PROPOSED HUMAN RIGHTS BUDGET SHOULD BE INCREASED, SAY SPEAKERS IN FIFTH COMMITTEE

10 November 1997

Press Release
GA/AB/3188

PROPOSED HUMAN RIGHTS BUDGET SHOULD BE INCREASED, SAY SPEAKERS IN FIFTH COMMITTEE

19971110 Committee Concludes Discussion of 1998-1999 Budget Parts Devoted to Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Public Information

Resources for human rights in the proposed 1998-1999 budget should be increased by the General Assembly, several delegations said this morning, as the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) concluded its discussion of the parts of the budget devoted to human rights and humanitarian affairs, and public information. The budget proposes some $138.7 million for human rights and humanitarian affairs and $140.3 million for public information.

While they agreed on the need for more resources in general for human rights, delegations differed on what particular subprogrammes should be increased. For example, Belgium's representative, speaking for the European Union and associated States, said the Secretary-General should consider augmenting the resources for human rights bodies, advisory services, cooperation, fact-finding and field activities. Overall, he added, the Union was disappointed that the share for human rights had not been increased in percentage terms and concerned about the reduction in the number of posts in one of the priority areas of the United Nations.

The representative of Bangladesh said the programme on the right to development, research and analysis, had not received the resources it deserved, given its importance to many countries of the world. China's representative asked the Secretariat to explain the consolidation of the Centre of Human Rights and the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner and confirm whether the consolidated entity had been relocated from the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Speaking on the budget section devoted to Palestine refugees, Syria's representative said that, since those persons needed the services of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the least that could be done was to approve funding for adequate posts for the Agency. Also, the activities of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the occupied territories should be supported.

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When the Committee took up provisions for public information, Brazil's representative said the Secretary-General should review the ways in which the public information requirements of various Secretariat departments could be coordinated under the umbrella of the Department of Public Information (DPI). He expressed concern at the proposal to cut a number of posts under public information.

Expressing support for DPI's work to enhance people's view of the United Nations worldwide, Portugal's representative said that, since the late 1940's, the Media Division had broadcast radio programmes in Portuguese, reaching 200 million people. The programmes should not be harmed by proposed budget cuts.

Also speaking on the budget this morning were the representatives of Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Cuba, Canada (speaking also for Australia and New Zealand), Indonesia, United States, Egypt, Japan, and Mexico.

Responding to Member States's questions were United Nations Controller, Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, and the Director, Programme Planning and Budget Division, Office for Programme Planning and Budget and Accounts, Warren Sach.

The Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), Conrad Mselle, introduced his Committee's views on the budget sections, as did the Vice-Chairman of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC), Anuson Chinvanno (Thailand).

During procedural discussions on the Fifth Committee's programme of work, the representatives of Cuba, Syria, Belgium, China, Netherlands, Mexico, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, United Kingdom and Ireland spoke. The Fifth Committee's Secretary, Joseph Acakpo-Satchivi, responded to Committee members' comments.

The Fifth Committee is scheduled to meet again at 3 p.m., today, to continue debating the sections of the proposed budget, beginning with those in Part VIII, common support services. It also plans to resume considering the report of the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, and the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). In addition, it plans to begin considering the financing of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH).

Committee Work Programme

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this morning to continue its consideration of Section 22, Human Rights to Section 27, Administrative services, of the Secretary-General's proposed 1998-1999 budget. It was expected to begin debate on the remaining five expenditure sections, beginning with Section 28, Internal oversight services.

(For background on budget Section 22, Human rights, to Section 27, Administrative services, see Press Release GA/AB/3186 of 6 November.)

The Secretary-General's initial budget proposals are contained in two volumes of programme narratives, numbers and tables (document A/52/6/Rev.1, Vols. I and II). The accompanying views of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) on individual sections of the initial proposals are contained in separate parts of Chapter II of its first report on the proposed 1998-1999 budget (document A/52/7 Chapter II, Parts I-XII). The comments of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) are contained in the report of its thirty-seventh session (document A/52/16).

Section 28 -- Internal Oversight Services

The Office of Internal Oversight Services, established in 1994, is responsible for programme 25, Internal oversight, of the medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001. It conducts management audits, monitors internal control in the Organization, evaluates programme delivery and conducts investigations.

The initial budget proposes to add a General Service post, redeployed from the former Department of Administration and Management, to take the total to 82. It also seeks to convert seven temporary posts in the Office to established ones.

