SECRETARY-GENERAL SHOULD REDUCE STAFF BY ATTRITION, AGREED TERMINATION, FIFTH COMMITTEE TOLD

Press Release
GA/AB/3096

SECRETARY-GENERAL SHOULD REDUCE STAFF BY ATTRITION, AGREED TERMINATION, FIFTH COMMITTEE TOLD

The Secretary-General should try to reduce staff by attrition and agreed termination, and offer staff more possibilities for leave without pay, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was told this afternoon as it continued considering human resources management and pattern of conferences, and also took up the proposed medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001.

Speaking on human resources management, the representative of Ireland, on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said the United Nations should continue granting priority to the recruitment and promotion of women, particularly at senior political and decision-making levels and that Member States should forward suitably qualified women for posts.

Under the consideration of pattern of conferences, the representative of Jamaica noted the progress made in the use of the optical disk system (ODS). Although training was being provided to missions for the use of such services, some developing countries' missions were yet to gain from those developments as they lacked the basic capacity to do so. Documents on the optical disk and the Internet should not replace reports on paper during the transition to organization-wide electronic documentation, she added.

The representatives of Ireland, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, and of Japan also spoke on the pattern of conferences.

Also speaking under that agenda item, the Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, Nitin Desai, stressed that the Secretariat could not accept attacks on the integrity and impartiality of the international civil service made by the delegation of Singapore. The Secretariat strongly objected to such tactics that undermined the propriety and dignity of the Organization's deliberative processes, he said.

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Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management Denis Halliday added that procedures had been established to investigate complaints against staff in a manner that afforded an accused staff member due process. The fundamental right to due process would be lost if public accusations were made against a named staff member in a Main Committee, where the accused could not defend himself or herself, he said.

Mr. Desai and Mr. Halliday were responding to a statement made by the representative of Singapore on 16 October in which he criticized a named Secretariat official in connection with her handling of an expert group meeting and its report.

Speaking this afternoon, the representative of Singapore said that, in order to make commendations of staff meaningful, criticisms should be made frankly when there were grounds for them.

For the Committee's consideration of the medium-term plan, the Chairman of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC), Jorge Osella (Argentina), introduced his Committee's report. The United Nations Controller, Yukio Takasu, introduced the proposed medium-term plan. The medium-term plan is the principal policy directive of the United Nations which provides the framework for the biennial regular budget. It draws together the multiplicity of mandates adopted by Member States to guide the work of the Organization and distil from them a set of concrete objectives and strategies over the four-year period (1998-2001).

Statements on how to discuss the medium-term plan were made by the representatives of Uganda, Ireland, Cuba, Canada, United States, Mexico and Brazil. Speaking on when and how to discuss the employment of retirees were the representatives of Mexico, Cuba, Mali and the United States. Mr. Halliday also spoke on the matter.

The Committee is scheduled to meet again at 3 p.m., tomorrow, Tuesday, 22 October, to continue discussing the implementation of reductions from the regular budget, human resources management, pattern of conferences and programme planning.

Committee Work Programme

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this afternoon to continue its consideration of pattern of conferences and the 1996-1997 programme budget. It will also hear the introduction of the item on the Organization's medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001.

Under the item pattern of conferences, the Committee has before it the report of the Committee on Conferences (document A/51/32 and Add.1) and two reports of the Secretary-General: one on measures to enhance utilization of conference services (document A/51/253), and the other on control and limitation of documentation (document A/51/268). In addition, two letters are before the Committee, one from the Chairman of the Committee on Conferences and the other from the Permanent Representative of Cuba. (For background on pattern of conferences, see Press Release GA/AB/3093 of 15 October.)

Regarding the 1996-1997 programme budget, the Committee will continue consideration of the Secretary-General's interim reports on measures to save $154 million from the biennium's budget (document A/C.5/50/57 and Add.1), as well as the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) on the savings proposed by the Secretary-General (document A/50/7/Add.16 and A/51/7/Add.1). (For background on the reports on the 1996- 1997 programme budget, see Press Release GA/AB/3093 of 15 October.)

Proposed Medium-term Plan for 1998-2001

For its consideration of the United Nations proposed medium-term plan for 1998-2001, the Committee has before it two introductory documents -- a "perspective", prepared by the Secretariat, and a note by the Secretary- General -- as well as the outlines of the 25 programmes of the proposed medium-term plan which are in the form of fascicles. Also before the Committee is a report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC), which includes the outcome of its consideration of the perspective.

The medium-term plan is the principal policy directive of the United Nations which provides the framework for the biennial programme budgets. It draws together the multiplicity of mandates adopted by Member States to guide the work of the Organization and distils from them a set of concrete objectives and strategies over the four-year period.

The "perspective" is a concise forward-looking policy document containing an analysis of persistent problems and challenges and emerging trends that would need to be addressed by the international community in the next four to six years and the role of the Organization in that undertaking. The perspective would indicate broad priority areas for the work of the

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Organization and would be amended only if pressing needs of an unforeseeable nature arose during the period covered.

The perspective of the proposed medium-term plan for the period 1998- 2001 (document A/51/6-perspective), prepared by the Secretariat, states that the medium-term plan is designed to enable the United Nations to address major global trends and problems that are likely to persist well into the next millennium. Those trends, identified as globalization, fragmentation, democratization and marginalization, all have profound effects, both on the state of the world and on the role, expectations and activities of the world Organization. They provide a challenging context for the United Nations programme of work for the medium term.

In expanding on the themes of globalization, fragmentation, democratization and marginalization, the document states that globalization encompasses financial flows, production, trade, information as well as environmental hazards, disease, the arms trade and illicit drugs. Many former national concerns have become globalized, defying the capacity of any single State to deal with them. Fragmentation also has both positive and powerfully negative consequences. At the extreme, it can lead to fanaticism, isolationism, separatism, ethnic hatred and violations of basic human rights. It has resulted in a growing number of conflicts taking place within, rather than among States. The global trend towards democratization and the increased empowerment of individuals and groups can counter the negative consequences of fragmentation by allowing for decentralization and the involvement of people in political and social processes, giving individuals more control over their own lives. At the international level, through international conferences, Member States have demonstrated their willingness to adopt a global democratic approach in determining common positions and policies on a wide range of key global issues.

While globalization, fragmentation and democratization have both positive and negative characteristics, marginalization has only a negative dimension, the document states. For some countries, segments of societies and individuals, globalization has resulted in more vulnerability, insecurity and uncertainty. Marginalization reaches to the individual, the State and to entire regions. Even conflicts can be marginalized in favour of those which seem to have more political interest or are given more media exposure. The least developed countries are at greatest risk of marginalization in the world economy. The number living under least developed conditions continues to expand. Over the past two decades, the increasing marginalization of Africa has been attributable to the fact that global economic growth has not resulted in commensurate demand for the primary commodities on which that continent is so heavily dependent. The experience of land-locked, small-island and drought-stricken States has also demonstrated how marginalization can proliferate in the absence of development.

