FIFTH COMMITTEE APPROVES DRAFT TEXTS ON COMMON SYSTEM, PATTERN OF CONFERENCES

16 December 1997

Press Release
GA/AB/3206

FIFTH COMMITTEE APPROVES DRAFT TEXTS ON COMMON SYSTEM, PATTERN OF CONFERENCES

19971216 Recommends Revised Base Salary for Professional, Higher Categories; Id al-Fitr, Id al-Adha as Official Holidays

The General Assembly would approve a revised base salary for United Nations staff at the Professional and higher categories and decide that Id al-Fitr and Id al-Adha would be observed as official holidays of the Organization at Headquarters and other duty stations wherever applicable, by the terms of two draft resolutions approved without a vote this morning by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).

Introducing the five-part draft resolution on the pattern of conferences, the representative of Singapore said the text had been accepted on the understanding that it would not affect the total number of holidays. Secretary-General Kofi Annan would be left to implement the decision on the understanding that all official holidays should be observed equally.

The draft also concerns servicing of meetings, documentation, conference facilities, cost-accounting system for conference services, and smoking in conference rooms.

By the terms of a three-part draft resolution on the United Nations common system, the Assembly would approve, with effect from 1 March 1998, a revised base salary scale. According to an annex to the draft, gross base pay would start for Professional P-1 staff at $35,382; P-2, $46,458; P-3, $57,720; P-4, $70,619; and P-5, $85,685. The gross base pay for those at the level of Principal Officer (D-1) would start at $97,119; Director (D-2), $109,741; Assistant Secretary-General, $133,994; and Under-Secretary-General, $147,420.

By other terms of the draft, the Assembly would:

-- Endorse the conclusions of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) related to the methods used to survey the best prevailing conditions of employment for General Service and local staff;

-- Endorse the ICSC's modifications to the methods used to determine the level of education grant;

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-- Invite the executive heads of common system organizations to develop their performance management programmes within the parameters set in the ICSC report; and

-- Endorse the principles and guidelines in the ICSC report on appointments of limited duration. [According to the principles and guidelines for such appointments, the independence and international character of the international civil service should be preserved; they should neither be used abusively to extend the employment of staff nor at the expense of the core civil service; due regard should be paid to recruiting staff on wide geographical bases; and policies towards gender balance should not be compromised. The appointments should support the concept of the United Nations system as a good employer.]

The draft text on the common system was introduced by the Committee's Vice-Chairman, Erica-Irene Daes (Greece), who had coordinated consultations on the subject.

Also this morning, the Committee took up the Secretary-General's second performance report on the 1996-1997 budget. In the course of its consideration, the Committee debated the $10.4 million sought for the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS).

The discussions followed the announcement by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), Conrad Mselle, that the ACABQ had recommended the deletion of that amount from the 1996-1997 budget request.

Statements were made by the representatives of Austria, Saudi Arabia, Russian Federation, Uganda, Indonesia, Syria, Morocco, Mexico, Belgium (on behalf of the European Union), Libya, Pakistan, Costa Rica, Algeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Cuba, Kuwait, United States, Cameroon, Canada, Australia, Panama, United Kingdom, Mozambique and India.

The United Nations Controller, Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, presented the Secretary-General's second performance report on 1996-1997 and responded to States' questions.

The Fifth Committee is scheduled to meet again at 8 p.m. tomorrow, 17 December, to take action on all outstanding issues.

Committee Work Programme

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this morning to take action on the pattern of conferences and the United Nations common system. It would then consider some questions related to the proposed 1998-1999 budget and the second performance report on the 1996-1997 budget.

Pattern of Conferences

The Committee had before it a five-part draft resolution on United Nations pattern of conferences (document A/C.5/52/L.13). By the terms of part A, the Assembly would express concern at the percentage of requests for interpretation of services for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States that were denied, and decide to include in the budget of the 1998-1999 biennium the resources necessary to provide interpretation services for those meetings on an ad hoc basis. The Assembly would request the Secretary-General to provide all conference services required as a result of decisions taken by the General Assembly at its fifty-second session.

Noting with concern the underutilization of conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, the Assembly would call for better utilization of those facilities, and encourage all subsidiary bodies of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Commission on Human Settlements and other United Nations bodies to hold their meetings at the Nairobi Office to the extent possible. Under other terms, the Assembly would decide that waivers to the headquarters rule shall be granted solely on the basis of the United Nations calendar of conferences and meetings.

