PROGRAMME FOR AFRICAN RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS INCREASE IN RESOURCES, FIFTH COMMITTEE IS TOLD

31 October 1995

Press Release
GA/AB/3030

PROGRAMME FOR AFRICAN RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS INCREASE IN RESOURCES, FIFTH COMMITTEE IS TOLD

19951031 Departmental Changes Are Suggested, as First Reading Of Parts of Proposed 1996-1997 Programme Budget Is Completed

The resources allocated to the section of the proposed 1996-1997 United Nations budget on Africa's critical economic situation, recovery and development, were too little and should be increased, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was told this afternoon as it continued its first reading of the proposed budget.

The Committee concluded the first reading of sections 7A, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development; 7B, Africa's critical situation; 8, Department of Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis; and 9, Department for Development Support and Management Services.

An inflation-adjusted $43 million is proposed for the Department for Policy Coordination and $4 million for Africa's critical situation. For the development support and management services department, $25.8 million is proposed. While the budget proposes spending of $48.4 million for the information and policy analysis department, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) recommends $48.2 million.

The African Group of States, speaking through Uganda, said the Secretariat should allocate resources commensurate with the activities planned for Africa's critical economic situation. Cuba added that the Committee should raise the proposed allocation.

Similar calls for resource increases were made for the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, particularly to enable it implement the decisions of United Nations international conferences.

Fifth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

Others stated that the funds for the policy analysis department should be approved. Arguing that the Department helped countries all over the world, Ukraine said the proposed creation of a division for micro-economic and social policy analysis should be supported. However, Bangladesh questioned the need for such a division because the United Nations emphasized macro- and not micro-analyses.

The proposed resources for the Department for Development Support and Management Services should be approved, some delegations said. In that regard, the Russian Federation, among others, supported the creation of a reconstruction and development support unit in Vienna. The United States said the Department's budget was hard to justify and that its resources should be redeployed to other United Nations entities. Its functions could be absorbed by the Office for Project Services, an arm of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In response, China said since the support and management services department played a major role in the economic development of developing countries, its funds should be guaranteed. There were 185 Member States in the United Nations and none of them could impose its views on others arrogantly.

Also speaking on the four sections were Tunisia, India, Egypt, Sudan, New Zealand, Brazil, Algeria, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Congo, Romania, Japan, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.

The Chairman of the ACABQ, C.S.M. Mselle, introduced his Committee's comments on the proposals. The United Nations Controller, Yukio Takasu, and the Director, Programme Planning and Budget Division, Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, also answered Committee members' questions.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m., tomorrow, Wednesday, 1 November, to continue its section-by section review of the budget. It is scheduled to take up sections 10 to 16.

Committee Work Programme

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this afternoon to continue its section-by-section review of the United Nations proposed budget for the 1996-1997 biennium.

For its first reading of the proposed budget (document A/50/6/Rev.1 Vols.I and II) the Committee had before it the Secretary-General's proposals as well as reports from the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) (document A/50/7) and from the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) (document A/50/16). The Secretary-General proposes a budget of $2.51 billion (in 1994-1995 dollars), prior to adjustments for factors such as inflation and exchange rate fluctuations. The ACABQ's recommendations are largely in 1996-1997 figures, adjusted for those factors. (For background on the proposed budget, see Press Release GA/AB/3017 of 4 October.)

The budget sections to be reviewed this afternoon fall under Part IV on international cooperation for development. They are those on the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development (section 7A); Africa: critical economic situation, recovery and development (section 7B); and Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis (section 8); the Department for Development Support and Management Services (section 9); the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (section 10A); the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) (section 10B); and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (section 11).

Section 7A. Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development: The Secretary-General proposes $40.8 million for the Department, a reduction of $7.3 million owing to the discontinuation of provision made for 1994-1995 in connection with special conferences already held in 1994-1995 and for the interim secretariat for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The overall reduction reflects a decrease of 10 posts due to the deletion of those activities. Thus, the posts proposed for the biennium 1996-1997 total 210, with 115 in the Professional category and 95 General Service posts. The Department focuses on promoting an integrated approach to economic, social and environmental aspects of development.

