Fifty-sixth General Assembly

Sixth Committee

9^th Meeting (AM)

LEGAL COMMITTEE RECEIVES REQUESTS FROM TWO GROUPS

FOR OBSERVER STATUS IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Drafts concerning requests from two more organizations for Observer Status in the General Assembly were presented to the Sixth Committee (Legal) this morning.

The representative of Bangladesh, introducing a draft resolution on behalf of Partners in Population and Development, said it was hoped that the involvement of that group with the General Assembly would enrich the organization in the area of population and development.

The representative of Sweden presented a draft decision whereby the Assembly would again defer its consideration of observer status for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.  She said the time did not yet seem ripe to discuss the item.

The Committee will meet next at a time to be announced in the Journal.  At its next meeting, it is expected to take up the agenda item on the Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property.

Statements

Observer Status for Partners in Population Development

SHAMEEM AHSAM (Bangladesh) introduced the draft resolution (document A/C.6/56/L.4) by which the General Assembly would invite Partners in Population and Development to participate in its sessions and work as observer.  The Secretary-General would be asked to take the necessary action to implement the resolution.

The co-sponsors of the draft are Bangladesh, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Tunisia and Uganda.

The representative of Bangladesh said the organization, which was based in his country, was established after the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo.  He said the organization had been promoting south-south cooperation.  It was hoped that observer status in the General Assembly would enrich the organization in the area of population and development.

Observer Status for International Institute

ELIN MILLER (Sweden) said the application for observer status in the General Assembly by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance had

been on the Committee’s agenda since last year.  It seemed the time was not yet ripe to discuss the item.  She therefore proposed that the discussion should be deferred to the 57^th session of the General Assembly.

A draft decision (document A/C.6/56/L.5) before the Sixth Committee would have the Assembly resume its consideration of the item and defer a decision on the request to its 57^th session.

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