Also by the draft, the Assembly would decide that the two holidays of Id al-Fitr and Id al-Adha shall be official holidays at United Nations Headquarters and at other duty stations, where applicable. It would decide that United Nations buildings at those locations will be closed to the public on those days, and that no United Nations meetings shall be held on those two days.

The Assembly would approve the draft biennial calendar of conferences and meetings for 1998-1999, and authorize the Committee on Conferences to make adjustments to the calendar as a result of decisions taken by the Assembly at its current session, under other terms.

By part B, the Assembly would express deep concern about the decline in the quality of some reports. It would note the Secretary-General's decision that Secretariat documents should be no longer than 16 pages, would emphasize that this reduction should not adversely affect the presentation or content of documents. It would decide to keep under review the length and quality of all documents.

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Concerned about difficulties experienced by States because some publications had not been translated in all languages and because of the delay in the translation of official documents, the Assembly would request that the Secretary-General provide the resources necessary to reverse the situation. It would request that he take steps to improve the quality and accuracy of meeting records in all six languages; improve the translation of documents into official languages; ensure that the summary records of the Fifth Committee are prepared by experienced language staff familiar with the Organization's administrative and financial developments; ensure that summary records are translated in all six official languages; and continue his efforts to introduce new translation technologies. He would also be requested to reinstate the post of reviser in six languages. The Assembly would also reiterate its request that the Secretary-General ensure that documentation is made available in accordance with the six-week rule.

Under other terms, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to direct all departments to include, where appropriate, summaries, conclusions, recommendations and proposed actions, as well as relevant background information in reports. Expressing deep concern over the technical and audio quality of some conference rooms, it would request the Secretary-General to present proposals for upgrading the conference rooms and interpretation booths.

Part C of the draft resolution would have the Assembly reiterate its request that the Secretary-General ensure that the text of all new public documents, in all six official languages, and information materials of the United Nations are made available through the United Nations Web site daily and are accessible to Member States without delay. It would also request that he issue public information material in all official languages on the Web site; finish uploading all important United Nations documents on the Web site in all official languages on a priority basis; and continue working to provide access to the optical disk system in the six official languages on an equal basis.

Under the terms in part D of the draft text, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General, as a matter of priority, to expedite the development of the cost-accounting system for conference services in 1998 and to extend it to other areas of the Secretariat, ensuring that the system reflects the experience of other duty stations. It would encourage him to utilize in-house resources to implement that system. Part E of the draft would have the Assembly encourage all those who use United Nations conference facilities to refrain from smoking.

Common System

Also before the Fifth Committee was a draft resolution on the United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) (document A/C.5/52/L.11), which comes in three parts, on the conditions

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of service of staff in the professional and higher categories; remuneration of General Service and other local staff; and conditions of service of all employees.

By the terms in part I -- conditions of service -- the Assembly would approve, with effect from 1 March 1998, a revised base scale of salaries and the consequential amendment to the United Nations Staff Regulations. According to an annex attached to the draft, gross base pay would start for Professional P-1 staff at $35,382; P-2, $46,458; P-3, $57,720; P-4, $70,619; and P-5, $85,685. The gross base pay for Principal Officer (D-1) would start at $97,119; Director (D-2), $109,741; Assistant Secretary-General, $133,994; and Under-Secretary-General, $147,420.

On the establishment of a single post adjustment index for Geneva staff, the draft would have the Assembly welcome the information provided by the ICSC and common system organizations, noting that they had raised elements that had not been reported on or discussed by the Assembly. The ICSC would be asked to review the possibility for common system staff to live in France, to travel to France and transport goods between France and Switzerland. It should review the way in which transitional measures would be introduced to make the application of the post adjustment system more equitable for all staff working in Geneva and report to the next Assembly session.

By the terms in part II -- remuneration of General Service and local staff -- the Assembly would endorse the ICSC's conclusions related to the methods of the surveys of best prevailing conditions of employment at Headquarters and non-headquarters duty stations. It would also endorse the refinements to the survey methods as contained in the ICSC report, and note that the revisions would be implemented by 1 January 1998. By the terms of the draft, the Assembly would reaffirm that the Flemming principle should remain the basis for determining the conditions of service of General Service and related-category staff.

