A/74/ PV.52* General Assembly Official Records Seventy-fourth session

52nd plenary meeting Thursday, 19 December 2019, 10 a.m. New York

President: Mr. Muhammad-Bande ...... (Nigeria) In the absence of the President, Ms. Beckles with the Executive Secretaries of the Regional (Trinidad and Tobago), Vice-President, took Commissions. The Second Committee adopted a total the Chair. of 47 draft resolutions, 13 of which were adopted by recorded vote, and four draft decisions, including, at the The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m. proposal of the Chair, an oral decision on revitalization of the Committee’s work. Reports of the Second Committee Under agenda item 16, “Information and The Acting President: The General Assembly will communications technologies for sustainable now consider the reports of the Second Committee on development”, the Second Committee recommends, agenda items 16 to 24, 60, 121 and 136. I request the paragraph 12 of the report contained in document Rapporteur of the Committee, Mr. David Mulet Lind of A/74/378, the adoption of one draft resolution. Guatemala, to introduce the reports of the Committee Under agenda item 17, “Macroeconomic policy in one intervention. questions”, the report of the Committee is issued in Mr. Mulet Lind (Guatemala), Rapporteur of the seven parts. The report under the chapeau is contained Second Committee (spoke in Spanish): It is an honour in document A/74/379, and the recommendations for me to introduce to the General Assembly the are contained in the chapeau, as well as in the reports of the Second Committee on the agenda items addenda. Under the chapeau of item 17, the Second allocated to it by the General Assembly at its seventy- Committee recommends, in paragraph 17 of the report fourth session. contained in document A/74/379, the adoption of two draft resolutions. The reports, contained in documents A/74/378 to A/74/389, include the texts of draft resolutions and Under sub-item (a) of agenda item 17, “International decisions recommended by the Second Committee to the trade and development”, the Second Committee General Assembly for adoption. For the convenience of recommends, in paragraph 21 of its report contained delegations, a checklist of action taken in the Committee in document A/74/379/Add.1, the adoption of two draft has been prepared by the Secretariat as contained in resolutions, and in paragraph 22 of the report, the document A/C.2/74/INF/1, issued in English only. adoption of two draft decisions. During the main part of the seventy-fourth session Under sub-item (b) of agenda item 17, “International of the General Assembly, the Second Committee held financial system and development”, the Second 26 plenary meetings and two special events, including Committee recommends, in paragraph 9 of its report a joint formal meeting with the Economic and Social contained in document A/74/379/Add.2, the adoption of Council. The Committee also held its annual dialogue one draft resolution.

This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org).

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* Reissued for technical reasons 26 October 2020 A/74/PV.52 19/12/2019

Under sub-item (c) of agenda item 17, “External of the Programme of Action for the sustainable debt sustainability and development”, the Committee Development of Small Island Developing States”, the recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report contained Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 9 of in document A/74/379/Add.3, the adoption of one its report contained in document A/74/381/Add.2, the draft resolution. adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (d) of agenda item 17, Under sub-item (c) of agenda item 19, “Disaster “Commodities”, the Second Committee recommends, risk reduction”, the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report contained in document in paragraph 7 of its report contained in document A/74/379/Add.4, the adoption of one draft resolution. A/74/381/Add.3, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (e) of agenda item 17, “Financial Under sub-item (d) of agenda item 19, “Protection inclusion for sustainable development”, the Second of global climate for present and future generations Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report of humankind”, the Second Committee recommends, contained in document A/74/379/Add.5, the adoption of in paragraph 11 of its report contained in document one draft resolution. A/74/381/Add.4, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (f) of agenda item 17, “Promotion Under sub-item (e) of agenda item 19, of international cooperation to combat illicit financial “Implementation of the United Nations Convention flows and strengthen good practices on assets return to Combat Desertification in Those Countries to foster sustainable development”, the Second Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report contained in document A/74/379/Add.6, the adoption of Particularly in Africa”, the Second Committee one draft resolution. recommends, in paragraph 7 of its report contained in document A/74/381/Add.5, the adoption of one Under agenda item 18, “Follow-up to and draft resolution. implementation of the outcomes of the International Conferences on Financing for Development”, the Under sub-item (f) of agenda item 19, “Convention Committee recommends, in paragraph 11 of the report on Biological Diversity”, the Second Committee contained in document A/74/380, the adoption of one recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report contained draft resolution. in document A/74/381/Add.6, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under agenda item 19, “Sustainable development”, the report of the Committee has been issued in 13 parts. Under sub-item (g) of agenda item 19, “Report The report under the chapeau is contained in document of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the A/74/381, and the recommendations are contained in the United Nations Environment Programme”, the Second chapeau, as well as in the addenda. Under the chapeau Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report of item 19, the Second Committee recommends, in contained in document A/74/381/Add.7, the adoption of paragraph 57 of its report contained in document one draft resolution. A/74/381, the adoption of eight draft resolutions. Under sub-item (h) of agenda item 19, “Education Under sub-item (a) of agenda item 19, for sustainable development”, the Second Committee “Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report contained Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes in document A/74/381/Add.8, the adoption of one of the World Summit on Sustainable Development draft resolution. and of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development”, the Second Committee recommends, Under sub-item (i) of agenda item 19, “Harmony in paragraph 8 of its report contained in document with Nature”, the Second Committee recommends, A/74/381/Add.1, the adoption of one draft resolution. in paragraph 8 of its report contained in document A/74/381/Add.9, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (b) of agenda item 19, “Follow- up to and implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Under sub-item (j) of agenda item 19, “Ensuring Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway and the access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation energy for all”, the Second Committee recommends,

2/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 in paragraph 8 of its report contained in document recommends, in paragraph 9 of its report contained A/74/381/Add.10, the adoption of one draft resolution. in document A/74/383/Add.1, the adoption of one draft resolution. Under sub-item (k) of agenda item 19, “Combating sand and dust storms”, the Second Committee Under sub-item (b) of agenda item 21, “Follow- recommends, in paragraph 10 of its report contained up to the second United Nations Conference on in document A/74/381/Add.11, the adoption of one Landlocked Developing Countries”, the Second draft resolution. Committee recommends, in paragraph 9 of its report contained in document A/74/383/Add.2, the adoption of Under sub-item (l) of agenda item 19, “Sustainable mountain development”, the Second Committee one draft resolution. recommends, in paragraph 7 of its report contained Under agenda item 22, “Eradication of poverty in document A/74/381/Add.12, the adoption of one and other development issues”, the report of the draft resolution. Committee is issued in five parts. The report under Under agenda item 20, “Globalization and the chapeau is contained in document A/74/384, interdependence”, the report of the Committee is issued and the recommendations are contained in the in five parts. The report under the chapeau is contained following addenda. in document A/74/382, and the recommendations are Under sub-item (a) of agenda item 22, contained in the following addenda. “Implementation of the Third United Nations Decade Under sub-item (a) of agenda item 20, “Role of the for the Eradication of Poverty (2018-2027)”, the Second United Nations in promoting development in the context Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report of globalization and interdependence”, the Second contained in document A/74/384/Add.1, the adoption of Committee recommends, in paragraph 10 of its report one draft resolution. contained document A/74/382/Add.1, the adoption of Under sub-item (b) of agenda item 22, “Women in one draft resolution. development”, the Second Committee recommends, Under sub-item (b) of agenda item 20, “Science, in paragraph 23 of its report contained in document technology and innovation for sustainable development”, A/74/384/Add.2, the adoption of one draft resolution. the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of Under sub-item (c) of agenda item 22, “Human its report contained in document A/74/382/Add.2, the resources development”, the Second Committee adoption of one draft resolution. recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report contained Under sub-item (c) of agenda item 20, “Culture in document A/74/384/Add.3, the adoption of one and sustainable development”, the Second Committee draft resolution. recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report contained Under sub-item (d) of agenda item 22, “Eradicating in document A/74/382/Add.3, the adoption of one rural poverty to implement the 2030 Agenda for draft resolution. Sustainable Development”, the Second Committee Under sub-item (d) of agenda item 20, “Development recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report contained cooperation with middle-income countries”, the Second in document A/74/384/Add.4, the adoption of one Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report draft resolution. contained in document A/74/382/Add.4, the adoption of Under agenda item 23, “Operational activities for one draft resolution. development”, the report of the Committee is issued in Under agenda item 21, “Groups of countries in three parts. The report under the chapeau is contained special situations”, the report of the Committee is issued in document A/74/385, and the recommendations are in three parts. The report under the chapeau is contained contained in the following addenda. in document A/74/383, and the recommendations are Under sub-item (a) of agenda item 23, “Operational contained in the following addenda. activities for development of the United Nations system”, Under sub-item (a) of agenda item 21, “Follow- the Second Committee recommends, in paragraph 7 of up to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the its report contained in document A/74/385/Add.1, the Least Developed Countries”, the Second Committee adoption of one draft resolution.

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Under sub-item (b) of agenda item 23, “South- I also want to express the Bureau’s thanks to the South cooperation for development”, the Second Secretary of the Second Committee and her team in Committee recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report the Department for General Assembly and Conference contained in document A/74/385/Add.2, the adoption of Management for the support and guidance provided one draft resolution. to the Bureau and to delegations, as well as to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Under agenda item 24, “Agriculture development, other substantive offices that supported the work of food security and nutrition”, the Second Committee the Committee. recommends, in paragraph 26 of its report contained in document A/74/386, the adoption of three Finally, I take this opportunity to wish all delegations draft resolutions. very happy holidays and a well-deserved rest. Under agenda item 60, “Permanent sovereignty The Acting President: I thank the Rapporteur of of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian the Second Committee. Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab The positions of delegations regarding the population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their recommendations of the Committee have been made natural resources”, the Committee recommends, in clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant paragraph 12 of its report contained in document official records. If there is no proposal under rule A/74/387, the adoption of one draft resolution. 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall therefore take it Under agenda item 121, “Revitalization of the that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the work of the General Assembly”, the Second Committee reports of the Second Committee that are before the recommends, in paragraph 8 of its report contained in Assembly today. document A/74/389, the adoption of two draft decisions. It was so decided. Under agenda item 136, “Programme planning”, The Acting President: Statements will therefore as indicated in paragraph 2 of document A/74/388, no be limited to explanations of vote or position. I would action was required on the item. like to remind members that, in accordance with This concludes my introduction of the reports of General Assembly decision 34/401, a delegation should, the Second Committee before the Assembly. as far as possible, explain its vote only once, that is, either in the Committee or in plenary meeting, unless Although it was not possible to reach consensus that delegation’s vote in plenary meeting is different on all of the texts negotiated in the Committee, all from its vote in the Committee. In addition, I remind delegates were committed to achieving the best possible delegations that explanations of vote are limited to outcome, in support of our common goals. One notable 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from milestone reached was completing the work of the their seats. Committee by the approved recess date of 27 November set by the Assembly. More than four decades had passed Before we begin to take action on the since that was last achieved, and I therefore sincerely recommendations contained in the reports of the Second congratulate the Committee on this commendable feat. Committee, I should like to advise representatives that In this regard, on behalf of the bureau of the Second we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same Committee, I would like to express our appreciation manner as was done in the Committee, unless the to all the facilitators and coordinators and to all Secretariat is notified otherwise in advance. This means delegations for their constructive participation, hard that, where separate or recorded votes were taken, work and engagement. we will do the same. I should also hope that we will proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations I should also like to take this opportunity adopted without a vote in the Committee. The results to acknowledge the leadership of our Chair, His of the votes will be uploaded to the PaperSmart portal. Excellency Mr. Cheikh Niang of Senegal, as well as the commitment of the other members of the Bureau and Before proceeding further, I would like to draw the the Vice-Chairs, Ms. Yuliana Angelova of Bulgaria, attention of members to a note by the Secretariat, in Ms. Anat Fisher-Tsin of Israel and Mr. Ahmad Saif English only, entitled “List of proposals contained in Al-Kuwari of Qatar. the reports of the Second Committee for consideration

4/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 by the General Assembly”, which has been circulated Agenda item 17 as document A/C.2/74/INF/1. The note has been Macroeconomic policy questions distributed desk-to-desk in the General Assembly Hall as a reference guide for action on draft resolutions and Report of the Second Committee (A/74/379) decisions recommended by the Second Committee in The Acting President: The Assembly has before it its reports. Members will find, in the fourth column two draft resolutions recommended by the Committee of the note, the symbols of the draft resolutions and in paragraph 17 of its report. We will now take a decisions of the Committee, with the corresponding decision on draft resolutions I and II, one by one. symbols of the reports for action in the plenary in the Draft resolution I is entitled “International Year of second column of the same note. For reports containing Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, 2021”. multiple recommendations, the draft resolution or The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it decision number is contained in the third column of that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? the note. Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 74/198). Members are reminded that additional sponsors The Acting President: Draft resolution II is entitled are no longer accepted now that draft resolutions and “Promoting investments for sustainable development”. decisions have been adopted in the Committee. Any The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it clarification about sponsorship in the Committee that the Assembly wishes to do the same? reports should be addressed to the Secretary of the Committee. Furthermore, any corrections to the voting Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 74/199). intention of delegations after the voting has concluded on a proposal should be made directly to the Secretariat (a) International trade and development after the meeting. I would seek members’ cooperation Report of the Second Committee (A/74/379/Add.1) in avoiding any interruptions to our proceedings in The Acting President: The Assembly has before it this regard. two draft resolutions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 21 of its report and two draft decisions Agenda item 16 recommended by the Committee in paragraph 22 of its report. Information and communications technologies for sustainable development The Assembly will now take decisions on draft resolutions I and II and draft decisions I and II, one Report of the Second Committee (A/74/378) by one. After all the decisions have been taken, The Acting President: The Assembly has before representatives will again have the opportunity to it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in explain their vote. paragraph 12 of its report. We first turn to draft resolution I, entitled “Unilateral economic measures as a means of political The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft and economic coercion against developing countries”. resolution. The Second Committee adopted it without A recorded vote has been requested. a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? A recorded vote was taken. In favour: The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/197). Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and The Acting President: May I take it that it is the Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of Bahamas, Bahrain, , Barbados, Belarus, agenda item 16? Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, It was so decided. Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon,

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Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, The Acting President: Draft resolution II is entitled Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic “International trade and development”. A recorded vote People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican has been requested. Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, A recorded vote was taken. Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, , In favour: , Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Jordan, Kazakhstan, , Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Libya, Madagascar, , , Maldives, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Nauru, , Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican South Africa, , Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, , United Arab Emirates, United Republic Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, of , Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Re-public of), Iraq, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Against: Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Israel, United States of America Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Abstaining: Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, and Northern Ireland Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Draft resolution I was adopted by 122 votes to 2, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, with 51 abstentions (resolution 74/200). United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic [Subsequently, the delegation of Kyrgyzstan of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, in favour.] Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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Against: Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central Israel, United States of America African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Draft resolution II was adopted by 176 votes to 2 Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s (resolution 74/201). Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, The Acting President: I now invite delegations to Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, turn to paragraph 22 of section III of the report of the Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Committee concerning the draft decisions. Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Draft decision I is entitled “Venue of the fifteenth Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, session of the United Nations Conference on Trade India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Re-public of), Iraq, and Development, in 2020”. The Committee adopted it Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s to do the same? Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Draft decision I was adopted (decision 74/531). Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Is-lands, Mauritania, The Acting President: Draft decision II is entitled Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States “Eighth United Nations Conference to Review All of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Aspects of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Business Practices, in 2020”. The Committee adopted North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, to do likewise? Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Draft decision II was adopted (decision 74/532). Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint The Acting President: May I take it that it is Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 17? Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, It was so decided. Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor- (b) International financial system and development Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Report of the Second Committee Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab (A/74/379/Add.2) Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe in paragraph 9 of its report. A recorded vote has been requested. Against: United States of America A recorded vote was taken. The draft resolution was adopted by 179 votes to 1 In favour: (resolution 74/202) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, : I now call on the Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, The Acting President representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, wishes to speak in explanation of vote after the voting. Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Mr. Ghorbanpour Najafabadi (Islamic Republic Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei of Iran): With regard to resolution 74/202, entitled Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, “International financial system and development”,

19-42319 7/58 A/74/PV.52 19/12/2019 due to a reference in paragraph 28 of the resolution to Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, initiatives to which the Islamic Republic of Iran is not Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, party, in particular, the Financial Action Task Force, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, my delegation disassociates itself from this paragraph. Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s The Acting President: The General Assembly Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, sub-item (b) of agenda item 17. Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, (c) External debt sustainability and development Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Report of the Second Committee Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, (A/74/379/Add.3) Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, The Acting President: The Assembly has before North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, in paragraph 8 of its report. The Committee adopted it Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian to do the same? Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/203). Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 17? Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, It was so decided. Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor- Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, (d) Commodities Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/379/Add.4) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe in paragraph 8 of its report. A recorded vote has been requested. Against: United States of America A recorded vote was taken. The draft resolution was adopted by 177 votes to 1 In favour: (resolution 74/204) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 17? Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), It was so decided. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, (e) Financial inclusion for sustainable development Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/379/Add.5) Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s in paragraph 8 of its report. The Committee adopted it Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, to do the same? Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/205).

