, the organization's resources had been reduced, the representative of Guyana, speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, noted. The Group sought greater support for UNCTAD's activities. Strategies for the integration of all countries into the world economy should come out of the upcoming UNCTAD X. He trusted that under Mr. Ricupero, the organization would respond to its challenges.
The representatives of New Zealand (on behalf of Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States), Germany (on behalf of the European Union and associated States) and China also made statements endorsing Mr. Ricupero's reappointment.
In other action this afternoon, the Assembly elected Comoros, without a vote, to the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC).
Also without a vote, Sumihiro Kuyama (Japan), nominated by the President, Didier Opertti (Uruguay), was elected to fill a vacancy on the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), and Cuba, Hungary and Libya were appointed to the Committee on Relations with the Host Country.
The President also informed the Assembly that 40 Member States were in arrears in payment to the United Nations to the extent that, under Article 19 of the United Nations Charter, they would be unable to vote in the Assembly.
Assembly Work Programme
The Assembly met this afternoon to take up the reports of the General Committee and the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and to take action on a draft resolution on strengthening of the United Nations system.
The Assembly had before it the Fourth Report of the General Committee (document A/53/250/Add.3) which recommends that the Assembly consider the item entitled "observer status for the Customs Cooperation Council in the General Assembly".
The Assembly also had before it a note by the Secretary-General on the election of seven members of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) (document A/53/440/Add.1). The note states that on 7 May 1998, the Economic and Social Council postponed the nomination of one member from the African States Group for a term beginning on the date of election and expiring on 31 December 2001 and one member from the Western European and Other States Group for a term beginning on the date of election and expiring on 31 December 1999. At its organizational session for 1999, the Council nominated Comoros as the member from the African States for election by the Assembly.
Also before the Assembly was a note by its President on the appointment of a member of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) (document A/53/110). In that note the Assembly President recommends that the General Assembly reappoint Sumihiro Kuyama (Japan) for a five-year term beginning on 1 January 2000 and expiring on 31 December 2004.
A note by the Secretary-General on the confirmation of the appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was also before the Assembly (document A/53/799). In the note, the Secretary-General of the United Nations proposes that the Assembly confirm the extension of the appointment of Rubens Ricupero for another four- year term as UNCTAD Secretary-General, beginning on 15 September 1999 and ending on 14 September 2003.
The Assembly also had before it a resolution on the appointment of four new members to the Committee on Relations with the Host Country (document A/RES/53/104). In accordance with that resolution, the President of the General Assembly will choose one candidate each from the African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean, and Easter European States Groups.
The Assembly also had before it a draft resolution submitted by the President of the Assembly, Didier Opertti (Uruguay) (document A/53/L.74). The draft would have the Assembly decide that its fifty-third session should close on Monday, 13 September, and that the fifty-fourth session should open on Tuesday, 14 September.
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The Assembly also had before it a letter, dated 18 February, from the Secretary-General on the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations (document A/53/835). In that letter, the Secretary-General advises the Assembly that 40 Member States owe a sufficient amount to fall under Article 19 of the United Nations Charter. Article 19 states that if a Member State falls behind in its contributions by an amount equal to or greater than its assessment for the previous two years, it shall have no vote in the Assembly, unless the Assembly is satisfied this is a consequence of circumstances beyond its control.
The letter lists the 40 Member States in that position as at the time of the letter. These are Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Niger, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Yugoslavia. The letter also lists the amount each must pay to reduce their obligations sufficient to escape the provisions of Article 19.
Matters before Assembly
DIDIER OPERTTI (Uruguay), Assembly President, said that 40 Member States were in arrears in the payment of their financial contributions to the United Nations. He reminded delegations that under Article 19 of the Organization's Charter, a member of the United Nations which was in arrears should have no vote in the Assembly if the amount of its arrears equalled or exceeded the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years.
The Assembly took note of that information.
The Assembly then turned to consideration of observer status for the Customs Cooperation Council in the General Assembly, which had been recommended for inclusion in the Assembly's agenda by the General Committee based on a request by Chile.
The Assembly decided to include the item on the agenda of its current session and decided to consider the item directly in a plenary meeting based on a recommendation before it to that effect from the General Committee.
The Assembly then turned to the election of an African State and a Western European and Other State to the CPC. The Economic and Social Council nominated Comoros for one of the vacant seats at its recent organizational session.
Comoros was elected without a vote.
