SPEAKERS IN FIFTH COMMITTEE AGAIN URGE ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR REGIONAL COMMISSIONS

Press Release
GA/AB/3032*

SPEAKERS IN FIFTH COMMITTEE AGAIN URGE ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR REGIONAL COMMISSIONS

The budget resources proposed for regional commissions should be retained or increased to enable them to carry out the tasks they had been assigned, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was told this afternoon.

As it continued reviewing the proposed 1996-1997 United Nations budget, the Committee concluded its first reading of sections 15, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); 16, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); 17, Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).

The amounts proposed for them, after adjusting for factors such as inflation and currency exchange fluctuations are: $79.5 million for the ECA; $67.7 million for ESCAP; and $50.8 million for the ECE. The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) approved those sums. The final budget would be cast in such adjusted 1996-1997 dollar terms.

During the discussions, African countries called for more resources for the ECA, while Asian and Central and Eastern European nations said that ESCAP and ECE, respectively, should be strengthened.

For example, Uganda called for efforts to mobilize additional extrabudgetary resources. Multilateral agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) should be encouraged to give increased support to the ECA, its representative added.

ESCAP had done tremendous work in promoting economic and social development in the Asia-Pacific region and should be strengthened, China said.

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* The first two pages of GA/AB/3011, issued today, should have been numbered GA/AB/3031.

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The ECE had helped Eastern Europe overcome difficulties during their transition from centrally-planned to market economies, Ukraine said, adding that the United Nations should approve the very modest proposals being made to strengthen it.

Speaking on the commissions overall, the United States said they lacked unique and compelling missions, with activities that often duplicated those of other international organizations. Activities which offered little added value should be scaled back and significant savings could be found in servicing conferences, hiring consultants and staff travel. The Russian Federation, speaking generally on the bodies, said their administrative expenses should be reduced and the savings directed to substantive activities.

Statements on the three commissions were also made by Egypt, Benin, Ethiopia, Algeria, United Republic of Tanzania, Cuba, the Republic of Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Armenia, Romania, Poland and Bangladesh.

The Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), C.S.M. Mselle, introduced that body's views on the three regional commissions and responded to a question on the ECE. The Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division of the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, responded to questions concerning all three commissions.

[The budget's first reading is meant to help the Committee identify difficult points in it that would eventually be resolved in informal consultations. At the end of the first reading and first round of informal consultations, the Committee would put together amounts approved for each section and those approved in respect of revised estimates and programme budget implications. That would lead to the second reading in which each section's total appropriation would be approved. The entire exercise was expected to produce a package deal, which would form the programme budget for 1996-1997.]

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m., tomorrow, Thursday, 2 November, to review sections 18, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); 19, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA); 20, Regular programme of technical cooperation.

Committee Work Programme

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

For its first reading of the proposed budget the Committee had before it the Secretary-General's proposals (document A/50/6/Rev.1 Vols. I and II) and the views of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) (document A/50/7) and 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), before adjustments for 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 today fall under Part V on regional cooperation for development. They are sections 15, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); 16, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP); 17, Economic Commission for Europe (ECE); 18, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); and 19, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Section 15 Economic Commission for Africa:

For the Commission, the Secretary-General proposes $72 million before adjustments, after an increase of $386,900. He also proposes the establishment of a First Officer (P-4) post to follow up activities pertaining to small island developing States; two Second Officer (P-3) posts for electrical and mechanical engineers; and three Local level elevator, audiovisual and air-conditioning equipment technicians for the new conference facilities. With the completion of the ECA's conference facilities in Addis Ababa, he proposes to scrap four temporary posts (one Senior Officer (P-5), one Second Officer (P-3) and two Local level) in the Construction Unit. [Also reflected under section 15 is the provision relating to the Regional Commissions' New York Office, which is kept at maintenance level.]

Section 16 Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific:

For the ESCAP, the Secretary-General proposes $61.6 million before adjustments, after an increase of $287,000. He asks for one Senior Officer (P-5) post for the Chief of Rural Development Section, one First Officer (P-4) post to follow up the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, the conversion of a temporary Second Officer (P-3) post to an established one in relation to the Transport and Communications Decade for Asia and the Pacific and an Associate Officer (P-2) post for a building management officer.

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The ACABQ approves the four posts and the proposed appropriation and the CPC approves the programme narrative.