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The Acting President: May I take it that it is Agenda item 19 the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Sustainable development consideration of sub-item (e) of agenda item 17? Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381) It was so decided. The Acting President: The Assembly has before it (f) Promotion of international cooperation to eight draft resolutions recommended by the Committee combat illicit financial flows and strengthen good in paragraph 57 of its report. practices on assets return to foster sustainable The Assembly will now take decisions on development draft resolutions I to VIII, one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will have Report of the Second Committee (A/74/379/Add.6) the opportunity to explain their vote on any or all of The Acting President: The Assembly has before the draft resolutions. I invite delegations to turn to paragraph 57 of section III of the report, concerning it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee the draft resolutions recommended by the Committee. in paragraph 8 of its report. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes We first turn to draft resolution I, entitled “Oil to do the same? slick on Lebanese shores”. A recorded vote has been requested. The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/206). A recorded vote was taken. The Acting President: May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, consideration of sub-item (f) of agenda item 17? Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, It was so decided. Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, The Acting President: The General Assembly has Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei item 17. Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Agenda item 18 China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Follow-up to and implementation of the outcomes People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, of the International Conferences on Financing for Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Development Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/380) Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, paragraph 11 of its report. The Committee adopted it Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, to do likewise? Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/207). Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, consideration of agenda item 18? North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, It was so decided. Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of

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Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint In favour: Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain Republic, Chad, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Against: Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, United Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, States of America Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Abstaining: Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala, Honduras, Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Draft resolution I was adopted by 162 votes to 7, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, with 7 abstentions (resolution 74/208) Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, [Subsequently, the delegation of Comoros informed Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.] Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, The Acting President: May I take it that it is North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 17? Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian It was so decided. Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint The Acting President: Draft resolution II is Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, entitled “International Day of Awareness of Food Loss Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra and Waste”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 74/209). Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, The Acting President: Draft resolution III is United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great entitled “Strengthening cooperation for integrated Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic coastal zone management for achieving sustainable of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, development”. Separate, recorded votes have been Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe requested on the second preambular paragraph and operative paragraph 12. Against: Colombia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Turkey, I shall first put to the vote the second Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) preambular paragraph. Abstaining: A recorded vote was taken. Cambodia, China, El Salvador, Zambia

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The second preambular paragraph was retained by Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, 168 votes to 4, with 4 abstentions Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, [Subsequently, the delegation of Algeria informed Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the Secretariat that it had intended to abstain.] United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern The Acting President: I shall next put to the vote Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania operative paragraph 12. Operative paragraph 12 was retained by 110 votes A recorded vote was taken. to 5, with 49 abstentions. In favour: [Subsequently, the delegations of Canada and Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Lebanon informed the Secretariat that they had Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, intended to vote in favour; the delegation of Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Australia informed the Secretariat that it had Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina intended to abstain.] Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte The Acting President: The Committee adopted d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of draft resolution III, entitled “Strengthening cooperation Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, for integrated coastal zone management for achieving Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, sustainable development”, without a vote. May I take it Gambia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 74/210). Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, The Acting President: Draft resolution IV Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, is entitled “Sustainable tourism and sustainable Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, development in Central America”. The Committee Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, wishes to do likewise? Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 74/211). Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sa-moa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, The Acting President: Draft resolution V is Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon entitled “International Day of Clean Air for blue skies”. Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it Syrian Arab Re-public, Tajikistan, Thailand, that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Draft resolution V was adopted (resolution 74/212). Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, The Acting President: Draft resolution VI is Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe entitled “Cooperative measures to assess and increase Against: awareness of environmental effects related to waste Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, United States of originating from chemical munitions dumped at sea”. America The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Abstaining: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Draft resolution VI was adopted (resolution 74/213). Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, The Acting President: Draft resolution VII Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, is entitled “Sustainable tourism and sustainable Ireland, Italy, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, development in Central Asia”. The Committee adopted Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New to do likewise?

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Draft resolution VII was adopted (resolution 74/214). Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, The Acting President: Draft resolution VIII Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is entitled “Agricultural technology for sustainable Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic development”. A recorded vote has been requested. of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, A recorded vote was taken. Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Unit-ed Arab In favour: Emirates, Yemen Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Draft resolution VIII by 154 votes to 2, with 26 Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, abstentions (resolution 74/215). Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo [Subsequently, the delegations of Afghanistan and Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central the Bolivia (Plurinational State of) informed the African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour; Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, the delegation of Namibia informed the Secretariat Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican that it had intended to abstain.] Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, The Acting President: I shall now call on those Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, representatives who wish to speak in explanation of Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, vote after the voting. Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ms. Fidan (Turkey): Turkey voted against the India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, second preambular paragraph of the resolution 74/210, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lao entitled “Strengthening cooperation for integrated People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, coastal zone management for achieving sustainable Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, development”. Turkey is not a party to the United Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and we are of Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated the opinion that neither is that the Convention is neither States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, universal nor unified in character. We also believe that it Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, is not the only legal framework regulating all activities Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, in the oceans and seas. We would like to re-emphasize North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua that Turkey does not consider the language on oceans New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, and the law of the sea with respect to the Convention Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, contained in the resolution to have been agreed and Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts calls for a warning on such use of language in future and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the draft resolutions. Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Mr. Ghorbanpour Najafabadi (Islamic Republic Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, of Iran): With regard to resolutions 74/210 and 74/213, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri entitled “Strengthening cooperation for integrated Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, coastal zone management for achieving sustainable Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, development” and “Cooperative measures to assess and Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, increase awareness of environmental effects related to United Kingdom of Great Britain and North-ern waste originating from chemical munitions dumped Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United at sea”, since the Islamic Republic of Iran is not a States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, contracting party to the United Nations Convention on Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe the Law of the Sea, my delegation disassociates itself Against: from the second preambular paragraph of the former Syrian Arab Republic, Venezuela (Bolivarian resolution and from the twelfth preambular paragraph Republic of) of the latter resolution.

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Mr. Cuellar Torres (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has My delegation takes this opportunity to reaffirm been requested. its commitment to strengthening cooperation and integrated coastal zone management in order to A recorded vote was taken. achieve sustainable development. It also reaffirms its In favour: commitment to cooperative measures to assess the Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and environmental effects of chemical munitions dumped Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, at sea and to raise awareness of that issue. However, we Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, regret that the text of the draft resolution did not garner Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State the consensus required for its adoption in the form that of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina we would have liked and tried to achieve throughout Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, the negotiations. Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia conducts its activities in the marine Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, environment in strict compliance with the various Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, international commitments that it has expressly accepted Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, and takes this opportunity to reiterate that it has not El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- the Sea since its principles are neither enforceable nor Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, opposable, except those it has expressly accepted. My Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, delegation does not share the view that the Convention Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, is the normative framework that regulates activities Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, conducted in the oceans; accordingly, we express our Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, reservation about that Convention being mentioned in Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated the resolutions just adopted. States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Mr. Bayley Angeleri (Bolivarian Republic of Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): With regard to the Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua resolution on strengthening cooperation for integrated New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, coastal zone management for achieving sustainable Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, development, our delegation disassociates itself from Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the references to the United Nations Convention on Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, the Law of the Sea and wishes to reiterate that it is Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South not a party to the Convention. The same applies to Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab the resolution on cooperative measures to assess and Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, increase awareness of environmental effects related to Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, waste originating from chemical munitions dumped Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic at sea. of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, (a) Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit Against: on Sustainable Development and of the Israel, United States of America United Nations Conference on Sustainable Abstaining: Development Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/ Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Add.1) Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New

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Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, It was so decided. Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, (d) Protection of global climate for present and Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, future generations of humankind Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/Add.4) Ireland The Acting President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in The draft resolution was adopted by 131 votes to 2, paragraph 11 of its report. We will now take a decision with 49 abstentions (resolution 74/216). on the draft resolution. The Acting President: May I take it that it is I shall first put to the vote operative paragraph 9 of the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its the draft resolution, on which a separate, recorded vote consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 19? has been requested. It was so decided. A recorded vote was taken. (b) Follow-up to and implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) In favour: Pathway and the Mauritius Strategy for the Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Further Implementation of the Programme Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, of Action for the Sustainable Development of Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia Small Island Developing States (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/Add.2) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of paragraph 9 of its report. We will now take a decision Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, to do likewise? Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/217). Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao The Acting President: May I take it that it is People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 19? Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Mozambique, It was so decided. Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, (c) Disaster risk reduction Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/Add.3) Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint The Acting President: The Assembly has before Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, to do likewise? Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/218). Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe The Acting President: May I take it that it is Against: the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 19? Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,

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Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, consideration of sub-item (e) of agenda item 19? Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, It was so decided. Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, (f) Convention on Biological Diversity Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/Add.6) Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United The Acting President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision United States of America on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it Abstaining: without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Iceland, San Marino, Switzerland to do likewise? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/221). Operative paragraph 9 was retained by 118 votes to 49, with 3 abstentions. The Acting President: The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (f) [Subsequently, the delegation of Chile informed the of agenda item 19. Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour; the delegation of Norway had intended to abstain.] (g) Report of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment The Acting President: We will now take a decision Programme on the draft resolution as a whole. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/Add.7) wishes to do likewise? The Acting President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in The draft resolution, as a whole, was adopted paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision (resolution 74/219). on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes The Acting President: May I take it that it is to do likewise? the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 19? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/222). It was so decided. The Acting President: May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its (e) Implementation of the United Nations consideration of sub-item (g) of agenda item 19? Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or It was so decided. Desertification, Particularly in Africa (h) Education for sustainable development Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/ Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/Add.8) Add.5) The Acting President: The Assembly has before The Acting President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision the draft resolution, entitled “Education for sustainable on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it development in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Sustainable Development”. to do likewise? I shall first put to the vote operative paragraph 13, The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/220). on which a separate, recorded vote has been requested.

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A recorded vote was taken. Abstaining: Georgia, Japan In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Operative paragraph 13 was retained by 173 votes Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, to 4, with 2 abstentions. Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, The Acting President: The Committee adopted Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), the draft resolution, entitled “Education for sustainable Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei development in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Sustainable Development”, without a vote. May I take Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/223). Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s The Acting President: I now give the floor to Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, the representative of Iran, who has asked to speak in Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, explanation of vote. Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Mr. Ghorbanpour Najafabadi (Iran): At the Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, outset, let me announce that the Islamic Republic Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, of Iran considers the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Development and the UNESCO Education 2030 Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Framework for Action as two absolutely non-legally Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, binding, voluntary instruments that merely set out Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, a number of non-obligatory guidelines, suggestions Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, and recommendations. Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, My delegation hereby officially announces that the Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Islamic Republic of Iran is not committed at all to those Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, parts of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New and the Education 2030 Framework for Action that in Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, any way contradict Iranian national priorities, laws, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua regulations, legislation and policies; Islamic principles, New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, instructions and teachings; or the cultural and religious Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of norms and values of Iranian society. Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Accordingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent legal obligation vis-à-vis the implementation of those and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi two instruments. It should be noted that the voluntary Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, use of any parts of those instruments will be possible Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, only when and where the relevant competent national South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, authorities confirm that they do not conflict with the Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, abovementioned principles. Moreover, with regard to Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad all domestic development and education issues, national and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, open-ended instruments, plans and programmes shall Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United enjoy absolute priority and will be considered as the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, sole reference for action. United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Having made those introductory remarks, let me Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet explain my delegation’s position on resolution 74/233. Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Owing to the references in the resolution to the UNESCO Against: Education 2030 Framework for Action, regarding which Australia, Canada, Israel, United States of America the Islamic Republic of Iran has entered an official

16/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 reservation, my delegation disassociates itself from its United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, twelfth preambular paragraph. Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet The Acting President: May I take it that it is Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Against: consideration of sub-item (h) of agenda item 19? Israel, United States of America It was so decided. Abstaining: (i) Harmony with Nature Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/Add.9) Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Dominica, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, been requested. Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of A recorded vote was taken. Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, In favour: Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Ireland Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei The draft resolution was adopted by 134 votes to 2, Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, with 45 abstentions (resolution 74/224). Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican consideration of sub-item (i) of agenda item 19? Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, It was so decided. Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- (j) Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, sustainable and modern energy for all Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/ Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Add.10) Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision Namibia, Ne-pal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint to do the same? Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/225). the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon The Acting President: May I take it that it is Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor- consideration of sub-item (j) of agenda item 19? Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, It was so decided.

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(k) Combating sand and dust storms United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/ of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Add.11) Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. We will now take a Against: decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has Israel, United States of America been requested. Abstaining: In favour: Australia Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, The draft resolution was adopted by 177 votes to 2, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, with 1 abstention (resolution 74/226). Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, [Subsequently, the delegation of the Syrian Arab Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Republic informed the Secretariat that it had Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei intended to vote in favour.] Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte consideration of sub-item (k) of agenda item 19? d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, It was so decided. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, (l) Sustainable mountain development Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/381/ Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Add.12) Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, paragraph 7 of its report. Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, I now give the floor to the representative of Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Kyrgyzstan, who has asked to speak in explanation of Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, vote before the voting. Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mrs. Moldoisaeva (Kyrgyzstan): The draft Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, resolution on sustainable mountain development reflects Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, the main aspirations of all mountain countries that are Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, members of the United Nations to ensure sustainable New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North economic development and a safe environment, reduce Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, the risk of natural disasters, and guarantee food security Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, and full development for all people living in mountain Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, areas. Those aspirations are entirely consistent with Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, the Sustainable Development Goals. On behalf of Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Kyrgyzstan and Italy, the co-sponsors of the draft Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, resolution, I would like to thank all Member States for Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra their active participation in the discussion of the draft Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon resolution, enabling us to make many improvements Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and achieve a balanced and productive draft resolution. Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, The Acting President: We will now take a decision Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it

18/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, to do the same? Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/227). Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, consideration of sub-item (l) of agenda item 19? Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South It was so decided. Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab The Acting President: The General Assembly has Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United item 19. Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Agenda item 20 Zambia, Zimbabwe Globalization and interdependence Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/382) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, The Acting President: May I take it that the Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Estonia, the Committee contained in documents A/74/382? Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, It was so decided (decision 74/533). Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, (a) Role of the United Nations in promoting Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, development in the context of globalization and North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Republic interdependence of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor- Report of the Second Committee (A/74/382/Add.1) Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain The Acting President: The Assembly has before and Northern Ireland, United States of America it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee Abstaining: in paragraph 10 of its report. A separate, recorded vote Japan, Norway, Republic of Korea, Turkey has been requested on the ninth preambular paragraph of the draft resolution. The ninth preambular paragraph was retained by 111 votes to 49, with 4 abstentions. A recorded vote was taken. [Subsequently, the delegation of Brazil informed the In favour: Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.] Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, The Acting President: We will now take a decision Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, on the draft resolution as a whole. A recorded vote has Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, been requested. Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, A recorded vote was taken. Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, In favour: Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,

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Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte It was so decided. d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of (b) Science, technology and innovation for Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, sustainable development Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Report of the Second Committee (/74/382/Add.2) Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, to do the same? Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/229). Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 20? Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent It was so decided. and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, (c) Culture and sustainable development Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Report of the Second Committee (A/74/382/Add.3) Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor- The Acting President: The Assembly has before Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe to do the same? Against: The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/230). Israel, United States of America The Acting President: May I take it that it is Abstaining: the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 20? Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, It was so decided. Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, (d) Development cooperation with middle-income Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, countries Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/382/Add.4) Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Republic The Acting President: The Assembly has before of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Ireland Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution, as a whole, was adopted by 134 The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/231). votes to 2, with 44 abstentions (resolution 74/228). The Acting President: May I take it that it is The Acting President: May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 20 and consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 20? agenda item 20 as a whole?