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According to the document, the existing trends of the phenomena of globalization, fragmentation, democratization and marginalization provide a perspective and point to the need for the international community to address, in an integrated way, the challenges arising from globalization, to reduce the negative impact of fragmentation, to support democratization and to offset the forces of marginalization. Because of its comprehensive mandate to promote peace and development, the United Nations is uniquely placed to meet those challenges comprehensively and effectively. Globalization prescribes an enhanced role for the Organization, which must provide a framework to bring States and their peoples together so they can forge a consensus on global issues and on the national and global actions needed to address them.

In the period covered by the medium-term plan, the United Nations will strengthen action in the areas of international relations, international environmental management, global information flows and cooperation with new global actors, in particular to ensure full consideration of the concerns of developing countries, says the perspective. It will extend its central role in collecting and providing global development data and developing universal standards and methods for measuring progress in the human dimensions of development that have been the focus of the recent global conferences.

Because of the inseparability of many of the issues that need to be addressed, notes the document, a major objective for the plan period must be to enhance cooperation among all the bodies in the United Nations system, at the intergovernmental as well as at the Secretariat levels. Achieving sustained growth and sustainable development must remain a major global objective by building on the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Particular attention will have to be given to the negative aspects of globalization. The further development of international law, including international trade law, the law of the sea and the establishment of norms and standards, will be a central pillar of many of those activities.

The Organization will continue to develop and maintain international norms and standards for drug control and monitor and coordinate international drug control efforts, the document continues. In response to the information revolution, the United Nations must be an active partner with media and communications channels, both as an outreach to the peoples of the world as well as a means of influencing decision-making. When necessary, the Organization must bring the regional perspective to bear on global concerns. In the area of humanitarian emergencies and peace operations, it is necessary to define more precisely the respective roles of the United Nations and regional organizations.

Also, the perspective states, efforts towards disarmament must be sustained. Greater efforts are needed to cope with the proliferation and

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trade of small arms. Efforts must also be continued to coordinate the long- term global programme to remove land-mines and to establish a total ban on production of and trade in land-mines and their components. In response to natural and man-made disasters, the Organization must seek to mobilize resources more effectively, improve coordination of humanitarian agencies and obtain binding acceptance of international humanitarian laws and protection of relief workers.

Work in the area of democratization must include strengthening public administration and enhancing the institutions of civil society as well as a proactive and consistent approach to human rights abuses and universal standards of human rights, it goes on. Action in that field should include establishing a permanent international tribunal with clear jurisdiction and competence to apply international legislation in the field of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Also, a world public information campaign for human rights should be a part of the Organization's human rights strategy.

As a follow-up to international conferences, the United Nations must ensure that the agreements reached are translated into practice, the document continues. Within that overall effort, the development of Africa must become an even greater priority of the United Nations system, which must play a central role in that regard because the region's problems encompass political, economic, social and environmental dimensions that require the integrated approach that only the system can provide. The Organization must also address the marginalization of groups and individuals within societies, including girls and women, ethnic and religious groups, indigenous peoples, refugees and ex-combatants and orphans of war-torn areas. The issue of poverty in all its dimensions, particularly the disproportionate number of women among the world's poorest, must be addressed by the Organization. It must also ensure that the advancement of women is integrated as a central objective of the Organization's work.

Peacemaking methodologies and the capacity of staff in that field must be enhanced, says the document. Further training in analytical work and improved coordination of the United Nations system in peace-building are also necessary. The Organization must ensure that its peace efforts are accompanied by systematic efforts to ensure that the United Nations system's resources are brought together in peace-building programmes. It would be important to reach intergovernmental consensus on those areas and activities in which the Organization can or is required to play a major role, including integrating regional bodies and new global actors and other key actors of civil society into policy-making deliberations.

According to the document, the programmes of the medium-term plan are the Secretariat's proposed response to the challenges outlined in the perspective, in line with the mandates of Member States. It adds that

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ensuring that the United Nations of the twenty-first century is equipped to rise to the challenges will require the preservation of a strong, independent international civil service of the highest calibre. It will also depend, above all, on continuous, predictable and assured political and financial support from Member States. Uncertainties of either kind will have a deleterious effect on the activities of the medium-term plan and will inhibit the continuous, but necessary, process of reform and restructuring. In endorsing the plan, Member States will convey their willingness to confront together, through the United Nations, the challenges of today and of tomorrow, the perspective concludes.

A note by the Secretary-General on the proposed medium-term plan (document A/51/6-note) is prepared in response to the request by the CPC for a short and concise document to be considered for inclusion in the proposed medium-term plan based on agreements reached by intergovernmental bodies, including the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations. The annex to the note is structured in five sections: persistent problems; emerging trends; challenges; the role of the Organization; and directions to be pursued and priorities.

Under persistent problems, the Secretary-General looks at issues such as the following: the difficulties of controlling and resolving current internal conflicts; inter- and intra-State conflicts and tensions; the widening gap between the developed and developing countries; the imbalances and uncertainties that exist in the global economy; poverty and its related ills; and the critical situation of the least developed countries, including the debt burden and debt service, deterioration of the terms of trade and the decline in the overall level of official development assistance (ODA). Africa's critical socio-economic situation, the obligation of all States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the major obstacles to women's empowerment are also stressed.

The emerging trends calling for international cooperation are identified as intra-State conflicts and the threats of terrorism, international organized crime, illicit drugs and arms trafficking. Those are occurring alongside "a wave of democratization" at the national level, says the note. Globalization and growing interdependence in the world economy are also identified as trends, as are the critical situations in many developing countries and the special problems of countries with economies in transition. Transnational problems such as environmental hazards, population movement and disease also demand international cooperation. Although total net resource flows to developing countries has expanded rapidly in the 1990s, the overall decline in ODA is a serious cause for concern. Regarding human rights, there has been a marked increase in support by Member States for international action in favour of human rights and a willingness of States to upgrade national standards to international norms.

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The challenges outlined by the Secretary-General include attempting to rehabilitate States and civilian populations subjected to intra-State conflicts, to encourage the acceptance of the Secretary-General's good offices mission in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes, maximizing the benefits and minimizing the negative effects of globalization and interdependence and developing sound domestic polices as well as a favourable economic environment. The liberalization of trade regimes and the promotion of an open and secure multilateral trading system are central requirements for the promotion of economic development. There is an urgent need for effective, equitable, development-oriented and durable solutions to the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, including to the debt service problems of middle-income countries. Other challenges include the need for a reversal of the overall decline in ODA flows and to achieve the internationally agreed target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP) for such assistance, including 0.15 per cent for assistance to least developed countries, particularly in Africa. That region's critical socio-economic condition requires global partnership and solidarity, the note stresses.