On the review of the basis for dependent children's allowance, the draft would have the Assembly endorse the conclusions and decisions of the ICSC. [Among the decisions are that the "social benefit"/local practice approach to determining General Service staff children's allowance be maintained; the method for deciding dependency allowances should not be incorporated into salary survey methodologies; and that children's allowance amounts in effect as of 31 December 1997 would remain in effect until the scale of net salaries was revised.]

In part III -- conditions of service in all categories of staff -- the Assembly would endorse the ICSC's modifications to the methods used to determine the education grant's level. It would also note that the revised method would be considered beginning with the 1998 biennial review of the grant. The Assembly would also decide to delegate to the ICSC Chairman the authority to approve, when certain duty stations experience exceptional

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increases in fees between two reviews of the grant, special measures that allow for reimbursing admissible staff expenses up to an approved level.

On performance management, the draft would have the Assembly decide that the report of the Secretary-General on a system of performance awards and bonuses would be considered under the agenda item on human resources management. The Assembly would invite common system executive heads to develop their performance management programmes within the parameters set in the ICSC report.

The Assembly would also endorse the principles and guidelines in the ICSC report relating to appointments of limited duration. (For background on the ICSC report, see Press Release GA/AB/3193 of 17 November.)

Proposed Programme Budget for 1998-1999

The Secretary-General's statement on the programme budget implications (document A/C.5/52/30) of draft resolution A/52/L.65 on Haiti informs the General Assembly that, should it adopt that draft text, an additional appropriation of about $7.7 million net would be required under the proposed 1998-1999 budget section for peacekeeping and special missions. The draft would authorize the renewal of the mandate, from 1 January to 31 December 1998, of the United Nations component of the International Civilian Mission to Haiti (MICIVIH). The Mission is a joint operation of the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS).

Under the provisions of the draft, the Secretary-General says, the United Nations component's current staff of 116 would be increased to 134 to strengthen the Mission's work in institution-building, particularly those related to the judiciary and human rights promotion.

Second Performance Report on 1996-1997 Budget

The Secretary-General's second performance report on the 1996-1997 budget (document A/C.5/52/32) proposes a final appropriation for the biennium of about $2.549 billion gross, down from the $2.603 billion gross approved last December as the revised appropriations for the period. The reduction in the gross expenditure reflects savings resulting from more favourable rates of exchange of the United States dollar ($49.3 million) and variations in the post and common staff costs ($30.6 million). Those amounts are partly offset by decreases in projected income ($28.7 million) and commitments authorized by the Assembly ($25.7 million). The commitments include those relating to international peace and security, the United Nations Office in Burundi and to the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA).

The report estimates of final expenditure and income are based in actual spending in the biennium's first 18 months, projected requirements for its

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last six months, changes in inflation, exchange rates and cost-of-living adjustments, according to the Secretary-General.

Action on Draft Text on Pattern of Conferences

HO TONG YEN (Singapore), who had conducted informal consultations on the pattern of conferences, introduced the draft resolution on the subject and reviewed some of its contents. He said the draft represented the agreements reached in the Committee's informal meetings and informal consultations. The adoption of the provisions of paragraphs 5 and 6 in section A of the draft resolution would be on the understanding that the overall number of official holidays in the United Nations would not be affected. The Secretary-General should be left to implement the decision in consultation with the staff, on the understanding that all official holidays should be observed equally. The draft should be approved without a vote. [Note: The paragraphs concern the two holidays of Id al-Fitr and Id-al-Adha.]

The Committee approved, without a vote, the draft resolution on pattern of conferences.

Speaking after the draft's approval, the representative of Austria said the Committee had taken a decision on the controversial matter of official holidays. He understood that the overall number of holidays for the Organization would remain at nine and no official holiday would be granted at the expense of another.

The representative of Saudi Arabia expressed the hope that the implementation of the resolution would be effected every year. The two days should be considered official United Nations holidays and dealt with like any other. His delegation would monitor the implementation of the draft. It would examine how the calculation of costs would be applied.

The representative of the Russian Federation said the allocation of nine holidays should be decided in consultation with the staff, in accordance with local traditions and practices. The overall number of non-working days should not exceed nine. The application of the draft should not lead to additional financial costs for the Organization. An error in paragraph 5 of the Russian version of the draft should be corrected.

