Sixty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly
Encyclopedia
The sixty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly
opened on 13 September 2011 at 15:00 and is presided over by former Qatar
i permanent representative to the UN Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
.
was elected president of the General Assembly. He said that his focus would on "Bridging Differences, Building Consensus". He also added that world faces "enormous political, social, economic and environmental challenges...people still were living under occupation, while other crucial questions of human rights, sustainable development and poverty eradication, among many others, persisted." He further said that "respect for diversity and pluralism – regardless of religion, race or ethnicity – was a principle on which the United Nations was founded, and he pledged to undertake his role as President in a spirit of constructive cooperation and mutual respect."
He also responded to questions about what he would do about supporting the Arab Spring
in saying that "I hope as an Arab that it will be dealt with through the Arab League," which, according to Reuters
, contrasted with his predecessor's statement in praising Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
's support for the wave of protests. Ban Ki-moon said of Al-Nasser that he had already shown his ability after presiding over the Security Council, Chairman of the Fourth Committee and Chairman of the Group of 77 developing countries and China; that he led efforts to deal with autism
; and that with Qatar's increasing emergence as a player in the field of international relations
, as in the facilitation of the Darfur peace talks, he was grateful for such support. He also emphasised that he would work to ensure the partnership with the Secretariat remained strong. Outgoing president Joseph Deiss
congratulated Al-Nasser and said service at the UN had earned him respect and esteem from his colleagues. He was also congratulated by representatives of the various regional groupings at the UN: Senegal (African Group), Kuwait (Asian Group), Moldova (Eastern European Group
), Bolivia (Latin American and Caribbean Group), Israel (Western European and Other Group) and the United States (host country).
As is tradition during each session of the General Assembly, Moon drew lots to see which member state would take the helm at the first seat in the General Assembly Chamber. Turkmenistan was chosen, and the other member states would follow according to the English translation of their name, the same order would be followed in the six main committees.
The Chairmen and officers of the six Main committees were also elected:
The nineteen Vice-Presidents of the UNGA also elected were: Benin, Chad, Liberia, Malawi and Morocco (African group); Fiji, Iran, Kuwait and South Korea (Asian group); Hungary (Eastern European group); Bolivia, Haiti and Uruguay (Latin American and Caribbean group); and Australia and Austria (Western European and Other group). The permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States) are also automatically appointed as vice-presidents. Al-Nasser announced that an additional African state would be elected to the vice-presidency at a later date.
President al-Nasser said that he would propose the theme for the debate as "the role of mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful means," in order to enhance cooperation on one of the United Nations' founding ethos that he said also effects the UN's "existence...integrity, legitimacy, survival and effectiveness.". The theme is traditionally chosen by the President of the General Assembly, who proposes a theme of global relevant to the member states; in turn, the member states then approve of the matter and comment on it during the general debate. Additionally, member states would comment on issues of individual national and wider international relevance.
Supplementary items
to the Security Council
for 2012-2013 was held on 21 and 24 October.http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/site/c.glKWLeMTIsG/b.7751821/k.BEE0/October_2011brSecurity_Council_Elections_2011.htm Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco Pakistan and Togo were elected to the UNSC. Four members were elected on the first day of voting, but voting for the seat allocated to Eastern European states was held over to a second day; Azerbaijan finally won on the seventeenth round of voting, following the withdrawal of Slovenia's candidacy (the delegate from Slovenia stated he did not approve of the way in which the elections were being held).
On 24 October 2011, the Assembly elected 18 members of the Economic and Social Council for three-year terms beginning 1 January 2012.
The ICJ judges election, 2011 was held on 10 November 2011; the General Assembly and the Security Council concurrently and independently elected four judges to the International Court of Justice
for nine-year terms beginning on 6 February 2012, but the fifth available seat remains unfilled because of a deadlock between the General Assembly and the Security Council. Voting will resume on a later date.
Recognition of Palestine
An UNGA vote on recognition for the state of Palestine
is expected at the end of September. Expectations for an approval by a large majority are high. The wording of the resolution by the Fatah
movement was crafted in such a way as to bring states doubtful of a vote to either support it or at least abstain. The draft does not state a recognition of Palestine under the 1967 borders, but instead asks for permanent borders to be negotiated based on the principle of the 4 June 1967; a move that even elicited the support of some members of the rival Palestinian movement Hamas
, who has previously said that recognition of the 1967 borders before a final-status deal would mean waiving the claim for the right of return
of refugees. On 15 September, a senior Palestinian diplomat said that "we will make the final decision soon" when disputed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
"announce[s] the final decision." At the same time Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian permanent observer to the United Nations, reiterated the same statement in saying how the Palestinian would go forward with the move. "We have the right to join the international community as a full member...This campaign has this symbolic gesture of a chair, a set of Palestine to become a full members of the Untied Nations. This campaign went into different parts of the globe and they ended in New York." Basem Elmary, a coordinator for Palestine at the UN, said that U.S. opposition to the issue needing the involvement of direct negotiations with Israel was "the blackmail to us." An U.S. State Department spokesperson said that a veto against the vote should not be surprising.