The Organization's role will continue to be the pursuit of peace, development, equality and justice, says the Secretary-General. During the period of the medium-term plan, the United Nations will continue to give high priority to its role in the maintenance of peace and security. Action in that area will include providing clearer and more practical mandates for peace- keeping operations, improving the equipment and training of national contingents and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and of small weapons. There must be a reaffirmation of the right to self- determination for Non-Self-Governing Territories, the note states. In addition, the challenges of terrorism, transnational organized crime and illicit production, consumption and trafficking of drugs must be met through collective action.

In its efforts in the area of development, the Organization has an important role in identifying and analysing problems and in stimulating the willingness and capacity to take action, both nationally and among nations, says the Secretary-General. In that connection, the need for an integrated, interrelated and coherent implementation and coordinated follow-up to the recent series of United Nations global conferences and other meetings requires the urgent mobilization and more efficient use of resources for development. Commitments and targets agreed upon since 1990 to achieve the overall goal of poverty eradication should be fully implemented by governments in partnership with all development partners and the United Nations system. The system also has to play a major role in coordinating and implementing activities that address the critical situation in Africa. Special support should be given to the least developed countries in their development efforts. Seeking resources for development as well as promoting South-South cooperation are also significant challenges facing the Organization.

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In the pursuit of equality, says the note, coordination will be aimed at adopting and implementing an integrated and global United Nations approach to the promotion and protection of human rights, including procedures for promoting economic, social and cultural rights, the right to development and the rights of vulnerable groups. Action will also be taken to ensure the full and equal partnership of women in all spheres of life as equal partners and to attain the goals set in international forums for children and the protection of refugees and displaced persons. The challenges to be taken up in the area of justice include the continued promotion and development of international law to ensure that relations between States are based on the principles of justice, sovereign equality, universally recognized principles of international law and respect for the rule of law.

The Secretary-General concludes that in order to meet those challenges, the Organization will accord priority to the following areas of the medium- term plan: maintenance of peace and security; the promotion of sustained growth and sustainable development of developing countries; the development of Africa; the promotion of human rights; an effective response to humanitarian emergencies; and the promotion of justice and international law. In response to those priorities, Member States have agreed that the Organization should be reformed and modernized. The General Assembly should be revitalized, the Security Council should be expanded and its capacity and effectiveness as well as that of the Economic and Social Council should be strengthened.

The report of the CPC (document A/51/16-Part I) on the first part of its thirty-sixth session, held from 3 to 28 June, contains the outcome of the Committee's consideration of programme planning, coordination questions and reports of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU). The CPC makes recommendations to the Assembly on all aspects of the Organization's programme planning and issues related to the coordination of its activities.

Concerning the proposed medium-term plan, states the report, the Committee was unable to reach agreement on the content of the perspective document and consequently was not able to consider the document, as submitted, as an integral part of the medium-term plan. It therefore requested that the Secretary-General be asked to present to the Assembly's fifty-first session, through the Committee at the second part of its thirty-sixth session, a short and concise document to be considered for inclusion in the proposed medium- term plan outlining the broad areas of priority for the period of the medium-term plan, based on the relevant resolutions and decisions of the intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations, taking into account the views expressed by Member States in the Committee.

According to the report, many delegations deeply regretted that the Secretary-General had not observed the structure of the perspective as recommended by the Committee, namely the presentation of five distinct

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sections dealing with persistent problems, emerging trends, challenges to be faced by the international community, the role of the Organization and the directions to be pursued. They also requested that the perspective be rewritten to incorporate all the concerns of developing countries and to take into account more fully the consensus reached in the Fiftieth Anniversary Declaration. Other delegations, jointly presenting their views, rejected the perspective, asked that it be rewritten and presented guidelines for the elaboration of the new perspective. Many other delegations, however, noted that the perspective was forward-looking and policy-oriented, addressing persistent problems, emerging trends and many of the issues under consideration by the international community.

The Committee reiterated the importance Member States attached to the medium-term plan, the report states. It stressed the importance of ensuring that the medium-term plan reflected all mandated programmes and activities and agreed that legislative mandates for the work to be carried out should be included in the approved version of the plan. The Committee agreed that if the new format of the medium-term plan were adopted, it would be necessary, as recommended by the ACABQ, to amend the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation, which govern the preparation of the medium-term plan.

Under programme questions, the CPC considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations programme performance for the 1994- 1995 biennium and its conclusions on the proposed medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001. The report also contains the Committee's conclusion and recommendations on reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on strengthening the role of evaluation findings in programme design, delivery and policy directives; in-depth evaluation of the Department of Public Information (DPI); in-depth evaluation of the termination phase of peace- keeping operations; and the triennial review of the implementation of the CPC's recommendations on the evaluation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

On coordination questions, the Committee took up the annual overview report of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) and the report of the Joint Meetings of the CPC and the ACC. It also considered the Secretary- General's progress report on the implementation of the System-wide Plan of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development and the JIU's report on the evaluation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s together with the Secretary-General's and the ACC's comments. The ACC's report on the proposed system-wide plan for the advancement of women, 1996-2001, was also considered by the CPC. The JIU report on accountability, management improvement and oversight in the United Nations system was also reviewed.

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Although the CPC commended the quality of the Secretary-General's report on the Organization's programme performance for the 1994-1995 biennium, it expressed concern at the overall low level of implementation, in particular, the sharp decline, compared to the biennium 1992-1993, in the implementation of high-priority designated activities. The Committee requested the Secretary-General to refine the reporting methodology for the next programme performance report, so as to reflect better both the extent to which the activities of the programme of work had actually been mandated throughout the period concerned and, correspondingly, the extent to which they had actually been implemented. It recommended that appropriate measures be taken to ensure that programme managers adhered to the priorities mandated by the General Assembly. In that connection, specific mention was made of the programme of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

The Committee also expressed concern over the relatively large number of instances in which programme managers did not provide adequate reasons for the outputs that were terminated under their respective programmes and reiterated the Assembly's central role in changing or postponing activities and programmes, the report continues. Noting that a substantial amount of regular budget resources was being used to fund operational activities and an increasing proportion of extrabudgetary resources was being used to fund non-operational activities, the Committee felt that a clearer organizational distinction between those two areas of work would provide more transparency in resource utilization and ensure that resources of the regular budget were utilized to address the mandates for which they were appropriated.

The Committee recommended that the trend of numerous departments becoming involved in production and dissemination of material and services be rationalized in order to ensure that information activities were undertaken in close coordination with the DPI, the report states. The Committee also noted that more than 80 per cent of the outputs terminated had occurred in the Department of Political Affairs, the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the five regional commissions combined. It noted further that the Secretary-General's report had indicated that 181 outputs carried over from the 1992-1993 biennium had been further postponed to the biennium 1996-1997. The Committee agreed to recommend to the Assembly that it should take up that issue in the context of its consideration of the programme performance report at its fifty-first session.

