WHILE ACCEPTING AUDIT OPINIONS OF BOARD OF AUDITORS, ASSEMBLY WOULD REVERT TO CERTAIN ASPECTS AT RESUMED SESSION, BY FIFTH COMMITTEE TEXT
Press Release
GA/AB/3279
WHILE ACCEPTING AUDIT OPINIONS OF BOARD OF AUDITORS, ASSEMBLY WOULD REVERT TO CERTAIN ASPECTS AT RESUMED SESSION, BY FIFTH COMMITTEE TEXT
19981210 Committee also Approves Draft on Financial Arrangements for International Court of Justice Dining RoomWhile accepting the Board of Auditors audit opinions and recommendations on United Nations agencies and programmes, the General Assembly would revert to certain aspects at its resumed session, by one of several draft decisions approved this morning without a vote by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).
As he introduced and orally amended the text, Zimbabwe's representative explained that the decision came from the fact that the Auditors' reports and financial statements were too important to gloss over, yet too important to defer.
Noting with serious concern the Board's qualified audit opinions of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General and the heads of those agencies and programmes to take steps to avoid a similar situation in the next audit, under other provisions of the draft.
The Committee also approved without a vote, a draft decision by which the Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General's report on the financial arrangements for the dining room of International Court of Justice, introduced by the Committee's Vice-Chairman, the representative of Bahamas. In the same manner, it decided to take note of a letter from the Chairman of the Sixth Committee (Legal) concerning the Court.
Also without a vote, the Committee recommended taking note of the Secretary-General's report on integration of technical secretariats for the General Assembly and subsidiary bodies, and the Economic and Social Council, and to revert to the issue as necessary.
During discussion of the programme budget for 1998-1999, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ),
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C.S.M. Mselle, introduced that body's report on the relationship between perennial activities and the contingency fund, recommending that interpretation of "perennial matters" be clarified by the General Assembly.
When the Committee took up the programme budget implications of a draft text on the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan, the representative of Pakistan asked for further information on the Secretary-General's proposal. Those assigned to work as human rights monitors in Afghanistan should not be from countries directly involved, but rather should come from neutral countries.
Also this morning, the Committee considered the financing for United Nations operations in Angola, and coherence of enhanced oversight. In addition, it discussed the ACABQ's reporting procedures and the Committee's programme of work for the remaining few days of the main part of the Assembly's fifty-third session.
The representatives of Mexico, United States, Cuba, Austria, (speaking also for the European Union and associated States), Cameroon, Uganda, Bahamas, New Zealand and Portugal also spoke.
Under-Secretary-General for Management Joseph Connor and Assistant Secretary-General for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services Federico Riesko introduced reports, as did the Chairman of the ACABQ.
The Assistant Secretary-General for Central Support Services, Toshiyuki Niwa, responded to comments made in a previous meeting on the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) -- a computerised management system being developed and implemented by the United Nations and certain system bodies.
The Committee is scheduled to meet again at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 15 December, to take action on all outstanding matters.
Committee Work Programme
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this morning to take action on financial reports and reports of the Board of Auditors, and on several draft texts considered under the agenda item programme budget for 1998-1999. In addition, it was to take up reports of the Secretary-General and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) regarding the financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA).
(Summaries of two reports on the programme budget for 1998-1999 were presented earlier. For background on revised estimates arising from resolutions and decisions of the Economic and Social Council, see Press Release GA/AB/3265 of 16 November. For a report of independent experts' on the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS), see Press Release GA/AB/3274 of 30 November.)
Financial Reports and Audited Financial Statements and Reports of Board of Auditors
A draft resolution on the United Nations financial reports and audited financial statements, and the reports of the Board of Auditors (document A/C.5/53/L.16), submitted by the Committee's Chairman, would have the General Assembly approve all recommendations of the Board of Auditors. It would request the Secretary-General and executive heads of agencies and programmes to ensure timely implementation of the Board's recommendations, and endorse the related comments of the ACABQ.
Noting with serious concern the Board's qualified audit opinions of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General and the heads of these agencies and programmes to take steps to avoid qualification during the next audit, under other provisions.
Also by the draft, the Assembly would accept the Board's reports, statements, audit opinions, and its summary of principal findings, conclusions and recommendations. It would decide to take up certain issues at its resumed fifty-third session.