The representative of Uganda said consensus had been hard to reach on the draft text's section E, which pertained to smoking. Even though the draft fell short of what he had expected, he would accept it as a compromise. Section E of the draft would not ban smoking in conference facilities but encourage delegates to avoid smoking in those areas. The Organization could use signs such as "Thank You For Not Smoking" or "Smoke If You Must" in order to encourage smokers to refrain from doing so. The draft was not satisfactory but represented a movement forward.

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The representative of Indonesia expressed his appreciation to Singapore's representative for his tireless efforts to reach consensus on the draft text. Indonesia had joined the consensus with the understanding that the Secretary-General would implement the provisions of operative paragraphs 5 and 6, in all their aspects. The United Nations must observe its international character, at Headquarters and at other duty stations where applicable. It should not merely depend on local customs.

The representative of Syria thanked the coordinator for his untiring efforts. Syria had agreed to paragraphs 5 and 6 on the basis of the understanding that the Fifth Committee could not add two additional holidays to the nine official days granted. The inclusion of the two days to the current nine holidays reflected the Organization's cultural diversity.

The representative of Morocco said he joined the others who had thanked the coordinator for his work to obtain a consensus text. He appreciated the assistance which had been provided by the members of the Secretariat, as well as his fellow delegates for their support and understanding. The Secretary- General had been entrusted with implementing paragraphs 5 and 6. The two holidays should be treated on an equal basis with all other holidays observed at Headquarters and at other duty stations.

The representative of Mexico praised the coordinator of the informal consultations for the way that the consultations had been conducted. He then drew attention to a technical problem in the Spanish translation of the text.

The representative of Belgium said that the implementation of the holidays specified in paragraphs 5 and 6 should be the decision of management and staff. The total number of holidays should not exceed nine days, and no holidays should be taken at the expense of other holidays.

The representative of Libya joined those who had thanked Singapore's representative for his efforts in coordinating the text. The resolution reflected respect for the Organization's international diversity. He supported the statements made by the representatives of Syria, Indonesia and Morocco.

The representative of Pakistan thanked the coordinator and those in the Secretariat who had assisted the Committee in its efforts to reach consensus. Pakistan had joined that consensus on the understanding that the two holidays would be observed at Headquarters and other duty stations wherever applicable. He was confident that the Secretary-General would take appropriate measures to implement paragraph 5 in letter and spirit. Pakistan considered paragraphs 24 and 25, on the inclusion of conclusions and recommendations in Secretariat documents, to be particularly important in readying the United Nations to carry out its tasks.

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The representative of Costa Rica asked that the Secretariat remove the "No Smoking" signs in areas used by delegates, since there was no mandate for their placement in those areas.

The representative of Algeria thanked Singapore's representative for his tremendous efforts which had enabled the Committee to reach consensus on the text. He welcomed the Committee's approval of the text on the Organization's pattern of conferences. He hoped that paragraphs 5 and 6 would be fully implemented, which would mean that the two holidays would be observed at Headquarters and at duty stations, wherever applicable.

The representative of Côte d'Ivoire expressed disappointment with the contents of the paragraphs in section E, on smoking; something that affected the health of people. The Secretariat should take steps to ban smoking because science had shown that it was dangerous to health. It was hard to understand why an Organization that included the World Health Organization (WHO) within its system could not stop that practice on its premises.

The representative of Egypt said she had joined consensus on paragraphs 5 and 6 of section A, after taking account of some delegations' concerns. While she understood that those holidays would not be observed to the detriment of other festivities, her delegation would monitor the draft's implementation. The Arabic version of the draft should include the proper translation of the phrase "where appropriate", in, for example, paragraph 24.

The representative of Cuba said an error in paragraph 4 of section B in the Spanish text of the draft resolution should be corrected. The Spanish translation should take account of the fact that the draft would have the Assembly "note" not "take note of" [the decision of the Secretary-General that documents originating in the Secretariat should be no longer than 16 pages].

The representative of Kuwait said that paragraphs 5 and 6 of section A and the two holidays of Id al-Fitr ad Id al-Adha affected about 50 Islamic countries, which expected the United Nations to respect their feelings. The Secretary-General should implement the text as approved and make the Ids equal to other holidays.

The representative of Saudi Arabia said he would like to thank Federico Riesco, Director of Conference Services of the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conferences Services, and his staff for the help they rendered the Committee.