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It was so decided. Agenda item 22 Eradication of poverty and other development Agenda item 21 (continued) issues Groups of countries in special situations Report of the Second Committee (A/74/384) Report of the Second Committee (A/74/383) The Acting President: May I take it that the The Acting President: May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Second Committee? the Second Committee? It was so decided (decision 74/535). It was so decided (decision 74/534). (a) Implementation of the Third United Nations (a) Follow-up to the Fourth United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018- Conference on the Least Developed Countries 2027) Report of the Second Committee (A/74/383/Add.1) Report of the Second Committee (A/74/384/Add.1) The Acting President: The Assembly has before The Acting President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? the Assembly wishes to do the same? The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/232). The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 7/234). The Acting President: The General Assembly The Acting President: May I take it that it is has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its sub-item (a) of agenda item 21. consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 22? (b) Follow-up to the second United Nations It was so decided. Conference on Landlocked Developing (b) Women in development Countries Report of the Second Committee (A/74/384/Add.2) Report of the Second Committee (A/74/383/ Add.2) The Acting President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Second The Acting President: The Assembly has before Committee in paragraph 23 of its report. We will now it a draft resolution recommended by the Second take a decision on the draft resolution. A separate, Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now recorded vote has been requested on operative take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second paragraphs 18 and 19. Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? A recorded vote was taken. In favour: The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/233). Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 21? Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, It was so decided. Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo The Acting President: The General Assembly has Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, item 21. Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,

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Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s The Acting President: I shall now call on those Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, representatives who wish to speak in explanation of Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, vote on the resolution just adopted. Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Ms. Csók (Hungary): Hungary wishes to add the Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, following remarks in its national capacity. Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Hungary joined the consensus on resolution 74/235 and thanks the main sponsors for bringing forward this Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, initiative. Hungary is fully committed to reaching the Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, highest attainable standards of wealth and eradicating Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, poverty, with a special focus on women’s empowerment. Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, My country therefore welcomes the focus of this year’s Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, resolution on those crucial matters. Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, We are proud of Hungary’s long-standing Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, achievements in health care and contributions to Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, advancing global public health. At the same time, we would like to take this opportunity to recall Hungary’s Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, concern about certain aspects of the political declaration Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint (resolution 74/2) that were clearly voiced at the time of Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, its adoption on 23 September. We would therefore have San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra preferred a neutral reference to the declaration in the Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon eleventh preambular paragraph of resolution 74/235. Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor- Mr. Ghorbanpour Najafabadi (Islamic Republic of Iran): Concerning resolution 74/235, while my Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, delegation joined the consensus for its adoption, given Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain that the meeting held in Nairobi in November 2019 to and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the International Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Conference on Population and Development was not a Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe United Nations initiative and that its outcomes were not Against: negotiated by Member States, my delegation dissociates Bahrain, Belarus, Burundi, Kuwait, Libya, itself from the phrase “as well as the outcomes of their Mauritania, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian reviews” at the end of paragraph 8 of the resolution. Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Mrs. Udida (Nigeria): I have the honour to speak on Republic, United States of America, Yemen behalf of the following delegations: Algeria, Bahrain, Burundi, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, the Gambia, Abstaining: Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, the Republic of Algeria, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Guatemala, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, the Jamaica, United Arab Emirates Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and Yemen.

Operative paragraphs 18 and 19 were retained by Our group of countries joined consensus on 152 votes to 15, with 6 abstentions. resolution 74/235, which was introduced by the Group of 77 and China. Most importantly, we did so The Acting President: The Second Committee to demonstrate our commitment to the empowerment adopted the draft resolution, as a whole, without a vote. of all women and girls in the three dimensions of May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? sustainable development — economic, social and environmental. However, while our delegations wish The draft resolution, as a whole, was adopted to reiterate our strong commitment to eliminating (resolution 74/235). all forms of discrimination against women and girls,

22/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 we regret that the controversial phrase “multiple and (c) Human resources development intersecting forms of discrimination” appears in some Report of the Second Committee (A/74/384/Add.3) paragraphs of the resolution. The Acting President: The Assembly has before It is our view that the notion of multiple and it a draft resolution recommended by the Second intersecting forms of discrimination is an ambiguous Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now concept that seeks to include a particular set of ideas take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second that do not enjoy consensus in international human Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that rights instruments. In other committees, when that the Assembly wishes to do the same? controversial phrase has been discussed, our delegations have consistently rejected all attempts to introduce it in The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/236). various resolutions. The Acting President: May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Although we have decided to join the consensus consideration of sub-item (c) of agenda item 22? on resolution 74/235 given our understanding of the importance of the need to continue supporting the It was so decided. development of all women and girls, we wish to take (d) Eradicating rural poverty to implement the this opportunity to register our dissociation from all 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development references to that controversial phrase and from any Report of the Second Committee (A/74/384/Add.4) inference of its applicability in our national contexts. The Acting President: The Assembly has before With regard to the European Union’s amendment it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee to paragraph 8 of the resolution, our group of countries in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a also wishes to dissociate itself from the addition of decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has the phrase “as well as the outcomes of their reviews” been requested. at the end of the paragraph. We are concerned that the additional phrase is vague and could include A recorded vote was taken. controversial and non-consensual outcomes. It is our In favour: view that the outcomes of the International Conference Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and on Population and Development reviews held outside Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the United Nations are neither consensual nor Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, intergovernmentally negotiated outcomes since they Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State have not been adopted by the General Assembly. We of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, therefore dissociate ourselves from that reference and Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, any obligations arising from it. Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte While we request that our statement be reflected d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of in the record of this meeting, let me reassure the Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Assembly that our delegations will continue to support Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, all efforts to fulfil the global objectives of empowering Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, all women and girls, in line with the 2030 Agenda Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, for Sustainable Development and other consensually Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, agreed outcome documents. Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 22? Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, It was so decided. Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,

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Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian (a) Operational activities for development of the Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent United Nations system and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Report of the Second Committee (A/74/385/ Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Add.1) Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet the Assembly wishes to do the same? Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/238). Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 23? Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, It was so decided. Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, (b) South-South cooperation for development Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Report of the Second Committee (A/74/385/Add.2) Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, The Acting President: The Assembly has before Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, it a draft resolution recommended by the Second Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of take a decision on the draft resolution. The Second Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that of America the Assembly wishes to do the same? Abstaining: The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/239). Palau, Turkey The Acting President: The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda The draft resolution was adopted by 126 votes to item 23 and its sub-item (b). 49, with 2 abstentions (resolution 74/237). The Acting President: May I take it that it is Agenda item 24 the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Agriculture development, food security and consideration of sub-item (d) of agenda item 22 and nutrition agenda item 22 as a whole? Report of the Second Committee (A/74/386) It was so decided. The Acting President: The Assembly has before Agenda item 23 it three draft resolutions recommended by the Second Committee in paragraph 26 of its report. Operational activities for development We will now take a decision on draft resolutions Report of the Second Committee (A/74/385) I to III, one by one. After all the decisions have been The Acting President: May I take it that the taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their vote or position on any or all of the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of draft resolutions. the Second Committee? We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Natural It was so decided (decision 74/536). plant fibres and sustainable development”. The Second

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Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 74/240). Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of The Acting President: Draft resolution II is Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, entitled “International Tea Day”. A recorded vote has been requested. Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland A recorded vote was taken. Draft resolution II was adopted by 127 votes to 3, In favour: with 44 abstentions (resolution 74/241). Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, The Acting President: Draft resolution III is Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, entitled “Agriculture development, food security and Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State nutrition”. The Second Committee adopted it without of), Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central do likewise? African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 74/242). Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, The Acting President: I call on the representative Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, of Bangladesh, who wishes to speak in explanation of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, vote on the resolution just adopted. Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea- Ms. Fatima (Bangladesh): I have the honour to Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, make a statement on resolution 74/240 following its Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, adoption by the Assembly. Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, The diverse range of natural plant fibres provide an Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, important source of income for producers and farmers, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, particularly in developing countries, and thus play a Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, critical role in eradicating poverty. We believe that the Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua promotion of such fibres, especially the lesser known New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, ones — such as jute, abaca, coir, kenaf, sisal, hemp and Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, ramie — will also contribute to the achievement of the Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent Sustainable Development Goals. and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheik Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Hasina, the Government of Bangladesh has adopted Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, bold policies aimed at transforming the agricultural Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor- sector, promoting rural development, empowering Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, marginalized people and protecting small landholders Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and small-scale farmers and producers. It was based United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, on that commitment that Bangladesh undertook the Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet initiative to highlight the potential economic, social Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and environmental benefits of natural plant fibres such Against: as jute — the golden fibre, as it is fondly known in Australia, Israel, United States of America my country. Abstaining: We are grateful to all Member States for their Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and strong support in recognizing natural plant fibres Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, as a development issue for the first time in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, General Assembly.

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I would like to sincerely thank all States Members Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, of the United Nations for their constructive approach Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic and flexibility throughout the negotiation process, People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, which not only enabled consensus but also enriched the Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El text. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank those Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Member States that have co-sponsored the resolution. France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, I also wish to place on record our deep appreciation to Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Nations, the Department of Economic and Social Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat and the Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Bureau and secretariat of the Second Committee for Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, their cooperation throughout the process. Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, In conclusion, I wish to reiterate our hope that Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, resolution 72/240 will pave the way for fostering Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, scientific research and development and, very Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New importantly, for cooperation and collaboration at Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, the national, regional and global levels in order to Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, ensure — in addition to their traditional use — the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of high-end, value-added and innovative use of all lesser- Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian known natural plant fibres. Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra consideration of agenda item 24? Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, It was so decided. Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Agenda item 60 Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Report of the Second Committee (A/74/387) Against: The Acting President: The Assembly has before Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia it a draft resolution recommended by the Second (Federated States of), Nauru, United States of Committee in paragraph 12 of its report. We will now America take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested. Abstaining: Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, A recorded vote was taken. Guatemala, Honduras, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Togo, In favour: Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, The draft resolution was adopted by 160 votes to 6, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, with 15 abstentions (resolution 74/243). Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, The Acting President: May I take it that it is Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, consideration of agenda item 60? Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, It was so decided.

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Agenda item 121 (continued) The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of all the reports of the Second Committee Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly before it for this meeting. Report of the Second Committee (A/74/389) Agenda item 14 (continued) The Acting President: The Assembly has before Integrated and coordinated implementation it two draft decisions recommended by the Second of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. United Nations conferences and summits in the The Assembly will now take decisions on draft economic, social and related fields decisions I and II, one by one. After both decisions Draft resolution (A/74/L.37) have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their vote on either or both of The Acting President: I now give the floor to the the draft decisions. representative of Chile to introduce draft resolution A/74/L.37. Draft decision I is entitled “Revitalization of the work of the Second Committee”. The Second Mr. Skoknic Tapia (Chile) (spoke in Spanish): Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that I have the honour of introducing draft resolution the Assembly wishes to do the same? A/74/L.37, entitled “International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, 2021”, submitted by Costa Rica, Nigeria Draft decision I was adopted (decision 74/537). and my country, Chile. The primary objective of the text is to raise awareness of the need to adopt public The Acting President: Draft decision II is entitled policies to promote sustainable food systems, based on “Draft programme of work of the Second Committee healthy diets, with an emphasis on sustainable means of for the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly”. production and consumption. The Second Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? The commemoration of this International Year seeks first, to enhance knowledge and awareness of the Draft decision II was adopted (decision 74/538). health and nutritional benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption; secondly, to promote their sustainable The Acting President: The General Assembly has production and consumption, with a focus on family thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda agriculture and small farmers; and thirdly, to reduce item 121. the waste and losses in supply chains from production to consumption. Agenda item 136 (continued) It should be noted that the draft resolution is based Programme planning on the resolution adopted by the 41st session of the Report of the Second Committee (A/74/388) Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, held in Rome in June, in which The Acting President: May I take it that the it requests the General Assembly to declare 2021 the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. That the Committee? proposal is based on scientific evidence that indicates that the daily consumption of fruits and vegetables It was so decided (decision 74/539). makes it possible to eradicate non-communicable The Acting President: The Assembly has thus chronic diseases, reduces the risk of obesity and helps concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda to mitigate various deficiencies. It is also in line with item 136. the recommendations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World On behalf of the General Assembly, I would like Health Organization with regard to the benefits of the to thank His Excellency Mr. Cheikh Niang, Permanent daily consumption of fruit and vegetables. Representative of Senegal to the United Nations and Chair of the Second Committee, members of the Bureau The draft resolution is also based on resolution and representatives for a job well done. 70/259, by which the General Assembly proclaimed

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2016-2025 the United Nations Decade of Action The Acting President: May I take it that the on Nutrition, recommendation 10 of the Second Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/74/L.37? International Conference on Nutrition and the Draft resolution A/74/L.37 was adopted Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda (resolution 74/244). for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 2, on ending hunger, and Goal 3, on ensuring healthy lives The Acting President: Before giving the floor for and promoting well-being. explanations of position on the resolution just adopted, may I remind delegations that explanations are limited In conclusion, the need to overcome the challenges to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from linked to nutrition at the global level, reduce food waste their seats. and create agricultural systems that are resistant to Mr. Lawrence (United States of America): We climate change are some of the issues that we hope can are pleased to join consensus on resolution 74/244 be addressed during this International Year through and refer the Assembly to our remarks delivered on active, transparent dialogue with all sectors of society. 21 November regarding our position with respect to Finally, we would like to thank the more than language concerning the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 50 delegations that have already sponsored this Development contained in resolution 74/244. initiative. We call on all members of the General The Acting President: We have heard the only Assembly to join in the important task of promoting this speaker in explanation of position. International Year. In closing, we would particularly like to thank the delegations of Costa Rica and Nigeria The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its for their support in the work that led to the submission consideration of agenda item 14. of the draft resolution. Agenda item 7 (continued) The Acting President: The Assembly will now Organization of work, adoption of the agenda and take a decision on draft resolution A/74/L.37, entitled allocation of items “International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, 2021”. The Acting President: Members will recall that I now give the floor to the representative of at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 20 September 2019, the the Secretariat. General Assembly decided to allocate sub-item (b) of Mr. Nakano (Department for General Assembly agenda item 17 to the Second Committee. To enable and Conference Management): I should like to announce the Assembly to take action expeditiously on draft that, since the submission of the draft resolution, and resolution A/74/L.38, may I take it that the Assembly in addition to those delegations listed in the document, wishes to consider sub-item (b) of agenda item 17 the following countries have also become sponsors directly in plenary meeting and proceed immediately of draft resolution A/74/L.37: Afghanistan, Andorra, to its consideration? Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia It was so decided (decision 74/503). (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Agenda item 17 (continued) the Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Macroeconomic policy questions Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, the Gambia, Ghana, (b) International financial system and development Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Draft resolution (A/74/L.38) India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, The Acting President: I now give the floor to the Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Norway, Palau, representative of Bahrain to introduce draft resolution Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, A/74/L.38. Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Mr. Alrowaiei (Bahrain): It is my honour to Lanka, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan speak today on behalf of the main sponsors — Egypt, and Viet Nam. Kazakhstan, Nigeria and my country, Bahrain — as well

28/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 as the additional sponsors of draft resolution A/74/L.38, Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and the Bolivarian entitled “International Day of Banks”. Republic of Venezuela. Over the course of the negotiations, we worked The Acting President: May I take it that the extensively to address all the issues and concerns Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/74/L.38? expressed by delegations. We would like to stress our appreciation for the support, flexibility and constructive Draft resolution A/74/L.38 was adopted engagement of all our colleagues as we sought to (resolution 74/245). produce a balanced text that meets the expectations of The Acting President: Before giving the floor every delegation involved. for explanations of vote after adoption, may I remind The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development delegations that explanations of vote are limited to and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from International Conference on Financing for Development their seats. lay out an ambitious commitment to create a more Mr. Lawrence (United States of America): We are inclusive global economy that will provide opportunity pleased to join consensus on resolution 74/245 and refer for all people and ensure a healthier planet for future the General Assembly to our remarks delivered in the generations. Furthermore, the report of the Inter-Agency Second Committee on 21 November on our position Task Force on Financing for Development found with respect to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable numerous examples of progress in the mobilization Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in of financial resources, in the introduction of changes the context of the draft resolution. to business models and the operations of public and private actors, and in the strengthening of cooperation Mr. Terva (Finland): I have the honour to deliver among countries in the achievement of sustainable this statement on behalf of the European Union (EU) development. Aligned with all these multilateral and its 28 member States. The candidate countries the efforts, it is crucial to recognize the role of banks and Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania, financial institutions and their significant potential in the country of the Stabilization and Association Process the financing of sustainable development. and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the country of the European Free Trade Association As we invite all delegations to co-sponsor the draft Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic resolution, we sincerely hope that it will gather the Area, align themselves with this statement. support of all States and be adopted by consensus. Allow me to stress at the outset that the EU The Acting President: The Assembly will now acknowledges the right of every State Member of take a decision on draft resolution A/74/L.38, entitled the United Nations to present draft resolutions for “International Day of Banks”. the consideration of the General Assembly and its I give the floor to the representative of Committees. Furthermore, the EU always enters into the Secretariat. and conducts negotiations in a constructive spirit aimed at achieving consensus whenever possible and Mr. Nakano (Department for General Assembly if compatible with our principles. This was also the and Conference Management): I should like to spirit in which we conducted negotiations on resolution announce that, since the submission of the draft 74/245 and eventually joined consensus. resolution and in addition to those delegations listed in document A/74/L.38, the following countries have However, to be frank, we did it reluctantly and only become sponsors of the draft resolution: Bangladesh, after very serious consideration. The EU position on Belarus, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, the Central the proliferation of proclamations of international days African Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Djibouti, the and years is well known. We restated it at the beginning Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, of negotiations on the draft for this resolution. Mindful Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lesotho, of the annex to resolution 1980/67 of the Economic Maldives, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, and Social Council, we believe that new proposals the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South for the designation of international days, years and Africa, the Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United anniversaries should be limited to issues and occasions