Programme Budget for 1998-1999
By the terms of a draft decision on financial arrangements associated with the dining room at the International Court of Justice, submitted by the Committee's Vice-Chairman, the Assembly would take note of the Secretary- General's report on the matter, with the understanding that the United Nations provides no subsidy in any form for the dining room's operation (document A/C.5/53/L.17).
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The Committee had before it a report from the Secretary-General on the relationship between the treatment of perennial activities in the programme budget and the use of the contingency fund (document A/C.5/52/42). The Secretary-General recalls that, in resolution 41/213 of 1986, the Assembly decided that the programme budget should include expenditures related to political activities of a perennial nature -- with annually renewed mandates -- and a contingency fund to accommodate expenditures derived from legislative mandates not provided for in the proposed programme budget. The same resolution defined the relationship between treatment of perennial activities in the programme budget and the use of the contingency fund. Funds for activities whose mandates were being renewed annually were to be included in the proposed programme budget, while the contingency fund was for new mandates that arose after preparation of the proposed programme budget.
Since the mid-1970s, a number of activities have been undertaken in response to decisions taken each year by the Commission on Human Rights and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council, the report states. Initially, the required resources were sought every year, mainly as unforeseen expenses. In resolution 44/201 B of 1989, the Assembly decided that additional requirements for new mandates emanating from decisions of the Economic and Social Council which were outside the scope of perennial activities included in section 23 (Human Rights) of the programme budget for 1990-1991 were to be treated according to provisions on the use of the contingency fund.
Annexed to the report is a list of activities financed under mandates of the Economic and Social Council. In 1997, these included 16 special rapporteurs for countries (compared to six in 1986); and eight special rapporteurs (compared to three in 1986). Country rapporteurs are appointed and/or extended annually, while thematic rapporteurs and working groups are established for three years. The annual total of these activities came to 67 in 1997, compared to 25 in 1986.
In a related report (document A/53/7/Add.9), the ACABQ points out that resources appropriated for perennial activities are subject to the approval of the respective mandates and may not be spent unless the mandates are approved or renewed. The problem of what constitutes a perennial activity should be settled by the General Assembly. It recommends the General Assembly take note of the Secretary-General's note.
The Committee had before it the report of the Secretary-General on the consolidation of technical secretariat servicing of intergovernmental bodies (document A/53/452). The report explains that the major technical support services for the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary bodies were integrated into the new Department for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services in 1997. This was done to strengthen the coherence, quality and efficiency of technical support services.
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In its resolution 52/220 of 22 December 1997 the General Assembly noted that servicing of its Fifth and Sixth (Legal) Committees and the Security Council would not be performed by the new Department. It also asked the Secretary-General to keep the arrangements under review and report to it, with a view to integrating all such servicing in the new Department.
The Secretary-General reports that the consolidation has been beneficial, resulting in better coordination and preparation of meetings, a stronger "clearing house" role for the Department, and better coordination and rationalization of documentation. Substantive support for the intergovernmental bodies' work was provided by all relevant departments.
The secretaries of the Fifth and Sixth Committees and the ACABQ participate in the weekly working-level coordination committee convened by the new Department. These meetings, also attended by the legal advisers to the Assembly, have proven a useful tool for horizontal contacts among working-level staff.
Given that the present arrangements appear to meet the requirements of Member States, the Secretary-General reports that no changes are proposed. He also states that he will inform the Assembly of any plans for further developments. The Committee also had before it a letter from the Chairman of the Sixth Committee, transmitted by the President of the General Assembly (document A/C.5/53/31). The letter draws Fifth Committee members' attention to a report by the Secretary-General on the consequences of the increased volume of cases before the International Court of Justice (document A/53/326). A decision of the Sixth Committee cited in the letter states that this report "relates closely" to agenda item 113 (programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999), which is within the purview of the Fifth Committee.
In the report on the workload of the International Court of Justice, the Secretary-General states that the General Assembly, in failing to provide the necessary resources to the Court, has diminished its importance, and outlines certain increased resource needs of the Court.
The Committee also had before it a statement by the Secretary-General on the programme budget implications of a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee, as well as the related report of the ACABQ.
According to the Secretary-General's statement on budget implications (document A/C.5/53/45), should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/53/L.66, net additional requirements would be close to $6.6 million. This amount results from the need for requirements of some $6.9 million under section 3 (Peacekeeping operations and special missions) of the 1998-1999 programme budget, offset by an unencumbered balance of $332,300 from the 1998 appropriation granted by the Assembly for the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA) for the period from 1 January to 31 December 1998.