Programmes of Medium-term Plan for 1998-2001

The programmes in the medium-term plan, contained in fascicles (document A/51/6-programmes 1-25), cover a period of four years and are presented along sectoral lines. Each programme consists of a short narrative which identifies the mandates that provide overall direction for the programme and therefore

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govern the overall work of the department/office responsible for the programme. It describes the broad approach of the department/office in carrying out the work and the results that are expected to be achieved in pursuance of the mandates. Each programme contains subprogrammes. Each subprogramme covers an area of activity entrusted to a major organizational unit within a department or office. The objectives and expected results to be achieved at the end of four years are identified.

The 25 programmes of the medium-term plan are: programme 1 -- Political affairs; programme 2 -- Peacekeeping operations; programme 3 -- Outer space affairs; programme 4 -- Legal affairs; programme 5 -- Policy coordination and sustainable development; programme 6 -- Africa: New Agenda for Development; programme 7 -- Economic and social information and policy analysis; programme 8 -- Development support and management services; programme 9 -- Trade and development; programme 10 -- Environment; programme 11 -- Human settlements; programme 12 -- Crime prevention and criminal justice; programme 13 -- International drug control; programme 14 -- Economic and social development in Africa; programme 15 -- Economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific; programme 16 -- Economic development in Europe; programme 17 -- Economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean; programme 18 -- Economic and social development in Western Asia; programme 19 -- Human rights; programme 20 -- Humanitarian assistance; programme 21 -- Protection and assistance to refugees; programme 22 -- Palestine refugees; programme 23 - - Public information; programme 24 -- Administrative services; and programme 25 -- Internal oversight.

Programme 1 -- Political Affairs

The programme contains the following seven subprogrammes: 1.1, prevention, control and resolution of conflicts; 1.2, assistance and support to the Secretary-General in the political aspects of his relations with Member States; 1.3, disarmament; 1.4, electoral assistance; 1.5, Security Council affairs; 1.6, General Assembly affairs; and 1.7, the question of Palestine. The programme's overall objectives are to assist States involved in disputes or conflicts to resolve their differences peacefully in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and, wherever possible, to prevent conflicts from arising. The programme is of particular relevance in meeting the challenge to promote peace in a dynamic context of globalization, democratization, marginalization and fragmentation. Responsibility for its implementation rests with the Department of Political Affairs.

Programme 2 -- Peace-keeping Operations

The programme contains the following four subprogrammes: 2.1, executive direction and policy; 2.2, operations; 2.3, field administration and logistics support; and 2.4, planning. As an overall objective it will pursue the

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maintenance and enhancement of a flexible capacity to undertake peace-keeping operations. The Department of Peace-keeping Operations will act as the operational arm of the Secretary-General for United Nations field operations. It has primary responsibility for managing, directing and supporting all peace-keeping operations that the Security Council or the General Assembly establish and for providing administrative and logistics support to good offices, preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and humanitarian missions, as required.

Programme 3 -- Outer Space Affairs

The programme contains only one subprogramme -- 3.1, outer space affairs. The overall objective of the programme is to promote international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space by assisting and collaborating with Member States, in particular developing countries, organizations within the United Nations system, national and international space-related organizations and the private sector in the areas of space science and technology with emphasis on the application of space technology for sustainable development. The Office of Outer Space Affairs will be responsible for the programme's implementation and the achievement of its objectives.

Programme 4 -- Legal Affairs

The programme contains the following six subprogrammes: 4.1, overall direction, management and coordination of legal advice and services to the United Nations as a whole; 4.2, general legal services to United Nations organs and programmes; 4.3, progressive development and codification of international law; 4.4, law of the sea and ocean affairs; 4.5, progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade; and 4.6, custody, registration and publication of treaties.

The overall objectives of this programme are to provide a unified central legal service for the Secretariat and the principal and other organs of the United Nations, to contribute to the progressive development and codification of international public and trade law, to promote the strengthening and development as well as the effective implementation of the international legal order for the seas and oceans, to register and publish treaties and to perform the depositary functions of the Secretary-General. The Office of Legal Affairs is responsible for the implementation of that programme and for the achievement of its objectives.

Programme 5 -- Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development

The programme contains the following four subprogrammes: 5.1, policy coordination and inter-agency cooperation; 5.2, advancement of women; 5.3,

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social development; and 5.4, sustainable development. The overall orientation of the programme is to facilitate better integration and coordination of the work of the United Nations in the economic and social spheres by providing support to the central policy-making bodies and coordination processes on the various aspects of development. The Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development has the responsibility for implementing the programme.

Programme 6 -- Africa: New Agenda for Development

The programme contains the following three subprogrammes: 6.1, mobilization of international support and global coordination; 6.2, monitoring, assessment and follow-up to the implementation of action programmes for African development; and 6.3, the campaign for global awareness of the critical economic situation in Africa. The general orientation of the programme is to mobilize the support and galvanize the efforts of the international community for African development; to ensure that African development remains one of the priorities of the international community; to promote a supportive framework for African development efforts; and to promote a coordinated and effective response by the United Nations system at the policy and operational levels in support of African development. The programme will be the joint responsibility of the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the DPI.

Programme 7 -- Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis

The programme contains the following four subprogrammes: 7.1, statistics; 7.2, Population; 7.3, global development trends, issues and policies; and 7.4, global approaches to social and micro-economic issues and policies. The general orientation of that programme is the promotion of an integrated approach to economic, social and environmental aspects of development, including the elaboration of perspectives that will provide for sustainable, equitable and participatory development. The programme will also develop and promote a coordinated approach to key policy issues. It will assist governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and others interested in determining development priorities at the international, national and local levels, and will contribute to devising policies and measures aimed at fulfilling them. The Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis will be responsible for the programme's implementation.

Programme 8 -- Development Support and Management Services

The programme contains two subprogrammes: 8.1, public administration and development management and 8.2, environment and social development management. The overall orientation of the programme is to enhance and

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support, through technical cooperation, the national efforts of Member States, in particular developing countries and the least developed among them, as well as economies in transition, to build their human and institutional capabilities and infrastructures to formulate and effectively implement economic and social policies that will contribute to sustainable, people- centred development and the eradication of poverty. The programme is under the responsibility of the Department for Development Support and Management Services.

Programme 9 -- Trade and Development

The programme contains the following seven subprogrammes: 9.1, globalization and development; 9.2, investment, enterprise development and technology; 9.3, international trade in goods and services, and commodity issues; 9.4, service infrastructure for development and trade efficiency; 9.5, least developed countries; 9.6, institutional development and support services for trade promotion, export development and international purchasing and supply management; and 9.7, market development and trade information. The programme will be implemented by UNCTAD and the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/World Trade Organization (ITC), the technical cooperation arm of the two organizations.