19-42319 29/58 A/74/PV.52 19/12/2019 that otherwise would not attract the attention and Economic Affairs, the United Nations Development importance they deserve. As a general rule, there are, Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade in our view, often more effective and appropriate means and Development and other relevant United Nations to raise awareness of certain issues than designating an entities, we would have appreciated it if the facilitators international day or year. In this particular case, the EU had given proper consideration to the implementation remains unconvinced that the role of banks in promoting of the Day. sustainable development, while not at all calling the role itself into question, needed to be specifically Mr. Nakano (Japan): I would like to deliver an showcased by establishing an international day. explanation of position on resolution 74/245, entitled “International Day of Banks”. The foregoing policy is also fully in line with our strong support for streamlining and revitalizing At the outset, Japan would like to thank the the work of the Committees, in particular the Second delegation of Bahrain as the proponent and facilitator Committee, and of the General Assembly. To achieve of the resolution. We also express our appreciation this objective, it is important for all Member States to to our colleagues who participated in the informal commit to limiting the putting forward of resolutions consultations. Japan decided to join the consensus with no specific added value. The resolution to establish on the resolution in recognition of the vital role of an International Day of Banks falls under this category banks in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for in our view. Sustainable Development. Apart from substance, we also feel the need to However, we must express our concern regarding reiterate our misgivings about the fact that proper the consultation process. As we understand it, the procedures were not followed. The topic at hand, which purpose of the resolution is closely connected with relates to economic growth and development under the 2030 Agenda and its achievement. We believe sub-item (b) of agenda item 17, should, if at all, have been that the resolution should have been consulted on as formally submitted as a draft resolution of the Second Second Committee item 17(b). We are concerned that Committee. Instead, it was put forward the same day submitting a draft resolution to the General Assembly that Second Committee resolutions were adopted and which bears a close relationship to issues under the just one day before the Second Committee concluded purview of the Second Committee so soon after the end its work. This approach posed various difficulties of the main part of the Committee’s work undermines given that all experts were absorbed by bringing the Committee’s process. Nor is doing so aligned with difficult Second Committee negotiations to a fruitful our efforts to revitalize the Second Committee in order conclusion with very little time to properly discuss to make its work more efficient and effective with a and negotiate the draft resolution. Our repeated calls view to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. to postpone negotiations and re-examine the proposal during next year’s session of the Second Committee In addition, during the informal consultation remained unheeded. We would like to underline that process we asked for the rationale behind the designation such approaches stakeholderould not set a precedent of this International Day at this particular time, yet we and will not be tolerated in future. were never given a clear explanation. Also, throughout Lastly, international years and anniversaries the process, compilation documents reflecting the should not be proclaimed before the basic arrangements consultations were not circulated in a timely manner, for their organization have been made. That includes which made it difficult for us to have enough time to ensuring the effective coordination of the activities of adequately discuss the text of the draft resolution with all United Nations organizations and bodies concerned. our capital. The EU has therefore consistently urged the designation Moreover, it was unfortunate that the facilitators’ of a single lead agency in charge of facilitating the text was put under silence procedure in a very sudden observance of this International Day. manner, without, we felt, sufficient discussion or efforts While we appreciate that the facilitators, in a to reach a consensus among colleagues on controversial last-minute attempt, tried to take our concerns into paragraphs. We sincerely hope that this will not be a account by inviting the Department of Social and precedent going forward.

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The Acting President: I now give the floor to the remaining items as soon as possible in order for all those representatives who wish to speak in exercise of delegations to be able to enjoy a well-deserved holiday. the right of reply. Allow me also to commend the work done by the May I remind members that statements in the Chair and his team, Bureau members and the dedicated exercise of the right of reply are limited to 10 minutes Secretariat team for their tireless support to date. The for the first intervention and to five minutes for the Fifth Committee remains key to the good functioning second intervention and should be made by delegations of the United Nations. Let us finalize its work. In this from their seats. regard, I would like to propose that the Assembly further postpone its recess date to Friday, 27 December. Mr. Aldoseri (Bahrain) (spoke in Arabic): The If there is no objection, may I take it that the Assembly Kingdom of Bahrain, also on behalf of Egypt, Nigeria agrees to further postpone the date of recess of the and Kazakhstan, would like to thank all the sponsors seventy-fourth session to Friday, 27 December? of resolution 74/245, entitled “International Day of Banks”. It was so decided. In response to our colleague from the Mission of The President: May I also take it that the General Japan and the comments he made in his explanation of Assembly agrees to extend the work of the Fifth position, we would say that we wish that those comments Committee until Friday, 27 December? had been made during the informal meetings, which It was so decided. were attended by the representatives of Japan, in order for them to be reflected and considered. The President: The General Assembly will take up the pending items, including the reports of the Fifth Mr. Lawrence (United States of America): I would Committee, after the completion of the work of the like to associate my delegation with the remarks made Fifth Committee in the General Assembly Hall. by the representative of Finland and the representative of Japan with regard to the process by which resolution I wish delegates a merry Christmas and 74/245 was managed. happy holidays. The Acting President: May I take it that it is the Before suspending this meeting, I would like to wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of announce that the meeting of the Fifth Committee will agenda item 17 and its sub-item (b)? take place in this room immediately after this meeting. It was so decided. The meeting was suspended at 3.30 p.m. and resumed at 5.15 p.m. on Friday, 27 December. The meeting was suspended at 12.20 p.m. and resumed at 3.20 p.m. on Tuesday, 24 December. Agenda item 70 (continued) The President took the Chair. Promotion and protection of human rights The President: I have been informed by the Chair (c) Human rights situations and reports of special of the Fifth Committee that the Committee requests a rapporteurs and representatives further extension of its work to Friday, 27 December, in the hope that such an extension would facilitate Report of the Third Committee (A/74/399/Add.3) reaching consensus on the pending draft resolutions Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/609) before it. There are particular challenges with the new annual budget faced by the Fifth Committee this year. The President: The General Assembly has before I acknowledge our Fifth Committee colleagues for the it draft resolution IV, recommended by the Third tentative agreement reached on three draft resolutions Committee in paragraph 47 of its report. The report over recent days, including the significant agreements of the Fifth Committee on the programme budget on programme planning and budget reached earlier implications of the draft resolution is contained in today. That having been said, we have not yet concluded document A/74/609. The text of the report, for the all items, so this afternoon I must impress upon all time being, is contained in document A/C.5/74/L.17, Member States to work harder to achieve consensus on section A.

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I shall now call on those representatives who wish providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to those to speak in explanation of vote before the voting. in need of it or feeding millions of hungry children around the world. It is total hypocrisy to waste millions Mr. Suan (Myanmar): My delegation will vote of dollars on an instrument designed to fulfil the against draft resolution IV, contained in document groundless political agenda of some powerful member A/74/399/Add.3. The draft resolution is yet another countries against a nascent democracy that is facing classic example of double standards and the selective daunting challenges. and discriminatory application of human rights norms to a member country. It is purposefully crafted to exert The Government of Myanmar has been taking unwarranted political pressure on Myanmar. the necessary initiatives to address accountability issues. The Independent Commission of Enquiry has As I mentioned before in the Third Committee, taken approximately 1,500 witness statements from all the draft resolution grossly mischaracterizes the affected groups in Rakhine. The Commission has also complex issue of Rakhine state. The draft resolution interviewed military and police personnel who were clearly did not attempt in good faith to find a peaceful deployed or stationed in the affected areas during the feasible solution to the complex situation of Rakhine Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army terrorist attacks on state. It failed to recognize the real situation on the security posts in Rakhine in 2016 and 2017. ground and refused to take into account the efforts of the Government and the people of Myanmar aimed The Commission will finalize its report after at finding a comprehensive and lasting solution to collecting evidence from the alleged victims of abuse the multiple challenges inherited from previous from the camps in Cox’s Bazar. The Commission’s Administrations since independence. As it stands, the Evidence Collection and Verification Team is now draft resolution will sow seeds of mistrust and further ready to travel to Cox’s Bazar at any time. The polarize different communities in the region. It will be Bangladesh authorities’ facilitation and cooperation detrimental not only to the process of repatriation but are needed for the success of evidence collection, also to the fragile peace and harmony in Rakhine. It which is a crucial part of accountability measures. would also cause more alienation between the people of Furthermore, the Office of the Judge Advocate General Myanmar and the international community. has initiated a court martial proceeding to address allegations of human rights violation in Rakhine. It is I would like to underline one particular concern therefore critically important to refrain from any action of my delegation regarding the so-called Independent or statement that could undermine the integrity of Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar as set forth these ongoing domestic criminal-justice processes and in the draft resolution. As my delegation has made prevent them from running their course. our opposition to it very clear on several occasions, Myanmar does not recognize the Mechanism or its While striving to address the root causes of the predecessor body, the independent international fact- issues in Rakhine state, our urgent priority is to finding mission on Myanmar. In creating these two commence the repatriation of verified displaced people unprecedented mechanisms, the Human Rights Council from Bangladesh as soon as possible. The Government exceeded its mandate, with full political intent and in is undertaking the necessary preparations for conditions violation of human rights norms and established rules conducive to the safe, voluntary and dignified return of procedure. The Council has no mandate to form of displaced persons based on bilateral agreements such investigative mechanisms of a prosecutorial with Bangladesh. nature. The Council’s blatant breach of its mandate Just a few days ago, on 18 and 19 December, a high- and guiding principles for political purposes will set a level Myanmar delegation, together with the Association grave negative precedent in the United Nations system of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Emergency that the General Assembly should not justify. Response and Assessment Team, visited Cox’s Bazar The budget for the Mechanism for the year 2020 and met with displaced persons and provided them alone is over $15 million. The total financial allocation with detailed preparations concerning the repatriation for the two-year period will reach nearly $27 million. process. That was the second visit from the Myanmar The Organization’s scarce resources should have side this year to give information to displaced persons been utilized for more meaningful purposes, such as on the repatriation process. We shall continue bilateral

32/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 efforts with Bangladesh to solve the humanitarian issue to be committed. The draft resolution is part of broader in accordance with the signed agreements between the efforts to ensure justice and accountability. two countries. In that respect, we note with interest the recent At the same time, the Government is also working developments, including the application filed by the closely with the Office of the United Nations High Gambia at the International Court of Justice under the Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Development Programme and ASEAN to facilitate Crime of Genocide, the forthcoming investigation by the implementation of the bilateral agreements the International Criminal Court into facts that could with Bangladesh on repatriation, resettlement and qualify as crimes against humanity and the complaints development of returnees. While cooperating objectively under criminal law of genocide and crimes against with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, we humanity filed in Argentina under the principle of shall also maintain existing constructive engagements universal jurisdiction. with the United Nations, including the Security Council and the Offices of the Special Representatives of the It is a positive development that the draft resolution Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict welcomes the operationalization of the Independent and on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, which follows the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on I would like to take this opportunity to express my Myanmar and has a crucial role to play in helping fight Government’s deep appreciation to our friends in the the impunity of those responsible for the most serious region who have been helping us in every way possible in our efforts to address the humanitarian problems in international crimes and violations of international law, Rakhine State. in particular by collecting, consolidating, preserving and analysing evidence. We shall be relentless in our continued efforts to address distrust and fear, prejudice and hate, poverty The draft resolution is not against Myanmar. The and insecurity among the communities of Rakhine. We EU will continue to support the democratic transition in shall steadfastly uphold our commitment to a lasting the country and critically engage with the Government peace, the rule of law, human rights and sustainable of Myanmar with a view to improving the situation development for all citizens as we move forward to of human rights. The draft resolution recognizes build a democratic federal union. that the Government of Myanmar has taken some steps towards the solution of the crisis, including on Before concluding, my delegation wishes to express children’s rights and the closure of camps for internally its most sincere appreciation to those delegations displaced persons. standing firm on their principled positions and voting against, abstaining or not participating in the voting We note the establishment of the Independent on, this discriminatory draft resolution in the Third Commission of Inquiry in July 2018 and look forward Committee. Once again, I would like to call on all to receiving the Commission’s initial report, while also delegations to stand together with us today and oppose reiterating the need for independence, impartiality, the politicization of human rights by voting against transparency and objectivity in the Commission’s work. draft resolution IV. However, the draft resolution reminds us that much Mr. Terva (Finland): I have the honour to more must be done by the Government of Myanmar to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its create the conditions that will enable refugees and other member States. forcibly displaced persons to return to their places of The situation of human rights in Myanmar remains origin or a place of their choice voluntarily, in safety an issue of deep concern to the international community. and dignity, and that are conducive to their sustainable Draft resolution IV acknowledges that the gravest reintegration, as well as to tackle the root causes of the human rights violations have been perpetrated by the violations and abuses by putting an end to the structural security and armed forces against persons belonging discrimination against the Rohingya and other to minorities in Myanmar, including the Rohingya minorities and implementing all the recommendations community, and that the violations and abuses continue contained in the Annan report.