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In the ACABQ's report (document A/53/734), it recommends that the estimate be reduced by 10 per cent. The corresponding additional appropriation would be some $5.9 million under section 3 of the programme budget for 1998-1999.
Noting that the Secretary-General proposes a P-4 staff member to follow political developments and provide guidance to the missions, the ACABQ cautions against the proliferation of political officers at Headquarters for field missions, pointing out that resources already available at Headquarters, including those financed from the support account, could be called upon to provide services envisaged by the Secretary-General. Also, the Committee states that in view of the security situation and the uncertainty of the timing of the establishment of a civil affairs unit until the visit of an assessment team at the end of January 1999, the provisions and other related expenditures might be "ambitious".
Review of Efficiency
The Committee had before it a note by the Secretary-General transmitting comments of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) on the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) report on coherence for enhanced oversight in the United Nations system (document A/53/171/Add.1). It says the ACC, in general, shares the thrust of the report and notes that many of its relevant suggestions and recommendations had either been implemented or featured in future plans. It notes, however, that little had been said in the report about the possibility for improved coordination of the external oversight mechanism.
The report says the ACC is of the view that continuous pressure for provision of information through internal oversight reports gave impetus to increased micro-management. There was risk of reducing the effectiveness of internal oversight if legislative bodies requested specific internal oversight reviews to be conducted and reported on too frequently. Such requests should, therefore, be made judiciously.
Financing United Nations Observer Mission in Angola
A report on financing the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA) (document A/52/799/Add.1) contains the proposed budget for the maintenance of MONUA for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, which amounts to $140.8 million gross ($136.4 million net). Resources approved for the previous 12 months amounted to $155 million gross ($150.4 million net).
The total resources made available to the operations in Angola, consisting of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM III) from its inception on 3 January 1989 to 30 June 1997 and MONUA from its inception on 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, amount to $1.08 billion gross ($1.06 billion net). Actual and pro forma expenditures for the same period amount to some $1.036 billion gross (almost $1.015 billion net).
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In a related report (document A/53/722), the ACABQ reports that the Secretary-General had requested that the Mission be extended by three months from 3 December 1998. In a letter to the Chairman of the ACABQ dated 24 November, he requested immediate appropriation and assessment action for MONUA by the Assembly.
According to the ACABQ, the Secretary-General estimates that $87.2 million gross (some $84.6 million net) would be required, equivalent to $10.9 million per month, for the period 1 November 1998 to 30 June 1999. This would include the $10.9 million previously granted by the ACABQ for November. Although recent expenditure experience would seem to suggest that a lower level of resources than that requested by the Secretary-General was required, in view of the deteriorating situation, the ACABQ recommends that the Secretary-General's revised estimates for the additional $87.2 million gross be approved. This would be assessed at the rate of $10.9 million gross per month for the period, subject to a Security Council decision to extend the Mission's mandate beyond 26 February 1999.
Statements on Financial Reports, Audited Financial Statements and Reports of Board of Auditors
LOVEMORE MAZEMO (Zimbabwe) introduced the draft resolution on behalf of the Chairman of the Fifth Committee, Movses Abelian (Armenia). The Committee was faced with the dilemma that the reports submitted were considered so important that they could not be glossed over, but could also not be deferred to the Fifth Committee's resumed session. So the Committee had decided to recommend a decision that would allow the Board of Auditors and the Secretariat to go about their work unhindered. By the draft, the General Assembly would approve all the reports of the Board of Auditors.
An amendment was required in the printed text, he said. Operative paragraph 5 of the draft should read that the General Assembly approve all the recommendations of the Board of Auditors subject to the comments contained in the report of the ACABQ. That is, the term "endorsed" should be replaced by "subject to".
This paragraph of the draft was the primary section of the draft, he said. Paragraph 7 allowed the General Assembly to come back to specific issues if it chose to. The resolution was approved by consensus in informal consultations.
The Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote.
ERNESTO HERRERA (Mexico) said he wished to indicate that in the Spanish version of the draft there was a mistake, and he would be grateful if it were corrected.
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The CHAIRMAN said the necessary amendments would be requested.
