FRANCE, NEW ZEALAND RECOMMENDED FOR SEATS ON ACABQ, DEFEATING UNITED STATES IN FIFTH COMMITTEE VOTE
Press Release
GA/AB/3110
FRANCE, NEW ZEALAND RECOMMENDED FOR SEATS ON ACABQ, DEFEATING UNITED STATES IN FIFTH COMMITTEE VOTE
19961108Committee Also Recommends Appointments to Committee on Contributions, Civil Service Commission, Investments Committee, Administrative Tribunal, Board of Auditors
Candidates from France and New Zealand were recommended for appointment to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) this morning, defeating the candidate from the United States in a secret ballot, as the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met to recommend individuals for appointment by the General Assembly to six subsidiary bodies.
The Committee recommended candidates to fill vacancies on the ACABQ, the Committee on Contributions, the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the Board of Auditors, the Investments Committee, and the United Nations Administrative Tribunal. Most candidates were recommended without a vote, but the Committee decided by secret balloting for the ACABQ and the Committee on Contributions, as the number of candidates for those bodies exceeded the vacancies or slots allocated to a regional group.
For three-year terms of office on the ACABQ beginning 1 January 1997, the Fifth Committee recommended the appointment of Ammar Amari (Tunisia), Gerard Biraud (France) and Denise Almao (New Zealand), and the reappointment of Leonid E. Bidnyi (Russian Federation) and Norma Goicochea Estenoz (Cuba). Mr. Biraud (France) and Ms. Almao (New Zealand) were elected by secret ballot.
The 16-member ACABQ is responsible for expert examination of the United Nations regular and peace-keeping budgets and assisting the Fifth Committee. On behalf of the Assembly, the body also examines the administrative budgets of the specialized agencies and advises on other administrative and financial matters referred to it. Those recommended for appointment today will join members from the following countries: Barbados, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mali, Romania, Syria and Tanzania.
Fifth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/AB/3110 24th Meeting (AM) 8 November 1996
For three-year terms on the Committee on Contributions beginning 1 January 1997, the Fifth Committee recommended the appointment of: Iqbal Akhund (Pakistan), Evgueni N. Deineko (Russian Federation), Alvaro Gurgel de Alencar (Brazil), Isabelle Klais (Germany), Ju Kuilin (China), and Ugo Sessi (Italy). Mr. Gurgel de Alencar (Brazil), Ms. Klais (Germany), and Mr. Sessi (Italy) were chosen by secret ballot. The candidates from Brazil and Italy were reappointed.
For four-year terms of office beginning 1 January 1997 on the ICSC, the Fifth Committee recommended the appointment of: Corazon Alma de Leon (Philippines), El Hassane Zahid (Morocco), and the reappointment of Alexander Chepourin (Russian Federation), Humayun Kabir (Bangladesh), and Ernest Rusita (Uganda).
The Committee also recommended the reappointment of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of Ghana to the Board of Auditors for a three-year term commencing 1 July 1997.
For the Investments Committee, the Committee recommended confirmation of the Secretary-General's appointment of Peter Stormonth Darling (United Kingdom) and Fernando Chico Pardo (Mexico), and the reappointment of Francine Bovich (United States) and Takeshi Ohta (Japan), for three-year terms of office beginning on 1 January 1997.
For the United Nations Administrative Tribunal, the Committee recommended the appointment of Julio Barboza (Argentina) and the reappointment of Mayer Gabay (Israel) for three-year terms beginning 1 January 1997.
The Fifth Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue discussing the 1996-1997 programme budget and proceed with its programme-by- programme review of the proposed medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001.
Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this morning to make recommendations on appointments to a number of subsidiary bodies and to confirm others made by the Secretary-General. Those subsidiary bodies are the following: Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ); Committee on Contributions; Board of Auditors; Investments Committee; United Nations Administrative Tribunal; and International Civil Service Commission (ICSC).
The Secretary-General's note on the appointment of members to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (document A/51/101) states that the Assembly has to appoint five persons to fill vacancies of members whose terms of office expire on 31 December. The appointees will serve three-year terms, beginning 1 January 1997.
A subsequent note by the Secretary-General (document A/C.5/51/11) presents the following candidates: Denise Almao (New Zealand), Ammar Amari (Tunisia), Leonid E. Bidny (Russian Federation), Gerard Biraud (France), Norma Goicochea Estenoz (Cuba) and Melinda L. Kimble (United States). The candidates from the Russian Federation and Cuba are seeking re-appointment. The curricula vitae of all the candidates are contained in the note.