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The European Union, having introduced this draft In favour: resolution jointly with the Organization of Islamic Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua Cooperation, thanks the Member States that voted in and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, favour of the draft resolution in the Third Committee, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, in particular the members of the Group of African Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia States who have supported the draft resolution for the (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, first time this year. We call on all States Members to Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, vote in favour of the draft resolution. Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Mr. Alfayez (Saudi Arabia) (spoke in Arabic): The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes it is important to Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, reach a decisive solution to the tragedy of the Rohingya Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Muslims that acknowledges their rights to citizenship, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, return and a dignified life. Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Draft resolution IV calls on the Government Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, of Myanmar to show clear political will backed by Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, concrete measures to facilitate the dignified, voluntary, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, safe and sustainable return of the Rohingya Muslims, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, while ensuring their reintegration into society. It also Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, calls for effective measures to address the spread of Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, discrimination and the incitement of hatred against Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, the Rohingya Muslims and other minorities, as well Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, as for public condemnation of such activities and Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, efforts to address hate speech in full compliance with Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, international human rights law. Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, The draft resolution further seeks to enhance Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint interfaith dialogue, with the cooperation of the Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi international community, and encourages political Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, and religious leaders in Myanmar to work to achieve Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, reconciliation among local communities and entrench Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, national unity through dialogue. It also advocates Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United enhanced efforts to address discrimination against Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain people of religious and ethnic minorities, especially the and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Rohingya Muslims, as well as their lack of citizenship. Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yemen The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports all efforts Against: by the United Nations in that respect and encourages Belarus, Cambodia, China, Lao People’s Myanmar and neighbouring countries to continue their Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Philippines, engagement with the Special Envoy of the Secretary- Russian Federation, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe General to facilitate her mission and reach a swift Abstaining: and effective solution to this dire humanitarian crisis. Bhutan, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African My delegation will therefore vote in favour of draft Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, resolution IV and calls on other Member States to Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, India, Japan, Kenya, do likewise. Lesotho, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, The President: The Assembly will now take Nepal, Palau, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, action on draft resolution IV. A recorded vote has Serbia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor- been requested. Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), A recorded vote was taken. Zambia

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Draft resolution IV was adopted by 134 votes to 9, building measures. We need to make concrete efforts with 28 abstentions (resolution 74/246). to support the many Member States that have already started working on, or have undertaken, complex The President: May I take it that it is the wish of reforms of national cybercrime legislation. Good the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of progress is being made, including often in regional sub-item (c) of agenda item 70 and of agenda item 70 forums. Those that started internal reforms cannot as a whole? afford to wait several years for the completion of It was so decided. a United Nations treaty. That is why an exchange of best practices and legislation that effectively tackle Agenda item 107 (continued) cybercrime-related offences should be broadened. Countering the use of information and Finally, we see a significant risk of duplication. communications technologies for criminal purposes The process to establish a new international legal instrument on cybercrime would duplicate existing Report of the Third Committee (A/74/401) work and pre-empt the conclusions of the existing open- Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/610) ended intergovernmental Expert Group to Conduct a Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime and the responses The President: The Assembly has before it a draft to the study by Member States. The intergovernmental resolution recommended by the Third Committee Expert Group is, and should remain, the main process in paragraph 13 of its report. The report of the Fifth at the United Nations level on the topic of cybercrime, Committee on the programme budget implications of at least until the end of the work planned for the period the draft resolution is contained in document A/74/610. from 2018 to 2021. The text of the report, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/74/L.17, section B. As acknowledged by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in its consensus I shall now call on those representatives who wish resolution of May 2019, the intergovernmental Expert to speak in explanation of vote before the voting. Group has yielded results, including with regard to Mr. Terva (Finland): The European Union (EU) legislative reforms based on existing international strongly believes that launching the negotiation of a standards, in particular in terms of capacity-building. new international treaty on cybercrime without a broad We should refrain from duplicating existing work consensus would be highly divisive. Whereas consensus and pre-empting the work of the Expert Group. The exists on the need to step up our collective efforts to resolution adopted by the Commission on Crime build capacity to fight cybercrime, discussions in the Prevention and Criminal Justice in May (Economic and relevant forums have demonstrated that many Member Social Council resolution 2019/19) should be the basis States do not support the development of a new for further work. international instrument. Furthermore, those asking to For those reasons, the EU will vote against draft start negotiations on a new treaty do not necessarily resolution A/C.3/74/L.11/Rev.1 and calls on all Member seem to agree on the legal scope and nature of a new States to do the same. treaty on this topic. Ms. Norman-Chalet (United States of America): Launching negotiations in the absence of a Draft resolution A/C.3/74/L.11/Rev.1 will undermine consensus would create further polarization among international cooperation to combat cybercrime at States. In addition, in the case that the negotiations on a a time when enhanced coordination is essential. The new treaty should succeed, it would likely result in lower United States will vote against the draft resolution and standards given the difficulty in reaching international we urge other Member States to do the same. agreement on matters concerning cyberspace, thereby There is no consensus among Member States on the further increasing the digital and economic divide and need for or value of drafting a new treaty. It would serve preventing effective cooperation. only to stifle global efforts to combat cybercrime. The We would also like to underline that unnecessary existing open-ended intergovernmental Expert Group lengthy discussions on a new instrument would divert to Conduct a Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime is efforts from national legislative reforms and capacity- already tackling the question of whether we need a new

19-42319 35/58 A/74/PV.52 19/12/2019 treaty. Open to all Member States, the Expert Group await next year. Taking that into account, substantive will discuss the topic of international cooperation in the work on the convention will begin in 2021. Russia, spring of 2020. together with other countries, fully supports the group and is a sponsor thereof. We are not, of course, talking The draft resolution is also premature and about any duplication of platforms. prejudges the outcome of the existing work of the Expert Group. It will undermine the work of the Expert The draft resolution submitted presupposes that the Group before it completes its 2018-2021 workplan and era of club agreements must give way to a democratic offers its recommendations to Member States. It is negotiating process. We deem it fundamentally wrong to take a political decision on a new treaty before important that that process be open, inclusive and our cybercrime experts can give their advice. Instead transparent and would therefore like to ask all of adopting this very problematic draft resolution, delegations to vote in favour of the draft, as was the Member States should give the Expert Group time to case in the Third Committee. complete its work, conduct a stocktaking exercise in Mr. Liu Yang (China) (spoke in Chinese): Cybercrime 2021 and present its conclusions and recommendations is a global challenge facing all countries, and we should to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal increase international cooperation to address it. The Justice. In fact, on 5 November, the Third Committee United Nations is the most representative, universal endorsed such a process when it adopted by consensus and authoritative intergovernmental organization in a resolution on international cooperation against the world. China supports the holding of deliberations, cybercrime (A/C.3/74/L.5). under the auspices of the United Nations and with the For those reasons, we urge other Member States participation of all Member States, on a cybercrimes to join us in voting against the draft resolution and, convention. The convention will help to fill the legal instead, to empower the appropriate United Nations vacuum in the area of international community and will venue in Vienna to continue its expert and consensus- to meet the needs and concerns of all countries around based work on cybercrime issues. the world, in particular developing countries. Mr. Kuzmin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Today the plenary of the General Assembly will be Russian): We listened very carefully to our colleagues voting on the draft resolution entitled “Countering the from Finland, speaking on behalf of the European use of information and communications technologies Union, and from the United States of America. We for criminal purposes”. According to the draft, would like to provide some clarifications in that regard. within the framework of the General Assembly, an intergovernmental committee of experts would be Draft resolution A/C.3/74/L.11/Rev.1, submitted by established in order to deliberate on a convention on the the Third Committee, seeks to create, under the auspices subject. We should also take into full account existing of the General Assembly, a negotiating platform for international instruments and current efforts at the dialogue and to begin work on a convention. That national, regional and global levels. platform would be an ad hoc committee that would bring together experts from every country around China believes that the draft is in keeping with the world. In 2020, the committee would hold its the need to counter cybercrime and is also in the first organizational session in New York so that the broader interests of the international community. largest possible number of countries could participate. It will guarantee the inclusivity of the negotiating During that session, an outline and modalities for the process on such an international convention. The committee’s future activities would be agreed. The relevant negotiations will be modelled on regional and United Nations Convention against Corruption and international instruments and will take into account the United Nations Convention against Transnational the findings of such international mechanisms as the Organized Crime proceeded in a similar way in the past. expert group in Vienna and, on that basis, will enhance cooperation and coordination among countries. China I wish to emphasize that the draft resolution supports the draft resolution and hopes that other provides that the ad hoc committee should take countries will vote in its favour. into consideration the work and outcomes of the aforementioned Expert Group to Conduct a The President: We will now take a decision on the Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime, whose report we draft resolution.

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A recorded vote has been requested. Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Zambia A recorded vote was taken. The draft resolution was adopted by 79 votes to 60, In favour: with 33 abstentions (resolution 74/247). Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, [Subsequently, the delegation of Lesotho informed Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s favour.] Republic of Korea, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, India, The President: May I take it that it is the wish of Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, agenda item 107? Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, It was so decided. Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Mozambique, Agenda item 128 (continued) Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Investigation into the conditions and circumstances Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint resulting in the tragic death of Dag Hammarskjöld Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, and of the members of the party accompanying him Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Draft resolution (A/74/L.20) Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/611) Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, The President: The report of the Fifth Committee Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), on the programme budget implications of the draft Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe resolution is contained in document A/74/611. The Against: text of the report, for the time being, is contained in Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, document A/C.5/74/L.17, section C. Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, The Assembly will now take a decision on draft Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, resolution A/74/L.20, entitled “Investigation into the Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican conditions and circumstances resulting in the tragic Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, death of Dag Hammarskjöld and of the members of the Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, party accompanying him”. Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, I now give the floor to the representative of Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, the Secretariat. Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Mr. Nakano (Department for General Assembly Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, and Conference Management): I should like to announce Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, that since the submission of the draft resolution and in Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, addition to those delegations listed on the L document, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Ukraine, United the following countries have also become sponsors of Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, A/74/L.20: Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, United States of America Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Abstaining: Burundi, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chad, Chile, Colombia, the Congo, Cuba, Côte d’Ivoire, Barbados, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ecuador, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, the Gambia, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Georgia, Germany, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Palau, Papua Honduras, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Liberia, Libya, New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Malawi, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Mauritius, the

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Federated States of Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, document A/74/603, the adoption of a draft resolution Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, the Niger, Nigeria, adopted by the Committee without a vote. Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Regarding agenda item 134, “Programme budget for Philippines, Romania, Senegal, Singapore, Suriname, their biennium 2018-2019”, the Committee recommends Thailand, Togo, Ukraine, the United Republic of to the General Assembly, in paragraph 6 of its report Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam and Zambia. contained in document A/74/606, the adoption of a draft The President: May I take it that the Assembly resolution adopted by the Committee without a vote. decides to adopt draft resolution A/74/L.20? Regarding agenda item 136, “Programme planning”, the Committee considered two draft Draft resolution A/74/L.20 was adopted resolutions. The Committee first considered draft (resolution 74/248). resolution A/C.5/74/L.5, submitted by Belarus, The President: May I take it that the Assembly Burundi, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of wishes to conclude its consideration of item 128? Korea, Equatorial Guinea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, It was so decided. Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Syria and Arab Republic and the Bolivarian Republic Reports of the Fifth Committee of Venezuela, which was rejected by a recorded vote. The Committee then proceeded to take action on draft The President: The General Assembly will now resolution A/C.5/74/L.18, to which the representative consider the reports of the Fifth Committee on agenda of Qatar introduced an oral amendment, on which a items 132 to 136, 138, 140 to 142, 144 to 147, 156 recorded vote was requested and which the Committee and 163. voted to include. A recorded vote was requested on I request the Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee, the draft resolution as orally amended as a whole. Mr. Yaron Wax of Israel, to introduce in one intervention In paragraph 16 of its report contained in document the reports of the Fifth Committee before the Assembly. A/74/612, the Committee subsequently adopted the draft resolution as orally amended as a whole. In Mr. Wax (Israel), Rapporteur of the Fifth paragraph 18 of the same report, it recommends to the Committee: I have the honour to present the reports of General Assembly the adoption of the draft resolution. the Fifth Committee. Regarding agenda item 138, “Pattern of conferences”, The Fifth Committee met from 7 October to the Committee recommends to the General Assembly, 27 December 2019, holding 21 plenary meetings and in paragraph 6 of its report contained in document numerous informal consultations. The reports of A/74/602, the adoption of a draft resolution adopted by the Committee on the following items were already the Committee without a vote. considered by the General Assembly at its 14th and 29th plenary meetings, held, respectively, on 10 October Regarding agenda item 140, “Human resource and 8 November 2019: agenda item 139, “Scale of management”, the Committee recommends to the assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of General Assembly, in paragraph 6 of its report contained the United Nations”, specifically under Article 19 of in document A/74/615, the adoption of a draft resolution the Charter; and agenda item 115, “Appointments to fill adopted by the Committee without a vote. vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments”. Regarding agenda item 141, “Joint Inspection Unit”, I shall now present the additional reports of the the Committee recommends to the General Assembly, Fifth Committee containing recommendations on in paragraph 6 of its report contained in document issues that require action during the main part of the A/74/613, the adoption of a draft resolution adopted by seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly. the Committee without a vote. Regarding agenda item 132, “Financial reports and Regarding agenda item 142, “United Nations audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of common system”, the Committee recommends to Auditors”, the Committee recommends to the General the General Assembly, in paragraph 8 of its report Assembly, in paragraph 6 of its report contained in contained in document A/74/600, the adoption of two

38/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 draft resolutions adopted by the Committee without took action on draft resolution A/C.5/74/L.6, which was a vote. rejected by a recorded vote. Regarding agenda item 144, “Report on the The Committee then proceeded to consider five activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services”, draft resolutions as contained in document A/74/614. the Committee recommends to the General Assembly, The Committee first took action on draft resolution I, in paragraph 6 of its report contained in document “Questions related to the proposed programme budget A/74/604, the adoption of a draft resolution adopted by for 2020”. The representative of Finland introduced an the Committee without a vote. oral amendment to draft resolution I. A recorded vote on Regarding agenda item 145, “Review of the the amendment was requested, in which the Committee implementation of the General Assembly resolutions voted to include the oral amendment. In paragraph 48/218B, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263 and 69/253, the 18 of its report, the Committee subsequently adopted Committee recommends to the General Assembly, the draft resolution as orally amended as a whole. In in paragraph 5 of its report contained in document paragraph 60 of the same report, it recommends to the A/74/605, the adoption of a draft resolution adopted by General Assembly the adoption of the draft resolution. the Committee without a vote. With regard to draft resolution II, “Special subjects Regarding agenda item 146, “Administration related to the proposed programme budget for 2020”, of justice at the United Nations”, the Committee oral amendments were introduced as follows. On recommends to the General Assembly, in paragraph 6 of section XVIII, the representative of Cuba introduced its report contained in document A/74/433, the adoption an oral amendment. A recorded vote on the amendment of a draft resolution adopted by the Committee without was requested, in which the Committee voted not to a vote. include the oral amendment. On section XV, an oral amendment was introduced by the representative of Regarding agenda item 147, “Financing of the Israel followed by a recorded vote on the amendment, International Residual Mechanism for Criminal in which the Committee voted not to include the Tribunals”, the Committee recommends to the General proposed amendment. In paragraph 51 of its report, the Assembly, in paragraph 6 of its report contained in Committee subsequently adopted the draft resolution document A/74/601, the adoption of a draft resolution as a whole, without a vote. In paragraph 60 of the same adopted by the Committee without a vote. report, it recommends to the General Assembly the Regarding agenda item 156, “Financing of the adoption of the draft resolution. United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti”, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly, With regard to draft resolution III, “Proposed in paragraph 6 of its report contained in document programme budget for 2020”, in paragraph 55 of its A/74/608, the adoption of a draft resolution adopted by report, the Committee adopted the draft resolution as the Committee without a vote. technically updated containing the following sections: (a) the budget appropriations for the year 2020; (b) the Regarding agenda item 163, “Financing of the revised income estimates for the year 2020; and (c) the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in financing of the appropriations for the year 2020. Darfur”, the Committee recommends to the General Assembly, in paragraph 6 of its report contained in The Committee adopted draft resolutions IV, document A/74/607, the adoption of a draft resolution entitled “Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for adopted by the Committee without a vote. 2020” and V, entitled “Working Capital Fund for 2020”, without a vote. Regarding agenda 135, “Proposed programme budget for 2020”, the Committee considered the Finally, under agenda item 133, entitled “Review following proposals. The Committee recommended of the efficiency of the administrative and financial the adoption of three statements of programme budget functioning of the United Nations”, in paragraph 5 of its implications. The reports of the Fifth Committee on report contained in document A/74/616, the Committee these statements are issued in documents A/74/609, recommends to the General Assembly the draft decision A/74/610 and A/74/611. Under questions related to the entitled “Questions deferred for future consideration”, proposed programme budget for 2020, the Committee which was adopted by the Committee without a vote.

