General Assembly Adopts Resolution Highlighting Role of Central Asia Centre in Fostering Preventive Diplomacy across Region

Delegates also Appoint Members to Subsidiary Bodies, Adopt Texts on Programme Planning, Board of Auditor Reports

The General Assembly adopted a resolution today spotlighting the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in galvanizing preventive diplomacy across that region, while also appointing individuals to serve on several key subsidiary bodies based on the recommendations of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).

By the terms of the draft resolution titled, “Role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia” (document A/72/L.4) — which was adopted without a vote — the Assembly encouraged the Centre to continue to liaise with the regional Governments on issues relevant to preventive diplomacy.  Welcoming its assistance in implementing initiatives of Central Asian countries aimed at creating a stable, peaceful and prosperous region, the Assembly encouraged the Regional Centre to continue to closely cooperate with regional Governments to strengthen their capacity to overcome challenges to peace, stability and sustainable development.

Aksoltan Ataeva (Turkmenistan), introducing the draft text at the meeting’s outset, said that preventive diplomacy could advance security and stability, save lives and promote sustainable development.  The Regional Centre promoted a dialogue between Governments of Central Asian nations and looked to find solutions for emerging problems.  It also aimed to eliminate potential threats and keep regular contact with regional and international organizations.

Since 2007, the Centre had provided Governments with a platform to discuss the most challenging regional issues including the management of common resources, transnational threats such as terrorism and violent extremism, organized crime, and drug and other forms of trafficking.  Regular multilateral meetings attended by delegations of all the five Central Asian countries allowed leaders to focus on common concerns.  She recalled that the Secretary‑General had visited all five countries in the region, adding that it presented an opportunity to renew United Nations support to the ongoing efforts of regional cooperation.

Turning to several reports of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) ‑ containing recommendations for appointments to a number of subsidiary bodies and other entities ‑ the Assembly first took up a report titled “Appointment of members of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions” (document A/72/566).  It appointed six members to that body ‑ Bachar Bong Abdallah (Chad), Pavel Chernikov (Russian Federation), Julia A. Maciel (Paraguay), Cihan Terzi (Turkey) and David Traystman (United States) — each of whom would serve three‑year terms of office beginning on 1 January 2018.

Based on recommendations contained in another Fifth Committee report, titled, “Appointment of members of the Committee on Contributions” (document A/72/567), the Assembly appointed six members of that Committee — Michael Holtsch (Germany), Evgeny Kalugin (Russian Federation), Henrique da Silveira Sardinha Pinto (Brazil), Steve Townley (United Kingdom), Yoon Seongmee (Republic of Korea) and Zhang Wei (China) ‑ to serve three‑year terms of office beginning on 1 January 2018.

Acting on the report titled “Appointment of a member of the Board of Auditors” (document A/72/571), the Assembly appointed the Comptroller General of Chile as a member of the Board of Auditors for a six‑year term of office beginning on 1 July 2018.

In line with the recommendations contained in the report titled, “Appointment of members of the International Civil Service Commission” (document A/72/568), the Assembly appointed Yuji Kumamaru (Japan), Luis Mariano Hermosillo (Mexico), Aldo Mantovani (Italy), Jeffrey Mounts (United States) and Wolfgang Stöckl (Germany) to that body, mandated to serve four‑year terms of office beginning on 1 January 2018.  It also designated Mr. Mantovani as Vice‑Chair of the Commission for the same period.

Regarding the Independent Audit Advisory Committee, the Assembly appointed Richard Quartei Quartey (Ghana) and Janet St. Laurent (United States) for three‑year terms beginning on 1 January 2018.  It did so based on a further recommendation of its Fifth Committee, contained in a report titled “Appointment of members of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee” (document A/71/569).

Acting on recommendations outlined in the report titled, “Confirmation of the appointment of members of the Investments Committee (document A/72/570), the Assembly also confirmed the appointment by the Secretary‑General of Kemi Adeosun (Nigeria) and Keiko Honda (Japan) as ad hoc members of the Investments Committee for a one‑year term of office beginning on 1 January 2018.

Also in line with the budget committee’s recommendations, the Assembly adopted, without a vote, a draft resolution on “Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors”, contained in a report by the same name (document A/72/572).  In doing so, it took note of the audit opinions and findings, and endorsed the recommendations contained in reports of the Board of Auditors dealing with several United Nations entities.  It also decided to consider further the Board’s reports on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals under the respective agenda items relating to the Tribunals and the Mechanism, and to consider further its report on the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund under the agenda item relating to that entity.

Acting again on the Fifth Committee’s recommendation, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution entitled “Programme planning”, contained in a report by the same name (document A/72/524).  By its terms, the Assembly stressed the need for Member States to participate fully in the budget preparation process and endorsed the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on proposed revisions to the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation (article VII and annex), on evaluation, on the annual overview report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2016 and on the United Nations system support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

The Assembly will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Monday, 20 November, to consider the situation in Afghanistan.