The mandates for the programme flow from the role and responsibilities assigned to the UNCTAD secretariat, the quadrennial sessions of the Conference, the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies, including the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and the Trade and Development Board and its subsidiary bodies. The programme mandates are also derived from the 1990 Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s, the Cartagena Commitment, adopted at the eighth session of UNCTAD in 1992, and, in particular, the Midrand Declaration and "A Partnership for Growth and Development", adopted at the ninth session of UNCTAD, in May.

Programme 10 -- Environment

The programme consists of the following five subprogrammes: 10.1, sustainable human management and use of natural resources; 10.2, sustainable production and consumption; 10.3, better environment for human health and well-being; 10.4, handling globalization and the environment; and 10.5, global and regional servicing and support. The programme's overall orientation is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has responsibility for the programme. Its broad approach will focus primarily on developing and promoting assessments,

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analysing and advising on policy options and assisting in the formulation of management strategies.

Programme 11 -- Human Settlements

The programme consists of the following three subprogrammes: 11.1, sustainable human settlement development; 11.2, adequate shelter for all; and 11.3, human settlement assessment and monitoring. The programme's overall orientation is to promote the adoption at the national and local levels of environmentally sustainable human settlement policies and programmes and thereby contribute to economic growth, and to further the political and social goals of democracy, peace and equity. It is under the responsibility of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat).

The broad approach to be followed by the Centre is to provide support to and work in partnership with governments, local authorities, non-governmental organizations and the private sector in responding to the social, economic and environmental consequences of rapid urbanization and in ensuring that settlements, especially cities and towns, have the capacity to play their key developmental role. Attention is also to be given to issues that adversely affect the living conditions of the poor and the marginalized.

Programme 12 -- Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

The programme consists of one subprogramme -- 12.1, crime prevention and criminal justice system. The programme's general orientation is to promote more effective international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice by devising strategies to deal with global problems and by assisting governments in their national and multilateral efforts to respond to changing crime trends. It will also create the necessary instruments and institutions for a more accountable, transparent and effective crime prevention and control system. The programme will also endeavour to transfer expertise in the effective and humane handling of offences, offenders and victims. The Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division will be responsible for the implementation of that programme.

Programme 13 -- International Drug Control

The programme consists of the following three subprogrammes: 13.1, coordination and promotion of international drug control; 13.2, international drug control monitoring and policy-making; and 13.3, prevention and reduction of drug abuse, elimination of illicit crops and suppression of illicit drug trafficking. Concerted international action is anchored in the consensus of the international community embodied in the drug control conventions: the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and its Protocol of 1972, the 1971

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Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

Programme 14 -- Economic and Social Development in Africa

The programme comprises the following five subprogrammes: 14.1, facilitating economic and social policy analysis; 14.2, enhancing food security and sustainable development; 14.3, strengthening development management; 14.4, harnessing information for development; and 14.5, promoting regional cooperation and integration. The programme's overall orientation is to promote economic and social development in Africa. The ECA, which is responsible for the programme's implementation, will seek to achieve the objective mainly through advocacy for policy measures and actions for adoption by African countries as well as the international community.

Programme 15 -- Economic and Social Development in Asia and Pacific

The programme consists of the following 10 subprogrammes: 15.1, regional economic cooperation: trade and investment; 15.2, regional economic cooperation: research and policy analysis; 15.3, regional economic cooperation: industry and technology; 15.4, environment and sustainable development; 15.5, poverty alleviation: social development; 15.6, poverty alleviation: rural and urban development; 15.7, poverty alleviation: population and development; 15.8, transport and communications; 15.9, statistics; 15.10, least developed, land-locked and island developing countries.

Programme 16 -- Economic Development in Europe

The programme comprises the following 10 subprogrammes: 16.1, environment; 16.2, transport; 16.3, statistics; 16.4, trade facilitation; 16.5, economic analysis; 16.6, energy; 16.7, development of international trade; 16.8, industry and technology; 16.9, agriculture and timber; and 16.10, human settlements. The programme's overall orientation, which is under the responsibility of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), is to strengthen the economic relations of the European countries, among themselves and with other countries of the world. In that context, the ECE must now exercise its advocacy role to maintain free trade, investment flows, cooperation, exchange of experience and the free flow of information and technology between the countries of the ECE region and the rest of the world. Furtherance of the integration efforts of countries in transition into the European and global economies is a priority. The programme also gives renewed attention to cooperation with neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean region, where economic and social development is essential to underpin the peace process in the Middle East and future cooperation between European and north African

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States in that area. Renewed attention is also given to the reconstruction of war-torn areas.

Programme 17 -- Economic and Social Development, Latin America and Caribbean

The programme consists of 11 subprogrammes: 17.1, linkages with the global economy, competitiveness and production specialization; 17.2, integration, open regionalism and regional cooperation; 17.3, productive, technological and entrepreneurial development; 17.4, macroeconomic equilibria, investment and financing; 17.5, social development and social equity; 17.6, strategic administration and State reform; 17.7, environmental and land resource sustainability; 17.8, population and development; 17.9, statistics and economic projections; 17.10, subregional activities in Mexico and Central America; and 17.11, subregional activities in the Caribbean.

The programme, under the responsibility of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), focuses its analytical work on designing public policies and facilitates the implementation of such policies, concentrating operational services in the areas of specialized information, advisory assistance, training and support for regional and international cooperation.

Programme 18 -- Economic and Social Development in Western Asia

The programme consists of the following five subprogrammes: 18.1, management of natural resources and environment; 18.2, improvement of the quality of life; 18.3, economic development and global changes; 18.4, coordination of policies and harmonization of norms and regulations for sectoral development; and 18.5, development, coordination and harmonization of statistics and information. The programme's overall orientation is to enhance sustainable development in the Western Asian region, promote regional cooperation and policy coordination and increase awareness of the economic, social, cultural, technological and environmental dimensions of development. The secretariat of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is responsible for the programme's implementation.

Programme 19 -- Human Rights

The programme consists of the following three subprogrammes: 19.1, right to development, research and analysis; 19.2, supporting human rights bodies and organs; and 19.3, advisory services, technical cooperation, support to human rights fact-finding procedures and field activities. The programme is under the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Its objectives are to provide leadership on human rights issues and to emphasize the importance of human rights on the international and national

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agendas; to promote international cooperation for human rights; to stimulate and coordinate action across the whole United Nations system; and to promote universal ratification and implementation of international standards and to assist in the development of new norms. Other objectives are: to support human rights organs and treaty-monitoring bodies; to anticipate potential serious violations and react to violations; to emphasize preventive human rights action and promote the establishment of national human rights infrastructures; to undertake human rights field activities and operations and to provide education, information, advisory services and technical assistance in the field of human rights.

