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15 October 1998

This morning, the Assembly held the debate on item 158 "World Solar Programme 1996-2005". The World Solar Programme is contained in the annex to document A/53/395. The draft resolution on this item was introduced by Zimbabwe (27 sponsors) and the Assembly heard five other speakers on this issue. The plenary is expected to take action on this issue tomorrow morning. The Assembly also decided this morning without a vote to grant observer status in the General Assembly to the Association of Caribbean States (52 sponsors) and to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (29 sponsors). The Assembly also rescheduled the item on Cooperation with the Caribbean Community from 22 to 29 October.

Tomorrow morning, after taking action on the World Solar Programme item, the Assembly will hold elections for the judges of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Law Committed on the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (item 166). The elections are being held for the third trial chamber of the Tribunal, and nine candidates are running for three positions. May I note that in accordance with the Statute for the International Tribunal, Holy See and Switzerland will participate in the election in the same manner as the States Members of the United Nations. (Election by absolute majority -- means majority of all electors, whether or not they vote or are allowed to vote -- 94 of 187). The curricula vitae of the candidates are contained in document A/53/352.

As for the Main Committees, the First Committee will hear 11 speakers this morning in continuation of its general debate. The Second Committee is continuing this morning and in the beginning of the afternoon the discussion of operational activities, while this afternoon from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. will hold a panel discussion on the theme:"Building National Capacities: Some Lessons". The Third Committee is continuing the whole day its discussion of the Advancement of women and of the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Fifth Committee is expected to complete this morning the informal consultations on the Development Account and on the Support account for peacekeeping operations and this afternoon will begin discussion of financing of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, Observer Mission in Tajikistan and the Preventive Deployment Force. It is also expected to conclude discussion of programme planning and take action on resolution A/C.5/53/L.8 on gratis personnel. The Sixth Committee is continuing informal consultations on the Law of the Sea.