MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AFFECTING STAFFING CONFIGURATION SHOULD BE EXAMINED, FIFTH COMMITTEE TOLD
Press Release
GA/AB/3204
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AFFECTING STAFFING CONFIGURATION SHOULD BE EXAMINED, FIFTH COMMITTEE TOLD
19971210 Committee Concludes Debate on Budgetary Implications Of Reform Proposals; Continues Discussing Secretariat CompositionThe Secretariat should examine its management practices in considering the current staffing configuration which limited career development, Germany's representative said this afternoon, as the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) discussed the Secretary-General's report on composition of the Secretariat.
The United Nations staff was ageing, despite the Secretary-General's call for its rejuvenation, he said, also expressing concern that younger staff resigned after only a few years of service.
Italy -- the sixth largest contributor to the Organization -- was the most under-represented of the 10 major contributors, that country's representative said. Also, it was not appropriately represented in the Secretariat's upper echelons -- in posts at the Director (D-2) and higher levels. Twenty-two successful candidates from previous national competitive examinations held in 1993 were still waiting to be hired by the Organization. He asked what measures the Secretariat would take to redress the situation.
The Secretary-General should make every effort to search for staff from States that were unrepresented or under-represented, said the representative of Indonesia, adding that the number of staff from his country was below the mid-point range.
Speaking as the Committee concluded its debate on the budgetary and programmatic implications of the Secretary-General's reform proposals, the representative of Niger emphasized the need to ensure adequate resources for the United Nations regional centres for disarmament and peace in Lima, Lome and Kathmandu. Disarmament was crucial for Africa, given the proliferation of light arms there.
Also this afternoon, the Committee approved without a vote an oral draft decision relating to the extension of the premises of the International Court of Justice. The draft would have the General Assembly take note of the
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Secretary-General's report on the draft supplementary agreement between the United Nations and the Carnegie Foundation on the use of the Peace Palace in The Hague and also approve that agreement.
Statements were made by the representatives of Libya, Côte d'Ivoire, Philippines, Venezuela, Indonesia, Thailand, Cameroon, Pakistan, Cuba, United States, Portugal, Uganda, Egypt, Netherlands, Algeria, Belgium, China, Iran, Republic of Korea, Bolivia, United Republic of Tanzania and India.
The Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management, Rafiah Salim, responded to States' questions. United Nations Controller Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, and Warren Sach, Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division, Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, also spoke.
The Fifth Committee will meet again at a time to be announced.
Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this afternoon to continue discussing the budgetary effects of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's reform measures and proposals, human resources management and other questions related to budget, such as the financial implications of decisions currently before the General Assembly.
(For background, see Press Releases GA/AB/3200 of 5 December to GA/AB/3203 of 10 December.)
Statements on Implications of Reform Proposals
BOUBACAR TANKOANO (Niger) supported the statements made this morning by the representatives of United Republic of Tanzania, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, and Colombia, for the Non-Aligned Movement. He also expressed support for the statement of the representative of Togo on the regional disarmament centres in Lome, Lima and Kathmandu. At the request of the General Assembly that ways be sought to better finance the centre in Africa, a mission of two consultants was sent by the Secretary- General last September to discuss with governments methods to make the centre more dynamic. Among their recommendations was the appointment of a director for the centre and the preparation of a five-year work plan, starting in 1998, he said. The work plan would be shown to donors to solicit contributions. Some Member States, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Togo had taken some steps to get funds for the centre. The international community should make further efforts to ensure the provision of adequate resources for it. Disarmament was crucial for Africa, given the proliferation of light arms there.
IBRAHIM ELMONTASER (Libya) supported the statements for the Group of 77 and China and for the Non-Aligned Movement. Expressing his support for the reform proposals, he invited Member States to pay their dues in full, without conditions or threats to withhold their payments. Such an attitude was necessary for the Organization to be truly reformed. He rejected the proposed transfer of the programme on decolonization to the new Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services. The Committee should approve the posts for the Decolonization Unit prescribed by the medium-term plan for 1998- 2001.