THOMAS REPASCH (United States) thanked the representative of Zimbabwe for bringing the consultations on the draft to a conclusion.
Statements on Programme Budget
The CHAIRMAN advised the Committee that it had before it a draft decision on the financial arrangements associated with the dining room of the International Court of Justice.
The Committee adopted the draft decision without a vote.
Statements on IMIS
TOSHIYUKI NIWA, Assistant Secretary-General for Central Support Services, said he regretted any misunderstanding over the introduction of the expert report on the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS). Several documents issued and the relevant General Assembly resolution, A/52/227, addressed many of the same issues as the expert report. In the interest of clarity and to facilitate Member State consideration of the IMIS, the Secretariat had decided to consolidate all matters into the Secretary-General's tenth progress report on the IMIS.
The General Assembly resolution requested the Secretary-General to submit the report of experts to it with his comments, through the ACABQ. Furthermore, it requested him to include in the tenth progress report a detailed plan of action and the final estimates of resources needed to solve all IMIS problems, taking into account the expert report and the Office of Internal Oversight Services report. The Oversight Office report is in the final stage of preparation, and any early draft copy had been made available to the Department of Management. Comments on the expert report were included in the tenth progress report. That should have been mentioned in the note transmitting the report to the General Assembly, and he regretted any misunderstanding. The tenth progress report could not be considered without the report of experts. When the Under- Secretary-General for Management, Joseph Connor, had referred to the report, it had not been introduced.
A key element in the expert report was the identification of the IMIS as a major factor of United Nations reform, not just as a technological undertaking, he said. The report of the ACABQ highlighted some of the findings of the experts. He also wished to draw attention to the fact that, when the project had been launched, there had been no commercial system that met the requirements. Today, there was still none. As had been said previously, if the IMIS were not here, it would have to be invented.
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The expert report also highlighted problems that had hindered implementation, he said. Theses included the lack of a corporate information technology plan, the continuous lack of adequate internal resources to support it -- which was not unusual in this type of project -- underestimation of effort required for report writing, and delays in setting up within user offices.
The report was now available in all languages, he said. The experts had made three kinds of recommendations. First, there were those requiring urgent action by the Secretariat on tasks already undertaken or planned, within existing resources. In those cases, it was normal that the Secretariat take immediate action. Some of those recommendations were, additionally, in line with concerns expressed by the Board of Auditors and the General Assembly. Second, there were problems that required specific budget estimates. For those, the Secretariat had only developed budget estimates and would not take action unless they were approved. Third, there were actions that required further study. Those would only be undertaken after General Assembly decisions. None of the actions that had been taken would prevent the normal decision-making processes of governing bodies.
Statements on Relationship between Perennial Activities and Contingency Fund
C.S.M MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, introduced that body's report. In paragraph 3 of the report, the type of perennial activities included in the budget was mentioned on the basis of information provided by the Secretariat. In paragraph 4, the ACABQ recommended the General Assembly take note of the Secretary-General's report. The ACABQ believed that any difficulties determining what constituted a perennial activity should be decided by the General Assembly.
THOMAS SCHLESINGER (Austria) spoke for the European Union and Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus, Liechtenstein and Norway. Resolution 41/213 clearly stated that the programme budget should include expenditures related to political activities of a perennial character -- those whose mandates were renewed annually. Activities related to special rapporteurs and other fact-finding and investigative bodies established periodically pursuant to resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council, as well as activities of the Special Committee on decolonization, were within the concept of perennial activities. Provisions for those activities should, therefore, be made in the context of the proposed programme budget. He reminded delegations that such procedure had already been proposed in the 1988-1989 programme budget and approved by the Assembly and had since then become standing practice.
DULCE BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said the proposal for the current biennium would appropriate resources for country rapporteurs, in violation of the
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procedures in resolutions 41/213 and 41/211. There should be a review of resolution 41/213, and the use of the contingency fund. There was need for further consultations. The reports should be considered in the context of the first performance report.
Mr. REPASCH (United States) associated himself with the statement made for the European Union. Resolution 41/213 clearly defined the relationship between perennial activities and the contingency fund. The table in the annex of the Secretary-General's report showed that the activities were perennial in nature. He could support the ACABQ's recommendation that the Committee take note of the Secretary-General's report.
MILES ARMITAGE (Australia), Acting Chairman, said he had intended to propose that the Committee take note of the report, but in view of the request for informal consultations on the matter, the Committee would take up the reports in consultations on the programme budget.