Section 29 -- Jointly Financed Administrative Activities

This Section covers the United Nations share in the costs of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and the inter-agency-financed secretariats of the subsidiary bodies of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), such as the Consultative Committee on Administrative Questions. The initial budget proposes to cut the section's estimates from about $27.5 million to $6.2 million.

Commenting on the section in its budget report (document A/52/7, Chap. II, Part X), the ACABQ notes that the proposed number of 19 regular posts for the JIU (10 Professional and nine General Service posts) includes the establishment of three Professional posts -- a P-4 research officer, a P-2 associate research officer and a P-3 information technology officer -- to

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develop the Unit's information and documentation capacity. The increase will be offset by abolishing two posts. The ACABQ recommends the acceptance of the proposals.

Section 30 -- Special Expenses

Resources in the section pay for after-service health insurance, general insurance charges, bank charges, inter-organizational security measures and the pensions of former Secretaries-General. The initial budget's proposed increase from $41.4 million to $53.7 million is meant to cope with an anticipated rise in the number of participants in the after-service health insurance programme in 1998 and 1999.

In its report, the ACABQ says it has been informed that, at the end of 1996 there were 3,560 participants in the programme at Headquarters, with 3,988 estimated for 1997, 4,285 for 1998 and 4,581 for 1999.

It was also informed that pension requirements for former Secretaries- General have increased from $420,500 during 1996-1997 to $661,300 for 1998-1999.

Section 31 -- Construction, Alteration and Major Maintenance

No funds are sought for construction in the 1998-1999 biennium following completion of the last project, involving the conference facilities of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at Addis Ababa, in the 1996-1997 biennium. But, greater emphasis is being placed on maintaining the Organization's premises to address safety issues and the deterioration of its buildings. The initial budget proposes to raise the Section's allocations from $28.7 million to $35.9 million.

The ACABQ recalls the proposal to abolish 18 Headquarters posts in the Trades and Crafts category, one P-5 and seven General Service posts engaged in construction and maintenance (document A/52/7, Chap. II, Part X). Learning that the abolition of the Trades and Crafts posts is the result of greater reliance on outsourcing, the ACABQ stresses that outsourcing should be resorted to only after thorough cost-benefit analyses and with due regard to security at United Nations buildings. Moreover, to ensure institutional memory in buildings management, a proper balance should be maintained between permanent staff and those on other types of appointment.

While not recommending cuts under this budget Section, the ACABQ states that it expects buildings management projects to be implemented with maximum efficiency and action will be taken to provide adequate conference facilities throughout the year.

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In its related report, the CPC recommends that the Assembly approve with a modification the narrative of Section 28, Internal oversight services. It took note of the narrative of Section 29, Jointly financial administrative activities, and recommended further Assembly examination of Section 31, Construction, alteration and major maintenance. No comments are included on Section 30, Special expenses.

Section 32 -- Staff Assessment

The Secretary-General says that the difference between gross and net salaries -- withheld from employees as staff assessments to serve as revenue for the Organization -- is credited to the Tax Equalization Fund. The $324.6 million requested is also included in income Section 1, income from staff assessment.

The amounts under income Section 1, exceed those in Section 32 by some $4.5 million because they include assessment income derived from staff working under sales of philatelic items, gifts, publications and from those providing services like guided tours.

Statements on Budget Sections

CONRAD S.M. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, introduced the views of his Committee on budget sections on human rights, protection of refugees, Palestine refugees and humanitarian assistance.

ANUSON CHINVANNO (Thailand), Vice-Chairman of the CPC, introduced that body's report and relayed its conclusions and observations on the budget sections. He points out, for example, that, since the CPC could not agree to approve the narrative of Section 22, Human rights, the General Assembly should review the Section's programme narrative, taking into consideration some modifications proposed by some delegations in the CPC.

PETER MADDENS (Belgium), speaking for the European Union, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Poland and Norway, reiterated the Union's views that some priorities such as human rights and humanitarian assistance had not attracted the resources they deserved. The Union was disappointed that the share for human right was unchanged, at about 1.8 per cent of the regular budget and concerned about the reduction in the number of posts in one of the priority areas of the United Nations. The Secretary-General should consider augmenting the resources for the subprogrammes concerning support to human rights bodies, and on advisory services, cooperation, fact-finding and field activities. The strengthening of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in New York was a central element of the Secretary-General's proposals and should be approved. The financing for field activities, such as thematic and specialized missions, should take into account the principle of funding from

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the regular budget. Next year, the international community would witness the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the follow-up of the Vienna Conference on Human Rights. Therefore, adequate resources should be made available.

