19 December 2000

The General Assembly adopted today a two-part resolution on emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan and the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security.

The Assembly also adopted resolutions relating to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel; on assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia; on the UN Verification Mission in Guatemala; on procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace and progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development in Central America; on cooperation between the UN and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and on financing of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

In other action today the General Assembly appointed seven members of the Committee on Conferences for a three-year period.

The President and his Cabinet had a coup de champagne with the United Nations Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan. The Secretary-General presented Mr. Holkeri the Book and the Gavel, which are traditionally given to the President of the General Assembly at the end of the main session of the General Assembly.

In the afternoon, the President paid a short visit to the informal consultations of the Fifth Committee on the scale of assessments. Later in the day, the President and the Secretary-General together visited the Fifth Committee, again during negotiations on the scale. On both occasions, the President expressed his concern about the lack of progress in the negotiations. With a view to the limited time available before the recess of the General Assembly, he called on the Committee to redouble its efforts to come up with a substantive negotiated agreement. The remarks of the President in the afternoon meeting are available on the "Statements and messages" page.

The President met with H.E. Mr. Thorsteinn Ingolfsson, Permanent Representative of Iceland and H.E. Mr. John de Saram, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka, in their capacities as Vice-Chairs of the Open-ended working group on Security Council reform to discuss issues related to Security Council reform.

The President attended a reception to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, hosted by H.E. Mr. Yukio Satoh, Permanent Representative of Japan.

Later in the day the President was the guest of honor in a dinner hosted by H.E. Mr. Januz Stanczyk, Permanent Representative of Poland.