FIFTH COMMITTEE BEGINS PROGRAMME-BY-PROGRAMME DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MEDIUM-TERM PLAN

Press Release
GA/AB/3105

FIFTH COMMITTEE BEGINS PROGRAMME-BY-PROGRAMME DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MEDIUM-TERM PLAN

The General Assembly should help in the endeavours to eradicate colonialism by the year 2000, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) was told this morning as it discussed the various programmes in the proposed medium-term plan for 1998-2001.

The Committee this morning discussed programmes 1 (Political affairs); 2 (Peace-keeping operations); 3 (Outer space affairs); 4 (Legal affairs); 5 (Policy coordination and sustainable development); and 6 (Africa: New agenda for development).

Making the statement on decolonization, the representative of Papua New Guinea, who was the acting Chairman of the Special Committee on decolonization, said that the eradication of colonialism was a legal and moral obligation under the United Nations Charter. Therefore, decolonization should be treated as a subprogramme under programme 1 (Political affairs) and provided with adequate budgetary support.

Speaking for the European Union on programme 2 (Peace-keeping operations), Ireland's representative welcomed the Secretary-General's proposal to develop a rapidly deployable headquarters capability based in the Department of Peace-keeping Operations. The rapid-reaction capacity should be identified as an objective in the subprogramme on the planning of missions. United Nations capacity to plan, mount and operate peace-keeping missions should be strengthened, he added.

Speaking on programme 1 (Political affairs), the representative of Colombia, speaking for the Non-Aligned Movement, said disarmament should be one of the priorities of the medium-term plan. It should be a separate programme, with the main objective being the elimination of nuclear weapons. Other objectives should include the elimination of other weapons of mass destruction and curbing of the excessive production of conventional weapons.

On programme 6 (Africa: New agenda for development), Committee members expressed strong support for the Secretariat's proposals and the recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC). The representative of Cameroon said the recently concluded mid-term review of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s should be taken into account in programme 6. The conclusions of the Assembly plenary's discussions on the mid-term review should also be taken account of.

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Statements were also made by the representatives of Norway, Mexico, Indonesia, Egypt, India, Cuba, China, Syria, Libya, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Thailand, India, Poland, Canada, United States, Namibia, Japan, Bangladesh, Brazil and Jamaica. The United Nations Controller answered questions by delegations.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue discussing various programmes in the proposed medium-term plan.

Committee Work Programme

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this morning to begin consideration of the first four programmes of the proposed medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001: programme 1 (Political affairs); programme 2 (Peace-keeping operations); programme 3 (Peaceful uses of outer space); and programme 4 (Legal activities). The proposed medium-term, which provides the framework for the biennial programme budgets, is the principal policy directive of the United Nations; it is prepared by the Secretariat for consideration by Member States.

For its consideration of the proposed medium-term plan, the Committee has before it a comprehensive document (document A/51/6) which includes two forward-looking policy documents -- the Perspective and the Note -- which provide analyses of persistent international problems, challenges and emerging trends that need to be addressed by the international community in the next four years, as well as the role and the priorities of the Organization. The proposed medium-term plan also includes the outlines of 25 programmes in the form of fascicles (document A/51/6-fascicles).

The Committee has also before it the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) (document A/51/16-Part I) on the first part of its thirty-sixth session, which contains the outcome of the Committee's consideration of programme planning, coordination questions and reports of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU). Part II of the report contains the recommendations of the second part of the Committee's thirty-sixth session, held from 26 August to 6 September. The report reviews the 25 programmes of the proposed medium-term plan.

The programmes in the medium-term plan 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 which, therefore, govern the overall work of the responsible department/office. 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 which would cover an area of activity entrusted to a major organizational unit within a department or office. It identifies the objectives and expected results that are expected to be achieved at the end of four years. (For details of the 25 programmes of the medium-term plan, see Press Release GA/AB/3096 of 21 October.)

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

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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 of promoting peace in a dynamic context of globalization, democratization, marginalization and fragmentation. Responsibility for its implementation rests with the Department of Political Affairs.

In its consideration of programme 1, the members of the CPC expressed divergent opinions on the content and structure of the programme. In that regard, the Committee took note of the programme and recommended that the Assembly consider the programme taking into account the views expressed and amendments proposed by Member States. Some areas in which divergent views were expressed include the objectives of subprogramme 1.1 (Prevention, control and resolution of conflicts) and 1.2 (Assistance and support to the Secretary- General in the political aspects of his relationship with Member States); subprogramme 1.3 (Disarmament); and the extent to which the programme's activities were mandated.