The role of regional centres for peace and disarmament should not be restricted, he said. The post of Deputy-Secretary-General could be created, without limiting the authority of the Secretary-General or establishing another decision-making layer. The principle of equitable geographical representation should be considered in making an appointment to the post.
AHOUNOU MANLAN (Côte d'Ivoire) said he supported the statements made on behalf of the Group of 77 developing countries and China, and on behalf of the
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Non-Aligned Movement. As a member of the Special Committee on decolonization, Côte d'Ivoire strongly supported the statement made by the representative of Papua New Guinea. It was incomprehensible that commitments were made and then subverted on the matter of decolonization. He asked for the ACABQ's comments on the issue of the subprogramme on decolonization. Côte d'Ivoire had experienced colonialism and could not remain aloof of the struggle of Territories that sought their freedom.
The Secretary-General must avoid any dichotomy between the will of the majority of the Organization's Members, and the goodwill of certain developed States, he continued. He asked for the ACABQ's views on the addendum to the Secretary-General's report on the implications of his reform proposals. The United States delegation had said that the size of the budget was to come down to $2.5 billion. From where had the representative received that information? he asked.
MARY JO ARAGON (Philippines) associated herself with the statements made for the Non-Aligned Movement and for the Group of 77 and China. The United Nations should be provided with the resources it required to implement all its mandated programmes and activities. She, therefore, hoped that a predetermined level of the budget would not be set. She supported the ACABQ's views on the Secretary-General's staffing proposals for the strategic planning unit, and stressed that equitable geographical distribution must be respected.
OSCAR DE ROJAS (Venezuela) said he supported the statement made for the Group of 77 and China. Most of the proposals on the Office of the Secretary- General were acceptable. Regarding section 6, Legal Affairs, in view of increasing activities, the reclassification of one post at the level of Principal Officer (D-1) to the level of Assistant Secretary-General was justified. Also, in section 22, Human rights, it was appropriate to reclassify the head of the liaison office as a Director (D-2).
PRAYONO ATIYANTO (Indonesia) said that his delegation's view had already been expressed in the statements made by the Group of 77 and China and for the Non-Aligned Movement. The Organization must be given the resources it required to fulfil all its mandated programmes and activities.
ANUSON CHINVANNO (Thailand) supported the statements made this morning on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and of the Non-Aligned Movement. He supported the provision of an additional sum of $500,000 to enable the effective discharge of the responsibilities of the Office of the President of the General Assembly.
WARREN SACH, Director, Programme Planning and Budget Division, Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, said most of the questions asked by the Committee members could best be answered in informal consultations. The discussion on the Decolonization Unit could not be completed since the report
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of the ACABQ on the matter had not yet been submitted. Before then, it was premature for the Secretariat to talk in detail.
Mr. MANLAN (Côte d'Ivoire) asked again for an answer to questions he had put to the Secretariat and one delegation.
Mr. SACH said the question of regional disarmament centres should also be considered when the Decolonization Unit was addressed.
MICHEL TOMMO MONTHE (Cameroon) expressed the hope that the Secretariat would provide very specific answers during the Fifth Committee's informal consultations. The answers should be complete, thorough and should go to the heart of the matter, in order to ensure that the Committee finished its work on time.
Mr. MANLAN (Côte d'Ivoire) said he was waiting for a response on the statement by the United States, earlier today, that the budget would be adjusted to $2.533 billion by the end of the year.
AMJAD HUSSEIN SIAL (Pakistan), expressing support for the statement by Cameroon, said that it was important to submit complete answers to the questions raised by Committee members.
EVA SILOT BRAVO (Cuba) said she supported those who had called for answers to the questions which had been posed during the Committee's discussion.
Mr. SACH said he did not, at the moment, have the details regarding the question relating to the statement made by the representative of the United States. SUSAN SHEAROUSE (United States) said the information came from Under- Secretary-General Department of Management Joseph Connor in one of his charts on the introduction of the proposed budget.
