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29 October 1998

This morning, the plenary first authorized the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs in the Occupied Territories to meet during the main part of the fifty-third session. It then proceeded with consideration of the cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian African Consultative Committee. Secretary-General of that Organization addressed the Assembly, and a draft resolution on this item, introduced by India was adopted by consensus. The Assembly then considered cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization and also adopted a draft resolution on this issue by consensus. Regarding the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Conference, a draft resolution was introduced by Qatar, there were eight other speakers on this item, including the Observer for the Islamic Conference, and the Assembly also adopted the draft on this issue by consensus. This afternoon, the plenary will resume to consider cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity. Ten speakers have been inscribed to address the Assembly on this item, but no draft resolutions have been circulated yet, so the Assembly will return to the consideration of this item at a later date. The last item to be considered today is the cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community. There is a draft resolution on this issue, to be introduced by Guyana, and three other speakers, including the Observer for the Caribbean Community have inscribed to address the Assembly on this item.

No plenary meetings are scheduled for tomorrow.

As for the Main Committees, the First Committee is continuing this afternoon its general discussion of items 63 through 80 of its agenda, together with relevant draft resolutions. Later in the afternoon it will hold informal consultations on the issue of rationalization of its work and reform of its agenda. The Special Political and Decolonization Committee is meeting this morning, opening the general debate on the Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects. The Second Committee is meeting this morning and this afternoon. It will consider today the Implementation of the outcome of the UN Conference on Human Settlements, as well the Implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, and in the afternoon will begin consideration of trade and development as part of the item Macroeconomic policy questions. The introductory statement will be made by the Secretary-General of UNCTAD. At 5:00 pm this afternoon, the Committee will also hear a presentation by the Director of the Population Division in DESA. Today from 1:15 to 2:45, a panel discussion will be held under the auspices of the Committee in conference room 2, on the Implementation of the outcome of the UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II). Among the panellists is the Acting Executive Director of UNCHS. The Third Committee is beginning this morning its discussion of item 110 -- Human rights questions. Also, a draft resolution (L.15) on the promotion and protection of the rights of children will be introduced this morning. The Fifth Committee concluded this morning its general discussion of the scale of assessments and began formal consideration of the Development account, and specifically the utilization of the development dividend. It was also scheduled to review the implementation of resolution 48/145 B which established OIOS. This afternoon, it will begin consideration of the reports by OIOS and the Joint Inspection Unit. And finally, the Sixth Committee is holding two meetings today, continuing the discussion of the report of the International Law Commission on its fiftieth session.