Among a number of amendments proposed to the programme, the Committee recommends that a number of paragraphs be replaced or redrafted based on its proposals including the following paragraphs: 1.4 (d), on assistance to the Secretary-General and the Security Council; 1.13, on disarmament and non- proliferation/arms control issues -- of which many parts remain bracketed; 1.15, on the field of disarmament and international security; 1.16, on regional disarmament efforts; 1.17, on providing impartial, factual information on disarmament; and 1.30, on the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. It recommends the addition of paragraph 1.17 bis, on disarmament information, and the deletion of paragraph 1.31, on providing services and reports to the Trusteeship Council.

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 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

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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.

The CPC recommended that the Assembly approve programme 2 with a number of modifications, including deletions and additions and the replacement of a number of paragraphs. The following paragraphs should be replaced: 2.1, on the nature and role of peace-keeping; and 2.2, on the United Nations role in the maintenance of international peace and security. Also to be replaced are the following subparagraphs: 2.5 (b), on multiple tasks; subparagraph 2.5 (c), on active collaboration; and 2.6 (e), on Member States' participation in peace-keeping missions. Two new subparagraphs should be added: 2.6 (c) bis, on Headquarters support for missions and coordination of the various departments; and 2.6 (g), on developing a rapidly deployable team.

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.

The CPC recommended the approval of programme 3 with a number of modifications. It proposed the addition of a new paragraph -- 3.6 bis, on establishing and consolidating regional centres for space and technology education. Committee members also proposed the retention of the programme's former title, "Peaceful uses of outer space", and the replacement of all references to the new title.

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 the programme are to provide a unified central legal service for the Secretariat and the principal and other organs of the

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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.

The CPC recommended approval by the General Assembly of programme 4 -- Legal affairs with a number of modifications. Two new paragraphs were added: 4.6 bis, on the objective of preparing the Repertory of Practice of the United Nations Organs; and 4.17 bis, on further work to implement recent Assembly resolutions on the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate Terrorism.

Statements

PATRICK KELLY (Ireland), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the proposed plan must be seen as a whole and that any final agreement must be on all its constituent parts. When adopted, it should represent a satisfactory and balanced reflection of the views of the entire membership. He fully supported the structure of the proposed plan as submitted by the Secretary-General.

Regarding programme 1 (Political affairs), he said the programme was a priority for the Organization since it concerned activities which were central to the United Nations role under the Charter. On subprogramme 3 -- Disarmament, he said the legislative mandates for it included a number of resolutions which should be subjected to intergovernmental review to determine their continuing relevance. Those resolutions included resolution 2292 (XXVII) and 50/76 relating to the Declaration on the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, those providing for the establishment of the United Nations disarmament centres and resolution 42/45, on the relationship between disarmament and development. In the light of such a review, the European Union could support the adoption of programme 1.

JIMMY U. OVIA (Papua New Guinea) said he did not agree that the funding of the activities of the Special Committee on decolonization should be included in subprogramme 1.6 -- General Assembly affairs. Since it was inappropriately placed there, it should be moved and inserted as a subprogramme titled 1.8 -- Decolonization, under programme 1 (Political affairs). It should be given the appropriate budgetary support. Papua New Guinea, acting as the Chairman of the Decolonization Committee, had, in a letter dated 15 October, officially suggested wordings for the new subprogramme to the Fifth Committee, through the Chairman of the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization).

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The representative said that General Assembly resolution 46/181 of 19 December 1991 on the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism had, among other things, proclaimed 1990-2000 as the decade in which colonialism should be eradicated. Eradication of colonialism was a legal and moral obligation under the United Nations Charter. The aspects of the subprogramme were most relevant to the work of the Committee and the United Nations as a whole and in helping the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories in their progress towards self-determination. United Nations reforms should not be at the expense of programmes that had substantial work to complete, such as those under the Decolonization Committee. The Assembly should implement its resolutions to eradicate colonialism by the year 2000 and usher in a twenty-first century free from colonialism.