Turning to Section 25, Humanitarian assistance, she said the Secretary- General should proceed rapidly to appoint a new Emergency Relief Coordinator. The budgetary portion of 0.86 per cent devoted to the Section was limited, given the amount of work that should be undertaken in the field. With voluntary contributions fluctuating, efforts should be made to strengthen the financial basis of humanitarian resources. He agreed with the ACABQ on the need to establish the criteria on the rates at which trust funds would be charged. On the question of the gratis personnel used in the budget section, the European Union would reiterate the views it had expressed on such personnel when the Fifth Committee debated the previous budget sections.

DJAMEL MOKTEFI (Algeria) said that he was in favour of a global and consistent programme on human rights. He regretted the fact that the CPC had not been able to agree on the narrative on the right to development. He supported the comments of the ACABQ that steps should be taken to ensure that trust funds were audited more extensively. He also endorsed the view that the staffing of the New York Liaison Office should be reviewed. Its activities should be limited to coordination. He would welcome information on the restructuring process of the Human Rights Centre in Geneva.

He then said he supported the efforts being made by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which should be provided with the resources it needed on a regular and stable basis. What was the link between the proposed resources for that Office and its real needs? he asked. He shared the ACABQ's concern about inadequate resources for monitoring extrabudgetary funds, particularly in light of the size of those funds. The reduction of gratis personnel in the Section on human rights, from 12 to 10, was very limited, particularly in light of the General Assembly's resolution 51/243 of 15 September 1997, by which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to expeditiously phase out such personnel.

ABDULLAH ABDULLATIF ABDULLAH (Bahrain) said that the proposed budget section on UNRWA had indicated that the number of posts would be 84 for the upcoming biennium. That number was a reduction by eight from the current biennium. He shared the ACABQ's opinion that such abolition of posts should be justified, particularly because those cuts might adversely affect the important activities of UNRWA, which must be carried out in full.

SYED MORTEZA MIR MOHAMMAD (Iran) stressed that the budget must be guided by the Organization's medium-term plan and legislated mandates. Yet departures from those guiding principles seemed to have been taken. Concerns

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over the matter had been expressed in the meeting of the CPC. He said he was concerned at the low level of resources proposed for activities on the right to development, which required strong support.

He requested information on the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights and said the Commission on Human Rights should consider holding its meetings every other year, rather than annually. The Advisory Committee had been informed that it was impossible to apply guidelines relating to size and number of reports on those prepared by Special Rapporteurs. He agreed with that body's conclusion that review of the matter was necessary. He requested further information on use of guidelines for such reports.

He said he concurred with the ACABQ's recommendation on the right to development that the Secretary-General should have explained more clearly how the provisions of paragraphs 38 and 39, concerning that right and the Centre for Human Rights, of Assembly resolution 50/214 of 23 December 1995 were being implemented.

DULCE BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said a new procedure had been introduced in the budget's section on human rights, whereby resources were included for activities for which there were no mandates. Assembly resolutions stated that unforeseen mandates were to be funded through the contingency fund. Other sections of the budget did not contain complete budgetary provisions for mandated activities. The practice of including funds for activities not yet mandated was in violation of budgetary procedures, and was a source of concern for her delegation.

She asked for information on the current status of the restructuring process of the Centre for Human Rights in Geneva, noting the ACABQ'S doubts regarding whether the restructuring had in fact enhanced effectiveness. In light of the low levels of resources allocated to the subprogramme on the right to development, she asked for a breakdown of its requirements. She also noted with concern the low level of resources for activities relating to implementation for the Decade to Combat Racism and Discrimination. While a world conference would be convened in the year 2001, the necessary budgetary requirements had not been made available.

Another concern was the increased staffing of the Liaison Office in New York, she said. That might affect negatively on the substantive work of the Centre for Human Rights. She asked for information on the functions of those posts recommended in the increase and said the staffing of that Office should be revised. On general operating expenses, she asked the reasons for the change in presentation of those resources, in comparison with the 1996-1997 budget. Other comments of her delegation were reflected in the narrative of the CPC report, she added.

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SAMUEL HANSON (Canada), speaking also for Australia and New Zealand, said he shared the concerns expressed on behalf of the European Union and associated States on the projected decrease in regular budget funds and staff under the section on human rights. Such a decrease was contrary to the consensus reached at the Vienna Conference on Human Rights and to relevant Assembly resolutions. He supported the consolidation of the Centre for Human Rights and the Office of the High Commissioner, an action that fell within the Secretary-General's prerogative and conformed with relevant Assembly resolutions. The New York Office of the High Commissioner should be strengthened, also. The current ad hoc system of financing of human rights field activities should be resolved.