Programme Budget Implications of Text on Situation in Afghanistan
Mr. MSELLE, introducing the report of the ACABQ, read out a correction. The last sentence of paragraph 4 should read: "The Committee was informed that these savings resulted mostly from the fact that hazard pay was not factored into the 1998 estimates or the salary costs of the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General". The ACABQ recommended some $5.9 million under section 3 of the budget.
AMJAD HUSSAIN B. SIAL (Pakistan) said his delegation would have to seek instruction from his authorities on the matter. There was need for written clarification on certain issues. For example, what were the nationalities of those being earmarked to work as human rights monitors in Afghanistan, he asked, expressing concern that people were being assigned duties from countries directly involved. Persons from neutral countries, not members of any group established by the Secretary-General, should be included in the civil affairs unit. Where would those monitors be based? he asked. He then asked why investigations into the murder of Taliban prisoners in May 1997 had not been carried out by the Human Rights Commission, as the Assembly had decided. How much money had been provided to the Commission for that purpose? What amount had been allocated for the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, and how many times had he visited the area in 1998?
The Acting CHAIRMAN said written responses would be provided. He then drew the Committee's attention to the Secretary-General's report on the consolidation of technical secretariat servicing of intergovernmental bodies.
FEDERICO RIESCO, Assistant-Secretary-General for General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, said integration of the technical secretariats of the General Assembly and most of its subsidiary bodies, and of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies, together with the conference servicing
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unit in his Department, had brought about a higher degree of coordination and cooperation and had facilitated the allocation of resources for servicing those bodies. The arrangement had been in effect for less than 18 months.
Mr. ABELIAN (Armenia), Fifth Committee Chairman, proposed that the Committee recommend that the Assembly take note of the report.
Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) noted that consultations were still going on regarding the practical implementation of the Secretary-General's reform proposals. The subject of the report should continue to be considered by the Committee and the Assembly in the context of the agenda item on reform.
The CHAIRMAN said his proposal could be with the understanding that the Secretary-General would keep the Committee apprised of any relevant information on the matter.
Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said she understood the subject would be kept under consideration in the Committee.
The CHAIRMAN proposed that the committee decide to recommend that the General Assembly take note of the report and revert to the issue as necessary.
The Committee agreed to that proposal.
The CHAIRMAN then drew attention to a letter from the Chairman of the Sixth Committee concerning the International Court of Justice. He proposed that the Committee take note of the letter.
The Committee decided to do so.
Financing United Nations Missions in Angola
Mr. MSELLE, introducing the report of the ACABQ, said that, for 1 November 1998 to 30 June 1999, the Secretary-General had requested an additional appropriation of $87.2 million gross -- again equivalent to $10.9 million per month. The ACABQ supported granting that request, subject to the Security Council renewing the mandate of MONUA.
Coherence for Enhanced Oversight in United Nations System
JOSEPH CONNOR, Under-Secretary-General for Management, introduced the ACC comments on the JIU report on coherence of enhanced oversight. The ACC noted that the JIU report was very valuable. Its members also noted that many of the report's suggestions or recommendations had already been implemented or were in line with plans.
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There was a procedural concern, he said, that the JIU report had been submitted without ACC comments. The statute of the JIU said that such reports should only be submitted with comments of the ACC or the Secretary-General. If JIU reports were submitted without any executive comments, that might deprive the Fifth Committee of information concerning any differences of position between the JIU and the subject of its report.
Mr. SIAL (Pakistan) said he had noted the Under-Secretary-General's comment that JIU reports should be introduced with ACC comments. The matter was important, and the Committee should, at some stage, consider it.
Ms. BUERGO RODRIGUEZ (Cuba) said she supported the comments by Pakistan. Unfortunately, the Committee had very little time, but given the importance Cuba attached to oversight, she suggested the Committee return to the matter at a later date.
The CHAIRMAN advised that on the last day of the current session the Committee would defer items.
Mr. REPASCH (United States) supported the Chairman's view on the status of the item and looked forward to further discussion of the issue. The ACC report contained important comments on oversight issues. The United States agreed with the ACC view on the JIU recommendation on a system-wide analysis of audit and oversight recommendations. There was sufficient reporting and analysis already.