JORN GUTTEROD (Norway) said that the implementation of programme 1 (Political affairs) was the responsibility of the Department of Political Affairs. To ensure better coordination within the Secretariat, he supported the development of a mechanism, the framework for coordination, whereby the Departments of Political Affairs, Peace-keeping Operations and Humanitarian Affairs would work together to ensure an integrated approach to planning and conducting multifunctional peace-keeping missions. That mechanism should be further developed. The Centre for Disarmament Affairs had the potential for building up expertise to a level of competence which would attract recognition and interest from organizations not only within the United Nations itself. The Security Council Affairs Division should be adequately supported to function in an environment of unpredictable situations and permanent urgency. Regarding the subprogramme on General Assembly affairs, Member States should ensure that draft resolutions were adopted only in issues within the interest and competence of the Organization as a whole. The Secretary-General's efforts to simplify reporting on Assembly decisions should be supported.

MARTA PEÑA (Mexico) expressed support for the inclusion of a separate programme on disarmament into the medium-term plan. On subprogramme 1.3 -- Disarmament, the text submitted had not been balanced. She would work to reach agreement on that subprogramme. She had no objection to decolonization matters being treated separately.

AURELIO IRAGORRI (Colombia), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said disarmament should be one of the priorities of the medium-term plan. The subprogramme did not fully reflect the mandates of the various resolutions adopted by the Assembly on the subject. Disarmament should be included as a separate programme in the proposed plan -- separate from Political affairs. It should have as its main objective the elimination of nuclear weapons.

The programme should include the establishment of an ad hoc committee to initiate a programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a definite period of time, he continued. It should also include efforts to

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eliminate other weapons of mass destruction. The urgent need to curb the excessive production and increase in conventional weapons should also be included as an objective in that programme. The Non-Aligned Movement believed that the extension of the role of disarmament in the Secretariat's narrative should be considered very carefully. Such new approaches might divert attention from established priorities in that area.

Regarding subprogramme 1.6 -- General Assembly affairs, which included decolonization, he said a new subprogramme on decolonization should be included, as proposed by Papua New Guinea. The objectives would be to promote decolonization in the remaining territories and to strengthen the information on decolonization to mobilize world opinion on the issue. The concrete proposal had already been communicated to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee and was fully supported by the Non-Aligned Movement.

PRAYONO ATIYANTO (Indonesia) said he concurred with Colombia's statement on subprogramme 1.3 -- Disarmament. He fully supported the proposal that the subprogramme be treated as a separate and distinct programme. Indonesia, as Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement working group on disarmament, had asked that the Secretariat issue the statement made by his delegation in the Assembly's First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) on that issue as an official statement of the fifty-first General Assembly.

MOHAMED FATTAH (Egypt) said he supported the statement made by Colombia. Regarding the subprogramme 1.7 -- on the question of Palestine, he expressed reservations on the language in the subprogramme which did not reflect the true situation in Palestine. He expected that corrections would be made to that language.

VIJAY GOKHALE (India) said that he supported the views expressed by the representative of Colombia regarding subprogramme 1.3 -- Disarmament. He was ready to take part in informal consultations to reach agreement on other programmes and subprogrammes.

DULCE BUERGO (Cuba) supported the assessment of the format and the structure of the medium-term plan made by the delegate of Costa Rica, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China. She hoped agreement would be reached on the format of the medium-term plan, which was yet to be decided upon. She supported the views of the Non-Aligned Movement on subprogrammes 1.6 -- General Assembly affairs -- and 1.3 -- Disarmament. The document's current proposals on General Assembly affairs were not balanced. She was concerned that references to decolonization and to the question of Palestine were not given sufficient emphasis in some sections. The approach on disarmament was unbalanced, with predominance being given to conventional disarmament and not paying attention to nuclear disarmament. She supported the view of Colombia that disarmament should be a separate programme in the medium-term plan. On the General Assembly affairs subprogramme, she

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supported the views of the representative of Papua New Guinea concerning the establishment of a programme referring to decolonization. The debate in the CPC had been quite extensive and its proposals and amendments should serve as basis for the discussions in the Fifth Committee. She was ready to consider proposals submitted by the thirty-sixth session of the CPC.

ZHANG WANHAI (China) said that he supported the statements by Papua New Guinea and Colombia. The CPC had not reached consensus on programme 1 on political affairs. He hoped that the Assembly would be able to reach a consensus on many sensitive issues, such as preventive diplomacy and the establishment of a rapid reaction force. They should be discussed in depth to reach agreements which would be acceptable to all. He asked when the Secretariat would brief the Fifth Committee on the deliberations being held in the other Main Committees on the various programmes.

