FOURTH COMMITTEE ELECTS VICE-CHAIRMAN, APPROVES PROGRAMME OF WORK
Press Release
GA/SPD/181
FOURTH COMMITTEE ELECTS VICE-CHAIRMAN, APPROVES PROGRAMME OF WORK
20000913The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) elected one of three Vice-Chairpersons this morning as it met to organize its work for the fifty- fifth General Assembly session.
The Committee elected Patrick Lewis (Antigua and Barbuda) Vice-Chairman by acclamation following his nomination by Matia Semakula Kiwanuka (Uganda), Committee Chairman.
Mr. Samakula Kiwanuka said that regional groups were continuing their consultations with regard to nominations for the other two Vice-Chairpersons and the Rapporteur. Those elections would be held at the Committees next meeting.
Sotirios Zackheos (Cyprus), the outgoing Chairman, noted that the issues before the Committee had been considered by the General Assembly for many years. While considerable progress had been achieved, much work remained. Political will was vital for the successful resolution of outstanding issues.
Also this morning, the Committee approved its work programme, contained in document A/C.4/55/L.1. According to that programme, issues relating to implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (item 18) will be considered from 25 to 29 September.
Those issues include information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the United Nations Charter (item 88) and economic and other activities affecting the interests of the peoples of the Territories (item 89). Others are implementation of the Decolonization Declaration by United Nations specialized agencies and associated international institutions (item 90); report of the Economic and Social Council (item 12); and offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non- Self-Governing Territories (item 91).
The Committee is expected to examine effects of atomic radiation (item 82) from 10 to 12 October and international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space from 16 and 19 October. From 23 to 25 October, it will consider the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (item 85). It will take up the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (item 84) from 26 October to 2 November.
Fourth Committee - 2 - Press Release GA/SPD/181 2nd Meeting (AM) 13 September 2000
On 6 and 7 November, the Committee will begin its consideration of questions relating to information (item 87) and on 8 and 9 November it will consider the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects (item 86).
The Fourth Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 25 September to take up implementation of the Decolonization Declaration.
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