Fifty-ninth General Assembly

Plenary

50^th Meeting (AM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS TEXTS TO PROMOTE MULTILATERAL COOPERATION,

FILLS VACANCIES ON SUBSIDIARY BODIES

 

Unanimously adopting four resolutions to enhance cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations, the General Assembly today continued its efforts to strengthen solidarity through multilateral cooperation.

In keeping with the principles of the Millennium Declaration and the United Nations Charter, the texts underscored the importance of global collaboration and cooperation in, among other things, fighting poverty, promoting peace and conflict resolution, and encouraging full respect for cultural and linguistic diversity.

By the resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), contained in document A/59/L.5/Rev.2 and introduced by the representative of Chile, the Assembly encouraged the United Nations and the IPU to continue to cooperate closely in various fields, in particular peace and security, economic and social development, international law, human rights, and democracy and gender issues, bearing in mind the significant benefits of cooperation between the two organizations.

The Assembly, by the text backing enhanced cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum (document A/59/L.11), welcomed the Forum’s ongoing efforts to promote –- through the Pacific Islands Forum Regional Security Committee -– law enforcement cooperation, the rule of law, and regional peace and security, including combating all types of terrorism.  It also welcomed the Forum’s decision to develop a “Pacific Plan” to enhance regional integration and cooperation among its members with the global community, including the United Nations system.

By the terms of the resolution on United Nations cooperation with the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (document A/59/L.14), introduced by the representative of Sao Tome and Principe, the Assembly invited the Secretary-General to undertake consultations with the Community’s Executive Secretary to promote cooperation between the two, particularly by encouraging meetings that enabled their representatives to consult on projects and procedures to facilitate cooperation and coordination.  The Assembly also requested specialized agencies to cooperate to that end with the Secretary-General and the Executive Secretary.

The final resolution adopted today -- on cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie (document A/59/L.19) -– was introduced by the representative of Lebanon.  It had the Assembly request the Secretary-General to encourage periodic meetings between representatives of the secretariats to promote exchange of information, coordination of activities and identification of new areas of cooperation.  The Assembly also invited the United Nations system, as well as the regional commissions, to collaborate with the Secretary-General of la Francophonie by identifying new synergies in favour of development.

In other business today, the Assembly filled vacancies in several subsidiary organs.  Acting on nominations forwarded by the Economic and Social Council, the Assembly elected seven members of the Committee for Programme and Coordination to three-year terms, beginning on 1 January 2005.  Those States were:  Algeria, Ghana, Kenya (African States); China, Japan, Republic of Korea (Asian States); and Jamaica (Latin American and CaribbeanStates).

With the terms of seven members of the Committee on Conferences expiring at the end of December, Assembly President Jean Ping (Gabon), after consultations with the heads of the regional groups, appointed Austria, China, Egypt, Jamaica, Kenya, Nepal and the United States to three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2005.

On the appointment of members of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), President Ping informed the Assembly that, after the necessary consultations with Member States, he had drawn up a list of four countries to propose candidates to fill four vacancies, arising on 31 December 2005.

He said the African States had endorsed Senegal for one vacancy, and the Eastern European States had endorsed Hungary for another.  For two vacancies, the group of Western European and Other States had endorsed France and Turkey.  Those States would be requested to submit the names of candidates and their curricula vitae, highlighting relevant qualifications.  Following another round of consultations, President Ping would then propose a final list of candidates to fill the vacancies on the JIU for five-year terms, beginning on 1 January 2006.

Also today, the Assembly deferred consideration of the item on implementation of United Nations resolutions to its sixtieth session and decided to include it in the provisional agenda of that session.

The Assembly will meet again on Thursday, 11 November to consider the report on the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

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