It would be strengthened by redirecting resources from within the Department and providing additional posts -- one P-5, one P-4 and one P-3 -- offset by the proposal to abolish four Professional and seven General Service posts. The ACABQ approves the sum for the section. The CPC recommends that the Assembly approve the narrative of the section. The approval was given on the understanding that, should the Assembly adopt mandates establishing new activities, it would propose adequate resources when it approved the budget.

Fifth Committee - 5 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

Section 7B. Africa: critical economic situation, recovery and development: The Secretary-General proposes $3.8 million at 1994-1995 rates, an increase of $320,500. The increase relates to two new Professional posts at the Senior Officer level (P-3) to strengthen programme 45 of the 1992-1997 medium-term plan -- Africa: critical economic situation, recovery and development. The activities would focus on implementing the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s. They will be implemented by the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Department for Public Information, in their respective areas.

The ACABQ recommends the approval of the posts. The CPC recommends that the Assembly review the level of resources for activities relating to Africa. That should be done in accordance with previous Assembly resolutions on implementing the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and the New Agenda. The Assembly should also take account of the continent's enormous needs.

Section 8. Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis: The Secretary-General proposes a pre-adjusted budget of $45.9 million, a cut of $344,100, mainly as a result of discontinuing one-time provision for the International Conference on Population and Development which is offset by increases from the proposed reclassification of posts and the establishment of five additional ones. He also proposes 148 posts to be funded from the regular budget, including three additional posts in the professional category -- one at the Director-level (D-2) and two at the level of Senior Officer (P-5), offset by the abolition of two posts -- one at the Principal Officer level (D-1) and one at P-4/3. In addition, 17 extrabudgetary posts are proposed for a total of 165 posts in the professional category. General service posts funded both by the regular budget and extrabudgetary resources total 138.

The ACABQ recommends the appropriation of $48.3 million in 1996-1997 rates, down from the Secretary-General's proposal of $48.2 million in those rates. The CPC, unable to agree on the section's programme narrative, recommends that it be reviewed by the Assembly, taking into account the Committee's concerns.

Section 9. Department for Development Support and Management Services: The Secretary-General proposes $24.5 million for the Department, a reduction of $1.4 million. That results mainly from the transfer of 17 posts from Geneva to Vienna and New York, the abolition of three posts and the proposed establishment of a P-3 at Vienna. The budget cut represents a decrease from 160 regular budget posts in 1994-1995 to 158 in 1996-1997. A total of 121 extrabudgetary posts are forecast for 1996-1997, compared with 145 in 1994-1995. The ACABQ approves the appropriation. The CPC recommends that the Assembly review the section's programme.

Fifth Committee - 6 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

Section 10A. UNCTAD: The Secretary-General proposes a pre-adjusted amount of $110.6 million for the UNCTAD, representing a cut of some $3 million. The reduction is mainly due to the proposed abolition of seven General Service posts that have become redundant due to technological improvements.

A major factor influencing the proposals for UNCTAD for 1996-1997 is the new mandates given in 1994 by the Trade and Development Board, especially in conjunction with the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations and the establishment of the World Trade Organization on 1 January 1995. Under those mandates, UNCTAD is to emphasize in its policy analysis, new issues on the international trade agenda and on consensus-building on trade and economic policy issues before they become the subject of negotiation in the World Trade Organization. It will give priority to assisting developing countries.

The CPC recommends that the Assembly approve the section's narrative on the basis of assurances that the proposed reduction in resources would not curtail any mandated activities.

Section 10B. International Trade Centre UNCTAD/GATT: The International Trade Centre was established in 1968, to be operated jointly by UNCTAD and GATT. Its primary objective is to promote the trade and export development of developing countries and improve their import operations and management. Its budget is funded equally by the United Nations and GATT, with the United Nations' share being $20.9 million at 1994-1995 rates. The ACABQ approves the sum. The CPC recommends that the Assembly approve the section.

