Office of the President of the Millennium Assembly
55th session of the United Nations General Assembly
Non-paper by the President of
the General Assembly
Revitalization of the General Assembly
Improving the Efficiency of the General Assembly
20 April 2001
Note attached to the non-paper:
Please find enclosed my non-paper, including an Annex, prepared with the assistance
of the facilitator, Permanent Representative of Chile, H.E. Mr. J. Gabriel
Valdes on revitalization of the General Assembly; improving the efficiency
of the General Assembly, dated April 20, 2001.
The first round of informal/informals of the Plenary is scheduled to take
place on May 10 and May 11 (both days afternoon sessions in Trusteeship Council).
The aim of this exercise is to better enable the UN to fulfill the purposes
and principles of the Charter and to meet the aspirations of its Members.
It should focus on improving the capacity of the General Assembly to discharge
effectively its functions to carry out effectively and efficiently the mandates
of intergovernmental processes with the necessary transparency and accountability.
I look forward to a fruitful discussion.
Harri Holkeri
President of the General Assembly
1. INTRODUCTION
As a follow-up to the informal brainstorming meeting of the General Committee
on the improvement of the working methods of the General Assembly open to
the participation of all interested parties held on February 13 the facilitator,
the Permanent Representative of Chile, Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdes carried
out informal consultations with a view to moving the process forward.
When discussing how to proceed, some delegations pointed out that a conceptual
distinction had to be made between improvements of procedures and working
methods ("reform") and substantive improvements in its role and impact ("revitalization").
A number of delegations called for a precise determination of the objective
and scope of the current exercise. Several mentioned the need for a realistic
and practical list of priorities to guarantee manageable and action-oriented
implementation.
The general contention among Member States was that General Assembly (GA)
working methods have not improved, as verified by the increase in the number
and/or length of agenda items, resolutions, plenary items, Reports of the
Secretary-General, and speakers' interventions. This had led to fatigue with
the GA's work, overtaxing of small delegations, empty halls, non-punctual
and non-interactive sessions, rubber-stamping of resolutions, marginalisation,
lack of responsiveness, lack of representation, and encroachment by the Security
Council and other organs on the GA's domain.
Thus, many delegations expressed the need to center this process on the implementation
of those provisions contained in existing resolutions, which has not been
done, and to focus it for the time being on the Plenary of the General Assembly.
Resolution 51/241, that was the outcome of the Open-Ended High-Level Working
Group on the Strengthening on the United Nations System, is the most complete.
Therefore, it would seem appropriate to take this text as a basis and use
the others resolutions as needed.
Resolution 51/241 raises a number of issues that require more specific measures
to improve their implementation. The current non-paper will focus on the following:
- Agenda;
- Consideration of reports by the General Assembly;
- The General Committee;
- Strengthening the office of the President;
- Enhancing the use of modern technology
2. THE AGENDA
How to implement provisions of 51/241 regarding the agenda has emerged as
one of the more complicated aspects of this process. While the majority of
delegations are in agreement with the need to streamline, cluster, biannualize
and triannualize items, a clear criteria as to how to do this has not emerged
from the informal consultations.
Therefore what is contained in this paper should taken as examples of possible
approaches for consideration by delegations rather than specific proposals
from the President and the facilitator. Thus, the mandate of 51/241 regarding
the agenda could be addressed in the following manner (based on items allocated
to Plenary for the 55th session of the General Assembly):
-On grouping of items see Annex 1.
For biannualization or triannualization: here are some examples to be considered:
i) Cooperation between the U.N. and other observer institutions (items 21
to 29,65,69) ;
ii) United Nations Reform (item 60a; 61; 62)
iii) Restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic,
social; and related fields (item 63)
iv) Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance
of the United Nations (item 20a)
v) Support of the U.N. for new or restored democracies (item 39);
vi) The role of the United Nations in promoting a new global order (item 174)
vii) The situation of democracy and human rights in Haiti (item 48)
viii) Zone of peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (Item 38)
ix) Elimination of coercive measures as a means of political and economic
compulsion (item 31 -already biannual);
ITEMS THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL COULD INCLUDE:
-Item 47:Assistance in mine action.(3rd. Committee)
-Item 37: Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development
and the Special Session of the General Assembly in this regard (3rd. Committee);
-Items 52 and 53:Reports of the International Tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia.
(3rd. Committee);
-Item 58: Launching of Global Negotiations on international economic cooperation
for development (2nd. Committee)
3. CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
One issue that was considered to be very important by many delegations is
the more structured consideration of reports by the General Assembly, in particular
the Report of the Secretary General on the work of the Organization and the
Report of the Security Council, as contained in Resolution 51/241, paragraphs
7 and 12.
Paragraph 7 states:
"The report of the Secretary General on the work of the Organization shall
be considered in Plenary meetings of the General Assembly inmediately after
the general debate. The President of the Assembly should assess the debate
on this item. In the light of that assesment, informal consultations shall
be held, under the chairmanship of the President or one of the Vice-Presidents
of the Assembly, to discuss action that may be required by the Assembly on
the basis of the debate on the report".
Paragraph 12 states:
"The President of the General Assembly shall assess the debate on this item
and consider the need for further consideration of the report of the Security
Council. In the light of tha assessment, informal consultations shall be held
after the debate in Plenary meetings under the chairmanship of the President
or one of the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly, to discuss the need and content
of any action by the Assembly based on the debates".
The President, after consideration of the reports by the General Assembly,
shall inform the General Assembly of his assessment of the debate in order
to determine the need for further action.
Also, he should remit his assessment of the debate to the Secretary General
and the President of the Security Council, as appropriate, for their consideration
and feedback.
4. ORGANIZATION OF WORK
Paragraph 28 of Resolution 51/241 addresses the issue of action to be taken
on items considered directly in plenary. This shall be done on the basis of
an assessment by the President of discussions of the particular item and after
informal consultations by the President or a Vice-President on the need for
action. The implementation of this provision may require some additional measures.
5. THE GENERAL COMMITTEE
Some delegations suggested a review of the role and composition of the General
Committee (GC) in order to enhance its capacity to assist the President in
the conduct of the General Assembly and to improve the continuity between
different sessions of the GA. The composition of the General Committee, which
combines individuals (Committee Chairpersons) and countries may not be conducive
to facilitating the role of the GC as a Bureau to the President.
6. STRENGTHENING THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
To contribute in a meaningful and consistent manner to many of the tasks discussed
above as well as in other parts the 51/241 it is essential that the office
of the President will be strengthened. This provision of Resolution 51/241
has been partially implemented but requires additional measures, particularly
in the area of substantive support for the President. In this regard, at least
two professional level posts on a permanent basis should be established in
the office of the President without delay. This would also enhance the capacity
of the Office to liaise with the Members States and to coordinate better with
the different divisions of the Organization the substantive work of the Presidency.
7. ENHANCING THE USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY
The need to increase the use of modern technology and information technology
within the UN, including in the negotiating process of the United Nations
has been mentioned by many delegations. In this regard, it has been suggested
that the main meeting rooms of the UN should be wired to provide delegations
and the secretariat with access the Optical Disc System and other databases
of the Organization and the internet.