Programme 20 -- Humanitarian Assistance

The programme comprises the following five subprogrammes: 20.1, policy and analysis; 20.2, complex emergencies; 20.3, natural disaster reduction; 20.4, disaster relief; and 20.5, humanitarian emergency information. The programme's overall orientation is to ensure the timely, coherent and coordinated response of the international community to disasters and emergencies; to promote prevention, preparedness and mitigation measures aimed at the reduction of vulnerability of those affected by such events; and to facilitate the elaboration of policies to guide the work of the humanitarian community and the smooth transition from emergency relief to rehabilitation and development. The programme is under the responsibility of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs.

Programme 21 -- Protection and Assistance to Refugees

The programme comprises two subprogrammes: 21.1, international protection and 21.2, assistance. The programme's orientation is to provide international protection to refugees, to seek permanent solutions to their problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to those groups. The pursuit of durable solutions to the problems of refugees is the principal objective of the programme. The Office of the UNHCR is responsible for the achievement of the programme's objectives.

Programme 22 -- Palestinian Refugees

The programme's overall strategy is to provide assistance to the Palestine refugee population until matters are resolved. That assistance involves the provision of essential education, health and relief and social services to eligible Palestine refugees living in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Emergency relief assistance and ad hoc assistance in response to requests from the Palestinian Authority, the host governments and the Secretary-General are likewise rendered to the beneficiary population. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is responsible for the programmes implementation.

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Programme 23 -- Public Information

The programme consists of the following four subprogrammes: 23.1, promotional services; 23.2, information services; 23.3, library services; and 23.4, publication services. The programme's overall objective is to promote, in cooperation with governments of Member States, media organizations, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and the business community, public understanding of the objectives and the work of the Organization. It emphasizes developing information strategies, promotional activities and public services that will highlight the responsibilities and capabilities of the United Nations in carrying out its tasks in the fields of sustainable development, peace and security, democracy, human rights and humanitarian assistance. The DPI is responsible for the implementation of that programme.

Programme 24 -- Administrative Services

The programmes' five subprogrammes are: 24.1, management services; 24.2 programme planning, budget and accounts; 24.3, human resource management; 24.4, support services; and 24.5, conference services. The overall objectives of that programme are to provide an effective administrative structure and services in support of the substantive programmes of the Organization and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization in the administrative, financial and human resource support and conference servicing areas. The Department of Administration and Management at Headquarters and the United Nations Offices at Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi are responsible for the implementation of the programme and for the achievement of its objectives.

Programme 25 -- Internal Oversight

The programme's four subprogrammes are: 25.1, central evaluation; 25.2, audit and management consulting; 25.3, central monitoring and inspection; and 25.4, investigations. The programme's general orientation is to attain more effective programme implementation and better internal control of the Organization by assisting the Secretary-General in fulfilling its internal oversight responsibilities with respect to staff and other resources of the Organization. The Office of Internal Oversight Services is responsible for its implementation.

Statements on Pattern of Conferences

FRANK SMYTH (Ireland) made a statement on behalf of the European Union, as well as Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Norway. He said the Union would support the adoption of the draft revised calendar of conferences and meetings for 1997, even though it was more extensive. The issue of the need for

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additional resources should be addressed under normal budgetary procedures. The large number of meetings and conferences showed a need for careful assessment across the Organization in advance of decisions to hold such events. Cost effectiveness and the existing level of use of conference- servicing resources should be taken into account when granting permission for meetings at established headquarters.

The representative expressed concern about the fall in both the overall utilization factor and the average utilization factor since last year -- below the benchmark figure of 80 per cent. It was ironic that the factors should fall even as the number of meetings rose. None of the six Main Committees had reached the benchmark figure in the first part of the fiftieth session. The high cost of the late start of meetings for one year -- estimated at $875,000 -- should be a lesson to all delegations. The Fifth Committee's efforts to start meetings promptly should be maintained.

A system of accurate conference cost-accounting system for the Office of Conference and Support Services should be developed urgently to ease the search for more conference servicing efficiencies, he continued. Existing page limits for documents from the Secretariat should be endorsed. Member States' work would be enhanced by more concise and timely documents. The JIU should finalize as soon as possible a survey on the role of publications in the implementation of mandates and the extent to which documents should be made more cost effective. Committees should streamline their documentation and/or replace verbatim records of meetings with unedited transcripts. In addition, documents should be submitted on time.

Welcoming the savings of more than $1 million per biennium in typesetting costs, he said technology could provide Member States easier access to information. He supported the widest possible use of the optical disk system (ODS) which should be made available through the Internet. He welcomed the programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to connect to the Internet all New York missions which ask for the service. The European Union strongly opposed the tape recording of informal consultations, except in exceptional circumstances. Recording should be undertaken only when requested by intergovernmental bodies.

HIDEKI GODA (Japan) welcomed the Secretariat's efforts in the area of conference services and urged that it do more in the light of the present critical financial situation. Member States should take action in support of conference services, for example by being punctual for meetings. He regretted the fact that meeting statistics showed that the overall utilization factor fell to 76 per cent from 77 per cent in 1994, which was below the 80 per cent benchmark figure. However, he welcomed the efforts to improve the utilization of conference services. The analysis of meeting statistics should be improved

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to provide a more accurate picture of utilization, and the Secretariat should study the issue.

He endorsed the establishment of a conference service coordination mechanism between the Secretariat and Member States at the United Nations Office at Vienna as well as at other headquarters. He requested that the Secretariat develop a comprehensive cost-accounting system for conference services. Regarding recordings of informal meetings, he endorsed the Committee on Conferences' recommendation that such recordings should be done at the request of the intergovernmental bodies concerned.

SHEILA SEALY MONTEITH (Jamaica) said it was necessary to reduce the level of inefficiencies that had developed over time. It was ironic that technological innovations that could lead to productivity gains could be deferred, thereby negating the very savings that were being sought. She noted the progress being made regarding the use of the ODS. The training services provided to missions by the Secretariat had been useful in equipping them to make better use of such services. However, some developing countries' missions were yet to gain from those developments, as they lacked the basic capacity to do so. The availability of documents through the optical disk and the Internet should not become alternatives to the traditional documentation during the transition to organization-wide electronic documentation.

The representative said that meetings of regional and other major groups were part of the process of intergovernmental discussions, contributing to the efficient conduct of the meeting of intergovernmental bodies. She was concerned that more adequate provisions could not be made for the meetings of the regional and other major groups. The recommendation of the Committee on Conferences on ways in which intergovernmental bodies could take into account the meetings of regional and other groupings in their use of conference services should be supported.