Any change in the current arrangement as a result of the creation of the World Trade Organization will be reported separately.

Section 11. UNEP: The Secretary-General proposes a pre-adjusted amount of $8.9 million for UNEP, after a cut of $784,900 relating to reduced needs for the meetings of its Governing Council, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and the proposed abolition of a P-5 post. In 1996-1997, UNEP will continue focusing its activities in environmental assessment, management and institution- and capacity-building. The ACABQ does not trim the proposed amount and the CPC approves the section.

Statements on 1996-1997 Proposed Budget

C.S.M. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, introduced his Committee's report on the following sections: Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development; Africa: critical economic situation, recovery and development; Department of Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis; and the Department for Development Support and Management Services.

Fifth Committee - 7 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

The ACABQ, he said, sought more active involvement of intergovernmental bodies in the work of the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development. Information should be provided on the use of the $500,000 to be given to the Non-Governmental Liaison Service for 1996-1997. It had been determined that the sum should not be used for salaries or travel. Three posts for sustainable development activities were approved.

The ACABQ did not take a position on the proposed move to the United Nations Office at Vienna of the functions that had been carried out by the staff at Geneva.

Statements on Policy Coordination Department

Speaking on budget section 7A, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, AMMAR AMARI (Tunisia) wanted information on the legislative mandate for the Secretary-General's arrangement on how to ensure coordination. He supported the ACABQ recommendation on contributions to the financing of the activities of the Non-Governmental Liaison Service.

ANA RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) expressed regret that resources for the Department had fallen by more than 15 per cent compared to 1994-1995. It was important to provide follow-up to international conferences and the sums proposed were not enough to implement the outcome of conferences such as the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. She asked for the mandate that enabled the Secretary-General to arrange for the head of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to look over activities of the Department. She supported the creation of a P-5 post to help with the follow-up of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States.

VLADIMIR V. KOUZNETSOV (Russian Federation) felt that the large number of documentation and other publications being produced by the Department should be reduced. He supported the recommendation that there should be more information on the pre-adjusted $500,000 proposed for the United Nations contribution to the financing of the activities of the Non-Governmental Liaison Service. What would the money would be spent on? It should not be used for salaries, travel and representation activities. More information should be made available before the Assembly approved the request of $500,000.

VIJAY GOKHALE (India), noting that the Department's travel budget had been cut, said it was important to ensure that it continued to have maximum outreach in order to enhance its functioning. The travel budget should be restored as originally proposed. He questioned the function of the UNDP Administrator in the Department. He shared the ACABQ's recommendation on the need for support for decisions emanating from the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. He also asked what action would be taken to follow up on recent international conferences. The organizational chart available to the Committee was incomplete; a more

Fifth Committee - 8 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

complete one with more information on posts as they related to the proposed budget should be provided.

MOHAMED FATTAH (Egypt) expressed concern about the lack of resources for such a large department. More resources were needed to implement the recommendations of the recent international conferences.

SYED RAFIQUL ALOM (Bangladesh) said no other department existed for undertaking activities relating to sustainable development. The proposed budget contained no resources for activities to follow up decisions of recent conferences, which would be directly beneficial to developing countries. He wondered whether that meant that the Organization was not going to implement those decisions or whether the convening of the conferences was the end of its responsibility. Budgetary provisions must be made for those activities in the interest of developing countries.

HAMID ELTINAY (Sudan) said resources for activities in the economic and social fields should not be reduced since they were directly linked to the development of developing countries. Decreased resources would have a negative impact on those countries.

YUKIO TAKASU, United Nations Controller, said the $7 million reduction in resources for the Department represented reductions in one-time expenditures and not a lowering in the prioritization of the Department's work. There were many elements which explained the reduction, such as the separation of the activities relating to the Framework Convention on Climate Change which was being carried out by the Department until the end of the year. Another element was the preparations for recent international conferences. About $4 million was no longer necessary in that regard and hence represented a reduction. However, additional posts were being requested as a follow-up on two earlier international conferences.