Section 17 Economic Commission for Europe:

For the ECE, the Secretary-General proposes $47.7 million before adjustment and after an increase of $340,100, resulting mainly from requests for two more Professional posts (Senior Officer P-5) and Second Officer (P-3) to strengthen the activities carried out in economic analysis and statistics, respectively. The posts are needed to help the Commission respond to the ongoing political and economic changes in Eastern and Central Europe and to integrate all countries there to the European and global economy. Developments in the region had raised ECE membership from 34 to 55 countries, at least half of them with economies in transition.

The ACABQ approves both the appropriation and the two additional posts sought. The CPC approves the programme narrative.

Section 18 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean:

For the ECLAC, the Secretary-General proposes a pre-adjusted $77.3 million after cutting $1.7 million. This comes mainly from a $2 million drop in office rent due to lease renegotiation and reduction of office space in Mexico City, offset by a proposal to establish a First Officer (P-4) post for the follow-up to the Conference on Small Island Developing States. The ACABQ recommends that this proposal be accepted. The CPC approves the programme narrative.

In 1996-1997, ECLAC will focus, among other items, on enhancing rural development; state-restructuring policies and their implications for strategic management for the allocation of public resources; supporting the region's Governments to gain and consolidate competitive advantages; and helping Member States to achieve the objectives of Agenda 21.

Section 19 Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia:

For the ESCWA, the Secretary-General proposes a pre-adjusted $35.8 million and after an increase of $545,300, reflecting the proposed reclassification of one post and biennial provisions for post changes approved in 1994-1995 but only partially funded.

The ACABQ does not object to the proposed reclassification and recommends the approval of the Secretary-General's estimates. The CPC approves the programme narrative.

In 1996-1997, ESCWA will focus, among other things, on improving information in the region and developing the capacities of Member States in

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those areas; assessing social and economic change in the region; and enhancing knowledge on the implications of the different economic measures being developed and implemented.

Statements by ACABQ Chairman

C.S.M. MSELLE, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), introduced his Committee's comments on sections 15 to 19. The ACABQ had found a number of elements common in all of the budget submissions of the regional commissions. It had commented on the role of programme managers and their respective organizational units in programme implementation. It welcomed the steps that had been or were being taken to streamline the commissions' organizational structures. The mode of programme implementation chosen by a regional commission should ensure that staff and other resources were used cost-effectively. Duplication with the regional programmes of specialized agencies should be avoided.

The Chairman added that his Committee had recommended that the regional commissions' publications programmes should be reviewed. The proposed estimates for travel could be cut considerably. It approved First Officer (P-4) posts to strengthen the capacity of relevant commissions to follow up on the implementation of the Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. Also approved were the proposed Second Officer (P-3) posts and three additional Local level posts to help maintain the newly built conference facilities in Addis Ababa.

The role of the ECA secretariat and the Multinational Programming and Operational Centres in programme formulation and implementation should be clarified. That of the ECA Executive Secretary and the committees of intergovernmental experts of the Centres in supervising the Centres should also be explained.

As for the total resources made available for ECE, they were more than $47.7 million, as funds for some functions were tucked into other parts of the budget. As with other regional commissions, extrabudgetary resources for ECE had declined, but the ACABQ had learned that the ECE would receive $3 million more of such resources from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Since ECLAC had limited conference facilities, the estimates for $207,700 to rent such facilities was justified. ECLAC also proposed to use a sectoral approach with interdisciplinary inputs to accomplish its programme of work; close coordination between divisions was also envisaged.

A report should be submitted to give information about the financial implications of the move of the ESCWA secretariat.

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Statements on Section 15 -- ECA

DAVID ETUKET (Uganda) agreed with the general observation and conclusions of the ACABQ regarding problems common to the regional commissions. It had addressed redeployment of resources, the disproportionality of resources between programme support and substantive activities, and the dwindling level of extrabudgetary resources available to all the regional commissions, and to the ECA in particular. The level of extrabudgetary funds available at the ECA, as compared to other programmes in the proposed programme budget, was significantly low. Efforts should be undertaken to mobilize additional extrabudgetary resources. Such multilateral agencies as the UNDP should be encouraged to give increased support to the ECA.

It was vital that the distribution of resources within ECA also reflect the priorities it had identified, he said. Some of those programmes had been given a disproportionately lower level of resources. It was a matter of concern that the ECA had given a lower level of attention to the social sector, which was part and parcel of sustainable development. During the biennium, the Secretary-General should make every effort to address the imbalance. Uganda welcomed the proposed support for the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning.