REGINA EMERSON (Portugal) asked for clarification from the representative of the United States. Had that country's position been based on a forecast or on final data? she asked. Ms. SHEAROUSE (United States) said that paragraph 6 of the introduction to the budget referred to a reduction based on recosting. Therefore, it had been based on an estimate provided by the Secretary-General in his intro- duction to the budget.
MR. TOMMO MONTHE (Cameroon) said that when it came to general assessment of the total level of the budget, usually at the end of the session, the ACABQ engaged in recosting, and certain parameters were considered. Those were the level of the budget estimated the year before, and the level of the reserve fund.
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NESTOR ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) associated himself with the statement made for the Group of 77 and China. He also associated himself with the comments of the representative of Côte d'Ivoire regarding the Fifth and Sixth (Legal) Committees. Currency fluctuation and inflation was unpredictable and should not be used for recosting of the budget.
AMR NOUR (Egypt) said he supported the intervention made by the representative of Cameroon. He understood that recosting was a technical step, to be taken at the end of the budgetary process.
JEAN-PIERRE HALBWACHS, United Nations Controller, said in response to Egypt, that the budget was prepared on the basis of exchange rates approved for the revised appropriations for a preceding biennium. The amounts projected for an impending biennium were then adjusted by the end of the year, for instance 1997, to take account of the changes in the rate of the United States dollar. There was a reduction of six posts from the disarmament component relating to the servicing of the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security). At the same time two posts would come to the Department of Disarmament from elsewhere. The organizational chart of the Department would be completed and submitted on time for the Committee's informal consultations when the Secretariat would submit comprehensive answers to questions raised during formal debates.
Statements on Premises of Human Rights Office
H.J. REKKERS (Netherlands) said that while she recognized the need for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to have adequate space, the points raised by the ACABQ report should he taken into account before a decision was taken. Since the proposed relocation would be "budget neutral" through 1999, she asked for an explanation of what would happen after that year.
DJAMEL MOKTEFI (Algeria) said he was sceptical of the need for the General Assembly to take action on the matter presently, since there was no clear picture on the rationale for shifting the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the new site. Before further action, other information on the move should be provided, including the United Nations share of the costs of reconstructing the Palais Wilson in Geneva. He agreed with the views of the ACABQ that there were questions on costs and the viability of the premises, which had not been explained. The information sought by his delegation should be provided before any move was made.
Ms. SILOT BRAVO (Cuba) said the Office for the High Commissioner should not be relocated until the Assembly had taken a decision that had taken account of the ACABQ's points. There should be efforts to shift some other units of the United Nations to the Palais Wilson. Any decision to be taken must consider some of the cautionary points raised by Member States.
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PETER MADDENS (Belgium) said he did not see why the Fifth Committee could not adopt the recommendation in paragraph 12 of the ACABQ report. [Note: In that paragraph, the Advisory Committee states that many elements of the proposal remain to be completed. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the General Assembly take note of the report of the Secretary-General and, bearing in mind the needs of the Organization and cost effectiveness, encourage the Secretary-General to continue his negotiations with the Swiss authorities and to report to the Assembly for a final decision.]
CHEN YUE (China) agreed with the views expressed by the representatives of Algeria and Cuba. In a formal meeting on the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium, China had asked the Secretariat for justification for the proposed move. The replies received had not been to her delegation's satisfaction. After reading the report of the Secretary-General on the matter, she now had more questions about the proposed move. Had the Swiss Federal Council expressly designated the Palais Wilson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, or had it been offered for the United Nations in general? Why was that Office alone moving to the Palais Wilson? The building was to be granted rent-free for an initial period "with the intention of retaining that situation indefinitely", according to the Secretary-General's report. Whose intention was that -- the United Nations' or the Swiss Government's? Who would make the rental payments beyond the year 2000 if there was no legally binding agreement?