HUMAYUN KABIR (Bangladesh) expressed concern that Section 22's subprogramme 1, on the right to development, research and analysis, did not receive the resources it deserved, given its importance to many countries of the world. Turning to Section 24, Palestine refugees, he expressed support for the work of UNRWA and welcomed the enhanced cooperation between that Agency and other United Nations entities. Such cooperation would help it deliver more services to the Palestinian refugees. As recent unilateral actions by the Israeli Government had affected the delivery of services to some of those refugees, UNRWA should strengthen its activities. He expressed concern regarding the proposal to cut a number of posts from that Agency. The Secretariat should justify any proposal to abolish posts. He shared the concern expressed by the ACABQ on UNRWA.

ZANG WANHAI (China) expressed regret that the CPC had not been able to agree on the programme narrative of the budget section on human rights. He shared the views of the ACABQ that it was necessary for the Secretary-General to say how he would implement the provisions of resolution 50/214. The subprogramme on the right to development should be allocated more resources. He agreed with the ACABQ's comments on the New York Office of the High Commissioner, the size of which should be reviewed. The number of meetings held by the Commission on Human Rights and its subsidiaries did not necessarily demonstrate that it was working effectively; such a number could actually prove the contrary. He shared the views of the ACABQ that more realistic meeting schedules be drawn up for the subcommissions, committees and other groups, and that consideration should be given to holding some meetings every other year instead of annually.

The Secretariat should explain why it consolidated the Centre of Human Rights and the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner and indicate whether there had been resultant staff cuts. Since the consolidated entity had been relocated from the Palais des Nations, the Secretariat should also explain such a move.

TAMMAM SULAIMAN (Syria) said his delegation placed the utmost importance to the work of UNRWA, whose capacity to help Palestine refugees depended mostly on voluntary contributions. Since the Assembly had decided that the

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salaries of UNRWA international staff be paid from the regular budget for some time, the amount allocated for such salaries should be sufficient to enable the Agency to implement its mandates. In that light, the proposal to eliminate some posts should be explained by the Secretariat. With the ACABQ pointing out that some posts in the Agency would be eliminated, such a move should be justified. Since refugees in Syria and Jordan needed services from UNRWA and since no solution had yet been found to the problem of refugees, the least that could be done would be to support such services by approving sufficient posts for UNRWA. The activities of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the Occupied Territories should be supported.

PRAYONO ATIYANTO (Indonesia) said he attached great importance to the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The United Nations budget must support the right to development, as indicated in the Organization's medium-term plan. He noted that the CPC had been unable to reach agreement on the programme narrative of the Section on human rights. He further noted with concern that the UNRWA faced funding difficulties and that the proposed budget would cut 8 professional-level posts. UNRWA should be given the resources needed to fulfil its requirements.

THOMAS REPASCH (United States) said his views on the human rights Section of the budget were consistent with the statement made for the European Union earlier in the meeting. He reiterated his belief that the ACABQ should show the financial implications of its recommendations. Turning to section 24 of the proposed budget on Palestine refugees, and to UNRWA in particular, he recognized the Agency's vital role. The Section had not mentioned the Agency's efforts to streamline its working methods or its financial challenges. UNRWA's projected budgetary requirements must be in line with its operational expenses and its available resources.

AHMED DARWISH (Egypt) stressed the importance of support for Palestine refugees, particularly in light of its focus on education, health, social services and overall attempts to improve the daily lives of those refugees. He stressed the importance of providing the necessary resources for the Agency, either from the regular budget or other sources. Noting the abolition of 8 professional-level posts funded by the regular budget, he said he hoped that those cuts would not adversely affect the work of UNRWA. Reductions in staff should not result in a reduction of activities for the Agency.

SEYED MORTEZA MIR MOHAMMAD (Iran) asked for clarification on the conversion of some established posts within the Section on human rights. Responding to a delegate's comments that the cost of restructuring might dilute the prerogative of the Secretary-General, he noted that there were clear provisions on the Assembly's consideration of the ongoing process of restructuring. He also supported the statement made by the representative of Syria on Palestinian refugees.

