Fifty-seventh General Assembly

Sixth Committee

3rd Meeting (AM)

SIXTH COMMITTEE CONSIDERS REQUESTS BY ORGANIZATIONS FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OBSERVER STATUS, CONCLUDES DISCUSSION OF DIPLOMATIC PROTECTION

The Sixth Committee (Legal) considered requests for several organizations for observer status in the work of the General Assembly and announced that draft resolutions on the requests were being prepared this morning.

The Committee also concluded its discussion of effective measures to enhance the protection and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives.  Speaking on that issue were the representatives of Iran and Venezuela.

The organizations requesting observer status are:  the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance; Partners in Population and Development; Asian Development Bank; International Centre for Migration Policy Development; and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.  The requests were introduced by the following countries, respectively:  Sweden, Bangladesh, China, Austria and Hungary. 

Also speaking on the requests were the representatives of Egypt, Germany, Chile, Thailand, Cuba, Yemen, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Philippines, Indonesia, Switzerland, Spain, Venezuela, France, Belgium, Guatemala, Burkina Faso, Romania, Peru, Poland, Argentina, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Madagascar, Japan and Italy.

The Committee Chairman, Arpad Prandler (Hungary), announced that, at a date to be announced after consultations, the Committee would be considering relevant sections of reports by the Committee for Programme and Coordination and the Office of Internal Oversight Services.     

The Committee will meet next on Monday, 30 September, at 10 a.m. to take up the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.

Background

The Sixth Committee (Legal) met this morning to conclude its debate on effective measures to enhance the protection and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives (see Press Release GA/L/3204 of 26 September), and to consider requests for observer status in the General Assembly by a number of organizations.  The organizations are:  the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance; Partners in Population and Development; Asian Development Bank; International Centre for Migration Policy Development; and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

The Sixth Committee considered the Stockholm-based Institute's request for observer status in the General Assembly (document A/55/226) on 19 and 26 October 2001, and on its recommendation, the General Assembly deferred action to its fifty-seventh session.  The Institute's overall mandate is to promote sustainable democracy and assist democratization worldwide.

Partners in Population and Development

The Committee examined the request of the Bangladesh-based organization on 19 and 26 October and again on 19 November 2001 (document A/55/241), and recommended that the General Assembly defer action on the application to its fifty-seventh session, which was done.  The organization seeks to promote South-South cooperation in the field of population and development.           

Inter-Parliamentary Union

The Sixth Committee on 19 and 21 November 2001 considered a proposal submitted by India (document A/56/614) by which the General Assembly would grant observer status to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.  It also had before it at the time a report of the Secretary-General (document A/56/996) which gave details of the cooperation existing between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union since the signing of a cooperation agreement between them in 1996.  At the recommendation of the Sixth Committee, the Assembly deferred action on the Indian proposal to its fifty-seventh session. 

Asian Development Bank

The Sixth Committee had before it a letter from the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations (document A/57/141) requesting the inclusion in the provisional agenda of the Assembly's fifty-seventh session of an item entitled "Observer status for the Asian Development Bank in the General Assembly".  Attached to the letter was a communication from the Minister of Finance of China, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Bank, together with an explanatory memorandum supporting the request.

The Chinese Minister's letter said the Asian Development Bank had cooperated closely with United Nations agencies.  The Bank had, however, been disadvantaged by its exclusion from the many United Nations conferences and committees to which observer status would have given it access.

International Centre for Migration Policy Development

A letter from the Permanent Representative of Austria addressed to the Secretary-General (document A/57/142) also requested the inclusion in the Assembly's agenda of a new item entitled "Observer status for the International Centre for Migration Policy Development".  Annexed to the letter were an explanatory memorandum and a draft resolution by which the General Assembly would invite the Vienna-based intergovernmental organization to participate in its sessions and work as an observer.

The purpose of the Centre was to promote comprehensive and sustainable migration policies and to function as a service exchange mechanism for governments and organizations on mainly European migration issues.

Statements on Safety of Diplomatic Missions

SAEID MIRZAEE YENGEJEH (Iran) said he could not overemphasize the importance of the fundamental principle of the inviolability of the premises of diplomatic and consular missions and their representatives.  It was a universally accepted norm that had been observed for centuries.  It was unfortunate to note that several instances of violence against those premises and their personnel had occurred in the past two years.  In certain cases, the perpetrators had yet to be brought to justice.

He urged all States to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of diplomatic and consular missions and, where States had custody of the perpetrators, to prosecute and punish the criminals. 