The move also follows an aggressive and at least partially successful campaign by the Palestinians to court recognition in the build-up to the vote, including numerous Latin American countries. Several leaders said they would support Palestine's bid for statehood during the general debates, though US President Barack Obama
called for direct dialogue, amidst earlier threats to veto the move in the Security Council. His Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to meet separately with both Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
on the sidelines of the summit.
The bid is expected to be submitted on 23 September in the Security Council, even though the 129 member states that recognise Palestine constitute the necessary 2/3 majority; however approval needs nine of 15 of the SC votes, though the U.S. promised to veto the measure. It also follows Obama's widely condemned statement to the UNGA that the recognition should be bilaterally negotiated. Abbas's diplomatic advisor Majdi al-Khaldi said that though the Palestinians believed they could win the votes needed, "Three of the members of the Security Council (Bosnia, Gabon and Nigeria) are under pressure from the Americans." In turn, French President Nicolas Sarkozy
suggested an alternative proposal temporarily non-member observer state status should be granted with a timetable for new negotiations to conclude in a year.
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
opened on 13 September 2011 at 15:00 and is presided over by former Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
i permanent representative to the UN Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser is a Qatari diplomat and the current permanent representative of Qatar to the United Nations, appointed on 11 September 1998. Prior to his current office at the United Nations, Al-Nasser had served as the ambassador to Jordan since 1993. He has worked for his country's...
.
Organisation for the session
On 23 June 2011, Qatar's Nassir Abdulaziz Al-NasserNassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser is a Qatari diplomat and the current permanent representative of Qatar to the United Nations, appointed on 11 September 1998. Prior to his current office at the United Nations, Al-Nasser had served as the ambassador to Jordan since 1993. He has worked for his country's...
was elected president of the General Assembly. He said that his focus would on "Bridging Differences, Building Consensus". He also added that world faces "enormous political, social, economic and environmental challenges...people still were living under occupation, while other crucial questions of human rights, sustainable development and poverty eradication, among many others, persisted." He further said that "respect for diversity and pluralism – regardless of religion, race or ethnicity – was a principle on which the United Nations was founded, and he pledged to undertake his role as President in a spirit of constructive cooperation and mutual respect."
He also responded to questions about what he would do about supporting the Arab Spring
Arab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
in saying that "I hope as an Arab that it will be dealt with through the Arab League," which, according to Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, contrasted with his predecessor's statement in praising Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
's support for the wave of protests. Ban Ki-moon said of Al-Nasser that he had already shown his ability after presiding over the Security Council, Chairman of the Fourth Committee and Chairman of the Group of 77 developing countries and China; that he led efforts to deal with autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
; and that with Qatar's increasing emergence as a player in the field of international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
, as in the facilitation of the Darfur peace talks, he was grateful for such support. He also emphasised that he would work to ensure the partnership with the Secretariat remained strong. Outgoing president Joseph Deiss
Joseph Deiss
Joseph Deiss is an economist, Swiss politician and a member of the Christian Democratic People's Party . From 1999 to 2006, he was a member of the Swiss Federal Council, heading first the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and then the Federal Department of Economic Affairs...
congratulated Al-Nasser and said service at the UN had earned him respect and esteem from his colleagues. He was also congratulated by representatives of the various regional groupings at the UN: Senegal (African Group), Kuwait (Asian Group), Moldova (Eastern European Group
Eastern European Group
The Eastern European Group is one of the five unofficial Regional Groups in the United Nations that act as voting blocs and negotiation forums. Regional voting blocs were formed in 1961 to encourage voting to various UN bodies from regional groups...
), Bolivia (Latin American and Caribbean Group), Israel (Western European and Other Group) and the United States (host country).
As is tradition during each session of the General Assembly, Moon drew lots to see which member state would take the helm at the first seat in the General Assembly Chamber. Turkmenistan was chosen, and the other member states would follow according to the English translation of their name, the same order would be followed in the six main committees.
The Chairmen and officers of the six Main committees were also elected:
- Chair of the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security): Jarmo Viinanen (Finland); Mohammad Al-Mutairi (Kuwait) as Vice-Chair; and Archil Gheghechkori (Georgia) as Rapporteur.
- Chair of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial): Abulkalam Abdul Momen (Bangladesh); Philippe Donckel (Luxembourg), Raymond Harold Landveld (Suriname) and Denis Zdorov (Belarus) as Vice-Chairs.
