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23 November 1998

This morning, the Assembly heard the six final speakers in the general debate on the Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters. A total of 62 speakers addressed the Assembly under this item. After the last speaker this morning, the meeting was suspended so that document A/53/L.46, containing a new draft on this item, introduced by the President, could be made available to delegations. With the two previous texts with drawn (L.16 and L.42), the President proposed that the text contained in document A/53/L.46 be adopted by the Assembly by consensus The meeting was suspended for additional consultations. Following the break, the Assembly adopted the text by consensus. After that, there was a round of loud applause. The President then announced that he would reconvene very soon the open-ended working group on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters, and nominate the Permanent Representatives of Sri Lanka and Sweden as its Vice-Chairmen.

The plenary then proceeded with the consideration of the Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies. Draft resolution under this item was introduced by the Secretary of State in the Government of Romania on behalf of 77 sponsors, and there were 23 additional speakers inscribed to address the Assembly under this item. The second item of the day is United Nations reform: measures and proposals. Several reports and notes by the Secretary-General under this item are before the Assembly (on environment and human settlements; Status implementation of actions described in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform"; A new concept of trusteeship; A Millennium Assembly, the United Nations system (Special Commission) and a Millennium Forum; and Time limits of new initiatives "sunset provisions"). There are also 23 inscribed speakers. There are also indications that due to limited time, the Assembly might resume consideration of this issue tomorrow.

Tomorrow, the Assembly will take up item 38: Oceans and the law of the sea. There are two reports of the Secretary-General before the Assembly, on the law of the sea and on the issue of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments. There are also two draft resolutions, contained in documents A/53/L.35 and A/53/L.45, and 24 speakers inscribed in the list, including the President of the Law of the Sea Tribunal, Thomas Mensah, and the Secretary-General of the International Sea Bed Authority, Satia Nandan.

As for the work of the main committees, today is the final day of deliberations of the Third Committee at the current session. It will meet this afternoon to take action on the draft resolution on the right to development and on the biennial programme of work of the Committee. The Fifth Committee was scheduled to conclude this morning the discussion of the review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations, in particular regarding the Revolving Credit Fund and results-based budgeting; as well as of the revised estimates resulting from the resolutions and decisions adopted by the ECOSOC during its substantive session. It will also begin the general discussion of the programme budget implications of the resolution regarding the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala. In the afternoon, it will conclude its general discussion of the financing of the International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. It will also hold informal consultations this morning on the reports of the Joint Inspection Unit and in the afternoon on the UN common system. It will also hold informal consultations on the assessment of its work. The Sixth Committee continues this morning with informal consultations on the draft resolutions regarding the measures to eliminate international terrorism.