UNITED
NATIONS  GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
STATEMENT
BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MAIN PART OF THE 58TH SESSION
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
23 DECEMBER 2003
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates, Dear Colleagues:
It is
now my pleasure to speak the words that I am confident we
all want to hear - we have concluded our work for the first
part of the Fifty-eighth Session of the United Nations General
Assembly. Given the challenges we faced at the beginning
and throughout the session, what we have been able to achieve
together, and the ambitious agenda we have set ourselves
for the remainder of the session, I believe that it is safe
to say that this session thus far been nothing short of
extraordinary.
We
started this session with a most dynamic and substantive
General Debate. The overall policy direction given by the
record number of Heads of State and Government and other
high-level participants in the General Debate underpinned
and stimulated the work of the Main Committees and subsidiary
bodies. Therefore, we were better prepared to address the
myriad critical issues on our agenda, including HIV/AIDS,
Financing for Development, humanitarian assistance, an enhanced
role for the General Committee, and the revitalisation of
the General Assembly itself.
I was
personally very optimistic at the beginning of this session
that we were ready to move decisively to advance the process
of revitalising the General Assembly. I was ever conscious
of the impact a revitalised General Assembly could have
on the United Nations status in the global community. I
am pleased that my reading of the readiness of Member States
to move in this direction was right, and that we have begun,
with the adoption of a consensus resolution, a process for
strengthening and revitalising our General Assembly.
On all
of the issues it addressed thus far in the session, the
General Assembly has put its shoulders to the wheel to accomplish
the tasks at hand. We all know that it was not easy, and
in fact at times, it was exceptionally difficult. But each
of our steps forward spoke volumes about our determination
to reach accommodation, even when the challenges seemed
intractable. I believe we have thus earned the right to
be highly satisfied with our accomplishments.
I am,
in particular, deeply appreciative of the support you have
all given in completing our work, and the support you have
given to me personally. In so doing, you have lightened
my significant task. What we have accomplished redounds
to the benefit of the General Assembly, of the United Nations
and consequently, to the various national constituencies
that make up our global community.
I want
especially to express my heartfelt thanks - to Permanent
Representatives, delegates, Chairs and members of regional
and interest groups and facilitators for the tremendous
cooperation and support you have given me during this first
part of the session. I look forward to your continued cooperation
and support in the remaining period of the session.
The
support of the Secretariat is integral to our collective
effort to accomplish the goals and objectives of the General
Assembly. I am especially indebted to the Undersecretary
General and officers of the Department for General Assembly
and Conference Management, who have spared no effort in
assisting me and my Cabinet in every aspect of our work.
The
forthcoming period will be a demanding one, filled with
challenge and great opportunity. We have laid out a very
demanding agenda for what remains of our session. On revitalization
alone, our consensus resolution commits us to take up four
key issues: scheduling of future General Assembly sessions,
including the work of the Main Committees and subsidiary
and related bodies; rationalization of the Assembly's Agenda;
biennialization, triennialization, clustering and elimination
of items; and rationalization of the working methods of
the Main Committees. And, as you are all well aware, revitalization
is but one of the myriad issues to which we must turn our
attention. Others, including the planning and preparations
for the "major event of 2005" will also have to
be taken up with the greatest of resolve.
I have
some good news. It is that we resume in January 2004. Technically
speaking, that is next year and we have all earned the right
to rest, relaxation and recreation in the interim. I also
have some not so good news - January 2004 is a mere nine
days away. I do hope, notwithstanding, that we will all
be back in January, energised and in fact, revitalised,
ready to contribute to the fullest to the implementation
of the courses of action to which we have agreed.
On that
note, may I say that I wish all of you and your families
a wonderful holiday season, and a successful and very happy
New Year. I am now pleased to declare this part of the Fifty-eighth
Session of the General Assembly closed, and to invite you
to let the celebrations begin!
I thank
you.
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