Action on Draft Text on United Nations Common System

ERICA-IRENE DAES (Greece), Committee Vice-Chairman and coordinator of informal consultations on the item concerning the common system, introduced the draft, highlighted some of its contents and described its structure. She asked for the draft's approval without a vote.

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The Committee approved, without a vote, the draft resolution on the United Nations common system and reports of the ICSC.

Statements on Second Performance Report on 1996-1997 Budget

CONRAD MSELLE, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), introduced his Committee's views on the performance report. It had noted that the performance report estimated a percentage variation of 1.2 per cent or a net decrease of $25.1 million, compared with the revised net appropriations approved by the Assembly in resolution 51/222 of 18 December 1996. Projected gross expenditure would be about $2.549 billion, with a drop of $53.8 million from the revised appropriation of some $2.603 billion.

Additional requirements listed in the report included $10.4 million meant for the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS), which the ACABQ would examine in greater detail later, he said. In the meantime, the provision should be deleted from the 1996-1997 budget. It had noted that the implementation of the budget was more challenging in the current biennium, due partly to the sharp decline in the resources available to the United Nations.

He said the ACABQ was told that the target vacancy rates of the Organization were 10.4 per cent for Professional staff and 7.5 per cent for General Service employees. However, actual rates reached 12.8 per cent for Professional staff and 7.6 per cent for General Service. In some budget sections, those rates had reached dramatically high levels. For instance, in the human rights section, they reached up to 49 per cent for Professionals at a certain time. Under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), vacancies had grown to 39.1 per cent for Professional staff. The ACABQ was told by the Secretariat that no deliberate attempt was made to increase the vacancy rates beyond the targeted 10.4 per cent for Professionals and 7.5 per cent for General Service staff.

After reviewing the ACABQ's views and observations on other parts of the performance report, he said the ACABQ had recommended that the expenditure sections of the 1996-1997 budget should be reduced by the $10.4 million which had been requested for IMIS.

NESTER ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said he was concerned that the report of the ACABQ, which provided such valuable information, had been presented orally. He would have preferred to have studied the report prior to the Committee's discussion. When the programme budget had been adopted, it was agreed that the mandated savings were not to affect the full implementation of mandated activities. Had emphasis been given to that part of the resolution? he asked.

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Also, while he endorsed the ACABQ's view regarding the $10.4 million requested for IMIS, he asked from where that amount had been obtained. Why not leave that money in the area where it had been saved, or return the savings to Member States? he asked. The strength of the dollar during the reporting period had favoured the Organization. However, he would not wish to see a situation where the Secretariat used currency fluctuation, which was very unpredictable, as a means to reduce the overall level of the budget.

NORMA GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said she endorsed the previous speaker's views. She commended the ACABQ Chairman for his presentation, but said that the report, which had such an impact on the Organization's activities, should have been submitted in writing. Variations in the budget had been reported by the Secretariat as the result of a number of factors, including currency fluctuations. Yet, the savings had also been achieved as a result of maintaining extremely high vacancy rates. Cuba could not accept such an approach to savings, particularly in light of the fact that in the current biennium, the Secretariat had reported the postponement or cancellation of a large number of activities as a result of the mandated savings. Vacancy rates had been used to create savings. The practice was regrettable and contrary to the Assembly's decisions.

The Assembly had decided that, if necessary, there would be additional appropriations for the maintenance of international peace and security, she said. Currency fluctuations had enabled the costs of the new mandates to be absorbed. Otherwise, the position of the Cuban and other delegations would be that the additional amounts should be appropriated from Member States, in accordance with established procedure.

The Secretariat's request for $10.4 million for IMIS could not be justified, she said. While it was true that IMIS was a multi-year project, it had cost a great deal of money to date and had not produced the expected results. She was eager to see the results of the audit of the system which had been carried out. She asked the Secretariat to indicate clearly how it had been possible to report such savings, when it had earlier stated that it had deferred a number of activities.

THOMAS REPASCH (United States) said he would like to know when the hard copy of the ACABQ report would be available to the Fifth Committee. Noting the recommendation for the deletion of $10.4 million proposed for IMIS, he said he could not say whether that suggestion was justified without seeing the details of the ACABQ views. The Secretariat should explain certain increases of about $1 million for the budget's section on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the changes included in other sections.

