Mr. Chairman,
We thank you for convening this thematic debate. Cuba associates itself with the statement delivered by Algeria on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and by El Salvador on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
We reiterate the importance of respect and strict compliance by Member States with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and its respective committees.
The review of the working methods of both the General Assembly and its six main committees is a process driven by Member States, which should, as appropriate, engage in substantive discussions to exchange and propose ideas on the issue.
We welcome the meetings held between the Chairmen of the Committees, as mandated in paragraph 24 of resolution A/RES/71/323. This process is a useful feedback on good practices, for which it is necessary to maintain transparency and accountability to Member States on the main elements addressed during each meeting.
Mr. Chairman,
We take this opportunity to refer to paragraph 26 of resolution A/RES/71/323, and I quote: "the General Assembly and its Main Committees, at the seventy-second session, in consultation with Member States, should continue their consideration of and make proposals for the further biennialization, triennialization, clustering and elimination of items on the agenda of the Assembly, including through the introduction of a sunset clause, with the clear consent of the sponsoring State or States, taking into account the relevant recommendations of the Ad Hoc Working Group.”
In this regard, we believe that this process cannot be taken lightly, nor can it be understood as a superficial review of the agendas of the General Assembly and its Main Committees or the frequency in addressing their issues.
Interactions among topics, the balance these bring to the agenda of the Main Committees, and the added value generated by their consideration within each Main Committee, must be taken into account.
In this regard, we appreciate the work carried out in 2016 and 2017 by the co-facilitators of the consultation process to improving synergies and coherence and reducing, where noted, the overlapping in the agendas of the General Assembly, especially its Second and Third Committees, the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies, and the work of the high-level political forum on sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant rules of procedure in the light of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda.
As recognized in the report presented last year by the co-facilitators of the process, the Ambassadors of Argentina and Australia, following consultations with Member States, conceptual differences were found in relation to what is understood by the so-called overlaps and duplications in the agenda items of the General Assembly and its Main Committees, as well as the way to move forward on this matter.
We reiterate that in order to prevent duplication, the artificial restructuring of what works properly and has produced results must be avoided. Work must be done to mainstream the approaches of the 2030 Agenda, which we reiterate is primarily aiming at the eradication of poverty, without altering and questioning the mandates of principal United Nations bodies.
The mandates and functions of the General Assembly and its Main Committees must be respected. Revitalizing or rationalizing work should not lead to reinterpreting such mandates.
We reiterate that Member States should preserve the sovereign right to introduce new items and/or submit new resolutions under the items on the agenda of the General Assembly and its Main Committees, as deemed appropriate without strings attached.
Mr. Chairman,
Regarding the work of the General Assembly and its Main Committees, it is important to maintain the timely issuance of all documentation for their session. This information should be up-to-date and accessible to Member States through the mechanisms already in place. General debates should be preserved as an indispensable pillar of the work of the Main Committees, and their respective lists of speakers should be published in advance.
We stress the importance of maintaining parity in the six official languages of the Organization, both in the work of the General Assembly and in its Main Committees. Likewise, the UN Journal should be published in all six official languages.
I conclude by reiterating the importance of the process of revitalization of the General Assembly, as well as Cuba's support for the work as co-Chairs of this Working Group.
Thank you very much.