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KOJI YAMAGIWA (Japan) said he was concerned about the way the Commission on Human Rights scheduled its meetings. Human rights was a priority of the United Nations. In light of the limited availability of resources, however, the Commission's management of meetings should be streamlined, so resources could be allocated to other human rights operations. Under the proposed budget, nearly 90 per cent of the mandated activities in the field of humanitarian assistance would be funded from extrabudgetary resources. Such assistance should be funded from regular resources, because it was one of the Organizations top priorities.

DULCE MARIA BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said she had noted the views of the ACABQ that contributions from the regular budget of the United Nations had decreased in recent years and accounted for about 2 per cent of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) resources. She was concerned by such developments. On the Section on Palestine refugees, she called attention to similar post reductions and asked the Secretariat to explain. She would make comments on Section 25, humanitarian assistance, at a later stage.

JEAN-PIERRE HALBWACHS, United Nations Controller, addressing Section 22, on human rights, said that the restructuring of the Centre for Human Rights had been completed and an organizational chart had been included in the budget documents. The subprogramme on the right to development had been allocated some 24.9 per cent of the resources for the Section on human rights and the provisions for the right to development had been strengthened with more posts. As for work by country and thematic rapporteurs and working groups, the Secretariat could only try to propose funding in anticipation of special rapporteurs that might be appointed by the Commission for Human Rights.

On the use of new agency services, the Centre for Human Rights needed access to such reports to monitor developments in the field, he said. The Centre for Human Rights and the Office of Human Rights had not been moved from the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The reduction of posts in UNRWA had to do with the Secretariat's efforts to live within the budget approved by the Assembly. The contribution of the regular budget to the overall resources of UNRWA was quite small. Thus, he did not expect that the cuts would significantly affect the work of the Agency.

Mr. SULAIMAN (Syria) said he had heard nothing new from the Controller. He had expected him to say that the general cuts in the budget had forced the reductions at UNRWA. He still wanted answers that were specific to UNRWA and they should be provided in writing. Informal consultations on the matter would not be held until the specific answers he sought were provided in writing. The remarks of the Secretariat's officials should be confined to the documents on the proposed 1998-1999 budget, without reference to the Secretary-General's report on the implications of the proposed United Nations reforms (document A/52/303).

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Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said the Controller's statements should be provided in writing. Since, as stated by the Controller, the Secretariat could not foretell what the Commission on Human Rights would decide on country specific or thematic rapporteurs, references to them should be deleted from the programme narrative of the budget section. There should be further clarification on activities related to the right to development. The responses and clarifications should be provided in writing.

Mr. MIR MOHAMMAD (Iran) said the Controller had not clarified the question on converting temporary posts to permanent posts. Further, why had the addendum to the report not been compiled.

In response, Mr. HALBWACHS said the posts recommended for conversion had been created on a temporary basis, yet they performed functions of a continuing and permanent nature. He would reply to the questions posed by the Cuban representative at a later date.

Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said she had noted the Controller's comments and looked forward to his reply. She insisted on receiving the information on the breakdown of resources within subprogramme 1 of the section on human rights. That was of particular importance, if the resources allocated to the right to development were to be understood.

Mr. MOKTEFI (Algeria) endorsed the Cuban representative's emphasis on the need for information on the specific resources allocated to subprogramme 1. It was essential to see what resources were to go to the right to development and to research and analysis.

Statements on Budget Part VII, Public Information

Mr. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, introduced that body's report.

Mr. CHINVANNO (Thailand), Vice-Chairman of the CPC, introduced that body's report.

JOSÉ ANTONIO MARCONDES DE CARVALHO (Brazil) said his delegation supported the work of the Department of Public Information (DPI) in trying to ensure that the work of the Organization was publicized objectively. He supported the work of the Department, as contained in the medium-term plan. Since the United Nations could expect universal support only when its work was understood, DPI should continue trying to reach all peoples of the world. He supported the ACABQ view that the Secretary-General review the ways in which the public information requirements of the various departments could be coordinated under the umbrella of the DPI. He said he did not understand the rationale for the proposals to cut the allocations for public information.

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He expressed concern at the proposal to cut several posts from the Department. The use of advanced technology to promote the work of the Organization should not come at the expense of traditional media, such as radio. The proposal to make reductions and the existence of vacancies in the Media Division should be explained. The precise amount allocated to radio, central news and regional magazines in the Portuguese language should be clarified. He expressed disappointment that there was no provision to produce and distribute radio programmes in Portuguese on a regular basis.