AHMED FARID (Saudi Arabia) asked for explanations on the spending on such items as consultants and general operating expenses, on which he would submit a draft resolution to seek its reduction. He welcomed the reduction in

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the estimates for supplies and staff costs. He expressed concern about the fall in net revenues from such operations as the United Nations Gift Centre at Headquarters. That facility might be examined, following troubling reports on it by, for example, the Office of Internal Oversight Services.

Ms. GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said the United Nations complex was a hazardous place. The Secretariat should explain the proposed cuts from the 1996-1997 budget's section on maintenance, at a time when the quality of the Headquarters structure was deteriorating. While she agreed with the suggestion by Saudi Arabia regarding the Gift Centre, it should be kept open to provide services.

JEAN-PIERRE HALBWACHS, United Nations Controller, said the Secretariat had long ago stated that the implementation of the $104 million mandated savings would affect some United Nations programmes and activities. It had subsequently listed some of the work that would be deleted, postponed or deferred due to those savings. Any savings would be returned to Member States, and there was a reduction of about $53.8 million from the gross expenditure for 1996-1997. But, $10.4 million had also been requested for the IMIS.

The United Nations Administration was not trying to reduce the budget through adjustments to take account of the strength of the United States dollar and the effects of inflation, he said. All it did with such adjustments was put the budget through the usual three adjustment cycles, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 41/213 of 1986. The latest data were used to revise and update the budget in light of actual experience.

Even though the recruitment freeze had been lifted, the vacancy rate had, on average, remained the same, he continued. Bodies such as UNRWA had been able to fill their vacancies, though. That explained the request for additional amounts in the budget section on that Agency. The money sought for consultants was less than what was requested in the recent past, due to persistent cuts to that expenditure item. He also provided information on the proposals regarding the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).

He agreed with the ACABQ that 21 months of actual expenditure, rather than 18, should be used to assess what might emerge as the final levels of expenditure and income for a biennium.

MICHEL TOMMO MONTHE (Cameroon) said that the method used in the 1996-1997 budget performance should not be used again. Although the Secretary-General had emphasized the need to exercise the greatest possible caution on extremely limited funds, money had not been used for mandated activities.

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To meet the Assembly's demand, "false savings" had been achieved, he continued. There had been delays in publications and postponement of activities; staff morale had been sorely tested. During the next biennium, such behaviour should be abandoned. Programmes adopted by the Assembly should be implemented. The vacancy rates should be reduced. The morale of staff should not be sorely tried. Those were the lessons to be learned from the budget.

Savings were important, but false economies had not resulted in efficiency, he continued. For example, the Department of Public Information could enable the Organization to better prepare for the coming century. However, it did not have the technology required for that endeavour. He called for prompt payments of dues owed by Member States to lessen the Organization's financial crisis.

Ms. GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said she fully agreed with the comments made by the representative of Cameroon. Turning to the Controller's comments on building repair, she recalled that he had said that all the projects had been carried out. While she would not request a document on the matter, there had been official information to the effect that a large number of important projects would only be partially carried out and that others would be postponed. She would like confirmation that those projects had indeed been carried out. Was the move of the library of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to take place during the upcoming biennium? she asked. The Assembly had decided to lift the recruitment freeze last December, yet that freeze had been lifted four months later, to obviously create additional savings.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said he could not comment on behalf of the Chairman of the ACABQ regarding the United States representative's question as to why the amount of $10.4 million should not be approved for IMIS. However, had the representative attended the informal discussions on the matter yesterday, he would know the answer. The question should be reversed: Why did the United States delegation think the money should be approved? he asked.

He said he had asked the Controller where the $10.4 million would come from, but had not yet received a response. The Secretariat had implemented programmes that had not been mandated by the Assembly, while neglecting to implement mandated programmes. If there were difficulties in implementing mandated programmes, the Secretary-General should have returned to the Assembly and requested additional information. The high vacancy rate seemed to have been used to achieve savings which were subsequently used to implement programmes which had not been mandated. The performance reports should be based on 21 months, not 18 months.

SAMUEL HANSON (Canada) said he was sad whenever programmes were not achieved or purchases not made in accordance with appropriations. While appropriations were legal authorization to spend money, such funds had to be

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received in the first place. When mandated activities were not implemented, delegations should look to the gap between mandates and the payment of assessments. Members only seemed too ready to negotiate mandates but failed to pay their dues. The first place to check for reasons why some mandates were not fulfilled was the document on the status of contributions, which showed that about $2 billion stood unpaid.