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Regarding the remaining vacancy, for the Western European and Others State, the Assembly decided that it would be in a position to act upon it when the Economic and Social Council nominated a Member State from that region. It also decided to keep that sub-item on the agenda of the current session.
The Assembly then moved to an election to fill a vacancy on the JIU. The President nominated Sumihiro Kuyama (Japan) as the candidate.
Mr. Kuyama was elected without a vote.
The Assembly then turned to the matter of the confirmation of the Secretary-General's extension of the appointment of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Rubens Ricupero, for another four-year term.
The Assembly decided to confirm Mr. Ricupero's extension for another four-year term of office, from 15 September 1999 to 14 September 2003.
SAMUEL R. INSANALLY (Guyana), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the Group shared the Secretary-General's confidence in Mr. Ricupero. Since he had taken charge, UNCTAD had increased its importance and relevance. Today it was needed more than ever for its contribution to the dialogue for development and related issues.
The UNCTAD's work on salient issues of concern to developing countries had been an enormous help, he said. It had also reformed and now did a better job as a partner with civil society. Despite that, its resources had been reduced. The Group sought greater support for its activities. He said UNCTAD X would allow the international community to reflect on development issues and globalization. Out of it should come strategies for the integration of all countries, particularly developing countries, into the world economy. He trusted that under Mr. Ricupero, UNCTAD would respond to its challenges.
MICHAEL POWLES (New Zealand), speaking on behalf of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, said that on the occasion of the reappointment of Mr. Ricupero as Secretary-General of UNCTAD, he wished to express full support for UNCTAD as focal point for the integrated treatment of development issues, as had been called for during UNCTAD IX in Midrand, South Africa, in 1996. In the Midrand Declaration, Member States had given a ringing endorsement for the reform of UNCTAD. Midrand heralded a new spirit of cooperation between Member States and the UNCTAD Secretariat to improve the organization. A strong hands-on approach at UNCTAD's highest levels would help realize the Midrand vision.
He said there were three relevant points he wished to raise. First, with only 12 months until the next conference in Bangkok, a number of basic elements of the follow-up of the High-Level Meeting on Integrated Initiatives
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for Least Developed Countries remained and he would be looking to Mr. Ricupero to address those. Second, UNCTAD's comparative advantage was in trade and investment, and its Trade Division was crucial in assisting developing countries on critical issues for the upcoming World Trade Organization ministerial. Third, he expected to consult closely with UNCTAD in developing appropriate grounds for partnerships with the private sector.
GERHARD WALTER HENZE (Germany), speaking on behalf of the European Unions and the associated countries of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, said UNCTAD was in need of an experienced Secretary-General at its head. Mr. Ricupero's qualifications fully justified the extension of his appointment. He hoped the improved efficiency of UNCTAD would continue to be high on list of Mr. Ricupero's second term of office.
NIKOLAI TCHOULKOV (Russian Federation) said his delegation supported the proposal to appoint Mr. Ricupero for another four-year term of office. In a difficult period he believed it was the correct choice. The UNCTAD faced many complex tasks: reforms of inter-agency relationships; trade cooperation and development; transforming itself into a reactive and efficient agency; and becoming a decisive factor in social development. The 1996 Midrand Conference in South Africa, UNCTAD IX, had been a turning point. Over the years, UNCTAD had made progress in carrying out decisions adopted at Midrand and Mr. Ricupero's personal contributions were very evident.
YUAN SHAOFU (China) said China supported Mr. Ricupero's reappointment. Under his stewardship, UNCTAD had played a positive role and made important contributions to helping the integration of developing countries into the world economy. The UNCTAD was among the first United Nations body to embrace structural reform and had achieved remarkable results. It had strengthened its links with the World Trade Organization, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The improvements attested to the hard work and leadership of Mr. Ricupero.
The Assembly then turned to the appointment of four members to the Committee on Relations with the Host Country. By the terms of an Assembly resolution adopted 26 January, the President of the General Assembly was to choose one candidate each from the African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean, and Eastern European States Groups.
Mr. OPERTTI (Uruguay), Assembly President, advised that, after consultations with the relevant groups, he had chosen Cuba, Hungary and Libya. He advised that the appointment of an Asian State would require more consultations with the regional group.
Further consultations were also required on start and finish dates for the next session of the General Assembly. The President said a decision must be taken, at the latest, in the first week of March to allow preparations for the next session to be carried out.
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