TAMMAM SULAIMAN (Syria) supported the statements by the representatives of Colombia and Indonesia. On the subprogramme on disarmament, he said that the document before the Committee was optimistic regarding the progress that had been made. The reality seemed to be the opposite. The United Nations must concentrate on nuclear disarmament. Disarmament should be made a separate programme and not relegated to the level of a subprogramme in the medium-term plan. On subprogramme 1.7 -- The question of Palestine, he said that the issue had not yet been resolved. The issue should be treated with the appropriate emphasis and concentration. The current proposals in the document limited the concerns felt regarding that issue.

YUKIO TAKASU, United Nations Controller, responding to the representative of China, said there was a document on the issue, regarding the intergovernmental review of the proposed medium-term plan, which had been requested initially by Uganda. The document indicated the specialized reviewing body for every programme, where possible. Some programmes, however, had no specialized reviewing body.

He drew attention to document A/C.5/51/10 which contained a letter from the President of the General Assembly to the Fifth Committee Chairman. Annexed to it was a letter from the Chairman of the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) transmitting responses of delegations in that Committee on its areas of competence in the medium-term plan. The delegations included Brazil, United States, United Kingdom and Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Special Committee on decolonization. The document did not contain a concluding recommendation on the issues addressed by that Committee.

NGONI FRANCIS SENGWE (Zimbabwe), Committee Chairman, noted that the proposals from the Fourth Committee were inconclusive.

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Mr. ATIYANTO (Indonesia) asked for more clarification on the issue of disarmament. Were there already some conclusions on the disarmament subprogramme in the First Committee? he asked. He reiterated his call for the statement of the Indonesian delegation on the matter in the First Committee to be issued as an official document.

IBRAHIM ELMONTASSER (Libya) said his delegation associated itself with the statements by Colombia, Indonesia and Syria on the subprogramme on disarmament. It was important to include an independent programme on that issue. Regarding subprogramme 1.7 -- The question on Palestine, he supported the representative of Egypt and also had reservations on the language used in the subprogramme narrative. More attention should be given to the issue of Palestine for the Organization to reach a just and lasting settlement of that situation.

Mr. TAKASU, United Nations Controller, responding to the representative of Indonesia, said the First Committee had sent a letter to the Fifth Committee Chairman which contained the written comments of various delegations in that Committee. They included a note by Brazil, another by Cuba, Indonesia, as the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement working group on disarmament, as well as comments by Ireland, Oman, Mexico, South Africa and the United States.

Speaking on programme 2 (Peace-keeping operations), Mr. IRAGORRI (Colombia) said that the work of the CPC should be recognized so as to facilitate agreement on the programmes.

Mr. KELLY (Ireland), speaking for the European Union, said that the United Nations capacity to plan, mount and operate peace-keeping missions should be strengthened. The Union would support the programme of work for the Department of Peace-keeping Operations as outlined in programme 2. It welcomed the proposal of the Secretary-General for the development of a rapidly deployable headquarters capability based in the Department of Peace- keeping Operations. The rapid-reaction capacity should be identified as an objective of the subprogramme on planning. Under subprogramme 2.3 -- Field administration and logistics support, greater attention should be devoted to efforts to strengthen the United Nations capacity for providing effective support, including logistics support to the start-up and expansion phases of peace-keeping missions. The Union supported, in that regard, the establishment of the Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy.

Ms. PEÑA (Mexico) said she would have no trouble endorsing the CPC's recommendations, as contained in its report. The work of the CPC and of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) were very important.

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Mr. GUTTEROD (Norway) said that the Secretary-General should be given the resources he needed to carry out missions that had been established. On subprogramme 2.1 -- Executive direction and policy, he welcomed efforts of the Secretariat to develop training, manuals, guidelines and procedures. He expressed concern that the Lessons Learned Unit depended on voluntary contributions. He welcomed steps to strengthen coordination with other units in the Secretariat such as the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs.

On subprogramme 2.2 -- Operations, he said that resources should match the mandates of each mission. The preparation and updating of "standard procedures for operations" was important in enhancing the competence and efficiency of deployed forces. The Department of Peace-keeping Operations was run by relatively old-fashioned administrative rules and regulations. Administrative procedures should be simplified. Regarding subprogramme 2.4 -- Planning, he said that the Secretariat's ability should be strengthened. The planned new headquarters element -- the Rapidly Deployable Missions Headquarters -- was important in that regard. The ability to mount and run peace-keeping missions should be funded from the regular budget, as far as possible.