Turning to the comments by the Assistant Secretary-General for Conference and Support Services and United Nations Security Coordinator, Benon Sevan, on the sterling contributions made by staff under very difficult circumstances, she said her delegation supported those sentiments and extended them to the entire international civil service. "We wish to pay tribute to the members of the staff of the Secretariat wherever they serve, for their service over the years, and especially during the difficult periods of financial distress which the Organization has faced. At a time when insecurity and general uncertainty about conditions of service have served to dampen morale, we need more than ever to be sensitive to their situation."

There were established procedures for dealing with failure to adhere to standards of integrity and competence, she said, adding that respecting them would send an important signal. Positive action could be taken whenever there

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was a need to revise procedures for conducting meetings at the intergovernmental level. "My delegation strongly reaffirms the confidence that it has long maintained in the staff of the United Nations Secretariat", she concluded.

Statements on Human Resources Management

Mr. SMYTH (Ireland), speaking on behalf of the European Union and Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Slovak Republic, said the Union recognized that the staff of the Secretariat were an important asset for the Organization, which had been working under financial constraints. The Union supported the introduction of the performance appraisal system (PAS). The Secretariat should inform Member States of any findings of the review it intended to undertake when the first cycle of the PAS was completed. The Union supported the view that staff development and career support was a prerequisite for the long-term consolidation of a motivated and flexible workforce. A planned process of rotation of personnel between Headquarters and duty stations and among departments would be very useful. Such mobility should be considered in planning careers and in promotions. He welcomed the introduction in 1997 of managed assignments for junior professionals. The principle of decentralization had found an audience with the European Union and could help impose an ethos of greater responsibility and effectiveness on the Organization.

The representative urged the Secretary-General to try to achieve staff reductions by attrition and agreed termination providing, if necessary, additional early separation programmes based on the existing staff rules. More possibilities for leave without pay should be offered to staff. On the composition of the Secretariat, the Union welcomed the reiteration of the principles governing the recruitment of staff which derived from the United Nations Charter's Article 101, paragraph 3, which stressed highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. The desirable ranges formula provided an indicator of the practice of staff recruitment on as wide a geographical base as possible.

He noted that the number of States that were unrepresented and under- represented had declined slightly. While the Union was a strong supporter of the United Nations, it regretted the fact that one of its members appeared in the list of under-represented countries and that some of its members fell below the mid-point of the range. Noting that the national competitive examinations helped to ensure that staff were from a wide geographical area, he sought clarification on why six candidates were hired outside the examination process. The United Nations should continue according priority to the recruitment and promotion of women, particularly at senior political and decision-making levels. Member States should forward suitably qualified women

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for posts. The report of the ACABQ on the employment of retirees deserved support, he added.

On the privileges and immunities of officials of United Nations personnel, he said it was the responsibility of the host governments, their authorities and parties to a conflict to guarantee respect for the rights of such personnel. All governments had the obligation under international law to maintain order and protect persons within their jurisdiction. It was unacceptable that 10 civilian staff members had lost their lives since July 1995 while others had been detained or arrested arbitrarily. Governments should prosecute those guilty of violating the rights of personnel. The fate of Alec Collett, kidnapped in Lebanon in March 1985, should be clarified and he should be released immediately. The Union condemned all acts of terrorism, he said, stressing that the Union would never propose any cuts in the resources devoted to the safety and security of United Nations personnel.

RENATA ARCHINI (Italy), noting that her country was under-represented in staff of the United Nations, said that she would cooperate with the Secretariat to hold a national examination for Italy at the earliest possible date. If that could not to be done, she asked whether it would be possible to recruit the persons who were successful in the 1993 national examination but were placed on a roster. Such action would even be cost effective, she added.

Other Statements on Pattern of Conferences

NITIN DESAI, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, spoke in response to a statement made in the Fifth Committee by the representative of Singapore on 16 October in which he had expressed concerns about an Expert Group Meeting on Violence against Migrant Workers, which was held in Manila earlier this year by the Division for the Advancement of Women.

Reviewing the meeting's mandates, he said the meeting fell into the category of an ad hoc expert group meeting, the conclusions of which would be considered by the Secretary-General for submission to the Assembly. Providing the background to the convening of expert group meetings, their structure, their financing and procedures, he said in the meeting in question, a total of six experts on violence against women migrant workers were selected, and included persons with academic interests on the matter as well as non- governmental participants and government policy makers. As was always the case, an effort was made to ensure a balanced group. One participant was from Singapore and there were observers from 13 Member States from a number of regions.

Ad hoc group meetings were purely advisory and did not bind anyone, he continued. The purpose was to allow the free discussion of a wide variety of

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ideas, including from non-governmental bodies. Such meetings elected their own officers and were responsible for deciding on a programme of work. Reports of such meetings were adopted by consensus. The procedures followed in Manila had been followed in some 24 expert group meetings organized by the Division for the Advancement of Women since 1986 and since the Manila meeting. On no occasion had those practices been a problem for either experts or observers. When procedural difficulties occurred in the Manila meeting, efforts were made to accommodate those concerns, primarily those of the governmental observers from Singapore. In addition, changes were made in the meeting report to accommodate that delegation.

However, inadvertently, an advance unedited version of the report to the General Assembly was issued, he said. When that was drawn to the attention of the Secretariat, corrective measures had been taken immediately. The edited text did not contain errors. That text had since been reproduced and would be considered by the Assembly's Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural). He reiterated that all efforts had been made to follow established procedures in the ad hoc group meetings held in Manila. The Division for the Advancement of Women had made every effort to accomodate concerns and views of both the experts and observers in the conduct of the meeting and in the preparation of the report. Apologies had been made to the Singapore delegation for the technical error in issuing the advance unedited version of the report. When the Third Committee reviewed the report, Member States would be free to make their comments on it.

He said he had taken steps to ensure that the circumstances which had led to the unfortunate situation did not recur. However, the Secretariat could not accept attacks on the integrity and impartiality of the international civil service made by the delegation of Singapore. While the Secretariat was not immune to error, such errors should not be grounds for questioning its commitments to serving governments impartially. The Secretariat's track record in that regard spoke for itself. The errors made were no grounds for highly charged and personal accusations against individual staff members. The Secretariat strongly objected to such tactics that undermine the propriety and dignity of the Organization's deliberative processes.

DENIS HALLIDAY, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management, said, as the Secretary-General's representative for matters related to human resources, that there were procedures for delegations to raise the issue of staff performance. Article 97 of the United Nations Charter provided for the recruitment of staff, with the Secretary-General as the Chief Administrative Officer of the United Nations. Staff were accountable solely to him. If a delegation was dissatisfied with either the conduct or the performance of a member of staff, it was appropriate to make a complaint with the head of the staff member's department or with the

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Secretary-General himself. After a complaint was lodged, there were established investigation procedures which would ensure that the accused staff member was afforded due process. The staff could respond to the charges and have that response impartially addressed by the Secretary-General to whom the staff was accountable. That fundamental right to due process would be lost if public accusations were made against a named staff member in a Main Committee, where the accused staff could not defend him or herself.

