UN Special Political Committee Hears UFO Experts at Grenada's Request
On November 27, 1978, the Special Political Committee of the UN General Assembly considered Grenada's request for a UN body for UFO research. Prime Minister Eric Gairy introduced a draft resolution, and J. Allen Hynek and Jacques Vallée spoke as experts. The deliberations led to General Assembly decision 33/426 on December 18, 1978.
Background
Hearing
On November 27, 1978, the Special Political Committee of the UN General Assembly took up Grenada's request to establish a UN body for research into unidentified flying objects (agenda item 126) at its 35th and 36th meetings. Prime Minister Eric Gairy introduced a draft resolution.
Experts
At the invitation of the Grenadian delegation, J. Allen Hynek addressed the scientific side of the phenomenon, referring among other things to the investigations of the French GEPAN under Claude Poher. Jacques Vallée covered the sociological and political aspects. According to Dolan, Stanton Friedman and Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Coyne also appeared. Astronaut Gordon Cooper supported the initiative and described metallic, saucer-shaped craft he said he had seen over Germany in 1951.
Background
On July 14, 1978, Gairy, Hynek, Vallée, Poher and Cooper had already met UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim.
Outcome
Grenada's draft was not put to a vote. On the committee's recommendation, the General Assembly adopted decision 33/426 on December 18, 1978. It created no UN agency but invited interested member states to coordinate research nationally and report to the Secretary-General. Grenada's documentation was to be passed to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. After Gairy was overthrown in March 1979, the initiative petered out.