General Assembly Adopts Work Programme, Considers New Items for Seventy-First Session, Endorsing Debate Schedule of 20 to 24 September

Acting on the recommendations of its General Committee, the General Assembly this morning adopted the work programme and agenda for its seventy-first session, which contained 173 items, and endorsed the recommendation that its general debate be held from 20 to 24 September 2016.

That information, and other organizational matters concerning the Assembly, is contained in the General Committee’s first report (document A/71/250).

Among the topics to be considered in the current Assembly session were new ones, including items on the observer status for the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America, the Pacific Island Development Forum and the International Chamber of Commerce.  Under heading F, concerning the promotion of justice and international law, the Assembly included a new item titled “request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965” on the understanding it would not be considered before June 2017, and thereafter, that it would be considered upon notification by a Member State.

Also new on the Assembly’s agenda were sub-items on disarmament related to countering the threat posed by improvised explosive devices, the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, the humanitarian pledge for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons, the ethical imperatives for a nuclear-weapon-free world and the implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

During approval of items in the agenda grouped under heading B of the document, concerning maintenance of international peace and security, Armenia’s representative disassociated his delegation from the consensus to include an item on “the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”.

The Question of the Comorian Island of Mayotte was included on the understanding that the matter would not be considered.  It deferred consideration of the Question of Malagasy islands of Glorieuses, Juan de Nova, Europa and Bassas da India to its seventy-second session.

The Assembly decided that the delegations of the Holy See and the State of Palestine would participate in the seventieth session as observer States, and that the European Union would participate in the work of the session as an observer.

The Assembly began the day with a moment of silence to pay tribute to the late President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, who had passed away on 2 September.  Assembly President Peter Thomson (Fiji) expressed his condolences to the people and Government of Uzbekistan, noting that Mr. Karimov had embodied the country’s modern history, as its first President from independence on 1 September 1991.

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, extending his condolences to the family of the late President, said Mr. Karimov had undertaken broad efforts to further Uzbekistan’s economic and social development.  Uzbekistan had made notable progress to the Millennium Development Goals and supported the new Sustainable Development Goals.  It also had contributed to stability and development in Afghanistan and sought to support peace across the region.

Among his most important initiatives, he said, was his promotion of the treaty to establish the Central Asian nuclear weapon-free zone, which had entered into force in 2009.  Today, 25 years after Uzbekistan had achieved its independence, he cited the words of Mr. Karimov, who had said “the interests, rights and freedoms” of the people should be at the centre of all development efforts.  The United Nations remained committed to helping Uzbekistan advance fundamental freedoms, build democratic institutions and nurture a climate of inclusion and dialogue, he said.

Following those remarks, several delegations took the floor to express their condolences, with Algeria’s delegate, on behalf of the African States, noting that the late President would be remembered for his efforts to advance his country.  Among his best achievements was the promotion of the regional nuclear-weapon-free zone.

Kazakhstan’s representative, on behalf of the Asia-Pacific States, said Mr. Karimov had attached great importance to strengthening Uzbekistan’s cooperation with international and regional organizations.  As a leader of strong principles, he had worked tirelessly to improve living standards, promote small and medium entrepreneurship and develop infrastructure.  “President Karimov’s name will be deeply etched in our history, as it records him as one of the great contemporary statesmen,” he said.

The representative of Estonia, on behalf of the Eastern European States, said Uzbekistan had emerged as an independent nation more than two decades ago under Mr. Karimov’s leadership.  “Major landmarks in the history of modern Uzbek State are linked to his name,” she said, stressing that his foreign policy had facilitated the consolidation of security and stability in Central Asia and the development of multilateral cooperation of the region.

Brazil’s delegate, on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean States, called Mr. Karimov a true leader, commending his efforts that established the region’s nuclear-weapon-free zone, a legally binding commitment to not manufacture, acquire, test or possess those arms.  He also had undertaken various policies to improve Uzbekistan’s economy and to export commodities.

The representative of Portugal, on behalf of the Western European and other States, said President Karimov would be remembered as the leader of modern Uzbekistan, having implemented economic and agricultural reforms and ensured stability and prosperity.

Uzbekistan’s representative said citizens “have been hit by the loss of Islam Karimov”.  As a leader, he said, Mr. Karimov had prepared and implemented a strategy for building a modern State.  Believing that political independence was impossible without economic independence, Mr. Karimov had undertaken far-reaching reforms in automobiles, agriculture, railway machinery, textiles, construction and other materials.  During his time, Uzbekistan had been recognized as one of the world’s fastest-growing countries, he said, adding that Mr. Karimov had attached great importance to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uzbekistan.