The delegation of Singapore, he said, had indicated that unless action was taken, his delegation would find it difficult to support increases in staff remuneration. The Secretary-General was responsible for the efficient functioning of the Secretariat and had the duty of investigating complaints against staff objectively and fairly. The Fifth Committee, for its part, was responsible for financial and budgetary matters, including the level of remuneration. The question of a salary increase was not relevant to the assessment of a complaint against a named staff member. The Secretariat would act fairly and impartially in addressing complaints against staff and could not be influenced by unrelated factors. Individual members of the Secretariat were not immune from making mistakes. If those occurred, proper procedures existed and were applied by the Secretary-General under the Staff Rules and Regulations.

HO TONG YEN (Singapore) expressed appreciation for the comments of Mr. Desai and Mr. Halliday. He was convinced that the conduct of the meeting in question had not been in order. His delegation had brought up the matter in good faith. The Fifth Committee had to be informed whenever there were departures from proper procedures. Singapore was not complaining about the substance of the report, which had since been corrected. He did not like the Secretariat's attempt to suppress views it did not agree with. There were reasons for naming the staff concerned. One of them was that he did not want to bother the Secretariat with general criticisms of staff whose good work was being soiled by a few. In order to make commendations of staff meaningful, criticisms should be made frankly when there were grounds for them.

All United Nations meetings should abide by the rules of procedures that had been established by the Organization, he said. The procedures for complaints had been noted and the issue had previously been taken to the attention of Mr. Desai who had said he would take action. But after a repetition of mistakes, the matter had to be addressed further. The problems that happened on the Expert Group Meeting should not recur. Mistakes were unavoidable but his delegation had seen a pattern of mistakes and half truths, which it could not tolerate. The Permanent Representative of Singapore reserved the right to respond to the statements made by the representatives of the Secretariat at an appropriate time.

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Statements on Medium-term Plan

YUKIO TAKASU, United Nations Controller, introduced the proposed medium- term plan and emphasized its importance to the United Nations.

JORGE OSELLA (Argentina), Chairman of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC), introduced his Committee's report on the medium-term plan and other relevant documents. The medium-term plan was a principal policy document for the Organization, he stressed.

NESTER ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) asked about the extent to which intergovernmental bodies had been involved in the restructuring of the programmes carried out by the Secretariat. He expressed interest in learning more about what was being planned regarding UNCTAD. Also, how would the Secretariat live with the mandates that were submitted after the medium-term plan had been proposed. Those included the results of the ninth session of the Conference (UNCTAD IX), the outcome of the recent second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), and reviews of the programmes of various parts of the Organization. He sympathized with the procedure suggested last week by Mexico's delegate, which would have the Committee discuss the programmes in the medium-term plan individually.

PATRICK KELLY (Ireland) said that the European Union had noted the proposal to structure the discussions on the medium-term plan through the cluster approach, with several programmes being lumped together for consideration. That would facilitate the efficient use of resources. It did not mean that the Union would not discuss the programmes in the plan individually.

DULCE BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said that much of what her delegation had intended to say had been said by Uganda's representative. As a member of the CPC, her delegation had actively discussed the medium-term plan but, since the Assembly was the highest intergovernmental body in the United Nations, it should carefully consider the programmes. A debate similar to those in the CPC, conducted programme-by-programme, would facilitate discussions in the Fifth Committee. The medium-term plan would be one of the most important issues to be discussed this session as it would deal with the activities to be carried out in the next four years. The reviews related to the programmes of UNCTAD and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) should be submitted to the Fifth Committee for consideration.

SAM HANSON (Canada) said he supported the clustering approach proposed by the Chairman of the Fifth Committee as it would ensure the efficient use of time. An adoption of the CPC's approach would risk a repetition of a debate that had already taken place in that forum.

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THOMAS A. REPASCH Jr. (United States) associated his delegation with the statements by Canada and the European Union. The United States had taken part in the CPC discussions on the medium-term plan. He would not want to go through that discussion again, line-item by line-item.

MARTA PENA (Mexico) said she had asked for delegations to be reminded as to when a decision was taken to deal with the programmes in the medium-term plan in clusters and how the clusters would be constituted. Her delegation was ready to find a solution on the matter. She was interested in the response that would be given to Uganda on programmes 9 (trade and development) and 11 (human settlements).

JOSE ANTONIO MARCONDES DE CARVALHO (Brazil) associated himself with the views expressed by Mexico, Cuba and Uganda. How would the Secretariat cluster the programmes? he asked. There was a danger that clustering could set a precedent to the work of the Organization. The programmes should be discussed in the order presented in the medium-term plan. He expressed unease regarding the clustering of programmes, especially after their numbers had been reduced in the new proposed medium-term plan.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) expressed confidence in the Secretariat's ability to cluster the programmes to ease the Committee's work. But it was useful to follow the precedent that had been set in the past. Such an approach would follow Mexico's suggestion. He did not want a situation in which the Committee would lose focus on some specific aspects of some programmes. Since the CPC was a subsidiary of the Assembly, the Committee should not simply bury its head and avoid giving the matter the attention it deserved.

Mr. KELLY (Ireland) said he understood that structuring was intended for discussions only. The Union would express its views on the substance of the issue at a later date.

NGONI FRANCIS SENGWE (Zimbabwe), Chairman of the Fifth Committee, said, on the issue of retirees, that the Committee had decided to consider a report on the employment of retirees no later than 15 October. He said that the United States had proposed that informal consultations should not be started until later this week.

Ms. PENA (Mexico) said she was concerned by the request to delay considering the question of hiring retirees. She wondered for how long some delegations would want the matter to be delayed. The Secretariat should clarify the implications of such delays.

Ms. BUERGO (Cuba) associated herself with Mexico's views.

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MAHAMANE MAIGA (Mali) said there was no need for a long debate on the issue. The report was simple and action could be taken before the contracts of those concerned ended. The Secretariat should give some clarifications.

VIRGINIA GRAHAM (United States) said her delegation had stated that, usually, formal meetings provided a forum for the statement of positions while informals were used to seek compromise and consensus. If the informal meetings were conducted too early, Member States would have to state and repeat their positions, first in the informal meetings and later for the record in formal meetings. She would be guided by the Chairman's wishes, she added.

The CHAIRMAN proposed that the informals could be started, due to the time constraints before the Committee.

Mr. HALLIDAY said that at the end of the month the Secretariat would face a situation in which the contracts of some would run out, without extension. New people would have to be hired, something that was not cost- effective or efficient. It was important for the Committee to meet the deadline that had been set.

The CHAIRMAN suggested that the informal consultations should be held as from tomorrow, if no objections were raised.

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