The Secretariat's action on policy coordination in economic and social activities did not have a negative impact on the Department's role, he continued.

JEAN-PIERRE HALBWACHS, Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division, said the cut for the Commission on Sustainable Development was based on past spending patterns, which had shown underspending. More information would be given in writing on the Non-Governmental Liaison Service.

Ms. RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) asked where the Secretary-General had received the mandate to give the UNDP head the coordination function.

Mr. GOKHALE (India) asked how funds would be allocated to implement the outcome of global conferences. The organizational chart did not show where the various posts in the Departments were. The Committee should know under

Fifth Committee - 9 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

where new posts were being allocated. The charts should also show where the posts were moved from.

Mr. TAKASU said on the organization of the Secretariat, a mandate was not required as the move was to help administer the Secretariat more efficiently. The UNDP Administrator had important roles to help the Secretary-General. Proposals were not included in the budget if a mandate did not exist. Allocations had been made for the Cairo and the small islands Conferences. Some actions adopted by the Beijing Conference, for instance, might not receive allocations for now and additional requests would be submitted. The Secretariat was open to suggestions on how to improve its organizational charts.

Ms. RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said she was not satisfied with the explanation. The function of coordinator had been given to the Department by the General Assembly but the Secretary-General had asked the UNDP head to carry out that function. That matter should be resolved properly.

DENISE ALMAO (New Zealand) asked for information on the decisions of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) to set up four task forces to follow-up the global conferences.

Mr. TAKASU said there would be more information on that.

Committee Chairman ERICH VILCHEZ ASHER (Nicaragua) said the Committee had completed the first reading of that section.

Statements on African Recovery

Speaking on section 7B on the critical economic situation, recovery and development of Africa, DAVID ETUKET (Uganda), speaking for the African Group, said the sum of about $3.7 million proposed by the Secretary-General for the next two years was too small for the activities to be undertaken in that period. While welcoming the proposals to create two P-3 posts, he wondered whether the resources could not be better distributed between the section's three subprogrammes. [The three subprogrammes are on mobilization of resources; monitoring and follow-up of action programmes; and campaign for global awareness of the situation in Africa.] The Secretariat should review the distribution of resources between the three subprogrammes. He voiced concern that the limited resources allocated to the section were being sometimes diverted to other purposes, as highlighted by the ACABQ. The Secretariat should be able to allocate resources commensurate with the activities planned.

He endorsed the role of the Department of Public Information (DPI) and its publications in connection with the section. Adequate resources should be provided to that Department to support its work. Resources for consultants should be used only when the Secretariat did not have in-house resources. The

Fifth Committee - 10 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

Secretariat should try to build such capability. He asked whether the resources for consultants could not be used for substantive activities. Resources meant for the section should not be transferred elsewhere.

MARCIO FAGUNDES (Brazil) said that the economic situation in Africa was still below acceptable levels. The continent's situation was bleak and of concern to the international community. The overall amount of resources would not adequately address the needs of African countries. He supported the ACABQ recommendation for the establishment of two P-3 posts for the section, which should be approved.

Mr. FATTAH (Egypt) expressed support for the statement of Uganda on behalf of the African Group. The budget did not reflect the priority Africa deserved; the sums allocated were too little. It was sad to note, as the ACABQ had pointed out, that the functions of the Special Coordinator for Africa and the Least Developed Countries for the extended period during which the incumbent had been deployed on a special mission, were being carried out by the Under-Secretary-General and a Director assigned to that Office. The situation should be rectified as quickly as possible.

SUSAN SHEAROUSE (United States) said she did not see the administrative and programmatic gains made in creating the new section in the budget on Africa. The section's resources must be looked at in relation to the entire budget to determine if the priority of programmes on Africa was being honoured by the Secretary-General in the budget. However, the Committee needed to see if those activities could not be undertaken without the establishment of new posts.

ANA RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said the resources allocated to the section were inadequate. The priority of Africa programmes was not being dealt with properly. She would work for an increase in the resources for that section of the budget.

