Where to do the petitions?

The 1981 Lectionary for Mass: Introduction says:

31. For the general intercessions the celebrant presides at the chair and the intentions are announced at the lectern.

33. The lectern may rightly be used for ... the general intercessions, however, because of their close connection with the entire liturgy of the word. It is better for the commentator, cantor, or director of singing, for example, not to use the lectern.

The last part of this sentence does seem confusing, but paragraph 31 clearly states the "place."

Also, see the General Instruction on the Roman Missal 2002, 71.