He also sought elaboration of comments by the ACC that continuous calls for information gave impetus to micro-management. He could understand how some agencies could feel bombarded by requests for information, but wanted to hear why that would effect the importance of oversight. As discussion of oversight was conducted by the Committee, it would be useful to hear others' views of the proper internal and external levels of oversight.
Statements on Other Matters
The Fifth Committee CHAIRMAN said that in a previous meeting some delegations had expressed concern about the presentation of oral reports, rather than written reports, by the ACABQ, and at that time the Committee had said it would invite the Chairman of the ACABQ to give his views on the issue.
Mr. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, said it used three methods of reporting -- written reports; oral reports by the Chairman; or letters to the Secretary- General or heads of funds or programmes, which were subsequently attached to ACABQ reports. Of the eight reports reflected in the ACABQ's latest report on its work, six had been oral. Of the 72 reports issued since the beginning of the fifty-third General Assembly session, 12 had been oral.
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It was not possible for the ACABQ to set guidelines for submission of all its reports, he said. Decisions were taken on a case-by-case basis, and reports would be most likely to be oral if the recommendations did not relate to complex subjects, did not involve large expenditure or were of a procedural nature. However, it was sometimes forced to report orally on expensive or complex matters because of the scheduling of items. That happened most often towards the end of session. All oral reports were subsequently published as official documents.
The frequency and number of oral reports by the ACABQ had reduced considerably, he said. At the General Assembly's forty-first session, 20 oral reports had been issued for the programme budget item alone. It would be counter-productive to determine beforehand, in the Fifth Committee, how the ACABQ submitted its reports. Like every subsidiary body of the General Assembly, the ACABQ was master of its own working methods. Such a decision could also delay the work of the Fifth Committee and the General Assembly, and the ACABQ would be criticized for late reporting. Flexible methods had been developed to meet heavy workloads and tight deadlines, which might not be obvious to some delegations. He trusted that no action would be taken to impair the ACABQ's ability to perform its work.
The representative of Cuba thanked the Chairman for his response, which would be useful in consultations on the whole subject. She emphasised that Cuba respected all decisions of the ACABQ and that it was master of its own procedures.
However, what had given rise to the questioning was the importance of the recommendations and advice of bodies like the ACABQ for Member States' deliberations and decisions, she said. Administrative and budgetary questions were growing in importance. It was important to maintain institutional memory, and written reports were essential for that. The mobility of delegations made that essential. In addition to General Assembly reports, foreign ministries were also given information.
It was a matter of concern, she said. Cuba proposed that all reports be submitted in writing in all six official languages. Should that be impossible, the General Assembly should be so informed. Exceptionally, an oral report could be made, with a written statement. Since the ACABQ Chairman's statement in response to the question of means of reporting included statistics, Cuba would like to receive a written version of it, she added.
The representative of Austria thanked the ACABQ Chairman for his open and frank statement. He had offered good advice for those engaged in negotiations under the agenda item on the pattern of conferences. Austria took note of Cuba's proposal. He proposed that the Fifth Committee consider it under its pattern of conferences agenda item.
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The representative of Pakistan said the Committee should not take any decision that would impair the ACABQ's decision-making process or working methods. The problem was that the ACABQ was sometimes forced by time constraints to make oral reports, and the Fifth Committee was sometimes forced to take decisions on the basis of those presentations. The Committee should avoid taking formal decisions on the pattern of conferences based on the ACABQ Chairman's oral report.
The representative of Cameroon said the question was not very important. Some years were more difficult than others. During the difficult years, such as those in which reform was being considered, there were enormous pressures. But when more normal working conditions prevailed, the question being discussed did not often arise. If the ACABQ presented an oral report, and delegations had questions, the Committee's discussion could be halted and a decision taken later. It would be inappropriate to take a definitive decision on the matter. Rather, the Committee should be pragmatic and avoid undue legislation. It should not dwell on the issue. Only a few reports had been presented orally, and the number would decline as difficult years passed. If the issue came up again, the Committee could take a decision, but for the time being there was no need.
The representative of Uganda agreed that a lot of time should not be spent on the issue. The Committee had heard from the Chairman of the ACABQ, and there was no need for a decision. When the ACABQ had been asked to distribute written versions of its oral reports it had done so. He hoped that practice would continue.