LARBI DJACTA (Algeria) said all the resources for African programmes for the biennium should be reflected in the budget. Expressing concern about the modest amount allocated to the section, he said he would propose additional resources during the informal discussions.

ZACHARIE AKPLOGAN (Benin) expressed concern about the resources for the section because they did not correspond to the priorities in the overall medium-term plan. He proposed that the resources in all the sections dealing with the implementation of programmes for Africa be reviewed in informal consultations.

Mr. ALOM (Bangladesh) said the resources would go a long way in the programmes for the biennium. He endorsed the view of the ACABQ that the allocation did not reflect the priority for Africa as stated in the medium- term plan on the special needs of Africa and the least developed countries.

Fifth Committee - 11 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

Mr. ETUKET (Uganda) said he would be happy to synchronize all the sections of the budget. To that end the Secretariat must be provided with justification for all sections. He was ready to exchange views with those delegations that had expressed concern about the allocation of the two new posts for African programmes.

NARCISSE MALAN (Côte d'Ivoire) said it was the duty of the Secretariat to take greater account of the Assembly's mandates on Africa. Adequate resources should be concretely reflected in the programme budget.

PHILIP OWADE (Kenya) said the issue of resources for Africa had been belaboured in the Committee and in the Assembly as a whole. Adequate resources were needed for Africa and should be reflected under that section. He looked forward to the support of other delegations on that issue.

DESIRE NKOUNKOU (Congo) expressed support for the comments of Uganda. The resources under the section were too little. The Secretariat should make new proposals on the distribution of resources among the three subprogrammes in the sections.

Mr. TAKASU said the section had been proposed as a separate section for the first time. The Secretariat was trying to handle the matter as one of the priorities of the Organization. The section could not deal with all issues relating to the African continent but programme 45 of the medium-term plan. It was therefore a programme of coordination, not a programme of assistance to ensure that various bodies were providing resources to support Africa. Consequently not all the resources being devoted to Africa were shown. The subprogrammes under the section were on the mobilization of resources, monitoring and follow-up, and the campaign for global awareness of the situation in Africa. Of all budget sections, it had the second highest percentage increase.

On the Special Coordinator, he said the incumbent, who had been on field mission, had returned and the problem referred to today would be rectified.

Mr. ETUKET (Uganda) asked the Secretariat to show other resources being dedicated to the same purpose. More information should be provided on resources devoted to some of the purposes enunciated in the medium-term plan. He would not accept the consolation that the section had the second highest increase in the allocation of resources.

Mr. TAKASU said the programmes were to assist African recovery but they were for specific activities as contained in programme 45 of the medium-term plan. The essence was coordination, advocacy and mobilization of support and not to provide direct assistance to the continent. That was done by other entities in the United Nations system. The Secretary-General attached one of the greatest priorities to the budget section. Compared to the 1992-1993

Fifth Committee - 12 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

budget the section had increased steadily and the Secretary-General was asking for the second highest increase of any section of the budget.

Mr. ETUKET (Uganda) said it should be noted that any decisions on the section would have a bearing on discussions on ECA and the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The Committee completed its first reading of the section.

Statements on Economic and Social Information Section

Speaking on section 8, Department of Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, DORIAN MIHAI (Romania) expressed support for the recommendations of the ACABQ, which stated that a proposed new D-2 post would be for the Director of a new division for micro-economic and social policy analysis, while the additional P-3 and the two P-2/1 posts would be for research in relevant areas. The four additional posts should be approved.

Mr. GOKHALE (India) expressed reservation on the need to create the new division. The CPC could not agree on the narrative of the section; some of the section's parts should be amended. It should not be the function of the Department to make reports to the Security Council on the economic plight of countries.

Mr. KOUZNETSOV (Russian Federation) supported the resources proposed and shared the conclusions and recommendations of the ACABQ on the section. Among the mandates approved and reflected in the proposal were important questions such as those on the role of government in the market place and on construction in the former centrally planned economies.