- Chair of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural): Hussein Haniff (Malaysia); Donnette Critchlow (Guyana), Carolina Popovici (Moldova) and Luca Zelioli (Italy) as Vice-Chairs.
- Chair of the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonisation): Simona-Mirela Miculescu (Romania); Jim Kelly (Ireland) and María-Waleska Vivas-Mendoza (Venezuela) elected as Vice-Chairs.
- Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary): Michel Tommo Monthe (Cameroon); Paul Ballantyne (New Zealand), Mariam Saif Abdulla Al-Shamisi (United Arab Emirates) and Jelena Plakalović (Serbia) elected as Vice-Chairs
- Sixth Committee (Legal): Hernán Salinas Burgos (Chile); Mattanee Kaewpanya (Thailand), Petr Válek (Czech Republic) and Ceta Noland (Netherlands) as Vice-Chairs; and Jacqueline K. Moseti ( Kenya) as Rapporteur.
The nineteen Vice-Presidents of the UNGA also elected were: Benin, Chad, Liberia, Malawi and Morocco (African group); Fiji, Iran, Kuwait and South Korea (Asian group); Hungary (Eastern European group); Bolivia, Haiti and Uruguay (Latin American and Caribbean group); and Australia and Austria (Western European and Other group). The permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States) are also automatically appointed as vice-presidents. Al-Nasser announced that an additional African state would be elected to the vice-presidency at a later date.
Opening schedule
The schedule for the opening of the annual session included:- 13 September – Official session opening at 15:00 by President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser at 15:00
- 14 September – General Committee meeting
- 16 September – Plenary meeting (Issuance of the first report of the General Committee meeting)
- 19–20 September – An "high-level meeting" on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (as per resolution 65/238)
- 20 September – An "high-level meeting" that seeks "Addressing desertification, land degradation and drought in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication" (as per resolution 65/160)
- 21–23, 26–27 September – General debate, with opening speeches by most states
- 22 September – An "high-level meeting" of the General Assembly to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the Durban Review ConferenceDurban Review ConferenceThe Durban Review Conference is the official name of the 2009 United Nations World Conference Against Racism , also known as Durban II. The conference ran from Monday 20 April to Friday 24 April 2009, and took place at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland...
(as per resolution 65/240)
General debate
Most states will have a representative speaking about issues concerning their country and the hopes for the coming year as to what the UNGA will do. This is as opportunity for the member states to opine on international issues of their concern. Some heads of state, other government leaders or permanent representatives to the UN (or other members of national delegations at the UN) are scheduled to speak. The speeches would occur on 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 and 27 September in the General Assembly Chamber. (the biggest chamber at the United Nations building)President al-Nasser said that he would propose the theme for the debate as "the role of mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful means," in order to enhance cooperation on one of the United Nations' founding ethos that he said also effects the UN's "existence...integrity, legitimacy, survival and effectiveness.". The theme is traditionally chosen by the President of the General Assembly, who proposes a theme of global relevant to the member states; in turn, the member states then approve of the matter and comment on it during the general debate. Additionally, member states would comment on issues of individual national and wider international relevance.
Agenda
The broader preliminary agenda for the session is:- The promotion of sustained economic growth and development in accord with the relevant resolutions fromh the General Assembly as well as other newer United Nations conferences.
- The general maintenance of international peace and security.
- DevelopmentDevelopment-Land use:*Green development, a concept that includes consideration of community-wide or regional environmental implications*Land development, altering the landscape in any number of ways...
in Africa. - The promotion of human rights.
- Coordination for effective humanitarian assistance efforts.
- The general promotion of justice and international law.
- The continuation of disarmament initiatives.
- The continuation of drug control efforts, crime prevention and the fight against "international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."
- Other United Nations organisational, administrative and related matters.
Supplementary items
- Appointment of observer status for the Central European InitiativeCentral European InitiativeThe Central European Initiative is a forum of regional cooperation in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, counting 18 member states. It was formed in Budapest in 1989.-History:...
(as proposed by Italy, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine). - Appointment of observer status for United Cities and Local GovernmentsUnited Cities and Local GovernmentsUnited Cities and Local Governments is an umbrella organisation for cities, local governments and municipal associations throughout the world...
(as proposed by Turkey). - Appointment of observer status for the Intergovernmental Authority on DevelopmentIntergovernmental Authority on DevelopmentThe Intergovernmental Authority on Development is an eight-country regional development organization in East Africa. Its headquarters are located in Djibouti City....
(as proposed by Ethiopia). - Financing for the United Nations Interim Security Force for AbyeiUnited Nations Interim Security Force for AbyeiThe United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei is a United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, which is contested between the Republic of Sudan and the newly-independent Republic of South Sudan...
