UNITED NATIONS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY
News and Highlights from the President

The General Assembly met in plenary today
22 May 2002

The General Assembly met in plenary at 3 o'clock this afternoon. First, it is expected to appoint Mr. Kenshiro Akimoto of Japan as a member of the Committee on Contributions. He will complete the term begun by his countryman Kazuo Watanabe.

Then the Assembly takes up a report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee entitled "Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects". The report, which is contained in document A/56/551/Add.1, includes a draft resolution which would endorse the proposals, recommendations and conclusions of the Committee and urge Member States to implement them.

In another draft resolution, the Assembly is expected to congratulate East Timor with its attainment of independence and invite it to participate as a State, without the right to vote, in the World Summit on Sustainable Development and also in the prepcom.

The Secretary-General in a note to the General Assembly and the Security Council is circulating the application of the Democratic Republic of East Timor for membership of the United Nations. The note is contained in document A/56/953 which also contains a letter from the President and the Prime Minister of East Timor. In this letter, they are asking that the application be considered by the Security Council and the General Assembly and that East Timor be admitted as a Member during the last week of September 2002.
 

<< Back to News and Highlights page