Volume XXXVII     Number 1 2000     Department of Public Information

Special Report on the Fifty-Fourth Session
Cooperation and Respect despite Political Differences:
Adapting the United Nations to a Changing World

An atmosphere of cooperation and mutual respect prevailed during the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly—the last before the new millennium—despite divergence of views on a wide variety of issues. Consensus on Security Council reform, implementation of the outcome of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, and the causes of conflict and the promotion of a durable peace and sustainable development in Africa remained elusive. Chaired by its President, Theo-Ben Gurirab of Namibia, the Assembly adopted 250 resolutions, 19 of which were on strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.. The Assembly held 10 days of general debate (20 September—2 October), during which speakers voiced their views on such crucial issues as globalization, poverty eradication, the international monetary system, conflict, disarmament, the United Nations financial situation, the debt burden, the effect of sanctions, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic (see UN Chronicle issue 4,1999). The debate was punctuated by a special session on 27 and 28 September, reviewing the implementation of the results of the 1994 Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (see issue 3, 1999). Secretary-General Kofi Annan, at the opening of the debate, stressed that efforts to combat war and poverty would succeed only if the United Nations adapted to a world of new actors, new responsibilities and new possibilities for peace and progress. That theme—adapting the United Nations to a changing world—was reflected in many of the issues the Assembly dealt with, in particular humanitarian intervention. Repeated references to “unauthorized” humanitarian intervention helped fuel the long-standing call for reform of the Security Council. During a two-day debate on reform, a number of speakers highlighted the Council’s “paralysis” in times of crisis and charged it with “secretive, rigid and exclusionary working methods”. Most delegations continued to insist on an expanded and more representative Security Council to enhance its credibility, legitimacy and effectiveness and to reflect fundamental global changes. Mr. Gurirab stressed that although all agreed on the need for substantial changes in the Council’s composition and working procedures, there was still no consensus on its reform, nor on the important issues of humanitarian intervention and sanctions. On Africa, the Assembly noted the Secretary-General’s commitment to ensure, as an “urgent priority”, sustained peace, stability and development in Africa. The Assembly President supported Mr. Annan’s suggestion that the Assembly establish a working group to review the progress made in implementing the proposals in his report on the causes of conflict in Africa. The Assembly decided to convene a conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects in June/July 2001. Also, criticizing the regional imbalance in international assistance, speakers drew attention to the international community’s lack of support for African problems. Mr. Gurirab further highlighted the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, which threatened the very existence of many African countries. The Assembly adopted an international convention designed to criminalize the provision or collection of funds for terrorism. The new convention, opened for signature on 10 January 2000, will enter into force with 22 ratifications. The Assembly also adopted an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, by which victims of sexual discrimination will be able to submit complaints directly to the United Nations. The Protocol was opened for signature on 6 October 1999 and will enter into force once ratified by 10 States. In their assessments of the implementation of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen, Member States diverged on a number of major issues, including globalization and the international financial crisis, the decline of official development assistance and debt relief initiatives, and the eradication of poverty. However, there was agreement on the need to manage the effects of globalization. The Assembly reiterated that the special session to review the outcome of the Social Summit, scheduled to be held in Geneva from 26 to 30 June 2000, would reaffirm the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, not renegotiate them. The Assembly President called the upcoming special session a “crucial pillar” in redesigning the global financial architecture. The Assembly commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child—the most broadly ratified international treaty. It decided to convene a special session in September 2001 to review the achievement of the goals of the 1990 World Summit for Children. Addressing the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East, the Assembly reaffirmed the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict. During the debates, broad support was expressed for the Sharm-el-Sheikh Memorandum and the Wye River Memorandum. Speakers also urged that the Final Status Talks be concluded. The Assembly decided to reconsider the situation in East Timor in connection with its transition to independence. It also established the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti to consolidate the country’s peace-building results. It further extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Guatemala through 31 December 2000. Also, for the eighth consecutive year, the Assembly demanded that the United States end its embargo against Cuba. The Assembly admitted as its 186th, 187th and 188th Member States, the Republics of Kiribati and Nauru, and the Kingdom of Tonga, respectively. Several international organizations—the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries—were invited to participate as observers in the sessions and the Assembly’s work. It also decided to observe the Day of Vesak—the day most sacred to Buddhists—in May each year at United Nations Headquarters and other offices. Comments