Chair: I invite the Commission to approve the agenda as it is contained in the documentation provided.
Switzerland: During the resumed 63rd session, Switzerland requires a subsidiary item under item 7, in relation to UNODC’s leadership in the coordination of the Task Team on the Common Position. In its 2019 Ministerial declaration, CND asked for UNODC for assistance of implementing all commitments in relation to other UN stakeholders. MS encouraged relevant UN entities to provide contributions to facilitate UNODCs work and build coherency at all levels. Res 75/198 of General Assembly, invitation to redouble efforts for joint initiatives. IN cooperation with other bodies of the UN and agencies. Member States also asked UNODC to report on progress achieved. The UN Common Position and Task Team have a role in coordination. Major instrument to enhance effectiveness of interagency cooperation and data collection, promoting scientific and actual implementation fo commitments. This connection is crucial. Member States should be kept abreast of these developments. The Strategy of UNODC establishes the importance of fostering cooperation. Switzerland will continue to request an annual update on activities on the implementation of the UN Common position, to ensure CND as leading body is kept abreast of developments in this matter.
Azerbaijan: I would like to start by expressing our appreciation for your support and leadership demonstrated during the 64th session of the CND. The position of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the agenda item 10 entitled provisional agenda for the 65th session of the Commission is not related to any substantive issue of the work of the CNB or the position of any country. Failure by the chair of Eastern European group to officially communicate a lack of consensus on the nominations suggested to the position of the third vice chair of the CCPCJ infringes of the sovereign right of the UN member states, and undermines the credibility of the group’s actions. Pending official communications by the chair of the group to the Secretariat of the governing body of the UNODC, on lack of consensus within the group on the nomination to the position of the third vice chair of the CCPCJ, (…), the Republic of Azerbaijan is not in a position to join the consensus or endorse any decision related to the overall work on the (…), including to the draft proposed provisional agenda for the 65th session of the CND within the (…). Although the Republic of Azerbaijan did not join the consensus on the draft provisional agenda for the Commission within the (…), we don’t have any objection to the draft provisional agenda, and ready to extend our support in favour of its adoption at the current session of the CND
Turkey: Let me just want to mention that we have no objection to the draft agenda of the 65th session of the CNB. We believe that agenda itself, as it stands now, is very inclusive, and has the room to discuss everything, including the taskforce and other measures. so believe that the agenda itself is very comprehensive and there is no room to make any announcements, any additions.
Cuba: I merely wanted to point out that we do not object to the agenda as adopted. We do not think it’s necessary to include an item on the task team, and the common position, because it could well be taken under, agenda item seven, inter agency cooperation.
Russia: We’re also not against the adoption of the agenda in the format that was prepared by the Secretariat and submitted to us. However, we’d like to confirm our position with respect to the possible reflection of the documents prepared by the Secretariat on the Common Position of the UN system on drug related matters. We confirm that we are not in a position to agree to the mentioning of this document in the provisional agenda for the next session of the Commission, because this document does not meet or is not aligned with the political commitments of states that are set forth in the 2019 ministerial declaration.
Egypt: The agenda itself is comprehensive. We would like to express that we don’t need to put additional matters in it. Especially that it doesn’t enjoy consensus between the members of the CND, like the UN test team and the common position paper. And in order for us to be united and should have some consensus. This paper doesn’t enjoy on the consensus.
Vienna NGO Committee (VNGOC): Thank you, Madame Chair, for allowing me to take the floor a second time this week, and for your excellent facilitation of an unprecedented CND. I am delighted to speak on behalf of two separate Committees – the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs of which I am the Chair, and also the New York NGO Committee on Drugs as well. On behalf of our respective membership networks from around the world, we want to formally acknowledge and thank you, the CND bureau, member states and the CND Secretariat for facilitating the online participation of civil society during the past five days. Hundreds of NGOs have followed and engaged in this Session – and we are grateful for the hard work of Jo and her team to make this possible, as well as to other colleagues across the UNODC. As a result, civil society has largely been able to play our usual role at this CND – contributing oral and written statements at the Plenary; observing the Committee of the Whole; hosting, co-hosting or speaking at side events; and bringing our important and unique perspectives to member states. The VNGOC has also financially supported some of our members in Asia and Africa to host local watch parties within COVID guidelines, and to provide internet data packages to participants. This week has demonstrated the power and inclusiveness of online participation – not only for civil society, but also for member states and others. As we look towards next year’s agenda, we hope that some of the physical barriers and restrictions that have kept us apart will be gone. Yet it seems likely that international travel will be less extensive in the future. Nothing can fully replicate the value of meeting face-to-face at the CND, and we must remain aware of the digital divide that exists across the world. But we hope that some of the experiences, adaptations and approaches from this last week can be repeated, and that more hybrid approaches will become the norm for 2022 and beyond. For example, webcasting all plenary sessions for the 65th Session in the official languages, as has happened this week, would have a significant impact on the reach, inclusivity and impact of the Commission’s work. Allowing virtual side events alongside physical or hybrid ones, and continuing to facilitate and welcome virtual statements and interventions, will also further improve participation. Recording all of these sessions also allows for better participation across different time zones. Of course, any hybrid measures should add to, rather than replace, the invaluable face-to-face participation of civil society at the 65th Session and beyond. The NGO Committees remain at your disposal to assist in any way that we can, and we thank you once again for supporting civil society engagement.
Item 11. Other business
Chair: No one? We close this agenda item. The only outstanding item is Agenda Item 12. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its sixty-fourth session