UN disarmament committee opens session without agreed work plan

The UN General Assembly’s First Committee failed to approve its programme of work when it opened its eighty-first session on 5 October. The disagreement centred on proposed speaking limits, leaving the committee to continue consultations while it discussed agenda items. [1]

The proposed limits were seven minutes for national statements and 10 minutes for statements on behalf of groups. Russia’s representative said the shorter limits used the previous year had been intended as a one-off measure and called for a return to the practice of the seventy-ninth session. According to the UN account, representatives of Iran, North Korea, Mali, Belarus, China and Burkina Faso supported Moscow’s position. [1]

The US representative favoured the shorter limits, pointing to the committee’s completion of the previous year’s work in 20 business days. The UN account lists the UK, France and other delegations among those supporting that position and the proposed programme. South Africa and Italy also called for flexibility depending on the subject under discussion. [1]