JAMES GODLEY (United States) said the regional commissions suffered from a lack of unique and compelling missions. Their activities often duplicated those of other international organizations. Activities which offered little added value should be scaled back. Significant savings could be found in servicing conferences, hiring consultants and staff travel. Those budgets should be significantly reduced. A more holistic approach was needed to evaluate relevance and cost-effectiveness.

He said the United States did not support the ECA proposal for additional posts. ECA should reduce meeting expenses. There was duplication between some of the ECA's trade activities and those of other international bodies. ECA's work programme could also be rationalized.

MOHAMED FATTAH (Egypt) said his delegation had called for the decentralization of United Nations work in order, partly, to give the regional commissions some additional functions. However, if the cut in budget resources for the commissions continued, decentralization might not be realized. Resource allocations should be improved.

ZACHARIE AKPLOGAN (Benin) expressed concern about the decline of extrabudgetary resources for the ECA. The Committee should rectify that by raising the regular budget. The ECA had an important role in regional regrouping efforts in Africa and should have all the necessary resources for its activities.

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TERUNEH ZENNA (Ethiopia) said the economic situation in Africa was worsening. The debt burden was increasing and trade declining. The proposed budget for the ECA should be considered in that context. It was dismaying that insufficient resources had been allocated to ECA. Its resources should be increased significantly. The cause for the decline in extrabudgetary resources should be identified, so appropriate corrective action might be taken. The conference facilities at ECA headquarters must be further strengthened. The proposed additional posts offered a critical minimum for technical maintenance and for the new conference facility in Addis Ababa.

VLADIMIR V. KOUZNETSOV (Russian Federation) supported the ACABQ's recommendation on the need to simplify the organizational structure of the regional commissions, reduce their administrative expenses and avoid overlapping. To avoid duplication, regional and country programmes carried out by United Nations specialized agencies must be taken into account. Publications of the regional commissions should be reviewed to ensure maximum effectiveness, taking account of the interest of consumers, the quality of the publications and their cost. Russia supported the ACABQ's view that the volume of resources allocated for maintenance was too high.

The money saved on administrative expenses should be directed to substantive activities of the commissions, he said. There should be a more active approach to technological developments in information exchange in order to reduce travel costs.

LARBI DJACTA (Algeria) expressed concern at the decline in extrabudgetary resources and said he supported the proposals for the regular budget. He would deal with the section's estimates in more detail in informal consultations.

STANISLAUS E.S. MONGELLA (United Republic of Tanzania) associated himself with Uganda's statement. The administrative functions of ECA should be improved and the Secretary-General should help in that regard. The budget section 7B, on Africa -- the critical economic situation -- should be examined in conjunction with the examination of ECA's resources.

DULCE BUERGO (Cuba) supported the views of Uganda and drew attention to the drop in resources for the work that the commissions would undertake in the 1996-1997 biennium. She expressed concern that the commissions might not be able to carry out their tasks due to lack of resources.

Mr. ETUKET (Uganda) said he wanted to respond to what he called the aspersions that had been cast on some of the resources proposed for the ECA. Similar aspersions had been cast in past General Assembly sessions by some delegations. The Committee should increase regular budget means for the ECA to prevent it from excessively depending on extrabudgetary funds, which were not very reliable. The ratio of the regular budget to extrabudgetary

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resources was 1:10, an uncomfortable fact for his delegation. Since meetings were held to facilitate continued dialogue on Africa, theoretical benchmarks not should be used to judge how many meetings were necessary.

J. HALBWACHS, Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division of the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, said there was no direct relation between the level of resources for a programme and its priority. It was more a factor of workload. A close look was currently being taken at the current structure of ECA and there was likely to be a streamlining of administrative structures with greater emphasis on programmes. The decline in extrabudgetary resources was not unique to ECA. There had been and continued to be a marked decline in such resources.

Mr. ETUKET (Uganda) said the question of the streamlining of ECA had been cited as being high on the Director's agenda. Would actions to be taken be reported to the Assembly, and at what stage?

Mr. HALBWACHS, Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division of the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, said that work had just begun. A report would be made to the General Assembly, but it was too early to say when that would take place.

Section 16 -- ESCAP

SOONG CHUL SHIN (Republic of Korea) said the proposed programme budget for ESCAP represented an increase over the 1994-1995 budget. That would encourage efficient programme delivery. Special attention should be drawn to the poverty in the region.

