Announcement by
H.E. MR. HARRI HOLKERI
President of the General Assembly
Appointements of Vice-Chairpersons
for the Open-ended Working Group
on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase
in the Membership of the Security Council and other Matters related to the
Security Council
12 December 2000
I have called this first
meeting for the purpose of appointing the Vice-Chairpersons for our Open-ended
Working Group. As many of you may be aware, I have been discussing with various
regional groups and Member States in order to ascertain our Bureau for this
very important Open-ended Working Group.
At this juncture I should like to pay tribute to both H.E. Ambassador John de
SARAM of Sri Lanka and to H.E. Ambassador Hans DAHLGREN of Sweden. Both permanent
representatives served with distinction as Vice-Chairpersons for the last two
years. As many of you are aware, Ambassador Dahlgren has returned to his capital
to assume new responsibilities. Both Permanent Representatives have devoted
tireless efforts and valuable contributions to the work of this body and Ambassador
Dahlgren and Ambassador de Saram deserve our most sincere recognition.
In this connection I should like to inform delegations that as a result of widespread
and extensive consultations and d iscussions among Member States I have decided
to appoint Ambassador John de SARAM of Sri Lanka and Ambassador Thorsteinn INGOLFSSON
of Iceland as the two Vice-Chairpersons. Both have graciously consented to serve
on the Working Group in this capacity.