ASSEMBLY DECIDES TO CONTINUE CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSAL ON 'SUNSET' PROVISIONS AT CURRENT SESSION, DEFERS OTHER REFORM PROPOSALS TO NEXT REGULAR SESSION

6 May 1998

Press Release
GA/9405

ASSEMBLY DECIDES TO CONTINUE CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSAL ON 'SUNSET' PROVISIONS AT CURRENT SESSION, DEFERS OTHER REFORM PROPOSALS TO NEXT REGULAR SESSION

19980506 Also Requests Fifth Committee to Consider Development Account, Revolving Credit Fund, Impact of Pilot Projects on Budgetary Practices

The General Assembly this afternoon decided to continue at its current session the consideration of the Secretary-General's proposal to impose time- limits on new initiatives involving new organizational structures and/or major commitments of funds -- also known as "sunset" provisions -- by adopting, as orally amended and without a vote, a decision under its resumed consideration of measures and proposals for United Nations reform.

The decision (document A/52/L.73/Rev.3), submitted by Assembly President Hennadiy Udovenko (Ukraine), also included provisions pertaining to the Secretary-General's proposals for a Development Account, a revolving credit fund, pilot projects on budgetary practices, core resources for development and a new concept of trusteeship.

As contained in a note of the Secretary-General (document A/52/851), the purpose of "sunset" provisions is to strengthen the role and capacity of the Organization by focusing its efforts on activities that have continuing relevance, usefulness and effectiveness.

Also by the decision, the Assembly welcomed the Secretary-General's proposal to designate its fifty-fifth session in the year 2000 as the Millennium Assembly. It further decided to continue the consideration of his note on the Millennium Assembly (document A/52/850) at its fifty-third session. Included in the Secretary-General's proposals is the recommendation that a high-level segment, called the Millennium Summit, be devoted to in- depth consideration of the theme "The United Nations in the twenty-first century". A non-governmental Millennium Forum could be held in conjunction with the Assembly, and Member States could consider establishing a ministerial-level special commission to examine the relations among the component parts of the United Nations system.

Further by the resolution, the Assembly requested its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) to consider at its resumed session starting on

11 May, the Secretary-General's note on the utilization of the Development Account (document A/52/848). The Development Account would channel savings generated by administrative efficiencies towards investments that benefited developing countries. The Secretary-General's note identifies the sustainability of that initiative, as well as modalities of implementation, the specific purposes and the associated performance criteria for the use of such resources.

The Assembly also decided that the Fifth Committee should consider and make recommendations on the proposals described in the Secretary-General's report on the revolving credit fund (document A/52/822), and his note on the impact of the implementation of pilot projects on budgetary practices and procedures (document A/52/852). The proposed revolving credit fund would relieve cash-flow pressures on the Organization through temporary advances against unpaid assessed contributions. The note on the implementation of pilot projects on budgetary practices and procedures recalls the Secretary- General's intention to take steps to delegate maximum authority to line managers for the management of human and financial resources.

The Assembly also decided to defer consideration of the Secretary- General's note on core resources for development (document A/52/847), in order for the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) to examine and make recommendations on the proposals described in the note during the Assembly's fifty-third session. In that note, the Secretary-General states it was essential to ensure the predictability and security of core resources for development to increase the efficiency of United Nations funds and programmes, and avert discontinuities. He suggests that governing bodies of the United Nations development system should further explore ideas to strengthen the voluntary system of contributions to United Nations operational activities for development.

The Assembly further decided to defer consideration to its fifty-third session of the Secretary-General's note on a new concept of trusteeship (document A/52/849). That note describes the proposal to reconstitute the Trusteeship Council as the forum through which Member States exercise their collective trusteeship for the integrity of the global environment and common areas such as the oceans, atmosphere and outer space. The Trusteeship Council could also serve to link the Organization and civil society in addressing areas of global concern which require active contribution by public, private and voluntary sectors.

After action, MichaeI Powles (New Zealand), speaking also on behalf of Canada and Australia, said he was pleased with the straightforward manner in which the Assembly had dealt with the majority of the reform proposals made by the Secretary-General. He agreed with the Secretary-General when he said that no one could seriously question the need for reform in the United Nations.

General Assembly Plenary - 3 - Press Release GA/9405 84th Meeting (PM) 6 May 1998

The process started from the premise that the measures were not reform for reform's sake, but reform to make the Organization more efficient and better able to fulfil its goals, which included international peace.

He called for high priority to be given to the provisions of the decision taken today, as they represented forward-thinking reforms that were crucial to the work of the United Nations. He supported the Secretary- General's proposal for requiring time-limits on new initiatives, as it was a sound principle to follow when new mandates were being formulated. He looked forward to the Second and Fifth Committees' reports on some of the proposals.

Last week, the Secretary-General told the Assembly that the net result of measures and proposals for United Nations reform should be a more productive and effective Organization, together with a renewed emphasis on economic, social and development activities. He also reviewed the report and notes on some of his proposals before the Assembly, which it requested when it adopted resolution 52/12 B of 19 December 1997 on "Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform". (For additional information on the Secretary-General's report and notes, see Press Release GA/9403 of 27 April.)

Also this afternoon, the Assembly was informed that Guatemala had made the necessary payments to reduce its arrears below the amount specified under Article 19 of the United Nations Charter. By that Article, a Member State which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization should have no vote in the Assembly if the amount equals or exceeds the contributions due for the preceding two full years.

Before adjourning the meeting, the Assembly President drew the attention of Member States to a letter dated 4 May concerning two reports of the Secretary-General. The first report (document A/52/855) was on the implementation of Assembly resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997 on strengthening of the United Nations system under agenda item 60. The second report (document A/52/856) was on the implementation of Assembly resolution 48/264 of 9 July 1994 on the revitalization of the Assembly's work under agenda item 21. The President said he intended to convene the Assembly during the first week of June to consider those two reports and to take appropriate action.

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