31 October 2005

Excellency, In my letter of 30 September, I stated my intention to revert to you during the month of October on the issue of General Assembly revitalization. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some reflections on this matter. First of all, it is my firm conviction that timely and effective implementation of the 2005 World Summit Outcome through our common efforts would be our most important and tangible contribution to revitalizing the General Assembly. Yet, while the Assembly is already asserting its role by making progress toward concrete results on issues related to the Outcome document, I would also like to build on the efforts of previous sessions to strengthen and revitalize the General Assembly. During its fifty-ninth session, the Assembly adopted resolution 59/313, which inter alia deals with the role and authority of the General Assembly, the role and leadership of the President of the General Assembly, the agenda and working methods of the plenary and the Main Committees, as well as issues related to documentation.

All the Permanent Representatives To the United Nations New York

In implementation of paragraph 2 (a) of resolution 59/313, I intend to consult shortly on holding an interactive thematic debate on a development related issue in the spring of 2006. Also, the Assembly decided in resolution 59/313, paragraph 4, "to establish an ad hoc working group... to identify ways to further enhance the role, authority, effectiveness, and efficiency of the General Assembly". For this purpose, I intend to appoint two Co-Chairs of such a working group in the near future. The Co-Chairs will prepare for the group's deliberations by consulting Member States on the issues to be addressed and report back to me in time for the working group to be convened early next year. The continued revitalization of the Main Committees was addressed in paragraph 7 of resolution 59/313. I have encouraged the Chairs of the Main Committees to bring this to the attention of their Committees and asked them to report to me on their discussions and progress made. Another part of the revitalization process is the role of the General Committee. This is underlined in paragraph 1 of section B of the annex to resolution 58/126. I am taking this forward by holding formal and informal meetings of the General Committee to review progress of work of the Assembly and to benefit from the advice of the General Committee on various aspects of the Assembly's work. I am of course interested in, and receptive to, further ideas and proposals which the Member States may have with regard to the important matter of revitalization of the General Assembly. I look forward as well to collaborating with you closely and constructively as we guide this important issue forward. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Jan Eliasson