The monthly meeting
between
the Office of the President of the General Assembly
and the Chairpersons of the Regional Groups for the month of November
21 November
2000
The meeting was attended by the Chairpersons of the Regional Groups for the month of November: Mauritania (African States), Kyrgyzstan (Asian States), Slovenia (Eastern European States), Brazil (Latin American and Caribbean States) and Germany (Western European and other States).
1. MILLENNIUM SUMMIT FOLLOW-UP
The President noted that the follow-up process for the Millennium Summit is
on its way and this afternoon there will be another round of consultations on
the basis of his elements paper (A/55/CRP.1).
He also informed the Chairpersons that his office had a meeting on November
10 with coordinators of next year's high-level meetings in order to discuss
how best to use these events in the implementation of the Millennium Summit
outcome. The meeting proved to be very useful, as the need for co-ordination
is evident. It was also noted that a short note on this meeting is posted on
President's website.
2. BRAHIMI REPORT
The President reminded that the Millennium Summit called for expeditious consideration
of the Report's recommendations. He added that although the consideration has
been fairly complex and difficult, it is his understanding that the political
will and momentum is there and should be used to reach concrete results.
The President noted that the report is a valuable contribution to the efforts
of strengthening the United Nations in one of its core functions; that is, in
the maintenance of international peace and security. He added that it is important
to maintain the discussion at a high political level and bring the matter back
to the General Assembly for decisions.
3. REFORM OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Many decisions have been taken over the years to improve the work of the General
Assembly. The President noted that as the President of the General Assembly,
that obviously is of great importance to him. He added that the real challenge
is how to implement these decisions so as to make the General Assembly more
focused in its work.
The President noted that he has already started with small practical steps,
such as punctuality and the recent decision on the starting date of the General
Assembly session. He added that he has consulted Member States and there is
an eagerness to take further steps. The President has urged Member States to
discuss this issue and come up with ideas and suggestions. He noted that he
is willing to provide leadership, but that he will need the initiative and support
of Member States. It was also noted that a statement made by the President at
the Forum of Small States on 15 November on this issue is available on his website.
4. APPOINTMENTS
4.1 Open-Ended Working Group on Africa and Open-Ended Working Group on Security
Council reform.
The President told that he is still consulting Member States on the appointment
of the two vice-chairmen to these open-ended working groups. His intention is
to make the formal announcements no later than early December.
4.2 Oceans and the Law of the Sea; Informal Consultative Process (agenda
item 34.a.)
Extensive consultations have been carried out, and will continue until the end
of this month with regard to the two co-chairs of the Informal Consultative
Process on the Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS).
So far, there has been wide support for the two current chairs to continue;
however, some reservations have been expressed about one of them. Announcement
on the results of these consultations is expected not later than 1st week of
December.
4.3. Consultative Committee on United Nations Development Fund for Women
(UNIFEM) (agenda item 17.i.)
There is still one regional group (Asia), which has not nominated its candidate.
The others are: Africa: Namibia, Eastern Europe: Croatia, GRULAC: Jamaica (nomination
received after last meeting with regional chairs), WEOG: The Netherlands.
It was noted that the missing nomination should be done expeditiously so that
this item can be scheduled for consideration.
5. HIV/AIDS SPECIAL SESSION (Agenda item 179)
Regarding the special session it was noted that a "Non-paper road-map" on the
tentative schedule of the preparatory process was distributed to all delegations
on 9 November 2000. The first internal planning meeting of all concerned secretariats
(UNAIDS and its co-sponsoring organizations, General Assembly Presidency and
Secretariat) was held on Monday, 20 November 2000.
Consultations on the selection of the two co-facilitators have been carried
out; an announcement on that issue is expected no later than the first week
of December. Otherwise work progresses according to the "road-map".
It was further noted that the first general briefing on the HIV/AIDS special
session by the President is expected on 15 December 2000 (Friday), from 11.30
a.m. to 1.00 p.m.; non-papers on organizational matters and on the format of
Non-Governmental Organizations participation will be distributed to delegations;
informal discussions on these non-papers are expected to start in mid-January
2001.
6. OUTREACH
The President stressed that as indicated in his acceptance speech, one of the
goals of this Presidency of the General Assembly is to reach out to other stakeholders
of development.
6.1. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO)
He noted that he participated as the first General Assembly President in the
General Assembly of CONGO (Coalition of NGOs with accreditation to the United
Nations), which was held in Vienna on 6 November 2000.
6.2. Bretton Woods Institutions
Last week (14 November 2000), the President visited Washington D.C. This was
the first time that theGeneral Assembly President has visited the World Bank
and the International Monetary Fund. The visit must be seen as part of outreach
and partnership building. In development, and in particular development financing,
the Bretton Woods Institutions are essential partners. Now, the United Nations
should ponder how to recognize this partnership in a more visible way.
In the World Bank, the President met briefly with the Board of Directors, and
the Millennium Summit was discussed. He noted that there was good interest among
the Board members in the United Nations issues.
In the World Bank, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was much in
focus. It may be mentioned that one of the two Managing Directors of the World
Bank will participate on 13 December 2000 in an informal panel dialogue of the
General Assembly Plenary meeting on "ICT in Development". The President will
chair the panel, which is organized in cooperation with the Economic and Social
Council (ECOSOC) Secretariat and the President of ECOSOC.
In Internartional Monetary Fund (IMF), its participation in the Financing for
Development process was the particular focus. The President told that he had
held discussions with Mr. Köhler and senior members of his management. The visit
was welcomed by IMF and there are hopes for more active participation of IMF
to the Financing For Development in the future.
6.3. Conventions
The President also noted that he will open the 4th Conference of the Parties
of the Desertification convention in Bonn on 11 December 2000.
7. RIO+10
The issue of the Rio+10 Summit's host (venue) has not yet been solved. The President
told that he has consulted various parties and urged the regional groups concerned
to find a solution.
Further consultations with regional groups (chairs) and the concerned parties
will be carried out soon, to find a suitable solution. It would still be preferable
if the G-77, in particular the African and Asian groups could find a solution.
The President added that he has also been in contact with the G-77 Chairman
on this.
For the sake of the preparatory process, the venue needs to be decided upon
during this session of the General Assembly.