Mr. REPASCH (United States) asked for an analysis of the ACABQ's recommendation on the deletion of $10.4 million for IMIS. The analysis should be submitted in writing before the United States could join consensus on the subject before the Committee. The Secretariat should clarify some of the provisions for the maintenance of the roof of the United Nations building. Other delegations should refrain from answering the questions the United States addressed to the ACABQ.

Mr. FARID (Saudi Arabia) said the level of money allocated for consultants in 1981-1982 was irrelevant as far as comparisons with the current level of expenditure on consultants were concerned. Spending on that item and the $212 million proposed for general operating expenses should be reduced. The amounts proposed for furniture, too, should be cut significantly.

Ms. GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said she had not intended to speak, but had to respond to the statement made by Canada's representative. She agreed that dues should be paid by all Member States. But, distinctions should be made between those who could not pay because of their economic conditions and those who refused to do so for political reasons. All delegations knew the reasons why the budget with mandated savings was adopted. That should provide a context for discussions on the Organization's finances.

The question she had asked on the taxes accrued from the sale of United Nations publications should be answered, she said.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said the response of a distinguished representative to his prior comments was the reason why he took the floor again. He had stated at the beginning of his earlier statement that his delegation could not speak for the Chairman of the ACABQ, but could respond to the views expressed in the meeting.

MILES ARMITAGE (Australia) associated himself with the comments by Canada's representative. In the context of budget discussions, the key question before Member States was the payment of dues. The reasons for non-payment were not the subject of discussion in the Committee; he agreed with Cuba's representative that they could be discussed at another forum. But Member States must face the reality that whenever the Organization's income fell, it must reduce its spending accordingly. He sought further elaboration from the ACABQ Chairman on the recommendation to delete the $10.4 million proposed for IMIS.

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JUDITH CARDOZE (Panama) asked the Secretariat to explain the legal or legislative justification for collecting taxes at the Gift Centre.

Mr. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, said that at the present stage of deliberations, the Advisory Committee found it advisable to issue its reports orally to the greatest extent possible, to speed the Committee's work. The United States' representative had asked why the Advisory Committee had recommended deleting the $10.4 million requested for IMIS. The Advisory Committee had not seen why the amount should be allocated to the 1996-1997 budget. There were no reasons given in the Secretary-General's performance report. It was not clear whether that amount related to activities of IMIS arising in the 1996-1997 biennium. If activities related to the $10.4 million had already commenced, then it could be argued that the funds were needed. But if they had not yet commenced, the moneys should be included in the proposed 1998-1999 budget. The details should be considered carefully in the context of the ninth report on IMIS. The Advisory Committee would review the ninth progress report on IMIS in February.

Mr. HALBWACHS, United Nations Controller, said he had not said all the building repair projects had been concluded, but rather that all the money for that had been spent. Programmes which had been mandated, but not appropriated for, had been implemented. The $10.4 million for IMIS was to come from the totality of the savings. The purpose of the performance report was to explain what the Secretariat considered would be the final levels of income and expenditure. He said he would seek information regarding the gift shop.

Mr. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, said the Secretariat had just handed him a copy of the ninth progress report (document A/52/711), which was long and complicated. [The report contains revised resource requirements and an overall summary of expenditures incurred to date, together with a status of the various activities as of the end of October. It states that additional requirements of $10.4 million are needed.] Under paragraph 49 of that report, a table indicated that estimated expenditure from 1998 to the project's end was $14.7 million. In reading the rest of the document, it was not clear whether the $10.4 million was for 1998 or partly for that year, or related to 1996-1997. He referred the representative of the United States to the report, particularly page 9 onward. The representative would then appreciate the Advisory Committee's reservations about supporting the proposal before it had thoroughly reviewed the report.

Mr. REPASCH (United States) said he appreciated the responses of the Controller and the ACABQ Chairman. The ninth progress report on IMIS was indeed complicated and unclear, which was the reason he had asked the basis of the ACABQ's recommendation. The progress report had not been introduced to the Committee, yet it had been referenced by the ACABQ. The Committee was being asked to take action on a report that had not been introduced. The ACABQ was recommending that the $10.4 million be deleted from the performance report. He asked whether that would mean that no final decision would be

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taken until a later date, until a full analysis and evaluation on IMIS was available.