The representative of the Bahamas said the Committee should not take any decision that impaired the usefulness of the ACABQ. The ACABQ Chairman had said that oral reports were eventually issued. How soon were those formal documents issued? she asked. Perhaps those reports could be issued at a faster rate.
The representative of New Zealand supported comments made by the representative of Cameroon and subsequent speakers. The ACABQ had the Fifth Committee's best interests in mind. Perhaps, however, there was need for a little more speed in issuing the reports.
The ACABQ CHAIRMAN said he made two types of oral reports. Those involving large expenditures were statements by the ACABQ Chairman and were submitted to the Fifth Committee in writing. The other kind involved simple statements by the ACABQ Chairman, involving smaller amounts. Such statements appeared in the summary records, and also were compiled and published as an official General Assembly document.
Since the 1996-1997 biennium, summary records took almost a year to be issued, he said. Prior to this, they had been issued within weeks. Now, however, summary records were still being published for the fifty-second session, but they were yet to be published for the fifty-third session. The
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Secretariat should look into speeding up production of the summary records. After the current session, the ACABQ would ask the Secretariat why it took so long to publish the ACABQ's reports -- both written and oral.
The Fifth Committee CHAIRMAN said the ACABQ was a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, not of the Fifth Committee. Whenever the Committee did not know how to proceed, it asked the ACABQ to tell it what to do. The Assembly had achieved savings which had resulted in delaying the production of summary records. If the Committee wanted faster summary and verbatim records, budgetary decisions would be required. It was not the appropriate time or place for the Committee to discuss the issue at this stage, when a number of issues remained outstanding. The statement delivered by the Chairman of the ACABQ should be provided to delegations, since it contained valuable statistics.
The representative of Cuba agreed with what the Chairman of the ACABQ had said: the situation had become more complicated since the last biennium and had adversely impacted delegations receiving the reports of the ACABQ. The ACABQ's inputs were valuable and enabled the Committee to carry out its discussions. When would be the appropriate time and place to express concern about the situation, which arose with increasing frequency? she asked. In light of comments made, perhaps the Committee could take a decision on the matter, without affecting the ACABQ's work, to make the work of the Committee and the Assembly easier.
The Fifth Committee CHAIRMAN said the Committee should not take a decision in a hasty manner which might then be regretted later. The ACABQ Chairman was present during the Committee's formal and informal consultations. When any delegation asked for written statements, they were distributed. He, therefore, did not recommend taking any decision. The concern seemed to be about summary records. Committee members should concentrate on substance. Mr. Mselle had said that the frequency of his oral reports was decreasing. The Committee should examine the statistics contained in his statement. It should be realistic and not take a hasty decision that would affect its work or that of any other body.
The Committee decided to return to the matter as appropriate.
The CHAIRMAN then announced that the Committee would finish its session on 15 December. Its programme of work was subject to change on a daily basis.
The representative of Cameroon said Committee members could not argue in December as if it was September. The practical spirit of compromise, which had characterized the Committee in the past, had been replaced by an atmosphere in which delegations insisted on their way. Committee members should support the Chairman's efforts to return to the middle way of collective wisdom.
Fifth Committee - 15 - Press Release GA/AB/3279 42nd Meeting (AM) 10 December 1998
The CHAIRMAN said delegations should bring their bottom-line positions to informal consultations.
The representative of Uganda said weekend meetings were particularly difficult for small delegations. Saturday's consultations should stop at 6 p.m.
The CHAIRMAN said he could not prejudge how those consultations would proceed. Requesting conference services did not bind delegations to a schedule.
The representative of Portugal said she shared the desire of the representative of Cameroon that the Committee revert to the spirit of previous sessions. She said that when delegations had been discussing the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL), concern had been expressed about the high cost of tickets from Italy to Sierra Leone ($10,000). She asked for a conference room paper indicating travel costs at the best available rate and rates used for the following categories: General Service staff; Professional staff at the P-1 through P-5 levels; D-1 and D-2 staff; and Assistant Secretaries-General and Under-Secretaries-General. Staff entitled to home leave could opt to receive 75 per cent of the value of a ticket over the actual ticket, she noted. How many staff chose that option?
The CHAIRMAN said the ACABQ's report on air travel had not yet been introduced. He would check on the other information.
The representative of Portugal said her request was for a conference room paper to be distributed at the resumed session.
The CHAIRMAN announced that the representative of Sweden had given birth to a baby girl yesterday.
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