REGINA EMERSON (Portugal) supported the statement made by the representative of Brazil. Her country fully realized the importance of DPI's work to enhance people's view of the United Nations worldwide. Since the late 1940's, the Media Division had had radio programmes in Portuguese. The Portuguese language programme reached 200 million people -- not 20 million -- in countries around the globe. She had no way of determining whether the proposed reduction of posts in that division would effect the Portuguese language programme, to which she attributed tremendous importance.

Mr. MIR MOHAMMAD (Iran) said he attached great weight to the area of public information and DPI must receive the resources needed to fulfil its mandates. He also supported the work of the United Nations Information Centres and stressed the importance of strengthening their role in developing countries. Concerns had been expressed however in the meeting of the CPC that DPI's focus on the different areas of the United Nations work was not balanced.

MARTA PENA (Mexico) expressed concern about the unequal treatment of languages within DPI. She noted the comments made in the CPC's report and regretted that body had been unable to develop a specific recommendation on the matter. The principle of multilingualism must be observed. If budgetary cuts were being sought, measures other than the sacrifice of languages should be considered. For example, the usefulness of certain publications and the spacing of the issues could be considered. Regretting that some publications had not been translated into the Organization's official languages, she called for compliance with the Organization's provisions for multilingualism.

Mr. DARWISH (Egypt) underscored the role of DPI, and of information in general, in the work of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Since DPI's mandate was vast and crucial, its work in producing press briefings, radio programmes and other means of highlighting the work of the United Nations should be supported. While the budget of DPI should ensure the quality of its work, the cuts proposed by the Secretary-General might cause difficulties for the Department's staff. The United Nations regarded information as an integral part of its substantive work.

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He supported the ACABQ opinion that the Secretary-General conduct a review of the ways in which the public information requirements of various Secretariat departments would be coordinated under the umbrella of DPI, including the redeployment to it, when feasible, of public information resources currently budgeted under other sections. The conventional means of distributing information should be maintained to ensure that all Member States, particularly the developing countries, had access to information from the United Nations. The equal use of the six United Nations languages should be ensured.

Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said she would speak at length on provisions for public information at a later stage.

WARREN SACH, Director, Programme Planning and Budget Division, Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, said provisions for contractual engineering -- underbudgeted in the past -- was being raised to a level that would maintain the services required. Overall, DPI would experience a cut that was less than that proposed for the budget as a whole, in percentage terms, even though public information had not been listed a priority of the Organization. As for the Department's maintenance of multilingualism, he listed some of the languages used for radio programmes. The Secretariat would try to ensure that adequate resources were provided for the activities to be carried out in various departments, taking into account overall budgetary resources.

Ms. EMERSON (Portugal) asked whether Portuguese language programmes were produced by people engaged "under contractual arrangements", a term she asked to be clarified.

Mr. SACH said the Secretariat had signed contracts with individuals to produce agreed levels of output over certain periods of time. Such a procedure was more cost-effective than some other alternatives.

Ms. EMERSON (Portugal) asked whether the Secretariat would grant a regular post to the person who was producing programmes on a full-time basis, but on an Special Services Agreement (SSA) contract.

Mr. MARCONDES DE CARVALHO (Brazil) asked the Secretariat to explain its reason for keeping personnel who served for long periods of time on SSA basis.

Mr. SACH said the use of SSA contracts was the most cost-effective system of producing Portuguese and other language programmes, as output might drop when such staff were granted posts.

Mr. MARCONDES DE CARVALHO (Brazil) said he was disappointed with the Director's answer that the output would drop when work was done by someone with a regular job. That comment was "mind-boggling" and should be further explained.

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Mr. HALBWACHS, United Nations Controller, explained that Mr. Sach had intended to say that it was cheaper to produce radio programmes on the basis of SSA contracts.

Mr. MARCONDES DE CARVALHO (Brazil) asked whether all other language programmes would be produced on a similarly "cheap" basis.

Mr. HALBWACHS said, "no".

Statements on Part VIII: Common Support Services

Mr. MSELLE, ACABQ Chairman, introduced his body's report on Part VIII of the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium. It was the largest part of the proposed budget in terms of resources and staff. The Committee had called for a review of the financial statements and schedules of reports to the General Assembly. The Committee had requested that the lack of uniformity in presentation of resources estimated for medical services be reviewed.

Savings achieved through the use of information technology services of the proposed programme budget should be used to invest in emerging modalities such as video conferencing and remote translation and interpretation. The effects of reducing temporary assistance for meetings should be monitored. Use of video-conferencing, in the long-term, would provide cost savings.

Mr. CHINVANNO, CPC Vice-Chairman, then introduced his Committee's view on the budget's Part VIII.

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