The language used by the Secretary-General on the costs of relocation was laden with ambiguities, she continued. Without adequate justification for the relocation, and prior to proper analysis of the impact of the move, any hasty action could negatively affect the Organization's work. China, therefore, agreed that the Secretary-General should continue to negotiate with the Swiss authorities.
MR. SIAL (Pakistan) said that estimates annexed to the report indicated an amount of $2.6 million in recurrent costs which would have to be borne by the programme budget of the Geneva Office. If the proposed move was not approved by the Assembly, what would happen? he asked. Also, what was the present status of negotiations with the Swiss authorities?
MR. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said his delegation shared the views expressed by some of the previous speakers regarding the subject of space and conference facilities. It might be difficult for the United Nations to retract at a later stage, if the Secretary-General continued his negotiations with the Swiss authorities. Further information was required before the Organization could decide whether the move was advisable.
MR. MADDENS (Belgium) said that paragraph 12 of the ACABQ's report was clear: it said that the Secretary-General could be encouraged to continue negotiations with the Swiss authorities, taking into account questions raised in the report. He had not yet heard any statement that went against that
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recommendation.
MR. MOKTEFI (Algeria) said he did not see why the Committee should rush to take note of the report, given the reservations expressed by several delegations. The Assembly should have all the information it needed before it took a decision. It was not necessary to take a decision today, given all the question that had arisen in connection with the move.
Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said the representative of Belgium was correct. The Secretary-General could be encouraged to proceed with the negotiations after certain information had been received.
Ms. SILOT BRAVO (Cuba) questioned the Committee's readiness to take a decision at the present time, in view of the concerns of a number of delegations on the matter.
Ms. CHEN (China) supported the statements by the representatives of Uganda, Algeria and Cuba, that the Committee should not act in haste. While the ACABQ's proposals were clear, some delegations had raised concerns that should be clarified before any hasty decision.
Mr. MADDENS (Belgium) said he did not doubt the validity of the concerns expressed by the ACABQ and Fifth Committee members. But, if the Assembly did not take note of the report of the Secretary-General, negotiations with the Swiss authorities might come to a halt. While a decision did have to be taken today, it should be made before the end of the session.
SEYED MORTEZA MIRMOHAMMAD (Iran) said no decision should be taken before the points raised by the ACABQ were clarified.
ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Fifth Committee Chairman, said the matter would be kept aside since Committee members were not ready to act on it.
Statements on Premises of International Court of Justice
Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairman, read out to the Committee the recommendation of the ACABQ on the question. The ACABQ had reiterated that the inflation rate applied to the annual contribution paid by the United Nations to the Carnegie Foundation for the use of the premises in the Peace Palace at The Hague should be subject to the Assembly's approval each time an increase was requested. Under the circumstances it recommended approval of the draft Supplementary Agreement between the United Nations and the Carnegie Foundation concerning the use of the Peace Palace.
THOMAS REPASCH (United States) asked for details and clarifications on the premises, the method used to set the amounts contained in the Secretary- General's report, the arrangements for food supplies and how the amounts spent
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by Court Judges at the premises' dining facilities were reflected in United Nations relevant documents.
Mr. SACH, Director, Programme Planning and Budget Division, said the figures in the Secretary-General's report had been based on conventional uses of financial data and inputs. The kitchen and dining facilities were not provided by the Organization, but by the Foundation. Therefore, the amounts collected there were not reflected as United Nations income.
Mr. REPASCH (United States) asked whether the dining room at the premises was operated by a private company, without United Nations involvement and whether the Organization could not expect revenue from the operation of those facilities.
Mr. SACH said that on the calculation of rent there was an indication of more than 1 million Netherlands florins, which was the current base proposed for adjustment. The question of the dining facilities had not been pursued beyond a particular point.
Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairman, proposed an oral draft decision to the Committee.
By its terms, the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General's report on the draft supplementary agreement between the United Nations and the Carnegie Foundation on the use of the Peace Palace and the subsequent ACABQ recommendations. It would also have the Assembly approve the draft supplementary agreement.