LAMJAD SIAL (Pakistan) requested the Secretariat to provide information on loan officers and the detailed financial implications of such staff. Referring to his request for such information from the Under-Secretary-General for Peace-keeping Operations at a recent meeting on 24 October, he asked when that report would be submitted. Such information had been requested previously and should have been provided in September this year. He underlined the importance of reimbursement of arrears to troop-contributing States and referred to the large amount owed to his country, as the single largest troop contributor.

JAMES JONAH (Sierra Leone) said he was also awaiting the report on loan officers. He asked if it would come to the Fifth Committee.

Mr. TAKASU, United Nations Controller, said, because the issue of loan staff was a major one in the Department of Peace-keeping Operations as well as in other departments, the Secretary-General had decided to deal with it in a comprehensive manner in his report on the matter. It would be approached as a policy issue and as a programmatic issue and the report would also analyse the impact of loan staff on the international character of the Secretariat. The report was being finalized.

At this time, he would propose that the Secretariat offer data on the current situation in the Department of Peace-keeping Operations and await the report in order to discuss the policy issues. The basic data could be issued in a short space of time.

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Mr. JONAH (Sierra Leone) said his concern was the number of loan staff cited by Pakistan in the meeting on 24 October. The figure of 83 per cent of loan staff in a particular department was very high and needed to be clarified. The Organization could not continue to have a programme controlled by loan officers.

NESTER ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) expressed concern on the question of loaned officers. The question had been raised previously in the Committee. It was unfortunate that the comprehensive information promised the Committee had not been provided. Under which agenda item would the information on the loaned officers be provided? he asked.

BUSADEE SANTIPITAKS (Thailand) supported the views of those who had sought information on the loaned officers, which should be provided quickly. She supported the views of Pakistan on reimbursements to troop-contributing States.

Mr. GOKHALE (India) said that the demand for such information had been first made in the forty-eighth session of the Assembly. It was hard to believe that the Secretariat was still gathering its facts or deciding its policy on the matter.

Mr. TAKASU said that the Assembly had sought a report on the issue for some time now. The Secretary-General had decided that the issue of loaned officers was not the only problem in the Department of Peace-keeping Operations. Moreover, that the issue had much broader implications than being simply a financial matter. It encompassed personnel issues affecting not only the Department, but the Secretariat as a whole. The Office of Human Resources Management, Office of Legal Affairs and other departments depended on those types of officers. Therefore, it was difficult for all departments to hold consultations and come up with a common position for the Secretariat on loaned officers. The report on the loaned officers would come under several agenda items such as human resources, administrative and budgetary aspects of peace- keeping operations and the International Criminal Tribunals. More time was needed for the policy paper on the officers to be completed.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said he agreed that the issue was not simply a financial issue, but also a policy question. He had previously stated that the international character of the United Nations should not be undermined because of the financial crisis. He asked when the comprehensive report might be published.

Mr. JONAH (Sierra Leone) said that the issue was very serious. Some governments were picking and choosing the programmes they would support, while starving others of resources. In some instances, even the Secretary-General was not aware of the full extent of the use of loaned officers. He asked whether the consideration of programme 2 could not be held up, pending a clarification of the issue.

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Mr. SIAL (Pakistan) said that the issue of loaned officers was a very vital issue. The Secretary-General had been expected to submit the information by September.

Mr. TAKASU said that it was up to the Committee to decide how to treat the programme on peace-keeping operations, pending the receipt of the information on loaned officers. However, that would be unfair to the Department of Peace-keeping Operations. As to the timing of the publication of information on the loaned officers, he could not be precise, as he had to coordinate and consult with many other players.

The Committee, at the behest of its Chairman, decided to put aside the consideration of programme 2 (Peace-keeping operations) until it received the information sought by delegations.

Speaking on programme 3 (Peaceful uses of outer space), Ms. PEÑA (Mexico) said she fully endorsed the CPC's recommendations on the programme and would like them to be included in the respective draft resolution.

Mr. KELLY (Ireland), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said he continued to support the work performed by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. If that Committee was to remain a focus for the United Nations activities relating to the peaceful exploration of outer space, it must engage in a process of reform, including a thorough streamlining of its activities.