(as proposed by Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon). - Financing for the United Nations Mission in South SudanUnited Nations Mission in South SudanThe United Nations Mission in South Sudan is the newest United Nations peacekeeping mission for the newly-independent Republic of South Sudan, which became independent on 9 July 2011. UNMISS was established on 8 July 2011 by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1996 . UNMISS is headed by...
(as proposed by Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon). - Appointment of observer status for the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries (as proposed by Azerbaijan).
- Promotion of a people’s empowerment and a peace-centric development model (as proposed by Bangladesh).
- Appointment of observer status for the International Conference of Asian Political PartiesInternational Conference of Asian Political PartiesThe International Conference of Asian Political Parties is a forum of political parties of Asia-Oceanian countries, which was launched in Manila Philippines in September 2000...
(as proposed by Cambodia, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam).
Other events
The election of non-permanent membersUnited Nations Security Council election, 2011
The 2011 United Nations Security Council election was held on 21 and 24 October 2011 during the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York City...
to the Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
for 2012-2013 was held on 21 and 24 October.http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/site/c.glKWLeMTIsG/b.7751821/k.BEE0/October_2011brSecurity_Council_Elections_2011.htm Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco Pakistan and Togo were elected to the UNSC. Four members were elected on the first day of voting, but voting for the seat allocated to Eastern European states was held over to a second day; Azerbaijan finally won on the seventeenth round of voting, following the withdrawal of Slovenia's candidacy (the delegate from Slovenia stated he did not approve of the way in which the elections were being held).
On 24 October 2011, the Assembly elected 18 members of the Economic and Social Council for three-year terms beginning 1 January 2012.
The ICJ judges election, 2011 was held on 10 November 2011; the General Assembly and the Security Council concurrently and independently elected four judges to the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
for nine-year terms beginning on 6 February 2012, but the fifth available seat remains unfilled because of a deadlock between the General Assembly and the Security Council. Voting will resume on a later date.
Recognition of Palestine
An UNGA vote on recognition for the state of Palestine
State of Palestine
Palestine , officially declared as the State of Palestine , is a state that was proclaimed in exile in Algiers on 15 November 1988, when the Palestine Liberation Organization's National Council adopted the unilateral Palestinian Declaration of Independence...
is expected at the end of September. Expectations for an approval by a large majority are high. The wording of the resolution by the Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
movement was crafted in such a way as to bring states doubtful of a vote to either support it or at least abstain. The draft does not state a recognition of Palestine under the 1967 borders, but instead asks for permanent borders to be negotiated based on the principle of the 4 June 1967; a move that even elicited the support of some members of the rival Palestinian movement Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
, who has previously said that recognition of the 1967 borders before a final-status deal would mean waiving the claim for the right of return
Right of return
The term right of return refers to a principle of international law, codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, giving any person the right to return to, and re-enter, his or her country of origin...
of refugees. On 15 September, a senior Palestinian diplomat said that "we will make the final decision soon" when disputed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
"announce[s] the final decision." At the same time Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian permanent observer to the United Nations, reiterated the same statement in saying how the Palestinian would go forward with the move. "We have the right to join the international community as a full member...This campaign has this symbolic gesture of a chair, a set of Palestine to become a full members of the Untied Nations. This campaign went into different parts of the globe and they ended in New York." Basem Elmary, a coordinator for Palestine at the UN, said that U.S. opposition to the issue needing the involvement of direct negotiations with Israel was "the blackmail to us." An U.S. State Department spokesperson said that a veto against the vote should not be surprising.
The move also follows an aggressive and at least partially successful campaign by the Palestinians to court recognition in the build-up to the vote, including numerous Latin American countries. Several leaders said they would support Palestine's bid for statehood during the general debates, though US President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
called for direct dialogue, amidst earlier threats to veto the move in the Security Council. His Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due to meet separately with both Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
on the sidelines of the summit.
The bid is expected to be submitted on 23 September in the Security Council, even though the 129 member states that recognise Palestine constitute the necessary 2/3 majority; however approval needs nine of 15 of the SC votes, though the U.S. promised to veto the measure. It also follows Obama's widely condemned statement to the UNGA that the recognition should be bilaterally negotiated. Abbas's diplomatic advisor Majdi al-Khaldi said that though the Palestinians believed they could win the votes needed, "Three of the members of the Security Council (Bosnia, Gabon and Nigeria) are under pressure from the Americans." In turn, French President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
suggested an alternative proposal temporarily non-member observer state status should be granted with a timetable for new negotiations to conclude in a year.
External links
- Meeting summaries
- President of the 66th General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-NasserNassir Abdulaziz Al-NasserNassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser is a Qatari diplomat and the current permanent representative of Qatar to the United Nations, appointed on 11 September 1998. Prior to his current office at the United Nations, Al-Nasser had served as the ambassador to Jordan since 1993. He has worked for his country's...
- http://www.un.org/en/ga/66/agenda/index.shtml Agenda for the 66th General Assembly]