AMJAD SIAL (Pakistan) drew attention to Assembly resolution 50/214, which stated that budget amounts should be spent on specifically approved activities. The resolution on savings had also said that the budget savings should not affect the implementation of mandated programmes. The non-payment of dues should not lead to the curtailment of mandated activities. The Assembly had said repeatedly that any change in activities was its prerogative.

Mr. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, said the Secretariat should inform the Fifth Committee on the resources available for IMIS in 1998, pending the ACABQ consideration of the $10.4 million requested. Since the ACABQ would report in February, IMIS could be operated for some time, depending on the availability of resources.

ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairman, proposed that the Committee recommend the approval of the amounts proposed in the various sections in schedule I of the performance report, excluding the $10.4 million proposed for IMIS.

Mr. REPASCH (United States) said the Committee should indicate that it was accepting the ACABQ recommendation, pending the submission of an analysis of its recommendation on IMIS.

Mr. MSELLE, ACABQ Chairman, said the Committee could approve the revised estimates and discuss the $10.4 million later. The accounts for the 1996-1997 budget would have to be closed in March 1998 to enable the Board of Auditors to audit them. If an amount for IMIS exceeding that contained in the 1996-1997 budget was to be considered, it could be discussed in the context of the 1998-1999 budget.

Mr. REPASCH (United States) said he was not sufficiently informed to take a decision on the matter. While the United Nations books for the 1996-1997 budget had to be closed by the end of next March, the Committee could take up the matter at the resumed session in time for a decision before the books were closed.

Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairman, said the Committee should take a decision to close the 1996-1997 budget before the main part of the session ended. It should, therefore, formulate language acceptable to all sides and which accorded to some extent to the suggestions of the ACABQ.

Ms. GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said that if additional resources were needed for IMIS, the level of appropriations should not be decided now. Technically, a decision should not be taken and then later reopened. She

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would have liked another discussion, but would not object to a decision being taken at the present time.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said the Chairman's first proposal was acceptable, as was the advice of the Advisory Committee Chairman.

AMANY FAHMY (Egypt) agreed with the advice of the ACABQ.

BARRY LOWEN (United Kingdom) said his initial reaction to the proposal for the use of the funds had been positive. He had listened carefully to the comments of the Chairman of the ACABQ. The matter should be discussed in informals.

SALVADOR NAMBURETE (Mozambique) supported taking a decision taking into account the explanations given.

Mr. ARMITAGE (Australia) said he believed that sufficient information was not yet available and that more time was needed for a decision to be taken.

Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairman, proposed that the Committee take a decision on the 1996-1997 biennium, and postpone its decision on the next biennium.

Mr. REPASCH (United States) said the issue came down to whether the charges being proposed were related to the current or the next biennium.

Mr. CHOWDHURY, Committee Chairman, said that the Committee would discuss the matter in informal consultations, and take a decision on the matter within the next few days.

Other Matters

Ms. GOICOCHEA ESTENOZ (Cuba) said her delegation had been informed that an administrative instruction had been issued from the Secretariat indicating that the contracts of all staff with fixed-term contracts should expire in the very near future. Secretariat representatives should address the Committee on that matter.

Mr. ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) said Committee members should approve the programme of work before its printing; some one-man delegations would find it hard to attend scheduled meetings until 4 a.m. and then arrive for more later in the morning. Therefore, no meetings should be held after 12:30 a.m. He objected to the schedule to hold meetings from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. tomorrow. That was not necessary unless there was a hidden agenda to push some items in the absence of the members of small delegations.

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Mr. SIAL (Pakistan) said it was impossible to work until 4 a.m., reach home at 5 a.m. and return to the office at 8 a.m. The schedule that suggested such a work pace should be rejected.

RAJAT SAHA (India) expressed support for Cuba's statement, on the termination of the fixed-term contracts.

Mr. MANLAN (Côte d'Ivoire) called for a rational adjustment of the Committee's working hours. The meeting scheduled for 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. would not be tolerated, as small delegations could not work at such a pace.

Mr. CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Committee Chairman, said there was no hidden agenda and the meeting scheduled for 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. was cancelled. The Secretariat would be asked to respond to the questions raised by the representatives of Cuba and India. A note had been sent by the Secretariat regarding an earlier letter from the Staff Union on the separation of four staff members whose posts were to be abolished under conference services. In essence, the Secretariat was stating that a management review had been set up to examine the matter.

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