Mr. GOKHALE (India) said he fully supported the Secretary-General's proposals on the programme and the CPC's amendments.

JAN JAREMCZUK (Poland) said he supported the European Union's statement regarding programmes 1, 2 and 3.

Ms. BUERGO (Cuba) expressed complete support for the proposals on the peaceful uses of outer space as submitted by the Secretariat. She also supported the CPC's conclusions on the programme.

Speaking on programme 4 (Legal affairs), Ms. PEÑA (Mexico) endorsed the CPC's recommendations and conclusions on that programme.

Ms. BUERGO (Cuba) said she supported the Secretary-General's proposals on programme 4. However, she was informed that the Sixth Committee (Legal) had not completed its consideration of that programme and would try to do that this week. Providing details of that Committee's progress on programme 4 of the medium-term plan, she said the Fifth Committee should await the contribution of the Sixth Committee to ensure that its conclusions would be taken into account.

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Mr. KELLY (Ireland) said the European Union was not in a position to make a statement on the programme. It would make a statement later this afternoon, if the Committee agreed.

SAM HANSON (Canada) agreed with the delegation of Cuba. As a general rule, when replies were being awaited from other Main Committees, the programmes being considered by those committees should be kept open for discussions, pending the receipt of information.

Mr. KELLY (Ireland) said he would accept the deferral of the consideration of the programme until the input of the Sixth Committee had been received.

Mr. SENGWE (Zimbabwe), the Committee Chairman, said that similar problems might arise regarding programmes 5 (Policy coordination and sustainable development) to 8 (Development support and management services) since input had not been received from the relevant committees.

Ms. PEÑA (Mexico) said that since some delegations had expressed concern regarding the receipt of letters from the Main Committees, the programmes should be kept open. The programmes could be discussed initially and then revisited when the input from the Main Committees on various programmes was received. That would enable the Fifth Committee to use the conference services already available.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said he supported the proposal by the representative of Mexico.

Ms. BUERGO (Cuba) said she had no difficulty in working on that basis. Her delegation's main concern was that the Fifth Committee should consider the views of the other Main Committees. She asked if the Fifth Committee Chairman could ask his Fourth Committee counterpart to send his committee's input as soon as possible.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said the Fifth Committee Chairman should contact the chairmen of all the other Main Committees which had not sent in their replies and ask them to send in their input. That would allow the Fifth Committee to continue working on the medium-term plan.

THOMAS REPASCH (United States) supported the views of the representative of Uganda. However, there should be a timetable as to when all those views would be received so as to enable the Fifth Committee to continue with its work.

Speaking on programme 5 (Policy coordination and sustainable development), Ms. PEÑA (Mexico) supported the recommendations of the CPC on the programme.

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Ms. BUERGO (Cuba) said that it reserved the right to make comments after receiving the views of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial).

Mr. KELLY (Ireland) said that the medium-term plan should reflect the parameters of the recent conferences in the economic and social spheres. The role of the CPC should be reviewed. The special session of the Assembly on the review of Agenda 21 was important and the medium-term plan might have to be reviewed to reflect the outcome of that special session. On the reorganization of the Secretariat, he said that the departments responsible for development should be merged into one, under an under-secretary-general, to enhance the role of the United Nations in the development process.

Subprogramme 5.1 -- Policy coordination and inter-agency cooperation -- should be revised, he said. Regarding subprogramme 5.2 -- Advancement of women, he said that the division on the advancement of women should continue to develop analysis related to the mainstreaming of gender issues. Subprogramme 5.4 -- Sustainable development -- should place more emphasis on people-centred development. The objective of ensuring support for the Commission on Sustainable Development should be adequately reflected in the medium-term plan.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said he reserved the right to make a more detailed statement later. Ireland's representative had made some concrete proposals which would, among other things, entail a rewriting of programme 5 (Policy coordination and sustainable development). One of the major reasons why the Assembly's high-level working group on the strengthening of the United Nations was established was to look at such issues as the restructuring of the Secretariat. The concrete proposal by Ireland would best be discussed in that working group and not in the Fifth Committee.

Mr. KELLY (Ireland) said that the European Union had previously submitted the proposals on the three departments to the Secretary-General. The Union was ready to pursue those proposals in other forums, not necessarily under the Fifth Committee's consideration of the medium-term plan. He was not tabling those proposals for consideration as part of the debate on the medium- term plan.

