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7 DECEMBER 1999

The General Assembly, this morning, is considering items pertaining to the return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin, the World Summit for Children, cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations and the situation in Central America.

Addressing the Assembly on the return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin, President Theo-Ben Gurirab said it was time to return to their homes the priceless African art and icons and the cultural treasures illegally exported from other countries throughout the centuries. The cultural objects of a people formed an integral part of defining their identity, personality and expression. He intended to help keep this campaign alive and contribute to its success, not only for the return of African cultural objects but also for all other precious treasures illegally removed from their countries of origin. Copies of the statement are available in room 378.

The Assembly then heard eight speakers, including Greece which introduced draft resolution A/54/L.47 on the item. Greece will chair informal consultations on the draft tomorrow afternoon.

Under this item, the Assembly has before it the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on action taken by its Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation (A/54/436). At its tenth session, held in Paris in January 1999, the Committee adopted nine recommendations relating to the issue of the Parthenon marbles between Greece and the United Kingdom; Turkey’s request to Germany for the return of the sphinx of Boguskoy; an International Code of Ethics for Dealers in Cultural Property; databases of stolen cultural property; endorsement of "Object-ID" as the international standard for recording minimal data on movable cultural property; establishment of an international fund to facilitate the restitution of stolen or illicitly exported cultural property; convening of a working group of experts to settle disputes concerning cultural heritage displaced during the Second World War; efforts to help trace and return the cultural and archaeological objects stolen and smuggled from Iraq; and sensitizing the youth to protect their environment and cultural heritage and mobilizing them against the destruction of heritage and against illicit traffic. The Committee’s draft resolution to UNESCO’s General Conference incorporates the various recommendations.

At the time of the briefing, the Assembly was hearing statements on follow-up to the World Summit for Children, before taking action on a draft resolution, introduced by Pakistan, with 116 co-sponsors (A/54/L.51). By the text, the Assembly would decide to convene, in September 2001, a special session to review the achievement of the goals of the World Summit for Children, and invite the participation of Heads of State/Government. It would decide to establish an open-ended preparatory committee to address organizational issues and the agenda, and to prepare for the outcome of the special session. That body would meet from 7 to 8 February 2000 in organizational session, and from 30 May to 2 June 2000 in a substantive session.

The Assembly is then scheduled to hear 13 speakers on cooperation between the UN and the OAU, before taking action on a draft resolution, A/54/L.38, to be introduced by Algeria in its capacity as Chairman of the OAU. Among its provisions, the Assembly would call upon the United Nations to enhance its cooperation, coordination and exchange of information with the OAU in the areas of prevention of conflict through the promotion of a culture of peace, tolerance and harmonious relations in Africa, and in the peaceful settlement of disputes and maintenance of international peace and security in Africa, as provided for under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. It would invite the UN to intensify its assistance to the OAU in strengthening the institutional and operational capacity of its Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution in Africa in specific areas. It would invite the Secretary-General to develop new effective strategies for implementing the recommendations of the annual meeting of the secretariats of the two organizations.

The report of the Secretary-General on UN/OAU cooperation (A/54/484) points out that the Secretaries-General of the two organizations have, especially since 1997, expanded and strengthened the framework for cooperation. They have established a regular pattern of exchange of information and mutual briefings on key African questions with a view to coordinating initiatives and action. They have held discussions on the mechanisms that should be put in place to enhance their joint capacity for preventing and resolving conflicts in Africa and for coordinating their efforts. They took an important step in this connection when they agreed, in January 1997, to hold regular meetings twice a year, to discuss priority areas of cooperation and to coordinate their efforts. Subsequently, they reached an understanding that the meetings would take place immediately following the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government and early in the General Assembly session. The report also describes cooperation between the two organizations in the areas of peace and security, economic and social development and more.

The Assembly is also scheduled to take action on seven draft resolutions under agenda item 20, entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", to be introduced by Sweden, Tajikistan, Cameroon, Belarus and Argentina. They deal specifically with: strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations (A/54/L.54); special assistance to Tajikistan (A/54/L.49), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (A/54/L.53), Djibouti (A/54/L.56) and Somalia (A/54/L.57); strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster (A/54/L.22/Rev.1); and participation of volunteers, ‘White Helmets’, in activities of the United Nations in the field of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and technical cooperation for development (A/54/L.34/Rev.1).

As the final item, the Assembly is scheduled to consider a draft resolution on the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (A/54/L.27), action on which was deferred on 18 November pending a Fifth Committee report on the programme budget implications of renewing MINUGUA’s mandate from 1 January to 31 December 2000. That report (A/54/651) informs the Assembly that renewal of the mandate would cost $27,694,300.

Items not completed at this meeting will be taken up tomorrow morning. The Assembly will then take up item 46, on causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa.

The President announced that, as the first item on Thursday morning, 9 December, the Assembly will consider the second report of the Credentials Committee (A/54/475/Add.1). That afternoon, it will take action on Sixth Committee reports.

This afternoon, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) will take action on three draft resolutions, on prevention of corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds (A/C.2/54/L.68), implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, 1997-2006 (A/C.2/54/L.69).

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), this morning, is concluding its discussion on the financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

Tomorrow, the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East will meet at 11 a.m., in the Trusteeship Council Chamber. Assembly President Gurirab will open the meeting. On hand for the announcements of pledges and contributions will be UNRWA Commissioner-General Peter Hansen.

Concerning the appointments of the President, this morning he met with the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Mr. Conrad Mselle. This was followed by a meeting with the Chief of the Lessons Learned Unit of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Leonard Kapungu. This evening, the President will attend a reception hosted by the Permanent Representative of Italy, Ambassador Francesco Paolo Fulci, to bid farewell.