GENERAL COMMITTEE ADDS MORE ITEMS TO 64TH UNGA

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001086 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL AORC UNGA UNGA SUBJECT: GENERAL COMMITTEE ADDS MORE ITEMS TO 64TH UNGA AGENDA ¶1. On November 24, the General Committee of the General Assembly convened to discuss the organization of work, adoption of the agenda and allocation of items. President of the General Assembly Ali Treki presented the following four items for addition to the agenda of the 64th session of the General Assembly: Observer status for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in the General Assembly (A/64/232); Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) (A/64/233); United Nations University (A/64/234); and Observer status for the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly in the General Assembly (A/64/235). On December 1, the General Assembly approved the recommendations of the General Committee as stated in A/64/250/Add.1: Second Report of the General Committee. Three out of the four items (the two observer items and the United Nations University item) were added to the agenda for the 64th session and referred to tQ Sixth and Second CommitteesQ The Question of the Comorian Island of Mayotte was alsoQ added to the agenda for the 64th session, but on the understanding that there would be no consideration of this item until further notice. ¶2. Malta introduced A/64/232 regarding granting Observer status for the PAM. Both the United Kingdom and the United States expressed their concerns regarding including this item on the agenda for the 64th session. The United Kingdom noted the likelihood of budgetary implications because the Sixth Committee would need to be reconvened (as its work had been completed on November 12). The United Kingdom also commented that it was worried about adding this agenda item so late in the session. The United States said that the item should be deferred to the 65th session as there was no urgency and the Sixth Committee had already dealt with observer requests, but that if it was to be considered in the 64th session it should be referred to the Sixth Committee. After hearing the concerns of the delegates, President Treki quickly gaveled through a recommendation to the General Assembly that the item be added to the agenda and referred to the Sixth Committee. The Secretariat noted that reconvening the Sixth Committe e would have no budgetary implications, as the costs could be absorbed within the current budget. ¶3. The Philippines presented A/64/233 Cooperation between the United Nations and the IOM. The United Kingdom, Belgium, and the United States commented that this item should be postponed as the IOM council is debating this issue internally. Treki took notQ these concerns and the General Committee recommended that this item be deferred to a later time. ¶4. Treki then moved to A/64/234 United Nations University. No delegation spoke on this item. Treki Gaveled through a recommendation that it be added to the agenda and referred to the Second Committee. ¶5. Subsequently, Treki asked either St. Lucia, Saudi Arabia, or Ukraine to introduce A/64/235 on granting Observer status to the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly in the General Assembly. Saudi Arabia, appearing somewhat confused, asked whether this item would be introduced in the 64th or 65th session of the General Assembly. The Secretariat explained that it would be introduced in the 64th session. Treki quickly gaveled through a recommendation to add this item to agenda and refer it to the Sixth Committee. ¶6. Finally, Treki introduced an item that was not on the agenda for the General Committee: A/64/250, the dispute between France and the Comoros over the Mayotte Island. Treki proposed introducing this agenda item in the 64th session but not debating it until the 65th. The proposal incited a back and forth between France and the Comoros with France stressing the importance of delaying the placement of the item on the UNGA's agenda and Comoros arguing that it should be placed on the agenda of the 64th UNGA. European nations supported France and African States supported the Comoros. In the end, Treki ignored the debate and gaveled through his proposal of including the item in the agenda for the 64th UNGA but not debating it until the UNGA's 65th sessionQo allow for more bilateral discussions." ¶7. On December 1, the General Assembly approved by consensus all the General Committee recommendaQns, as reflected in A/64/250/Add.1 Second Report of the General Committee. RICE