ERNESTO KLEBER (Venezuela), referring to an attack on the Cuban Embassy in Caracas last April, said that despite the difficult circumstances -- a coup attempt was under way -- as soon as the Venezuelan Foreign Minister was informed of the situation, he advised authorities to take immediate steps to re-establish and guarantee the security and protection of the Embassy and its personnel.  That incident was an unusual event that occurred under extraordinary and trying circumstances.  Normally, all embassies and consuls had the protection of the national government, as should be the case.    

After the authority of President Chavez had been restored, the President strongly denounced the acts of violence against the Cuban Embassy, and an investigation was initiated to identify those responsible, he said.  Once again, Venezuela repudiated those acts of violence in Caracas as well as, in general, any acts that were contrary to the norms and principles related to the protection and security of diplomatic and consular missions.  He also confirmed his country's commitment to comply with those rules and norms.

Observer Status for Organizations

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

CARL-JOHAN GROTH (Sweden) reintroduced the request for observer status for the Stockholm-based organization, first made in 2000.  He said the body was an international intergovernmental organization.  That had been confirmed by independent legal experts, most recently by Government lawyers from Australia and Germany.  No delegation in the Sixth Committee had expressed a contrary view, but doubts had been voiced.  Sponsors of the request had accepted such concerns.  As far as the status of the organization’s associate members was concerned, he said Member States made the decision on which non-governmental organization to accept as associate members.  His delegation would welcome consultations with other delegations on the request for observer status for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

SU WEI (China), referring to General Assembly resolution 49/426, said observer status in the Assembly was granted only to intergovernmental organizations.  His delegation did not therefore support the request for observer status.

MAHMOUD SAMY (Egypt) said his delegation had doubts about the nature of the organization and could not support the request in light of the terms of General Assembly resolution 49/426.

TCHRISTIAN W. MUCH (Germany) supported the request for observer status and added that there should be no rush to judgment on the merits of the request.  He agreed to the suggestion about consultations on the request made by the representative of Sweden. 

PEDRO ORTUZAR (Chile) supported the request for observer status for the organization.

Partners in Population and Development

IFTEKHAR AHMED CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) introduced a draft resolution, contained in document A/C.6/57/L.2, by which the General Assembly would decide to invite Partners in Population and Development to participate in its sessions and work as an observer.  The sponsors of the resolution were Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.  He said the draft resolution was the same text introduced last year.

The Bangladesh-based intergovernmental organization was established by 10 developing countries following the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development in 1994.  It now had a membership of 18 countries.  He said the organization was a purely intergovernmental one and fully qualified to have observer status in the Assembly.  The organization’s mission was to help implement the Cairo Programme of Action by improving South-South cooperation in the fields of family planning and reproductive health.

The representatives of Thailand, Cuba, Yemen and Egypt supported the request for observer status for the organization in the General Assembly.

Asian Development Bank

SU WEI (China), introducing the request for observer status for the Asian Development Bank, said the Bank had been founded in 1996 and was an international intergovernmental institution with 61 members.  It contributed to economic and social development in the region and had the aim of reducing poverty in the territories of its members.  The Bank already had cooperative arrangements with other agencies in the United Nations system and had participated in the preparatory process of several United Nations conferences.  It would be useful to formalize and enhance the existing cooperative relationship through granting the Bank observer status in the work of the Assembly. 

The representatives of Malaysia, Viet Nam, Philippines and Indonesia supported the granting of observer status to the Bank.

International Centre for Migration Policy Development

ALEXANDER MARSCHIK (Austria) introduced the request for granting of observer status in the General Assembly for the International Centre for Migration Policy Development.  A service organization, it cooperated with more than 50 States and collaborated with a number of United Nations agencies such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Migration Organization and other relevant United Nations System bodies.  As the organization promoted sustainable migration policies, he hoped the Sixth Committee would support its request for observer status when the relevant draft resolution was formally introduced.

The representatives of Switzerland, Hungary and Spain supported the request. 

Inter-Parliamentary Union

LASZLO MOLNAR (Hungary), introducing the request of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for observer status, said the IPU had continuously contributed to enhancing international cooperation.  Especially since 1996 when a cooperation agreement was signed between the United Nations and the IPU, the General Assembly had annually received an important parliamentary input from the IPU.  Hungary intended to present a draft resolution approving the IPU request and while it had already obtained valuable support from a number of delegations, it looked forward to getting further support.

The representatives of Venezuela, France, Belgium, Guatemala, Austria, Chile, Malaysia, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Romania, Peru, Germany, Indonesia, Poland, Argentina, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Madagascar, Japan and Italy supported granting the IPU observer status.

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