General Assembly: 63rd plenary meeting, 79th session

Good morning, colleagues. The 63rd plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. I would like, in keeping with established practice, to invite the attention of the Assembly to document A/79/720, addendum 4, in which the Secretary-General informs the President of the Assembly that, since the issuance of his communication contained in document A/79/720 addendum 3, the Congo has made the payment necessary to reduce the arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter. May I take it that the Assembly takes note of the information contained in this document?

It is so decided.

It is now my sad duty to pay tribute to the memory of the President of the 49th session of the Assembly, His Excellency Amara Essy of Côte d'Ivoire, who passed away on 8 April 2025. On behalf of the Assembly, I should like to convey our condolences to the Government and the people of Cote d'Ivoire, and to the bereaved family of His Excellency Amara Essy. I now invite representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of His Excellency Amara Essy. Thank you. The Assembly will resume its consideration of agenda item 13, entitled "Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields: to take action on a draft resolution contained in document A/79/L.71. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/79/L.71. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. President. The present oral statement is made in the context of rule 153 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly. The present statement has also been distributed to Member States. Under the terms of operative paragraph 1 of the draft resolution, the Assembly would welcome and accept with appreciation the generous offer of the Government of Turkmenistan to host the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, and decide that the Conference will be held in Awaza for a duration of four days from 5 to 8 August 2025 at the highest possible level, including heads of State and Government, on the theme driving progress through partnerships. Should the Assembly adopt the draft resolution A/79/L.71, there would be additional meetings and documentation workload for the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management and the Department of Global Communications, with a total estimated cost of $254,700 in 2025. Every effort will be made to meet the requirements within their capacity, and there would be no program budget implications for 2025. In this regard, the Secretariat wishes to inform the Assembly that its ability to implement the mandate will depend on the availability of adequate liquidity resources. The Assembly may recall that in accordance with its decision, In its resolution 77/246, to convene the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in 2024, provisions totaling 345,000 $500 was included in the programme budget for 2024 under section 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management, and section 28, global communications. The unspent provisions owing to the postponement of the third United Nations Conference, as decided by the Assembly in its decision 79/537, will be returned in the context of the financial performance report for 2024 to be presented at the main part of the eighth session of the Assembly. Also, pursuant to operative paragraph one of the draft resolution, it should be noted that the Government of Turkmenistan will need to defray the additional costs directly or indirectly involved in accordance with paragraph 5 of Assembly resolution 40/243, which stipulates that United Nations bodies may hold sessions away from their established headquarters when a government issuing an invitation for a session to be held within its territory has agreed to defray, after consultation with the Secretary General, as to their nature and possible extent, the actual and additional costs directly or indirectly involved. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. For your information, the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. President. I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to the delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of A/79/L/71: Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, El Salvador, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L/71, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see Mozambique, China, Gambia. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/79/L.71. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/79/L.71, entitled "Further modalities of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries". May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt the draft resolution A/79/L71? It is so decided. The Assembly will now continue its consideration of agenda item 13, entitled "Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, and resume its consideration of sub-item A of agenda item 75, entitled "Oceans and the Law of the Sea", to take action on a draft decision issued as document A/79/L.73. We shall now proceed to consider draft decision A/79/L.73. The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/79/L.73, entitled “Accreditation and participation of intergovernmental organizations in the 2025 United Nations Conference to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt decision A/79/L.73? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 13 and sub-item A of agenda item 75. I now invite the attention of the Assembly to the reports of the Fifth Committee on sub-item b of agenda item 116, entitled “Appointment of members of the Committee on Contributions”, issued as documents A/77/533, addendum 1 and 2. Members will recall that the Assembly concluded its consideration of sub-item B of agenda item 116 at its 38th plenary meeting on 13 November 2024. In order for the Assembly to consider the reports of the committee, it will be necessary to reopen consideration of sub-item B of agenda item 116. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to reopen consideration of sub-item B of agenda item 116? It is so decided. The Assembly will now consider the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda items 116B, 116L, 137, 139, 141, 144, 146, 150 and 151. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. Therefore, if there is no proposal under rule 66 of the Rules of Procedure, I shall take it that the Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Committee which are before it today. It is so decided. Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. May I remind members that in accordance with decision 34/401, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, that is, either in the committee or in plenary meeting, unless that delegation's vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in committee, and that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. When there are multiple proposals under an agenda item, statements in explanation of vote before the vote on any or all of them should be made in one intervention, followed by action on all of them one by one. Thereafter, there will be an opportunity for statements in explanation of vote after the vote on any or all of them in one intervention. Before we take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the committee, I would like to advise representatives that we will proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the committee, unless the Secretariat is notified otherwise in advance, aside from the recommendations resulting from secret ballot. I should therefore hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Committee. I would like to draw attention of the members to a note by the Secretariat entitled “Recommendations contained in the reports of the Fifth Committee for consideration by the General Assembly”. which has been issued as document A/C5/79/INF/3 to cover items other than agenda items 116B and 116L. Members are reminded that additional co-sponsors are no longer accepted now that the draft resolutions and decisions have been adopted by the committee. Any clarification about co-sponsorship of the committee reports should be addressed to the secretary of the committee. Furthermore, any corrections to the voting intention of delegations after the voting is concluded on a proposal should be addressed directly to the Secretariat after the meeting. I count on your cooperation in avoiding any interruptions to our proceedings in this regard. The Assembly will now consider the reports of the Fifth Committee on sub-item B of agenda item 116, entitled “Appointment of members of the Committee on Contributions”, issued as documents A/79/533, addendum 1 and 2. The Assembly has before it recommendations by the Committee contained in its reports. We will now take a decision on the recommendations. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint the following persons as members of the Committee on Contributions for terms of office beginning today, 11 April 2025, and ending on 31 December 2026: Denis Pimenov, Russian Federation; Benjamin C. Burns, Germany; Fuliheung, China. It is so decided. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item B of agenda item 116? It is so decided. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Committee on sub-item L of agenda item 116, entitled Appointment of Members of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee, issued as document A/79/835. The Assembly has before it a recommendation by the Committee contained in its report. We will now take a decision on the recommendation. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to appoint Eric Oduro Osae, Ghana, as a member of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee for a term of office beginning today, 11 April 2025, and ending on 31 December 2026? It is so decided. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item L of agenda item 116? It is so decided. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Committee on agenda item 139, entitled "Proposed programme budget for 2025," issued as document A/79/14, The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled Special subjects relating to the programme budget for 2025. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 139. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Committee on agenda item 141, entitled “Improving the financial situation of the United Nations”, contained in document A/79/838. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to take note of the report of the Committee? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 141. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Committee on agenda item 144, entitled Human Resources Management, issued as document A/79/839. The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled Human resources management. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 144. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Committee on agenda item 146, entitled Joint Inspection Unit, issued as document A/79/840. The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled “Joint Inspection Unit”. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 146. The Assembly will consider the report of the Committee on agenda item 137, entitled “Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations”, as well as agenda item 150, entitled “Report on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services issued as document A/79/648, addendum 1. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the committee? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda items 137 and 150. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Committee on agenda item 151, entitled "Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218B, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263, 69/253, and 74/257, contained in document A/79/649. The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218B, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263, 69/253, and 74/257. The committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 151. The Assembly will now consider the report of the Committee on agenda item 137, entitled Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations, issued as document A/79/20. The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Committee in its report. We will now take a decision on the draft decision entitled “Questions deferred for future consideration”. The Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 137. The meeting is adjourned.