FIRST COMMITTEE APPROVES PROGRAMME OF WORK SCHEDULES, ELECTIONS AND OPENING OF GENERAL DEBATE FOR 11 OCTOBER

Press Release
GA/DIS/3138

FIRST COMMITTEE APPROVES PROGRAMME OF WORK SCHEDULES, ELECTIONS AND OPENING OF GENERAL DEBATE FOR 11 OCTOBER

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), in an organizational meeting this morning, approved its programme of work for the current session.

The result of the election of the remaining members of the Bureau, three Vice-Chairmen and a Rapporteur, will be announced on 11 October, at the opening of the general debate. The Chairman, Raimundo Gonzales of Chile, was elected by acclamation on 14 September.

The Committee approved the following programme of work (document A/C.1/54/CRP.1): general debate on disarmament and international security items 11 to 20 October; thematic discussion of specific disarmament and international security items and consideration of all draft resolutions submitted under those items, 21 to 29 October; and action on all draft resolutions, 1 to 9 November. A general debate, consideration of and action on draft resolution(s) submitted on the question of Antarctica will be held from 10 to 12 November. The discussion of Antarctica in the context of disarmament and international security was held every three years.

The Committee Chairman noted that tasks assigned to the Committee were not easy, in light of the many pressing disarmament and security issues confronting the world community. In that connection, he urged Committee members to grant the work of the Committee the seriousness it deserved. There were no small, medium or big countries gathered here; all were important and all could make a contribution to the disarmament and security debate. The Committee Secretary, Kuo-Chung Lin, reviewed procedural matters.

Akmaral Arystanbekova of Kazakhstan delivered a farewell statement upon the conclusion of her role as Permanent Representative of her country to the United Nations. In 1990, she said it was beyond anyone’s imagination that her country would become a full-fledged Member of the Organization. Kazakhstan contained a nuclear-testing ground, and, as such, her first call was on the nuclear-weapon States to proclaim a moratorium on nuclear testing. Kazakhstan was the first country to close down a nuclear-testing ground and voluntary give up its nuclear capacity, formerly the fourth largest in the world. The noble activities of the First Committee would assume even greater importance in the next century.

The First Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 11 October, to begin its general exchange of views.

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