DEBATE ON THE REVITALIZATION OF THE GENERAL

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001074 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AORC UNGA SUBJECT: DEBATE ON THE REVITALIZATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ¶1. Summary: On November 19 and 20, the General Assembly debated agenda item 118: Revitalization of the General Assembly. Most of the over twenty-eight Member States who spoke agreed on the need for full implementation of existing resolutions, streamlining the agenda items and continuing thematic debates. However, the speaker's list was dominated by members of the non-aligned movement, who focused their interventions on enhancing the UNGA's role in selection of the Secretary-General and strengthening the Office of the President of the General Assembly. Many also criticized the Security Council for encroaching upon General Assembly jurisdiction. Madagascar used the debate as a platform to protest the GA's denial of its right to address the assembly in September, which the DRC refuted in its right of reply. End Summary. ¶2. Sweden, on behalf of the European Union, reiterated its support for the revitalization of the General Assembly. To this end, it referenced resolution 63/309 and the inventory chart from last report of the Ad Hoc Working Group (A/63/959) as tools to achieve this goal. In addition, Sweden called for the swift implementation of existing resolutions and the streamlining and modernization of the General Assembly agenda. With regard to the selection of the Secretary-General, Sweden noted the need for "full application of the relevant provisions of the U.N. Charter and respective resolutions from the General Assembly." ¶3. Algeria, representing the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), observed that the revitalization of the General Assembly should be conducted in "an inclusive, transparent, and efficient manner." The NAM expressed concern over "Security Council encroachment of the General Assembly" and the lack of transparency and inclusiveness in the selection of the Secretary-General, calling for formal presentations before the General Assembly of candidates for the Secretary-General. Algeria recommended strengthening the office of the President of the General Assembly and requested a thorough evaluation of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions. It concluded by remarking that the NAM was wary of any new balloting systems, particularly the use of optical scanners, as it is not convinced they will protect the credibility and confidentiality of the vote. ¶4. Mexico, representing the Rio Group, identified five recommendations that should be adopted in order to revitalize the General Assembly. First, the Rio Group advised that the General Assembly should play more relevant role in the selection of the Secretary-General. Second, it noted that the General Assembly needs to reassert itself in its authority in peace and international security issues. Third, Mexico suggested that the Office of the President of the General Assembly needs to be strengthened. Fourth, it proposed streamlining the General Assembly agenda, possibly through reviewing the agenda items on a biennial or triennial basis. Finally, Mexico recommended improving the efficiency of the manual voting system. - - - - - - - COMMON THEMES - - - - - - - ¶5. The debate in the General Assembly on this agenda item focused on several common themes. Almost all of the delegations recommended an assessment of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions, with Pakistan recommending a resolution follow up mechanism. Most Member States (e.g. Egypt, Vietnam, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Brazil) called for a review of the Secretary-General selection process, giving the General Assembly a more substantive role. ¶6. Several delegations (South Africa, Kazakhstan, Colombia, and Pakistan) supported strengthening the Office of the President of the General Assembly. Some Member States (Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, and Venezuela) criticized the Security Council for encroaching on the functions of the General Assembly, with Brazil and India suggesting Security Council expansion. ¶7. With regards to changing the balloting system, some delegations did not see the benefit (Egypt) while others (Belarus and Colombia) were in favor as long as it did not affect the credibility and confidentiality of the vote. Other recommendations made by delegates included streamlining the General Assembly agenda (Belarus, Singapore, and Brazil), continuing with thematic debates (Japan and Colombia),and reasserting the General Assembly's role in peace and security issues (Egypt, South Africa, and Iran). - - - - - - - - - - MADAGASCAR DEBATE - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. Madagascar, in its intervention on the revitalization of the General Assembly, focused most of its address by protesting the "injustice" it experienced at the General Assembly on September 25 when it was denied the right to address the Assembly during the general debate. It described its treatment in September as a violation of the sovereignty of Madagascar. ¶9. At the conclusion of the general debate, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),speaking as Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC),exercised its right of reply regarding Madagascar's intervention. The DRC noted the unconstitutional change in government in Madagascar and that the leader of the Malagasy High Transitional Authority had appointed his own government in defiance of an agreed upon settlement. RICE