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I thank delegations for their cooperation and assure Before we begin to take action on the them that changes made during the 21st formal meeting recommendations contained in the reports of the Fifth of the Fifth Committee will be reflected in the draft Committee, I should like to advise representatives that resolutions, decisions and reports, which will be issued we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same in all official languages. manner as was done in the Fifth Committee, unless the Secretariat is notified otherwise in advance. That Before I conclude, I wish, on a personal note, to means that, where recorded votes were taken, we will thank the Chair of the Fifth Committee, Ambassador do the same. I also hope that we may proceed to adopt Andreas Mavroyiannis, and his team, Melina Savva without a vote those recommendations that were so and Panagiota Toumazou, for the dedicated way in adopted in the Fifth Committee. The results of the votes which they guided us through our difficult work, as will be uploaded to the PaperSmart portal. well as to my colleagues in the Bureau, Mohamed Fouad Ahmed of Egypt, Thiago Poggio Padua of Brazil Agenda item 132 and Giorgi Mikeladze, working with whom is always a truly gratifying experience. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors I would also like to give special thanks to the Fifth Committee Secretariat, led by Mr. Lionel Berridge, and Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/603) his team, Sarah Mueller, Geraldine Velandria, Wiryanto The President: The Assembly has before it a Sumitra, Luisa Lafleur, Ilene McGrade and Rogena draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee Inductivo, as well as to the interpreters, conference in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft officers — namely, Ivanka Sporysova, Andrew resolution, for the time being, is contained in document Kowalchuk and Tyler To — and sound engineers for A/C.5/74/L.11. their dedication, collaboration and hard work. We will now take action on the draft resolution. The President: I thank the Rapporteur of the Fifth The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I Committee for his report. take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Before proceeding further, I would like to emphasize The draft resolution was adopted (resolution that, as the Fifth Committee finished its work only a 74/249). short while ago, its reports are available in English only. It is my understanding that they will be issued in all The President: The Assembly has thus concluded official United Nations languages as soon as possible. I this stage of its consideration of agenda item 132. thank representatives for their understanding. Agenda item 134 The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Fifth Committee have been Programme budget for the biennium 2018-2019 made clear in the Committee and are reflected in (A/74/606) the relevant official records. Therefore, if there is no The President: The Assembly has before it a proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft discuss the reports of the Fifth Committee before the resolution, for the time being, is contained in document Assembly today. A/C.5/74/L.14. It was so decided. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft The President: May I remind members that in resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, a a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote do likewise? only once, that is, either in the Committee or in plenary The draft resolution was adopted (resolution meeting, unless that delegation’s vote in plenary 74/250). meeting is different from its vote in the Committee, and that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and The President: The Assembly has thus concluded should be made by delegations from their seats. this stage of its consideration of agenda item 134.

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Agenda item 136 (continued) (spoke in Russian) Programme planning (A/74/612) We call on delegations to vote in favour of our oral amendment. The President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee Mr. Ja’afari (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in in paragraph 18 of its report. The text of the draft Arabic): My delegation seconds the oral amendment resolution, for the time being, is contained in document just submitted by the representative of the Russian A/C.5/74/L.18, as orally in the Committee. Federation for the very relevant reasons he mentioned. I give the floor to those representatives who wish to The President: The representative of the Russian speak in explanation of vote before the voting. Federation has proposed an oral amendment to the draft resolution to delete paragraph 17 bis. In accordance (Russian Federation) (spoke in Mr. Chumakov with rule 90 of the rules of procedure, the Assembly Russian): I am taking the floor to introduce an oral will first take a position on the amendment proposed by amendment to the draft resolution, which is to exclude the representative of the Russian Federation. from programme VI, “Legal issues”, from the proposed programme budget for 2020. We propose to exclude all In the absence of a request for a recorded vote, such references and descriptions. Our oral amendment may I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt the will read as follows in English: oral amendment proposed by the representative of the Russian Federation? (spoke in English) I give the floor to the representative of Switzerland “Decides to delete paragraph 17 bis”. on a point of order. (spoke in Russian) Mr. Maurer (Switzerland): I am taking the floor There are several reasons for this proposal. The on behalf of Liechtenstein and my own country, creation and subsequent inclusion in the draft regular Switzerland. We wish to call for a vote on the budget for 2020 of the International, Impartial and proposal just introduced by the representative of the Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation Russian Federation and seconded by the Permanent and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Representative of Syria. The reasons have been Serious Crimes under International Law Committed explained already several times already during the day in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 were in the Third Committee. I would just like to point out accompanied by blatant violations of international law, once again that the General Assembly has repeatedly including the Charter of the United Nations, the rules of and by a wide margin affirmed its intention to finance procedure of the General Assembly on financial matters, the so-called International, Impartial and Independent and the provisions and rules approved by the General Mechanism for Syria through the regular United Nations Assembly governing budget programme planning. It budget, first at the time of its establishment and then by is clear that the reason for including the Mechanism tasking the Secretary-General to include the necessary is not a lack of financing but rather an attempt by funding in his 2020 budget proposal welcoming every the Secretary-General, who has been involved by a step on the way. We will vote against the proposal of the group of States in a political gamble, to legitimize an Russian Federation. illegitimate mechanism that does not have the right A recorded vote has been requested. to exist. The Russian Federation considers resolution 71/248 to be invalid, does not recognize the Mechanism A recorded vote was taken. and will take this into account in its plans on its In favour: financial obligations. Belarus, Burundi, China, Cuba, Democratic Let me reiterate the language of our oral amendment: People’s Republic of Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, (spoke in English) Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Russian “Decides to delete paragraph 17 bis”. Federation, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab

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Republic, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), A recorded vote was taken. Zimbabwe In favour: Against: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Kitts and Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yemen Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Abstaining: Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahrain, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, (Plurinational State of), Brunei Darussalam, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, El Salvador, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Lesotho, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Rwanda, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Zambia Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Viet The oral amendment was rejected by 18 votes to 92, Nam, Yemen with 48 abstentions. Against: [Subsequently, the delegation of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, Syrian Arab Republic informed the Secretariat that it had intended not to participate.] Abstentions: Gabon, Lesotho, Mauritania, Zambia The President: We will now take action on draft resolution A/C.5/74/L.18, as a whole. Draft resolution A/C.5/74/L.18 was adopted by 148 A recorded vote has been requested. votes to 2, with 4 abstentions (resolution 74/251).

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The President: I shall now give the floor to those Agenda item 141 representatives wishing to speak in explanation of vote Joint Inspection Unit on the resolution just adopted. Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/613) Mr. Zaw (Myanmar): My delegation clearly The President: The Assembly has before it a expressed its position on the so-called Independent draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar. Myanmar does in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft not recognize the Mechanism and will not cooperate with resolution, for the time being, is contained in document it. Therefore, for the record, my delegation dissociates A/C.5/74/L.19. itself from the General Assembly’s decision to approve We will now take a decision on the draft resolution, the programme plan for the Independent Investigative entitled “Enhancing accessibility for persons with Mechanism for Myanmar under programme 6 of disabilities to conferences and meetings of the United resolution 74/251, entitled “Programme Planning”. Nations system”. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Mr. Chumakov (Russian Federation) (spoke in to do likewise? Russian): I would like to reiterate that we consider resolution 71/248 invalid and that we do not recognize The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/253). the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism The President: The Assembly has thus concluded to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of this stage of its consideration of agenda item 141. Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Agenda item 140 Republic since March 2011. We therefore dissociate Human resources management ourselves from the decision on resolution 74/251 as it Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/615) relates to the Mechanism; we will take this into account in our plans concerning our financial obligations. The President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee The President: The Assembly has thus concluded in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft its consideration of agenda item 136. resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/74/L.21. Agenda item 138 We will now take action on the draft resolution Pattern of conferences entitled “Seconded active-duty military and police personnel”. The Fifth Committee adopted it without Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/602) a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? The President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/254). in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft The President: The Assembly has thus concluded resolution, for the time being, is contained in document this stage of its consideration of agenda item 140. A/C.5/74/L.10. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. Agenda item 142 The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I United Nations common system take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/600)

The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/252). The President: The Assembly has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the Fifth Committee The President: The Assembly has thus concluded in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision this stage of its consideration of agenda item 138. on draft resolutions I and II, one by one.

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Draft resolution I is entitled “United Nations Agenda item 145 common system”, the text of which, for the time being, Review of the implementation of General is contained in document A/C.5/74/L.3. We will now Assembly resolutions 48/218 B, 54/244, 59/272, take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth 64/263 and 69/253 Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/605) the Assembly wishes to do the same? The President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 74/255 A). in paragraph 5 of its report. The text of the draft resolution, for the time being, is contained in document The President: We now turn to draft resolution II, A/C.5/74/L.13. also entitled “United Nations common system”, the text of which, for the time being, is contained in document We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I A/C.5/74/L.4. We will now take a decision on the draft take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? resolution. The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/257). the same? The President: The Assembly has thus concluded Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 74/255 B). this stage of its consideration of agenda item 145.

The President: The General Assembly has thus Agenda item 146 concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda Administration of justice at the United Nations item 142. Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/433) Agenda items 133 and 144 The President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee Review of the efficiency of the administrative and in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft financial functioning of the United Nations resolution, for the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/74/L.9. Report on the activities of the Office of Internal We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. Oversight Services The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/604) take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The President: The Assembly has before it a The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/258). draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee The President: The General Assembly has thus in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda resolution, for the time being, is contained in document item 146. A/C.5/74/L.12. Agenda item 147 We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. Financing of the International Residual Mechanism The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I for Criminal Tribunals take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/601) The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/256). The President: The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee The President: The General Assembly has thus in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda resolution, for the time being, is contained in document items 133 and 144. A/C.5/74/L.8.

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We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. Agenda item 135 The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I Proposed programme budget for 2020 take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/614) The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/259). The President: The report of the Fifth Committee, The President: The Assembly has thus concluded for the time being, is contained in document this stage of its consideration of agenda item 147. A/C.5/74/L.26. The Assembly has before it five draft resolutions recommended by the Fifth Committee in paragraph 60 of its report. Agenda item 156 I now give the floor to the representative of the Financing of the United Nations Mission for Justice Russian Federation to introduce a draft oral amendment Support in Haiti to draft resolution I. Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/608) Mr. Chumakov (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We are submitting an oral amendment : The Assembly has before it a The President to remove from the proposed budget all references draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee to and narrative descriptions of the International, in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the resolution, for the time being, is contained in document Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible A/C.5/74/L.16. for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. 2011, in particular with regard to the report of the The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I Fifth Committee A/74/614, which contains document take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? A/C.5/74/L.20. Our oral amendment to draft resolution I, on questions relating to the proposed programme The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/260). budget for 2020, is as follows: The President: The Assembly has thus concluded (spoke in English) this stage of its consideration of agenda item 156. To delete paragraphs 44 bis and 44 ter.

Agenda item 163 (spoke in Russian) There are several reasons for that decision. First, Financing of the African Union-United Nations resolution 71/248 was developed behind closed doors Hybrid Operation in Darfur and submitted to the General Assembly without the Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/607) consent of the Syrian Arab Republic. Next, criminal investigations are not part of the functions of the General The President: The Assembly has before it a Assembly. Therefore, having decided, following a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee vote, to establish a mechanism to collect evidence of in paragraph 6 of its report. The text of the draft criminal acts and to decide on issues of fact regarding resolution, for the time being, is contained in document the criminal responsibility of specific individuals, the General Assembly thereby overstepped its mandate and A/C.5/74/L.15. violated Articles 10, 11, 12 and 22 of the Charter of the We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. United Nations. The establishment of the Mechanism The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I without the clearly expressed consent of the Syrian Arab Republic or a Security Council resolution adopted under take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter is a gross The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 74/261). violation of the principles of the sovereign equality of all Members of the Organization and non-interference The President: The Assembly has thus concluded in their internal affairs, as enshrined in Article 2 of the this stage of its consideration of agenda item 163. Charter.

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Taking such factors into account, resolution concept. Resources related to the Special Adviser to 71/248 is, and will remain, invalid. Everything that the Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect the Mechanism itself and the Secretariat have been seem to have been combined with those requested for doing since the adoption of that resolution is therefore the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the contrary to the Charter and international law. Prevention of Genocide, whose functions have the full support of our delegation, in line with the consistent The Secretary-General continues to complain about principled position of the Cuban Government against the financial difficulties faced by the United Nations. genocide. At the same time, he has proposed moving the so-called Mechanism to the United Nations regular budget even The amendments we propose do not seek to though its financial situation is to be envied. Its surplus undermine either the functions or the resources of was more than $4 million as at the end of November. In the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. particular, the Secretary-General proposed placing on The delegation of Cuba therefore firmly believes that all Member States an additional burden of $17.8 million the budgetary estimates and the associated narrative despite the fact that consensus-based mandates continue presented for the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to face shortfalls and cannot be fully implemented. to Protect should be deleted and should be considered only once the General Assembly has decided on the If Member States are forced to finance structures concept, its implementation, the scope of its application that are clearly confrontational in nature, the current and other related matters. delays in the payment of assessed contributions will significantly increase and become lengthy arrears. That I would therefore like to reiterate Cuba’s request will have a negative impact in particular on technical to introduce amendments to section XVIII of draft and humanitarian assistance to developing countries. resolution II, contained in document A/C.5/74/L.22, currently being considered by the General Assembly, The Russian Federation does not recognize the incorporated in the following preambular and operative Mechanism and will take that into consideration paragraphs, which I will now read out. in fulfilling its financial obligations. We call on representatives to vote in favour of our oral amendment (spoke in English) to delete paragraphs 44 bis and 44 ter of draft resolution The first preambular paragraph should read as I, contained in document A/C.5/74/L.20. follows: The President: I now give the floor to the “Recalling that the General Assembly has representative of Cuba to introduce a draft oral not decided on the concept of responsibility to amendment to draft resolution II. protect, its scope, implications and possible ways Mrs. De Armas Bonchang (Cuba) (spoke in of implementation”. Spanish): My delegation wishes to discuss agenda item The second preambular paragraph should read as 135, in particular draft resolution II, on special subjects follows: relating to the proposed programme budget for 2020, as contained in document A/C.5/74/L.22, and specifically “Noting that the estimates of thematic cluster section XVIII, entitled “Estimates in respect of special 1 comprise narratives, functions, strategy and political missions, good offices and other political external factors, results, performance measures, initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or deliverables and other information related to the the Security Council”. Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect”. As we have pointed out for more than 10 years, there Operative paragraph 1 should read as follows: is no legal basis for carrying out activities related to the responsibility to protect, since there is no negotiated “Decides to delete all references to the intergovernmental agreement among Member States narratives, functions, strategy and external factors, regarding the definition of that concept. During that results, performance measures, deliverables and more-than-10-year period, the Secretariat has not been other information related to the Special Adviser able to put forward a legislative mandate from Member to the Secretary-General on the Responsibility to States to make progress in the implementation of the Protect as contained in the strategic framework and

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the related narratives of the Office of the Special Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), which replaced Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention UNSCOM, both pertaining to Iraq. These two entities of Genocide (see A/74/6 (Sect. 3)/Add.2)”. played a misguided role in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. After the invasion of that country, both Operative paragraph 2 should read as follows: Commissions finally acknowledged that Iraq did not “Requests the Secretary-General to issue a have weapons of mass destruction. When the truth was corrigendum to his report (A/74/6 (Sect. 3)/Add.2)”. revealed, the United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell was then obligated to apologize for his dramatic (spoke in Spanish) appearance before the Security Council in which he In conclusion, we ask representatives to consider had alleged that Iraq did possess weapons of mass the amendments that we have just introduced and to destruction (see S/PV.4701). vote in favour of them. The UNSCOM/UNMOVIC scandal is but one in a The President: I shall now give the floor to United Nations history replete with ethics scandals that delegations that wish to explain their vote or position are used to justify powerful States’ interference in the before we take action on the proposals before us. general affairs of other sovereign States. Indeed, the situation involving UNSCOM and UNMOVIC in Iraq Mr. Ja’afari (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in was more than enough to justify an armed aggression Arabic): My delegation supports the oral amendment to against and military invasion of Iraq by the United draft resolution I proposed by the representative of the States and the United Kingdom. Russian Federation. I would like to make the following remarks by way of explanation of our support for that With regard to my country, Syria, six oral amendment. mechanisms — not just two — have been set up to investigate us, all of which have failed despite the First, any entry into discussion of the so-called allocation by the United Nations of billions of dollars to International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism fabricate allegations against my country so as to justify to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of the interference of powerful States in our internal Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under affairs. Six mechanisms were established, and some International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Member States still support them. Republic since March 2011 (IIIM) can in no way be interpreted as the Syrian Arab Republic recognizing I call upon colleagues to carefully read Articles the legitimacy of the Mechanism’s existence, nor should 10, 11, 12 and 22 of the Charter, which explicitly set it be interpreted as a recognition of the legitimacy of forth the mandates of the General Assembly. These any of its functions, activities, actions or prerogatives. mandates in no way authorize the Assembly to mandate The IIIM is an illegal and illegitimate organ that was the establishment of such judicial, investigative or dead on arrival and will remain so. Having nothing at other similar entities as the IIIM. Such a mandate is all to do with the Syrian Arab Republic, it matters only the exclusive domain of the Security Council. I repeat, to the Governments that, in violation of the Charter of in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, the United Nations, established it in 2016 and funded the formation of a mechanism such as the IIIM is it ever since. These same Member States today seek to the prerogative of the Security Council and not the involve the rest of the membership of the Organization General Assembly. in their attempts to have the IIIM financed through the I further call on my colleagues once again to regular budget of the United Nations. carefully review documents A/74/518, A/74/108, The establishment of the IIIM was preceded by A/73/562, A/72/106 and A/71/799, which are some other mechanisms affiliated with the United Nations of the letters addressed by the Permanent Mission of that were implicated in scandals that no one can the Syrian Arab Republic to the Secretary-General forget. Let me cite just one example. We all remember and the President of the General Assembly pertaining the scandal surrounding the United Nations Special to the IIIM. These documents argue that the General Commission (UNSCOM), which was established Assembly does not have the legal mandate to establish pursuant to Security Council resolution 687 (1991), such an organ. These documents also lay out the grave and the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and legal violations that marred the adoption of resolution

