ECOSOC report/Cooperation between UN and regional and other organizations – GA debate – Press release (excerpts)

Plenary

36^th and 37^thMeetings (AM & PM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONSIDERS 2008 REPORT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, ADOPTS

TEXTS ON UNITED NATIONS COOPERATION WITH REGIONAL, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Adopts Resolution Implementing Smoking Ban at Headquarters;

Takes Up Secretary-General’s Report on Holocaust Outreach Programme

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Background

The General Assembly met today for a joint debate on the report of the Economic and Social Council (document A/63/3 and A/63/255), and the integrated and coordinated implementation and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields.

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Statements and Introduction of Drafts

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Cooperation Between the United Nations and Regional and Other Organizations

MAGED ABDEL AZIZ (Egypt) …

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He went on to say cooperation between the United Nations and League of Arab States was also important because of the United Nations’ leading roles in the pursuit of a peaceful Middle East settlement, in the diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East Peace Process, and in the provision of humanitarian care for Palestinian refugees.  He urged implementation of an agreement between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to strengthen institutional links between their secretariats.

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PAUL DADJI (Senegal), associating himself with the Organization of Islamic Conference, and as Chair of the eleventh session of the OIC summit, remarked on the important role played by regional organizations in dealing with the major issues challenging the global community today, among them, terrorism, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and peacebuilding efforts.  He also noted the cooperation between the United Nations and the Islamic Conference, specifically Ban ki-Moon’s support in Dakar during the signing of the peace agreement between Chad and Sudan, which had been particularly gratifying and encouraging.

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For information media • not an official record