The Committee approved the draft without a vote.
Statements on Human Resources Management
GERHARD KUNTZLE (Germany) noted that a substantial share of the total appointments to posts subject to geographical distribution had come from recruits identified through the national competitive examinations, which highlighted the importance of that procedure. He asked for clarification on the five staff members who had been retained against P-2 posts outside the context of the national competitive examinations.
The second part of the Secretary-General's report on the composition of the Secretariat contained facts and analyses that could be used for human resources planning, he said. In that part of the report, a number of trends were exhibited that were of concern to the German delegation. First, he was concerned about the "diamond-shaped" configuration of staff by grade, which limited staff career development. There was evidence that the United Nations was ageing"despite the Secretary-General's call for rejuvenating the Organization. Younger staff members were resigning after only a few years of service. That fact should be considered carefully, with particular emphasis
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on management.
STEFANO CACCIAGUERRA RANGHIERI (Italy) noted that, according to the report, his country, which was the sixth largest contributor to the Organization, was the most underrepresented among the 10 major contributors. The national competitive examination was one of the tools available to remedy underrepresentation. He, therefore, welcomed the Secretariat's decision to hold an examination in Italy next February. There were 22 successful candidates from the previous national competitive examinations, held in 1993, who were still waiting to be called by the Organization for service. What measures were envisaged to redress that situation? he asked.
Italy was also not appropriately represented in the Secretariat's upper echelons -- at D-2 posts and above -- in comparison with the other major contributors, he said. He expressed concern about the trend towards reducing the number of P-2 and P-3 posts. A continuation of that trend would result in an imbalanced and ageing Organization. The United Nations must keep the doors open for young people.
Mr. ATIYANTO (Indonesia) said that the issue of the United Nations staff was one of several matters that must be addressed to reflect the Organization's goals. He was concerned to note that as of 30 June 1997, there were 25 unrepresented and 20 underrepresented Member States among the staff subject to geographical distribution. This year, the number of staff from Indonesia was below the mid-point range. The Secretary-General should make every effort to search for staff from States that were unrepresented and underrepresented. Ranges should continue to be set, and the use of national competitive examinations must be continued. He supported the Secretariat's effort to increase the number of women throughout the system.
DONG HYUN KIM (Republic of Korea) said the Secretary-General's report had stated that during the reporting period, 93 appointments had been made to posts subject to geographical distribution. Of the 52 appointments which had been at the P-2 and P-3 levels, 26 had been recruited through the national competitive examinations. He asked for explanation of the fact that only 50 per cent of those appointments had come through the recruitment exams.
MR. EMERSON (Portugal) said she regarded the Secretary-General's report as having been submitted for information and not for action, since the Fifth Committee had long decided not to take up human resources during a budget year. However, since the reduction of lower-levels posts would affect the United Nations ability to recruit young people, the Assistant Secretary- General for Human Resources Management should try to address that concern.
Mr. MOKTEFI (Algeria) said he was sad to see omissions from the report regarding the underrepresentation and unrepresentation of some Member States. He wondered whether the Secretariat could not try further to address that problem and the aging of the Organization's workforce. It should make further
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efforts to organize national competitive examinations in unrepresented and underrepresented Member States to crack open the door of the United Nations to their nationals.
MARTHA MONTANO (Bolivia) asked the Secretariat to explain the length of time it took to actually hire applicants who had passed the national competitive examinations.
MOHAMMED YUSSUF (United Republic of Tanzania) said he agreed with what his colleague from Algeria had stated on the conference room paper on human resources management, and the Committee should consider deferring the matter to the next resumed session.
RAJAT SAHA (India) said that the explanations contained in the conference room paper on human resources management and the advice of the Legal Counsel required further deliberation and clarification. Therefore, he agreed with the statement of the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, and the suggestion made by the representative of Algeria. The paper should be considered during the resumed session.
Ms. SILOT BRAVO (Cuba) supported the statements made by the representatives of India, Algeria and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Mr. CHOWDHURY, Committee Chairman, drew the Committee's attention to the letter from the President of the United Nations Staff Union which had been circulated in the morning.