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71/248, the sinister resolution that established the Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the IIIM. I will refrain from saying more. However, the Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible aforementioned documents explain in detail the reasons for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law for which we sought to highlight the violations that Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March accompanied the adoption of the resolution. 2011 during the discussion in the Fifth Committee — that I would further like to stress that there was no the Mechanism is actually something that moves. It is consultation or coordination with the Government of not a court that listens, but rather something that moves. the country concerned. Syria did not request help from In what direction? It moves in the direction that it goes. the United Nations in the form of establishing such a And why? Because it is a mechanism. mechanism. We already have national legislation that That is our position. In addition, in our view, the can help us to address this issue. Moreover, as just Mechanism resulted from the General Assembly acting mentioned, the General Assembly exceeded its powers beyond the mandate conferred to it by the Charter of and encroached upon the functions of the Security the United Nations, as the Security Council is the sole Council in establishing the IIIM. organ that has a mandate to create a body of this type. The logical question that presents itself in this Moreover, its creation was an unfriendly action that context entails very real and very dangerous legal violates the sovereignty of the people of Syria. The implications: does the Secretary-General or any Member General Assembly acted without previously consulting State reasonably expect the Syrian Arab Republic to with the Syrian Arab Republic when it adopted accept evidence that is collected beyond its national resolution 71/248 against its will, in contravention of borders — thousands of miles away from Syria — by law, the principle of sovereignty and equality of all an organ established without the approval of the State members and non-intervention in the internal affairs concerned, without consulting the State and without of States, in accordance with Article 2 of the United the minimum level of safeguards for what is known in Nations Charter. criminal law as the evidentiary chain of custody? Accordingly, we support the proposal made by the Today, as the Council is aware, there are media Russian Federation. Nicaragua believes that a solution reports on the recently circulated WikiLeaks Release to the Syrian conflict should be achieved through Part 4, which provides scandalous details on the dialogue and negotiation to reach a political agreement investigation of the alleged use of chemical weapons that reflects the will of the people and the Government of in the town of Douma, in the outskirts of Damascus. Syria, with the support of the international community Release Part 4 shows that the Director-General of the and without foreign intervention. Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) requested that Professor Ian Henderson’s Allow me also to refer to the principle of the important conclusions, which alleged that the OPCW responsibility to protect. The delegation of Nicaragua Director-General had colluded with others to set aside wishes to express its full support for the draft findings by scientists from a committee that had visited amendments introduced by the Cuban delegation Douma and which exonerated the Government of Syria to draft resolution A/C.5/74/L.22 on estimates in of any wrong-doing in this regard, be excluded. respect of special political missions, good offices and The President: The representative of Syria’s 10 other political initiatives authorized by the General minutes have elapsed. He was entitled to 10 minutes. Assembly and/or the Security Council, under thematic cluster I, “Special and Personal Envoys, Advisers and Mr. Ja’afari (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in Representatives of the Secretary-General”. Arabic): I still have less than a minute. We reiterate Nicaragua’s firm principled position The President: The representative of Syria has that we do not agree with the allocation of resources for spoken for more than 10 minutes. I would inform him the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect. that he may take the floor again at some other stage. The responsibility to protect is a topic on which there is Mr. Madriz Fornos (Nicaragua) (spoke in no consensus on the scope, definition and implications. Spanish): The delegation of Nicaragua reiterates the It continues to trigger serious doubts due to its potential position it expressed on the issue of the International, political uses and ends. That is why we support the

48/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 draft amendment introduced by the Cuban delegation I have the honour to speak on behalf of the States and call on all Member States to vote in favour. members of the European Union. The candidate countries Turkey, the Republic of North Macedonia, Mr. Tozik (Belarus) (spoke in Russian): We support Montenegro and Albania, the country of the Stabilization the oral amendments just proposed by the delegation of and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia Cuba and Russia. and Herzegovina, the European Free Trade Association First of all, we note that the Republic of Belarus country Liechtenstein, and Ukraine and Georgia align understands that the decision to create the International, themselves with this statement. Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the The mandate of the International, Impartial and Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March Serious Crimes under International Law Committed 2011 runs counter to the existing prerogatives of the in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 was Security Council. We believe that the establishment of approved by the General Assembly through the international platforms for the criminal investigation adoption of resolution 71/248. Subsequently, through of Syria’s crimes falls within the mandate of the main the adoption of paragraph 35 of resolution 72/191, the United Nations organ with primary responsibility for General Assembly called upon the Secretary-General to the maintenance of international peace and security, include the necessary funding for the Mechanism in his namely, the Security Council. Resolution 71/248, budget proposal for 2020. However, the adoption of the which created the Mechanism, was adopted by the oral amendment as proposed by the Russian Federation General Assembly without consensus and under would lead to the absence of any funding for the conditions where there was substantial disagreement Mechanism, which is in direct violation of the decisions between the parties. We will therefore not support the taken by the General Assembly, as just outlined. adoption of a decision on the programme budget that We believe that the mandates and decisions includes financing the Mechanism. We also believe adopted by a primary organ of the Organization must that allocating financing for those purposes, based on be respected and executed. For this reason, we ask for a the information that has been circulated about the dire vote on the oral amendment. Finland will vote against financial situation of the Organization and the proposed it and calls on others to do the same. austerity measures, is counterproductive. Mr. Tavoli (Islamic Republic of Iran): In brief, I Secondly, the Republic of Belarus supports the would like to reiterate what my delegation raised during oral amendment submitted by the delegation of Cuba the meeting on this topic in the Fifth Committee. We because we are convinced that the concept of the support the oral proposals made by the delegations of responsibility to protect does not enjoy universal Russia and Cuba. My delegation will vote in favour of support, was adopted without consensus and is these proposals and calls on others to do the same. contradictory in nature. The practical realization of Mr. Kim Nam Hyok (Democratic People’s the concept of responsibility to protect is also unclear, Republic of Korea): My delegation would like to support given the lack of legal foundation for its functioning. the amendment proposed by the Russian Federation There are also concerns about the concept’s being used with regard to draft resolution A/C.5/74/L.20. The for political purposes. We therefore cannot support the establishment of the International, Impartial and programme budget as it pertains to the responsibility to Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation protect, and we support the oral amendment proposed and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most by the delegation of Cuba. Serious Crimes under International Law Committed Mr. Terva (Finland): We would like to request in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 is a a vote on the two oral amendments before us, which typical example of politicization, double standards and were proposed by the Russian Federation and Cuba, selectivity in connection with a human rights issue. respectively. I would also like to make the following What cannot be overlooked is that the Mechanism, remarks with regard to the oral amendment proposed which advocates independence and impartiality, is by the Russian Federation. nevertheless engaged in interference in the internal

19-42319 49/58 A/74/PV.52 19/12/2019 affairs of Syria while anchoring its activities on the A recorded vote was taken. fabricated information and forced testimony against In favour: the Syrian Arab Republic offered by some countries. Belarus, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Nothing can justify allowing this illegal Mechanism to carry out its activities under the United Nations Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Equatorial umbrella or sponsoring and financing the Mechanism Guinea, Eritrea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), from the Organization’s regular budget. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab My delegation also supports the oral amendments Republic, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), proposed by Cuba with regard to draft resolution Zimbabwe A/C.5/74/L.22. As we have reiterated several times, the concept of responsibility to protect has not yet been Against: consensually agreed upon by all Member States. The Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, responsibility to protect is a variant of the humanitarian- Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia intervention concept that was rejected in the past by the and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, international community. It is unacceptable to discuss Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, the so-called budget issue relating to the Special Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect or to combine Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, its budget with that of the Special Adviser on the France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Prevention of Genocide. My delegation will therefore Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, vote in favour of the amendments proposed by the Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Russian Federation and by Cuba. Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mr. Simcock (United States of America): I will Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, be very brief. Those familiar with the International, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, San 2011 know the critical nature of the work that it Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, performs, and they know that it enjoys majority support Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, from the General Assembly. The Russian amendment Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United now under consideration seeks to undermine that work. Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, We call on all delegations who support the Mechanism United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and accountability efforts in Syria to vote against Yemen this amendment. Abstaining: : We will now take a decision The President Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahrain, on draft resolutions I to V and the oral amendments Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia thereto, one by one. (Plurinational State of), Brunei Darussalam, Draft resolution I is entitled “Questions relating Cambodia, Central African Republic, Côte to the proposed programme budget for 2020”, the text d’Ivoire, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gabon, of which, for the time being, is contained in document Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iraq, A/C.5/74/L.20, as orally amended in the Committee. Japan, Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, The representative of the Russian Federation Lesotho, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, has proposed an oral amendment to draft resolution Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, I to delete operative paragraphs 44 bis and 44 ter. In Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Rwanda, accordance with rule 90 of the rules of procedure, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, the Assembly shall first take a decision on the draft Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri amendment proposed by the representative of the Lanka, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Russian Federation. A recorded vote has been requested. United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia

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The oral amendment to document A/C.5/74/L.20 Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain was rejected by 19 votes to 86, with 54 abstentions. and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu [Subsequently, the delegation of Jamaica informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote against.] Abstaining: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, The President: The Fifth Committee adopted Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brunei draft resolution I without a vote. May I take it that the Darussalam, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Assembly wishes to do likewise? Chad, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominican Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 74/262). Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao The President: Draft resolution II is entitled People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, “Special subjects relating to the proposed programme Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, budget for 2020”, the text of which, for the time being, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, is contained in document A/C.5/74/L.22. Paraguay, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, The representative of Cuba has submitted an oral Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, amendment to section XVIII of draft resolution II. In Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, accordance with rule 90 of the rules of procedure, the Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Assembly will now take a decision on the amendment Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia submitted by the representative of Cuba. A recorded vote has been requested. The oral amendment to draft resolution II was rejected by 18 votes to 84, with 55 abstentions. A recorded vote was taken. [Subsequently, the delegation of Jamaica informed In favour: the Secretariat that it had intended to abstain.] Belarus, Belize, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, The President: The Fifth Committee adopted Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran (Islamic Republic draft resolution II without a vote. May I take it that the of), Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent Assembly wishes to do likewise? and the Grenadines, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zimbabwe Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 74/263). Against: The President: Draft resolution III is entitled Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, “Programme budget for 2020”, the text of which, for the Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, time being, is contained in document A/C.5/74/L.23, as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, technically updated in the Fifth Committee. The Fifth Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, the Assembly wishes to do likewise? Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 74/264). Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, The President: Draft resolution IV is entitled Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, “Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for 2020”, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, the text of which, for the time being, is contained in Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, document A/C.5/74/L.24. The Fifth Committee adopted Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, to do likewise? Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 74/265). Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, The President: Draft resolution V is entitled Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, “Working Capital Fund for 2020”, the text of which, for Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Togo, the time being, is contained in document A/C.5/74/L.25.

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The Fifth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I system, all of which, furthermore, is in line with the take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise? provisions of Human Rights Council resolution 42/4. In conclusion, in reaffirming its firm commitment Draft resolution V was adopted (resolution 74/266). to the full enjoyment of human rights at the national and The President: I give the floor to the representative international levels and its unwavering political will of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in explanation to cooperate with the various United Nations human of vote after the voting. rights mechanisms, particularly during the 2020-2022 triennium when it will serve as a member of the Human Mr. Poveda Brito (Bolivarian Republic of Rights Council, thanks to the trust placed in us by the Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish): As a responsible General Assembly, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela member of the international community, the Bolivarian reiterates its call to take a constructive approach to this Republic of Venezuela decided to join the consensus issue based on fair and equitable dialogue, objectivity, that enabled the recent adoption of resolution 74/263, impartiality, non-selectivity and transparency and with entitled “Special subjects relating to the proposed respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the programme budget for 2020”. However, that in no way principles of self-determination and non-interference implies tacit acknowledgement of the whole series of in the internal affairs of States. considerations included in the report of the Secretary- General on the revised estimates resulting from Mrs. Azucena (Philippines): I wish to take the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights floor on agenda item 135, “Proposed programme Council at its fortieth, forty-first and forty-second budget for 2020”, in particular on the revised estimates sessions (A/74/529), and in which budgetary issues resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the linked to Council resolution 42/25 with regard to the Human Rights Council (HRC) at its fortieth, forty-first so-called situation of human rights in the Bolivarian and forty-second sessions, as set forth in the report of Republic of Venezuela and the alleged establishment of the Secretary-General (A/74/529). a costly fact-finding mission are addressed. As a founding and current member of the Human Accordingly, our delegation has the duty to request Rights Council, the Philippines joins consensus on the that its decision to dissociate itself from any reference decision to adopt resolution 74/263, entitled “Special to Human Rights Council resolution 42/25 and the subjects relating to the proposed programme budget resources required for its purported implementation be for 2020”, which allocates overall resources for the placed on the record, not only because of its principled revised estimates relating to the aforementioned HRC position of rejecting the selective adoption of resolutions resolutions and decisions. Our delegation takes this on human rights situations in specific countries, but opportunity to reiterate our country’s position that, in also because this particular resolution violates the view of the financial crisis at the United Nations, the central pillars of multilateralism, which led to its broad Assembly needs to exercise judiciousness and prudence rejection by our people and our Government, including in deploying resources to ensure that such endeavours before its adoption, as it promotes the politicization of are sensible and have the highest potential to make a human rights and Human Rights Council mechanisms. positive impact on the ground. Cooperation and genuine dialogue are the most To that end, the Philippines actively engaged appropriate and essential ways of ensuring the effective in frank and open discussions with the Office of the promotion and protection of human rights, as indicated United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in resolution 60/251, which led to the establishment of (OHCHR) on HRC resolution 41/2, entitled “Promotion the Human Rights Council. That is why our country is and protection of human rights in the Philippines”, with working in coordination with the Office of the United a view to generating a clear understanding of whether Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the the requested resources would represent a judicious use framework of the memorandum of understanding signed of the very limited resources the United Nations has at in September to strengthen cooperation and technical its disposal. We deeply regret that OHCHR has been assistance in the field of human rights so as to jointly unable to provide a satisfactory justification for the and constructively address the challenges we face today establishment of the two proposed general temporary and thereby to further strengthen our social protection positions in relation to HRC resolution 41/2, given