Speaking on programme 6 (Africa: New agenda for development), Ms. PEÑA (Mexico) said she endorsed the CPC's conclusions and recommendations on programme 6. She drew attention to the fact that the programme had been presented differently from others because various parts of the Secretariat had responsibility for different aspects of it.

EMILIA KAUKUNGWA (Namibia) said she reserved the right to make comments on the programme at a later time.

Fifth Committee - 15 - Press Release GA/AB/3105 19th Meeting (AM) 4 November 1996

SIMON CHUINKAM (Cameroon) said the recently concluded mid-term review of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s had not been taken into account in programme 6. He expected that it would be included. He would give more details on the programme after the completion of the discussions on the mid-term review which was currently being examined in the plenary of the Assembly.

FUMIAKI TOYA (Japan), recalling the CPC's fruitful discussion on programme 6, said he fully endorsed its recommendations. The review of the New Agenda by the Assembly should be reflected in the proposed medium-term plan.

Mr. KELLY (Ireland), speaking on behalf of the European Union, said he supported programme 6 (Africa: New agenda for development) and had played an active role in the mid-term review of the New Agenda. The United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa was also important and should be reflected in the medium-term plan.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said he was not prepared to discuss the programme at this time and reserved the right to make a statement on it at a later stage. He agreed that views expressed in other forums needed to be taken into account in the consideration of programme 6.

Mr. GOKHALE (India) said he supported the CPC's recommendations on programme 6. Once the results of the mid-term review were finalized, elements of it should be incorporated into the programme.

Mr. HANSON (Canada) said he agreed with the proposals to incorporate the results of the mid-term review of the New Agenda into programme 6. One result was that there should be a further streamlining of the implementation of the New Agenda. The System-wide Special Initiative on Africa should be approached as a complement to the New Agenda.

Mr. ATIYANTO (Indonesia) said he strongly supported programme 6. He also stressed that it was important to include the results of the mid-term review in the Committee's deliberation of the agenda. He reserved the right to make a formal statement on the programme.

SYED ALOM (Bangladesh) expressed strong support for the programme. He agreed with the CPC's recommendations on the programme. He also agreed with Uganda that the Fifth Committee should take into account the concerns of the Second Committee and the results of the discussion of the mid-term review in the Assembly's plenary. The outcome of the two forums should be reflected on. All the updated concerns should be dovetailed into the programme. The programme would then be a more practical approach to the issue.

Fifth Committee - 16 - Press Release GA/AB/3105 19th Meeting (AM) 4 November 1996

Ms. BUERGO (Cuba) reserved the right to speak later on the programmes. There seemed to be a need for the Committee to work with the inputs from other committees. The decisions of the Assembly on the programme were valid.

Mr. IRAGORRI (Colombia) said that the political commitment of the United Nations to African development had widespread consensus. Colombia fully endorsed the CPC's recommendations on the programme. He supported Cameroon's proposal on the need to take into account the discussions on the matter going on in other forums.

MARCIO FAGUNDES (Brazil) said his delegation attached importance to initiatives in support of the development of Africa. He endorsed the statement by Cameroon regarding the mid-term review on programme 6 (Africa: New agenda for development).

SHEILA SEALY MONTEITH (Jamaica) supported the view that the Fifth Committee should consider the debates on the New Agenda in other forums.

Mr. ELMONTASSER (Libya) said he strongly supported the programme due to its utmost importance to his continent. He would speak in greater detail after receiving information about the consideration of the matter in other forums.

The Committee decided to keep the programme open for further discussions.

Referring to this afternoon's plans to discuss other programmes in the medium-term plan, Ms. PEÑA (Mexico) said that she would not be in a position to consider programmes 9 (Trade and development) and 11 (Human settlements), since the revised versions expected had not yet been made available. She could talk on programmes 7 (Economic and social information and policy analysis), 8 (Development support and management services) and 10 (Environment).

Ms. BUERGO (Cuba) said that she, like Mexico's representative, was still waiting for the revised versions of programmes 9 (Trade and development) and 11 (Human settlements).

MORTEZA MIRMOHAMED (Iran) said that he was still waiting for answers to the questions he asked in relation to the 1996-1997 budget and other agenda items.

The Committee Chairman said that programmes 9 (Trade and development) and 11 (Human settlements) would be deferred until the relevant documents, containing revisions, were submitted.

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