FUMIAKI TOYA (Japan) said the creation of a P-5 post on the follow-up to the International Conference on Population and Development should be carried out by redeploying resources. The reason for the creation of four posts for a new division for micro-economic and social policy analysis was not clear and they could be reduced. The P-5 post to follow up the Population Conference could be retained.

IGOR V. GOUMENNY (Ukraine) said his delegation attached great importance to the Department, which helped countries all over the world. It provided statistics on population, economic analysis and the process taking place now in eastern Europe. The Department dealt modestly with issues linked to the transition economies. He supported the proposal for the new division since it had legislative backing. Resources and staffing for the Department had been reduced; however, those for the new division should be approved. He supported the proposal that the Department report to the Security Council on the impact of sanctions on third countries. The reclassification of a P-4 post to P-5 was justified.

Fifth Committee - 13 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

GUEORGUI DIMOV (Bulgaria) said he supported the establishment of the new division, which was important for the countries with economies in transition. It would also have the role of reporting to the Security Council on the impact of sanctions. He supported the four additional posts as endorsed by the ACABQ.

Mr. ALOM (Bangladesh) said he was yet to understand the reasons for the creation of the new division on micro economic issues and policies. The Organization always worked on a macro approach although there was some need for micro analysis, as was the case for a particular region of the world. But this was a time-bound experience. He asked whether it would not be better to use a consultant or to refer such analysis to an academic institute or other agencies to undertake such "piecemeal micro-analysis". Micro-analysis should even be undertaken at the national level. He asked what could really be achieved by an appointee at the Associate Officer level (P2). Those considerations were necessary in the context of rationalization of the Organization. There was need for a re-evaluation of the permanence of such posts. He had no difficulty with the programme activity itself.

DULCE BUERGO (Cuba) said the Department's activities on social and economic trends were important. She stated that she was concerned about the Department's interpretation of the mandates relating to assistance to non- governmental organizations and private entities. They were not the objectives as had been decided in the medium-term plan. Those objectives had been directed at intergovernmental organizations in their responsibility for social and economic activities under the Charter. There was no legislative basis beyond what had been stated in the section.

She asked why other institutions should receive assistance. Resource reduction for such programmes as follow-up to recent conferences was a cause for concern. Referring to a number of other activities under the section, she asked about duplication and requested information on some linkages in proposed activities.

There was also need for concern about the redistribution of resources for global issues and policies, she said. Activities concerning external debt and development, which was a high priority, had received the lowest amount of resources. She asked how resources were distributed among the subprogrammes. On the subprogramme on problems and prospects of integrated development, there was a distortion in the narrative which differed from that of the medium-term plan. Resource distribution for other subprogrammes did not reflect the Assembly's priorities.

Mr. ETUKET (Uganda) said he supported India's and Cuba's views on the section. While supporting the work of the Department, he said that, before the four new posts were approved, the Secretariat should provide the Fifth Committee the information it had given to the ACABQ.

Fifth Committee - 14 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

Mr. HALBWACHS, Director of the Programme Coordination and Budget Division, said the question of micro-economics went back a long way. The Secretary-General had sought four posts, including the D-2. While the need for the posts had been recognized for two years, he had been asked to meet staff needs through redeployment. Three of the posts were proposed to be met through redeployment but the fourth, the D-2, could not be provided for that way. That post would head the proposed Division for Micro-economic and Social Policy Analysis.

On the question of reporting to the Council and the General Assembly on the effect of international sanctions, he went on, mandates for such action existed from the Council and the Assembly. Written information on that had been provided to the CPC. There were job descriptions for the four posts proposed and further information would be provided in writing in response to Cuba's questions.

The Committee concluded its first reading of section 8, which would be referred to informal consultations.

Statements on Development Support Section

Speaking on Section 9 of the budget, Department for Development Support and Management Services, Ms. SHEAROUSE (United States) said the budget for the department was increasingly difficult to justify and its resources should be consolidated and redeployed to other United Nations entities, designed for relevant programmatic and technical cooperation activities. The diffuse nature of the Department's activities revealed a "grab-bag" of poorly managed functions without a particular mission, derogating from the prerogatives of other United Nations entities in the area of technical cooperation.