52/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 that the Office has existing capacity, both in Geneva actions on the regular budget for 2020, we would like and Bangkok. My delegation takes this opportunity to to dissociate ourselves from the decision to finance the remind the Assembly that HRC resolution 41/2 was not International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism universally adopted, having been supported by only 18 to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of of the 47 members of the Council. It does not reflect Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under the will of the Council; its validity is therefore highly International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab questionable. For this reason, the Philippines rejects Republic since March 2011 and from any reference to the resolution. the Mechanism. We do not recognize the Mechanism in Syria and will take that into account when we fulfil our In that context, my delegation is of the firm view financial obligations. that the decision to allocate resources to implement the resolution is misguided and irresponsible and would Mr. Ja’afari (Syria) (spoke in Arabic): We too serve only to allow a few members to use the Council dissociate ourselves from the content of resolution to advance their political agendas. Accordingly, the 74/262, on questions relating to the proposed Philippines dissociates itself from the paragraphs programme budget for 2020, in relation to the so-called in resolution 74/263 relevant to the promotion and International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism protection of human rights in the Philippines. to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes Mr. Zaw (Myanmar): My delegation supported under International Law Committed in the Syrian the package of appropriations for all the different Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM). We deplore budget sections and special subjects related to the the unbalanced approach of some Member States, in programme budget for 2020. However, we would like particular some permanent members of the Security to put on record that Myanmar dissociates itself from Council, to this issue, using political and financial the General Assembly decision to appropriate any polarization as a basis for financing the Mechanism resources to the Independent Investigative Mechanism through the regular budget of the United Nations. for Myanmar under section 8 of the resolution entitled “Questions relating to the programme budget for 2020” The representative of Finland spoke today on (resolution 74/262) and for the full implementation behalf of the European Union and claimed that the of Human Rights Council resolutions 40/29 and 42/3 issue is not a politicized one but purely technical. He under section XV of the resolution entitled “Special stated that it is merely related to the role of the Fifth subjects relating to the programme budget for 2020” Committee in adopting the programme budget at the (resolution 74/263). United Nations every year. I would ask him, before all present, when does the European Union intend to recall Mr. Tavoli (Islamic Republic of Iran): Again, its angels, the European terrorist fighters who wreaked very briefly, as my delegation stated in the Fifth havoc and destruction in my country Syria and in Committee, we believe that both the establishment and Iraq along with Da’esh? Or does the European Union financing of the so-called International, Impartial and believe that recalling its brutal semi-human waste is Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation a purely technical issue and has nothing to do with and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most legal accountability? Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM) are I say to my Finnish colleague that today we are in violation of the Charter of the United Nations, as are no longer living in utopia, the ideal world, which he is trying to convince us that we are living in. I wish to tell the budgetary appropriations for the implementation of him that he has to remember well that those who stood Security Council resolution 2231 (2015). Because this behind the establishment of the so-called IIIM are the is not a technical issue, my delegation would like to Governments of Member States that have supported disassociate itself from the recognition of the approved and financed organizations in Syria, designated by budget for the implementation of Security Council the Security Council as terrorist organizations. I resolution 2231 (2015) and from the approved budget refer specifically to statements made by the former for the IIIM. Prime Minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim, in an Mr. Chumakov (Russian Federation) (spoke in interview with State television in Qatar, in which he Russian): With regard to the General Assembly’s stated explicitly that his country did not recognize the

19-42319 53/58 A/74/PV.52 19/12/2019 designation by the United Nations of Jabhat Al-Nusra as some Governments refuse to deal with it as a Syrian- as a terrorist entity. He also stated that Qatar and other owned and Syrian-led process, free of any negative Governments, including those of Saudi Arabia, Turkey external interference. That poses a real challenge for and other Gulf countries, spent more than $137 billion, the United Nations and the Secretary-General himself upon instructions from the United States, to topple in terms of maintaining the credibility and impartiality the legitimate Government of Syria. Those are not my of the process and keeping the Secretariat away from words; they are the words of the former Prime Minister such political and financial pressure, as well as the of Qatar. I note also that to date, Qatar and Turkey have polarization practices adopted by some Governments been the main financers and supporters of the terrorist of Member States in promoting the so-called IIIM Jabhat Al-Nusra in Syria. under the pretext of achieving so-called transitional justice in Syria. I would recall that the representative of the United States revealed a while ago, during meetings of the My country, notwithstanding the terrorist war Fifth Committee, the true intentions of her country and against us, takes pride in the fact that we have very of those standing with it pertaining to the Mechanism. strong and well-established national and judicial She said: “Financing the IIIM from the regular budget organs and institutions, as well as the genuine ability would ensure that officials of the Syrian regime are and willingness to achieve justice, accountability, held accountable.” That is a two-sided confession reparations and reconciliation, and not to do so by the United States. On the one hand, it admits that through an irregular entity based in Geneva and the it established the Mechanism to exercise political so-called evidence it produces without respect for any pressure on the Syrian Government and engage in of the international legal and procedural criteria or illegal extortion against it, which they refer to as “the international and national criminal criteria. regime”. Everyone knows that. On the other hand, the In conclusion, the United Nations, represented by United States is reiterating that it supports and endorses its main bodies and committees, has faced many tough terrorism and it does all it can to cover up the crimes tests of its credibility and integrity. Unfortunately, it has committed by armed terrorist groups in Syria. failed. All those tests, including today’s, have failed as This is not, therefore, a purely technical issue. It a result of political and financial polarization practices involves not the pursuit of justice but the politicization adopted by the key funders of the Organization, of an issue of which the Security Council, not the namely, Governments that create conflicts and wars all General Assembly, should be seized, since it is the over the world and then come to the United Nations to prerogative of the Council. Members are aware that the impose on it methods of work that, instead of resolving United States is a Power that engages in the military conflicts, prolong them. Those Governments are then occupation of and aggression against my country, granted additional instruments to interfere in the Syria. The United States has explicitly stated that it internal affairs of countries and impose their agendas would maintain its grip on the natural riches in my on them. country and dispose of them as it pleases. The United Therefore, after today, we do not want to hear States President announced that he loves Syrian oil. anything more about the integrity, independence That is what he said publicly. and impartiality of the work of the United Nations. Member States supporting terrorism in Syria have It has not been a charitable Organization since its established six mechanisms to fabricate accusations establishment; rather, it has always been a politicized against the Government of my country, Syria. Real entity par excellence in favour of the powerful. But this practice has proved that none of those six mechanisms grave situation has today become particularly flagrant has been impartial, independent, honest or objective. in a manner that undermines the status and value of the Therefore, they have all failed the test. Organization while undermining international peace and security. Unfortunately, this situation indicates The political situation in my country is at a critical that the United Nations is not far from ensuring for juncture. The political process is moving ahead under itself the fate of the League of Nations. the auspices of the United Nations, through the work of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General as Mr. Almansouri (Qatar) (spoke in Arabic): The facilitator. The process remains fragile and difficult, Syrian regime insists on politicizing the issues before

54/58 19-42319 19/12/2019 A/74/PV.52 us, which are merely administrative and financial. of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. The regime is making accusations and arguments that Qatar paid $50 million to those terrorist criminals in have nothing to do with reality or this issue. It seeks order to release elements who allegedly belonged to to divert attention from the crimes perpetrated by the United Nations. Of course, such bribery violates the Syrian regime against its people, which also have the relevant Security Council resolution prohibiting terrible consequences for millions of Syrians and grave Member States from paying bribes to terrorists. That is implications for international peace and security. Syria my second observation. is facing the worst situation of impunity as war crimes My third observation is that the Qatari regime, and crimes against humanity have been and are still which considers itself immune to imminent sanctions, being committed. They are referenced in thousands is wrong. That regime continues to support the of documents, including United Nations reports. Al-Nusra Front in Idlib. I do not want to inflate the Those crimes include the use of chemical weapons pretensions of that undersized regime, given that it against civilians. takes its orders from the United States Administration, Mrs. Crabtree (Turkey): I will be very brief. I do but unfortunately the role assigned to it is to promote not recognize the person who is sitting in the Syrian radical Islamism — about which there is nothing Arab Republic seat. I am not going to use the words Islamic — in order to undermine peace and security “Syrian regime” because I am not going to give him the throughout the Arab and Islamic worlds. chance to use a point of order. As for the Turkish representative, who merely I think his delusional remarks do not require me to repeats trivial gossip, I wish to remind her that say anything. The voting patterns we have seen today, the history of her country — whether Ottoman or as well as the facts on the ground for the past nine Turkish — is unsavoury, that Turkey has no friends years, speak for themselves. among its neighbouring countries and that it is also a sponsor of Islamist terrorism. That is why there is a The President: The representative of the Syrian Turkish-Qatari alliance, as the Assembly knows. Qatar Arab Republic has asked to exercise the right of reply. I hosts Turkish forces to protect it — against what threat remind him that statements in the exercise of the right of I do not know. That alliance is now targeting Libya, in reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention addition to Syria, and has played a role in sponsoring and to five minutes for the second intervention and terrorism in Afghanistan and elsewhere. should be made by delegations from their seats. In conclusion, we wish to remind the representative Mr. Ja’afari (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke in of Qatar that the day of judgment is coming. He may Arabic): I apologize for taking the floor again, but wish to convey that message to those at the head of his the statements delivered by certain amateur diplomats terrorism-sponsoring regime. were rather provocative to a healthy mind. Mr. Almansouri (Qatar) (spoke in Arabic): The accusation of the Turkish and Qatari regimes’ I apologize for taking the floor again, but I find flagrant involvement in terrorism was made by the myself obliged to respond to the representative of the former Prime Minister of the Qatari regime, whose Syrian delegation. name is Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, in case the representative of Qatar does not know the name of his The Syrian regime has always spread unfounded own former Prime Minister. The former Prime Minister accusations and lies and, while we are used to listening said on Qatari television that his country, along with to such falsehoods, we do not wish to descend to the Saudi Arabia, Turkey and several other countries, level of the Syrian delegation and respond in the same had spent $137 billion to undermine the legitimate language that its representative has used against us. Government of Syria. That is important testimony that Nevertheless, I must recall here that the main reason must be taken into account. for the establishment of the International, Impartial and Other testimonies state that the Qatari regime, Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation which supports terrorism, paid bribes to terrorists and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most deployed in the area of separation in the occupied Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in Syrian Golan to release Filipino and Fijian elements the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM) is

19-42319 55/58 A/74/PV.52 19/12/2019 the Syrian regime’s unwillingness to take the necessary happening in my country Syria, namely the fight against measures at the national level on this matter. The blood international, European, Arab and Asian terrorism. of the Syrian people has been spilled by prohibited Terrorism comes from all over. That is a reality. barrel bombs and chemical weapons in violation of The Qataris and the Turks have created the story of national and international humanitarian laws. chemical weapons, which they themselves brought from As responsible States, we cannot stand by idly Libya to Istanbul, Turkey, and then into Syria. They as the credibility of international humanitarian law were the ones who used chemical weapons for the first and the regime that governs the non-proliferation of time in the town of Khan Al-Asal, in the countryside of weapons of mass destruction is threatened. Rather, we Aleppo, back in 2013. That story goes back some way must uphold our ethical and legal responsibilities to as everybody knows. achieve accountability so that mass atrocities do not I advise the young Qatari diplomat to carefully become a commonplace occurrence with impunity. read the documents before quoting them, as those That is why the State of Qatar, along with friendly documents incriminate the regime of his country, not countries, has endeavoured and continues to seek my Government. financing for the IIIM from the regular budget of the I will be brief, although there is more that could United Nations adopted by the General Assembly today be said on this matter in great detail. The facts will (resolution 74/264), which will enable the Mechanism prove to everyone that my country is the victim of to fulfil its mandate by providing it with adequate international terrorism, which is misapplied by some financial resources. Allocating those resources from in this international Organization who call Da’esh the the regular budget will allow for better planning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. That derogatory and forecasting of funds and will also enhance the term continues to be misapplied by some, including transparency of the Mechanism’s work. the Qatari and Turkish regimes, which are sponsors Mr. Ja’afari (Syrian Arab Republic) (spoke of terrorism, to describe a terrorist organization in Arabic): A Qatari poet, Mohammed bin Rashid condemned by the Security Council. Al-Ajami, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the The President: The Assembly has thus concluded Qatari regime because he published a poem in which this stage of its consideration of agenda item 135. he criticized the regime’s waste of its people’s money in sponsoring terrorism. It is clearly a Qatari issue — a Agenda item 133 serious problem that the country’s regime is attempting to camouflage. Therefore, if we are talking about Review of the efficiency of the administrative and justice and law, surely they should apply to the Qatari financial functioning of the United Nations regime and bring its leaders to justice. Report of the Fifth Committee (A/74/616) The Qatari regime spends billions of dollars on The President: The Assembly has before it a sponsoring terrorism upon instructions from the United draft decision recommended by the Fifth Committee States. However, it also comes to this international in paragraph 5 of the report. The text of the draft Organization and spends hundreds of millions of dollars decision, for the time being, is contained in document to buy the silence of some regarding the atrocities that A/C.5/74/L.27. the Qatari regime has committed to sponsor terrorism. We will now take a decision on the draft decision As for the accusations of the Qatari representative entitled “Questions deferred for future consideration”. concerning chemical weapons and barrel bombs, The Fifth Committee adopted the draft decision he should stop those senseless allegations that were without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes promoted by the television channel Al Jazeera, among to do likewise? others. Wikileaks has proved that such allegations are a tissue of lies. In fact, the WikiLeaks documents The draft decision was adopted (decision 74/540). originate in the United States and not Syria. The whole story of chemical weapons and barrel bombs has been The President: The Assembly has thus concluded fabricated to justify the internationalization of what is this stage of its consideration of agenda item 133.

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The General Assembly has thus concluded its to establish the 10-member Board, consisting of 2 consideration of all the reports of the Fifth Committee members from each United Nations regional group. before it. Members will also recall that the Assembly, by I congratulate all delegations on the successful its resolution 69/214 of 19 December 2014, decided conclusion of the Fifth Committee’s work, despite the that the duration of subsequent terms for members of challenges it faced during this session. Their flexibility the Board shall continue to be two years, starting on to constructively engage with each other on complex 16 September of every second year, and that the United issues has paved the way for getting us to this point. Nations regional groups may renominate one of their existing two members of the Board for one consecutive I commend Ambassador Andreas Mavroyiannis, term, while ensuring that no Member State may be Chair of the Fifth Committee, for his sagacity, tenacity eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms and dedication in steering the Committee’s work. I and taking into account the importance of ensuring thank the members of the Bureau, the facilitators and continuity and rotation in the work of the Board. the dedicated Secretariat team for their tireless efforts In that regard, the Secretariat has received the and support throughout the whole process. nomination of Hungary. I would like to note that I know that the delay in convening this meeting has Hungary has already served one term, from 2017 affected holiday plans — I am grateful for the patience to 2019, and has been renominated by the Group of and sacrifice of all those connected with the process Eastern European States for a second term, from 2019 and I extend my appreciation and best wishes to their to 2021. family members. We surely need to find a way to avoid May I take it that the General Assembly wishes such delays. to appoint Hungary as a member of the board of the The decisions made by Member States today are 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable key to the good functioning of the United Nations. The Consumption and Production Patterns for a term proposed programme budget for 2020, which provides beginning on the date of appointment and ending on necessary resources to the United Nations Secretariat 15 September 2021? to implement its various tasks, also prepares us well for It was so decided. entry into the decade of action for the implementation : Members are reminded that eight of the Sustainable Development Goals. The President vacancies remain for a term beginning on the date of As we look forward to the upcoming resumed appointment by the General Assembly and ending on session, I urge all Members to continue to work for 15 September 2021 as follows: two members each from consensus, while supporting the work of the Chair and African States, Asia-Pacific States and Latin American the Bureau. and Caribbean States; and one member each from Eastern European States and Western European and Agenda item 115 (continued) other States. (i)Appointment of members of the Board of The General Assembly has thus concluded this the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on stage of its consideration of sub-item (i) of agenda Sustainable Consumption and Production item 115. Patterns Programme of work The President: The General Assembly will now turn to sub-item (i) of agenda item 115 on the appointment The President: With regard to the programme of of members of the Board of the 10-Year Framework work of the General Assembly, apart from organizational of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and matters and items that may have to be considered by Production Patterns, in order to replace those members operation of the rules of procedure of the Assembly and bearing in mind that consideration and action have whose term of office expired on 15 September 2019. already been taken by the Assembly on a majority of Members will recall that the Assembly, by its items thus far, I should like to inform Members that resolution 67/203 of 21 December 2012, decided the following items remain open for consideration, or

19-42319 57/58 A/74/PV.52 19/12/2019 have not been considered yet, during the seventy-fourth May I take it that the General Assembly wishes session of the General Assembly: agenda items 9 to 15; to take note of those items that remain open for 19 and its sub-item (f); 21 and its sub-item (a); 23 and consideration or have not been considered yet during its sub-item (b); 25 and its sub-item (a); 27 to 35; 37; the seventy-fourth session of the Assembly? 38; 40 to 46; 52; 62; 63; 64 and its sub-items (a) and (b); It was so decided. 68; 71 and its sub-items (a) to (c); 74 and its sub-item (a); 86; 87; 98; 110 to 113; 114 and its sub-item (a); 115 The President: I wish all members a successful 2020. and its sub-items (c), (e), (g) and (i); 116 to 125; and 129 to 165. The meeting rose at 7.50 p.m.

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