Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK1086
2009-12-02 22:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

GENERAL COMMITTEE ADDS MORE ITEMS TO 64TH UNGA

Tags:  PREL AORC UNGA 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1086 3362208
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 022208Z DEC 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7741
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

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