MARY JO B. ARAGON (Philippines) attached importance to the work of the regional commissions. The Ministers of the "Group of 77" developing countries had recognized their increasing importance in assisting countries in their regions -- particularly the developing countries -- to implement the recommendations of major conferences on development.

JU KUILIN (China) said the economy in the Asia-Pacific region was currently very brisk. The economic and social changes in the region had been positive. ESCAP had done tremendous work in promoting economic and social development and should be strengthened.

Mr. GODLEY (United States) said areas of duplication and overlap had been identified in ESCAP. Certain areas could be scaled back or eliminated without adversely affecting ESCAP's work. Its meetings could be held biennially. The regional cooperation programme should be cut back and provided with clearly articulated goals. There was room for rationalization in the statistics programme. Much of the Commission's work duplicated that of

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the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). If ESCAP was spending half its budget on servicing meetings, it was simply having too many meetings.

ANUSON CHINVANNO (Thailand) said that ESCAP's role should be strengthened, rather than diminished, as it had played an important and useful role in the development of the region. The resources proposed for the Commission should be approved.

PRAYONO ATIYANTO (Indonesia) said he joined other delegations that had expressed support for the Commission's proposed budget. The budget increases proposed were justified, as they could help the secretariat cope with growing demands.

Mr. HALBWACHS said, regarding the need for meetings, that the intergovernmental structures at ESCAP had been streamlined over the last four or five years.

The section's first reading was concluded and it was referred to informal consultations.

Section 17 -- ECE

Mr. KOUZNETSOV (Russian Federation) said it was unfortunate that the priority nature of the ECE had not been reflected in the budget, even though the Commission had tried to enhance its work. The ACABQ had stated the Commission's work had improved to a very large extent. The allocation of resources had frozen in real terms despite the fact that ECE membership had grown from 34 to 55 within a relatively short time. The Russian Federation supported the creation of a new professional post that the ACABQ had supported. In view of the high number of vacancies, measures should be taken to regularize the staffing situation in the Commission.

Mr. GODLEY (United States) said he had found duplications in the ECE and there were programmes that could be scaled back, without harming the work of the Commission. The environment programme was one of them. The demands on the secretariat could be reduced and non-priority tasks discarded to save money. Some programmes could be transferred to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The number of meetings could be reduced and prioritized. More savings could be made by holding fewer intergovernmental meetings and by issuing some publications less frequently. Some activities should be pursued at a central point, rather than at regional levels to save costs. Less analytical work in some areas could also be done. While assistance to Eastern Europe was useful, some of the ECE's work in that regard could be done more effectively by other entities, such as the World Trade Organization.

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MOVSES ABELIAN (Armenia) said he supported the views expressed by the Russian Federation. He asked for information regarding the $3 million from UNDP resources.

DORIAN MIHAI (Romania) said his country associated itself with the statement by the Russian Federation and asked for further information on the availability of the $3 million from the UNDP.

IGOR V. GOUMENNY (Ukraine) attached importance to the activities of the ECE. That body helped Eastern Europe to overcome difficulties occurring during the transitional period from centrally-planned to market economies. The five areas of environment, statistics, economic analysis, trade and transport had been singled out for ECE attention. Resources had been concentrated and there had been growth in the number of staff carrying out programmes.

The proposed economy measures, even in priority areas, were surprising, he said. The very modest resources allocated for cooperation in Europe should be maintained. He associated himself with comments concerning the transfer of $3 million in UNDP resources to ECE. The United Nations should approve the modest proposals to strengthen the ECE.

ANDRZEJ CHUDY (Poland) reserved the right to present Poland's views on the establishment of two additional posts during informal consultations.

Mr. MSELLE, Advisory Committee Chairman, said the information provided by ACABQ regarding the $3 million from UNDP was based on information it had received. It would be pertinent to ask the representatives of the Secretary- General to get additional information on that contribution from UNDP.

Mr. HALBWACHS, Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division of the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, said a number of posts had been redeployed to strengthen the central mechanism for programme oversight in ECE itself. The increase in programme support was due to efforts to enhance office automation, which would benefit the ECE as a whole. Resources had been redistributed within the programme itself in accordance with existing priorities.

SYED RAFIQUL ALOM (Bangladesh) also asked about the $3 million from UNDP. Was that amount from the fund or from UNDP's allocation for regional activities?

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