General Assembly

Highlighting the importance of verification in “giving teeth” to disarmament and non-proliferation agreements, speakers today praised the effectiveness demonstrated by the nuclear test-ban Treaty’s International Monitoring System (IMS), as they concluded their conference aimed at promoting the Treaty’s entry into force.

A high-level commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) today highlighted not only the stabilizing presence of an Agency created in 1949 to carry out direct relief for Palestine refugees, but the ongoing hardships endured by more than 4.5 million people.

The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission has learned of a “window of opportunity” in Guinea-Bissau, stemming from the peaceful elections there, for which increased international support is needed.

The sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly appeared to be off to a strong start as the 192-member body had adopted its agenda –- without reservations –- in less than an hour, newly installed Assembly President Ali Abdussalam Treki (Libya) said at Headquarters today.

The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, meeting back to back with the Security Council briefing this morning by the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, heard briefings on the latest developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and progress in the political process, and reviewed its activities since its last meeting in May.

Ali Abdussalam Treki was elected President of the sixty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly on 10 June 2009.

Mourad Benmehidi, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Sixth Committee (Legal) on 10 June.

Normans Penke, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) on 10 June.

José Luis Cancela, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) on 10 June.

Peter Maurer, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) on 10 June.