DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE HOLDS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Press Release
GA/DIS/3167

DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE HOLDS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), in an organizational meeting this afternoon, elected two vice-chairmen and adopted its programme of work for the current session. The Chairman, Mya Than (Myanmar), was elected by acclamation on 5 September.

At this afternoon’s meeting, Alberto Guani (Uruguay) and Petra Schneebauer (Austria), were elected vice-chairmen, also by acclamation. The election of the remaining members of the bureau (one vice-chairman and a rapporteur) will be announced at a later date.

The Committee then approved the following programme of work (document A/C.1/55/CRP.1): general debate on all disarmament and international security agenda items, 2 to 13 October; thematic discussion on item subjects as well as introduction and consideration of all draft resolutions, 13 to 23 October. Action will be taken on all draft resolutions from 25 October to 3 November.

The Chairman said that in order to fully utilize the time and conference services available to the Committee, he would convene meetings of the Committee promptly at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. He stressed the utmost importance of punctuality in the interest of ensuring an effective and orderly organization of the work of the Committee and achieving economy for the Organization.

He informed the Committee of a request by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgeting) for the views of First Committee members on the proposed medium-term plan (2002-2005) concerning disarmament.

The Chairman also announced that the first meeting of intercessional consultations on small arms would be held on 6 October in the afternoon, following the meeting of the First Committee.

The First Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 2 October, to begin its general exchange of views.

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