RAFIAH SALIM, Assistant-Secretary-General for Human Resources Management, referred to the question on whether the Secretariat would be establishing a medium- and long-term human resources plan. The Office of Human Resources Management envisaged being able to project requirements in the long-term as the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) became more operational. On the late issuance of the report, she said the delay had in part been related to the need for data collection. She acknowledged the errors which had been found in the report, and said a corrigendum would be issued immediately.
Regarding the number of unrepresented and underrepresented States, the Office was making efforts to rectify that imbalance, including enabling such countries to participate in the national competitive examinations, she said. She then elaborated on the reasons for the exceptions made for five Professional-level appointments that had been made without the use of national competitive recruitment examinations. Information would be provided on the justification for the 26 Professional-level appointments which had not been recruited through national competitive examinations.
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The Secretariat was concerned by the level of resignation of young staff members, she continued. The United Nations compensation package was not competitive with the private sector, and the limited possibilities of advancement, based largely on seniority, were sources of frustration for young people. The diamond-shaped configuration of staff would be part of the study of a task force on human resources. She did not have a ready answer to the questions on the time lapse between the competitive examinations and the recruitment process. As the number of retirements increased, hopefully the time lag would be lessened.
Turning to the letter addressed to the Chairman of the Committee by the President of the Staff Union, she said that her Office had already begun discussions with the department concerned. Because she had not heard both sides of the story, she was reluctant to comment further. All departments were to comply with the guidelines on redeployment.
Ms. SILOT BRAVO (Cuba) said she could wait for further action, at the right time, on the questions she had raised on the Staff Union's letter to the Fifth Committee.
Ms. SALIM said the Secretariat would submit copies of the guidelines to Committee members who wished to look at them.
Mr. CACCIAGUERRA RANGHIERI (Italy) reiterated his concern regarding the time taken to hire successful national competitive examination candidates. Since it sometimes took up to five years to do so, no one should be surprised to find some of the successful candidates leaving for other jobs. He asked whether the Secretariat could improve the situation and its ability to actually bring in younger people.
Ms. SILOT BRAVO (Cuba) said she did not seek immediate answers to her question, but would be ready to accept them whenever the Assistant Secretary- General could provide them. She had asked about the guidelines followed to separate staff involuntarily. She also asked where the $15 million proposed for the training and deployment of personnel would be included in the budget.
Mr. SIAL (Pakistan) asked for information on the report on the use of consultants and contractual personnel, which should have been submitted by last March.
Ms. SALIM, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management said the reports on the use and rules of procedure for such personnel would be submitted in the future, along with the results of the study of the study by the task force.
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Mr. MOKTEFI (Algeria) said that since the report should have been published last March, he did not understand why it would be scheduled for another Assembly session. The matter should be disposed of by the Assembly urgently.
Ms. SILOT BRAVO (Cuba) asked when answers would be provided to the questions raised in the letter from the Staff Union.
Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairman, said the Assistant Secretary-General had referred to guidelines which would be made available for the Committee's consideration.
Ms. SILOT BRAVO (Cuba) asked what measures were being taken to guarantee the orderly treatment of those staff members whose posts were marked for abolition. Also, where could the Organization's training and redeployment programme be found in the Secretary-General's report on the financial implications of his reforms? she asked.
Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said that the matter was of concern to many delegations, who had kept silent in the current discussion only due to the constraints of time. Written information on the matter would be welcome, but in view of the likelihood of follow-up questions, the matter should again be taken up in a formal meeting.
JAMES BOND (United States) said his delegation was concerned about the contents of the letter. Three of the four persons referred to in the letter were from the United States. Still, he was satisfied with the Assistant Secretary-General's response that an internal investigation was being conducted. He would like to hear the results of that investigation, but considering the date, and the remaining matters to be considered by the Committee, the matter of redeployment should not interfere with the Committee's other work.
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