Plenary

Expressing grave concern over the recent deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the General Assembly this afternoon signalled its approval for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s intention to set up an international emergency response mission and called upon all Member States to fully support it.

Acting on the recommendations of its General Committee, the General Assembly this morning adopted the work programme and agenda for its sixty-ninth session, which contained 172 items, and endorsed the recommendation that its general debate would be held from 24 to 27 September and from 29 September to 1 October.

Despite an unprecedented array of such weighty challenges as poverty, armed conflicts and climate change, the international community could achieve great things with dedication and single-mindedness of purpose and compromise, said the new President of the General Assembly this afternoon as he opened its sixty-ninth session.

The General Assembly’s sixty-eighth session came to a close today, with the outgoing President noting that there had been some great successes in the past session, despite the challenging circumstances.

The General Assembly adopted three resolutions today, including one that would pave the way for the incorporation of sustainable development goals into the post-2015 development agenda.

The General Assembly adopted four resolutions today, including one on sovereign debt restructuring that would establish an intergovernmental negotiation process aimed at increasing the efficiency, stability and predictability of the international financial system.

In a decision that mirrored similar proceedings from last year, the General Assembly decided today that intergovernmental negotiations on the issue of Security Council reform would carry forward to the next Assembly session.

Reiterating that all Member States should strictly adhere to their obligations under the United Nations Charter to peacefully settle disputes and prevent and resolve conflicts, the General Assembly today encouraged those States, the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations to bolster mediation as a tool towards that end.

The United Nations General Assembly will mark Nelson Mandela International Day with an informal meeting on Friday, 18 July, honouring the South African leader’s contributions to democracy, racial justice and reconciliation.