The 16-member ACABQ examines and reports on the Organization's regular and peace-keeping budgets as well as the administrative budgets of the specialized agencies. It also advises the Assembly on other administrative and financial matters referred to it.
In his note on the appointment of members to the Committee on Contributions (document A/51/102), the Secretary-General states that the Assembly has to appoint six persons to fill vacancies when the terms of office of six members expire on 31 December. Those elected will serve for a three- year period, beginning on 1 January 1997.
A related note (document A/C.5/51/12) presents the nominees: Iqbal Akhund (Pakistan), Carlos Bivero (Venezuela), Evgueni N. Deineko (Russian Federation), Alvaro Gurgel de Alencar (Brazil), Ju Kuilin (China), Isabelle Klais (Germany), Ugo Sessi (Italy), and Adrien Teirlinck (Belgium). The candidates from Brazil, Italy and Belgium are seeking re-appointment. The curricula vitae of all candidates are contained in the note.
The 18-member Committee on Contributions advises the Assembly on all questions relating to the apportionment of the Organization's expenses among Member States, the assessments of new Members, appeals by Members for a change of assessment and on the application of Article 19 of the United Nations Charter -- on limits on voting rights -- in cases of arrears in the payment of financial contributions.
Fifth Committee - 3 - Press Release GA/AB/3110 24th Meeting (AM) 8 November 1996
In another note (document A/51/103), the Secretary-General states that the term of office of a member of the Board of Auditors -- the Auditor-General of Ghana -- expires on 30 June 1997. The Assembly therefore has to fill the vacancy by appointing as a Board member, the Auditor-General or officer holding the equivalent title of a Member State, to serve a three-year period, beginning 1 July 1997. Every year the Assembly appoints an Auditor to take office from 1 July of the following year to serve for a three-year period. The two other members of the Board are the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and the Comptroller and Auditor-General of the United Kingdom.
A related note (document A/C.5/51/13) states that the Government of Ghana has nominated the Auditor-General of Ghana for reappointment to the Board for a term of office beginning on 1 July 1997 to 30 June 2000. The three-member Board of Auditors has joint responsibility for the external audit of the entire United Nations system.
The Secretary-General's note on confirmation of the appointment of members of the Investments Committee (document A/51/104) states that three persons would have to be appointed to fill vacancies when the terms of office of three committee members expire on 31 December.
In a related note (document A/C.5/51/14), the Secretary-General submits for confirmation by the Assembly the appointments to the Committee of Peter Stormonth Darling (United Kingdom) and Fernando Chico Pardo (Mexico) and the re-appointment of Francine Bovich (United States) and Takeshi Ohta (Japan) for three-year terms beginning on 1 January 1997.
The Secretary-General also proposes the appointment as an ad hoc member Alexander P. Papamarkou (Greece and United States) to serve with the Committee in 1997. In addition, he proposes, with the endorsement of the Pension Board, to appoint Jean Guyot (France) whose term of office expires on 31 December, as member emeritus effective 1 January 1997.
Article 20 of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund provides for the nine-member Investments Committee to be appointed by the Secretary-General following consultations with the Joint Staff Pension Board and the ACABQ. The Investments Committee advises the Secretary-General on the investment of the pension funds and other trust and special funds under the United Nations control.
The Secretary-General's note on the appointment of members of the Administrative Tribunal (document A/51/105) states that two persons would have to be appointed to fill two vacancies, for three-year terms that will begin 1 January 1997. A related note (document A/C.5/51/16) presents two candidates: Julio Barboza (Argentina) and Mayer Gabay (Israel). The Israeli candidate is seeking re-appointment.
Fifth Committee - 4 - Press Release GA/AB/3110 24th Meeting (AM) 8 November 1996
The seven-member Administrative Tribunal hears and passes judgement on applications alleging non-observance of contracts of Secretariat staff members or of their terms of appointment.
The Secretary-General's note on the appointment of members of the International Civil Service Commission (document A/51/105) states that five persons have to be appointed to fill vacancies for four-year terms beginning 1 January 1997.
A related note (document A/C.5/51/17) presents the following candidates: Ernest Rusita (Uganda), El Hassane Zahid (Morocco) to fill the two vacancies for the African States; Corazon Alma de Leon (Philippines) and Humayun Kabir (Bangladesh) to fill the two vacancies for the Asian States; and Alexander Chepourin (Russian Federation) for the vacancy for the Eastern European States. The candidates from Uganda, Bangladesh and the Russian Federation are seeking re-appointment.
The 15-member Commission was established by the Assembly for the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system. It performs its functions for the United Nations and those specialized agencies and other international organizations that participate in the United Nations common system and have accepted the Commission's statute.
Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions
The Chairman of the Fifth Committee, NGONI FRANCIS SENGWE (Zimbabwe), said that since the number of candidates for appointment to the ACABQ from three regional Groups -- the African States, the Eastern European States and the Latin American and Caribbean States -- corresponded to the number of vacancies for those regional Groups, the Committee could recommend members from those Groups by acclamation.
The Committee recommended, by acclamation, the appointment of Ammar Amari (Tunisia), Leonid E. Bidny (Russian Federation) and Norma Goicochea Estenoz (Cuba) for three-year terms of office starting 1 January 1997.
The three candidates for the two vacancies for the Western European and Other States Group were Gerard Biraud (France), Denise Almao (New Zealand) and Melinda Kimble (United States).
Fifth Committee - 5 - Press Release GA/AB/3110 24th Meeting (AM) 8 November 1996
The result of the secret balloting was as follows:
Number of votes cast 178 Invalid votes 4 Number of valid ballots 174 Abstentions 1 Number of delegations voting 173 Required majority 87
Number of votes obtained:
Gerard Biraud (France) 117 Denise Almao (New Zealand) 116 Melinda Kimble (United States) 103
The Committee therefore recommended the appointment of Gerard Biraud (France) and Denise Almao (New Zealand) for appointment to the ACABQ for three-year terms of office.
Board of Auditors
The CHAIRMAN announced that Ghana's Comptroller and Auditor-General was the sole candidate for the vacancy on the Board of Auditors. The Committee recommended, by acclamation, his appointment to the Board of Auditors for a three-year term beginning 1 July 1997.
Investments Committee
By acclamation, the Committee recommended confirmation of the Secretary- General's appointment of Peter Stormonth Darling (United Kingdom), Fernando G. Chico Pardo (Mexico), and the reappointment of Francine Bovich (United States) and Takeshi Ohta (Japan) for three-year terms of office, beginning 1 January 1997.
Administrative Tribunal
The Committee recommended, by acclamation, the appointment of Julio Barboza (Argentina) and the reappointment of Mayer Gabay (Israel) to the Tribunal for three years from 1 January 1997.
International Civil Service Commission
The Committee recommended by acclamation the appointment of Alexander Chepourin (Russian Federation), Humayun Kabir (Bangladesh), Ernest Rusita (Uganda), El Hassane Zahid (Morocco), Corazon Alma de Leon (Philippines) to the ICSC for four-year terms beginning 1 January 1997.
Committee on Contributions
The CHAIRMAN said that the number of candidates for the Committee on Contributions recommended from the Asian and Eastern European States Groups
Fifth Committee - 6 - Press Release GA/AB/3110 24th Meeting (AM) 8 November 1996
coincided with the number of seats allocated to their regions. The Committee proceeded to recommend, by acclamation, the appointment of Ju Kuilin (China) and Iqbal Akhund (Pakistan) from the Asian States, and Evgueni N. Deineko (Russian Federation) from the Eastern European States for three-year terms beginning from 1 January 1996. The CHAIRMAN said that, since the candidates from the Latin American and Caribbean and Western European and other States Groups were competing for one seat and two seats, respectively, the Committee would vote to fill those vacancies. The candidates for the Latin American and Caribbean Groups seat were Carlos Bivero (Venezuela) and Alvaro Gurgel de Alencar (Brazil).
The result of the balloting was as follows: Number of votes cast: 178 Invalid votes: 4 Number of valid ballots: 174 Abstentions: 0 Number of delegations voting: 174 Required majority: 88
Number of votes obtained:
Alvaro Gurgel de Alencar (Brazil) 116 Carlos Bivero (Venezuela) 58
The Committee recommended Alvaro Gurgel de Alencar (Brazil), from the Latin American and Caribbean States Group for appointment to the Committee on Contributions for a three-years term, beginning on 1 January 1997. The candidates for the two seats of Western European and other States Group were Isabelle Klais (Germany), Ugo Sessi (Italy), and Adrien Teirlinck (Belgium). The result of the balloting was as follows:
Number of votes cast: 179 Invalid votes: 0 Number of valid ballots: 179 Abstentions: 0 Number of delegations voting: 179 Required majority: 90
Number of votes obtained:
Isabelle Klais (Germany) 127 Ugo Sessi (Italy) 151 Adrien Teirlinck (Belgium) 77
The Committee recommended the appointment of Isabelle Klais (Germany) and Ugo Sessi (Italy) to the Committee on Contributions for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 1997.
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