VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1086 3362208
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 022208Z DEC 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7741

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001086 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL AORC UNGA UNGA
SUBJECT: GENERAL COMMITTEE ADDS MORE ITEMS TO 64TH UNGA 
AGENDA 
 
¶1.  On November 24, the General Committee of the General 
Assembly convened to discuss the organization of work, 
adoption of the agenda and allocation of items.  President of 
the General Assembly Ali Treki presented the following four 
items for addition to the agenda of the 64th session of the 
General Assembly: Observer status for the Parliamentary 
Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in the General Assembly 
(A/64/232); Cooperation between the United Nations and the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM) (A/64/233); 
United Nations University (A/64/234); and Observer status for 
the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly in the 
General Assembly (A/64/235).  On December 1, the General 
Assembly approved the recommendations of the General 
Committee as stated in A/64/250/Add.1: Second Report of the 
General Committee.  Three out of the four items (the two 
observer items and the United Nations University item) were 
added to the agenda for the 64th session and referred to tQ 
Sixth and Second CommitteesQ 
 The Question of the Comorian Island of Mayotte was alsoQ 
added to the agenda for the 64th session, but on the 
understanding that there would be no consideration of this 
item until further notice. 
 
¶2.  Malta introduced A/64/232 regarding granting Observer 
status for the PAM.  Both the United Kingdom and the United 
States expressed their concerns regarding including this item 
on the agenda for the 64th session.  The United Kingdom noted 
the likelihood of budgetary implications because the Sixth 
Committee would need to be reconvened (as its work had been 
completed on November 12).  The United Kingdom also commented 
that it was worried about adding this agenda item so late in 
the session.  The United States said that the item should be 
deferred to the 65th session as there was no urgency and the 
Sixth Committee had already dealt with observer requests, but 
that if it was to be considered in the 64th session it should 
be referred to the Sixth Committee. After hearing the 
concerns of the delegates, President Treki quickly gaveled 
through a recommendation to the General Assembly that the 
item be added to the agenda and referred to the Sixth 
Committee.  The Secretariat noted that reconvening the Sixth 
Committe 
e would have no budgetary implications, as the costs could be 
absorbed within the current budget. 
 
¶3.  The Philippines presented A/64/233 Cooperation between 
the United Nations and the IOM.  The United Kingdom, Belgium, 
and the United States commented that this item should be 
postponed as the IOM council is debating this issue 
internally.  Treki took notQ these concerns and the 
General Committee recommended that this item be deferred to a 
later time. 
 
¶4.  Treki then moved to A/64/234 United Nations University. 
No delegation spoke on this item.  Treki Gaveled through a 
recommendation that it be added to the agenda and referred to 
the Second Committee. 
 
¶5.  Subsequently, Treki asked either St. Lucia, Saudi Arabia, 
or Ukraine to introduce A/64/235 on granting Observer status 
to the Council of Presidents of the General Assembly in the 
General Assembly.  Saudi Arabia, appearing somewhat confused, 
asked whether this item would be introduced in the 64th or 
65th session of the General Assembly.  The Secretariat 
explained that it would be introduced in the 64th session. 
Treki quickly gaveled through a recommendation to add this 
item to agenda and refer it to the Sixth Committee. 
 
¶6.  Finally, Treki introduced an item that was not on the 
agenda for the General Committee: A/64/250, the dispute 
between France and the Comoros over the Mayotte Island. 
Treki proposed introducing this agenda item in the 64th 
session but not debating it until the 65th.  The proposal 
incited a back and forth between France and the Comoros with 
France stressing the importance of delaying the placement of 
the item on the UNGA's agenda and Comoros arguing that it 
should be placed on the agenda of the 64th UNGA.  European 
nations supported France and African States supported the 
Comoros.  In the end, Treki ignored the debate and gaveled 
through his proposal of including the item in the agenda for 
the 64th UNGA but not debating it until the UNGA's 65th 
sessionQo allow for more bilateral discussions." 
 
¶7.  On December 1, the General Assembly approved by consensus 
all the General Committee recommendaQns, as reflected in 
A/64/250/Add.1 Second Report of the 
General Committee. 
RICE