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20 November 1998

This morning, the plenary observed the ninth Africa Industrialization Day. The President delivered a statement which is available as a press release in English and Spanish. The Deputy Secretary-General also spoke on behalf of the Secretary-General. The plenary then adopted without a vote a resolution on financing of the UN Observer Mission in Sierra Leone and resumed consideration of the Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters. A total of 53 speakers still remain to be heard by the Assembly. Also, in addition to draft resolution A/53/L.16, there are amendments, which will be introduced by the representative of Belgium and are contained in document A/53/L.42. The plenary will meet both in the morning and in the afternoon today. There are indications that voting on the draft and amendments will be postponed to allow time for further consultations.

On Monday, the plenary will also meet both in the morning and in the afternoon. It is scheduled to first take up item 33 -- Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies. The report of the Secretary-General is contained in document A/53/554 and a draft resolution under this item in document A/53/L.38. It will be introduced by the representative of Romania, and 15 other speakers have inscribed so far. The second item of business on Monday is item 30: United Nations reform: measures and proposals. Several reports and notes by the Secretary-General are before the Assembly. There are 15 speakers inscribed so far to address the Assembly under this item.

As for the work of the main committees, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee concluded its work at the current session last night. The Second Committee is holding consultations the whole day on several draft resolutions before it, among those, drafts on the International Conference on Population and Development; special session of the General Assembly on the Habitat Agenda; and UNITAR. The Third Committee will complete taking action this afternoon on remaining draft resolutions on human rights questions, and on a draft on the biennial programme of work of the Third Committee, and thereby will conclude its work at the current session. The Fifth Committee concluded this morning the general discussion of the financial reports and reports of the Board of Auditors and began the general discussion of the Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations, as well as of the financing of the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda Tribunals. This afternoon it will hold informal consultations on the Development account. The Sixth Committee is holding informal consultations the whole day on draft resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism. It will hopefully complete its work at the current session on Monday.