The representative said that many of its duties overlapped with current programmes of voluntary funds and assessed programmes of the United Nations system, such as UNDP, UNEP, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Capacity building was at the centre of UNDP's mandate. The Department's responsibility for coordination of technical cooperation activities was also in the purview of other elements in the United Nations system. Changing circumstances suggested that some of its functions could be or were being already performed by other parts of the United Nations. Its mandated functions could be absorbed by the operating arm of UNDP, making the department effectively redundant. She concurred with the comments of the ACABQ on travel and the handling of procurements. The new P-3 post should be approved and its functions met from existing staff.

Mr. FATTAH (Egypt) expressed support for adequate resources for the Department to implement its programmes. The Secretariat should explain the functions of the 17 posts that would be transferred from Geneva to Vienna and New York.

Fifth Committee - 15 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

Mr. KOUZNETSOV (Russian Federation) said travel costs should be cut to the minimum, as the sum sought was too high. He supported the setting up of a Reconstruction and Development Support Unit in Vienna. He was surprised that the ACABQ had decided against taking a position on the transfer of functions from Geneva. The merger of the procurement services being undertaken in the support services department and in the Department for Administration and Management should be studied, with a view to possible saving, and to have a single administrative structure that would control procurements in a coordinated manner.

Mr. TOYA (Japan) expressed support for the additional P-3 posts for the Reconstruction and Development Support Unit. The need for advice or information on reconstruction in areas such as the former Yugoslavia would substantially increase.

Ms. BUERGO (Cuba) expressed concern over the cut in the level of resources being proposed for the programme. Cuba asked to be informed as to the mandates for the Reconstruction and Development Support Unit. She did not oppose its location in Vienna, but Cuba was concerned about where the mandate for setting it originated. The unit and its activities went beyond what was mentioned in the section; its work was broad and covered such things as local self-governance and the situation of vulnerable groups.

Mr. GOUMENNY (Ukraine) said that the department's functions in activities such as developments in the former Yugoslavia were important. He supported the creation on the Unit in Vienna and it should be approved.

XIAOCHU WANG (China) said that even though the development support department was a major department, its human and financial resources had continued to decline. The Department played a major role in the economic development of developing countries. Some delegations had stated that since many of its activities were duplicated in other agencies, it could be redundant. Such comments were not fair. Overlapping was hardly avoidable in a huge bureaucracy such as the United Nations. What was now needed was for the lessons of past reform efforts to help ensure better reforms in the future.

Reform concerned all countries in the world. There were 185 Member States in the United Nations and not just one. Future reforms should be discussed by all sides. Any State could voice its concerns but no one could impose its views on others arrogantly. As for which department could be merged with others, that was a serious matter that should be the subject of consultations. In principle, the department's human resources should be guaranteed to make it perform its mandates and functions.

MR. TAKASU, United Nations Controller, responding to questions and comments, said the regular budget allocation for technical cooperation was as old as the United Nations, although the Department of Development Support and

Fifth Committee - 16 - Press Release GA/AB/3030 15th Meeting (PM) 31 October 1995

Management Services was new. Reviewing the name changes and functions of the various offices and departments which had carried out technical cooperation activities, he said all Member States were obligated to those activities when they were paid for by the regular budget. The Department of Development Support and Management Services was now the focal arm in the Secretariat for technical cooperation.

Continuing, he said the proposed reduction was partly due to posts transfers between duty stations -- Geneva, Vienna, and New York -- which reflected cost differences for staff. A reduction of four General Service staff was also proposed. Some services could be improved since the countries targeted for services were closer to Vienna. The Organization had a mandate for technical cooperation in addition to recent mandates on technical assistance for the countries with economies in transition. The proposed changes were in response to that mandate. Regarding procurement, the Secretariat had taken note of the ACABQ's recommendations with a view to achieving more efficiency gains.

Mr. HALBWACHS, Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division, said the posts in Vienna were for technical assistance and fellowships.

The Committee concluded its first reading of section 9.

* *** *