UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR 2000-2001 WOULD BE SOME $2.536 BILLION BY BUDGET COMMITTEE TEXT

Press Release
GA/AB/3356

UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR 2000-2001 WOULD BE SOME $2.536 BILLION BY BUDGET COMMITTEE TEXT

Fifth Committee, Concluding Work for Main Part of Fifty-fourth Session, Approves Seven Draft Resolutions and Five Draft Decisions

The United Nations programme budget for 2000-2001 would be some $2.536 billion -- a 0.2 per cent increase over 1998-1999 -- according to one of seven draft resolutions and five draft decisions approved by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this evening, as it completed its work for the main part of the Assembly's fifty-fourth session.

If the draft is adopted by the Assembly later tonight, the budget will be roughly the same level as 1998-1999. A contingency provision of $35 million has been included in the budget for new political missions. Administrative costs have been reduced and additional resources have been reallocated to areas like the development of Africa, human rights, and justice and international law.

As he introduced the draft, Nestor Odaga-Jalomayo of Uganda said the budget was not perfect but it was practical. Disappointment about the result was spread in a geographically equitable fashion. The draft contained the Secretary-General’s budget, taking into account the views of Member States, as well as of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) and the Committee for Programme and Coordination.

Another draft resolution on the 2000-2001 budget would see the Committee recommend to the Assembly that it trim some $3.2 million from general temporary assistance, some $2.03 million from resources for consultants, and about $2.48 million from staff travel from the levels proposed by the Secretary-General. Among its other terms, the allocation requested under the budget section on the Office of Central Support Services would be reduced by some $8.5 million.

Among other drafts the Committee recommended to the Assembly were orally amended and revised resolutions on the second performance report for 1998-1999 and on the pattern of United Nations conferences. Draft decisions on revised estimates for special political missions (notably the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Middle East), on the level of the contingency fund given revised estimates and programme budget implications of resolutions already adopted by the Assembly, and on the programme budget implications of a draft resolution on the

Fifth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/AB/3356 50th Meeting (Night) 23 December 1999

Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries were among those approved, as were drafts on issues to be taken up at the Committee’s resumed session, and on the Committee’s 2000-2001 programme of work.

The Committee Chairman, Penny Wensley (Australia), announced that the first part of the Committee’s resumed fifty-fourth session would be held from 13 to 31 March and the second part from 8 May to 2 June 2000.

Other drafts were introduced by Amjad H. Sial of Pakistan, Radhia Achouri of Tunisia and the Committee Chairman.

Also tonight, statements were made by the representatives of Cuba, Norway, Mexico, Guyana, Japan, United States, United Republic of Tanzania (speaking also for Kenya and Uganda), Algeria, Cameroon, Syria, Kenya, Sudan, Namibia, Finland (for the European Union), Ethiopia, Mali, Bangladesh, New Zealand (speaking also for Canada, Australia and the South Pacific delegations), Republic of Korea, Philippines and Kuwait.

Concluding comments were made by the representative of Barbados (for the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States), Cameroon and Uganda (for the African Group), Luxembourg (for the Western European and Others Group), Bangladesh (for the Asian Group), Guyana (speaking for the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Czech Republic, United States, Sudan and Israel.

The Chairman of the ACABQ, C.S.M. Mselle, introduced that body’s views on several subjects. The Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division, Warren Sach, and the United Nations Controller, Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, responded to delegates’ comments.

Committee Work Programme

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this evening to conclude its work for the main part of the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly. It had before it reports and draft texts -– many of which were released only at the meeting itself –- on the programme budget for 1998-1999; the proposed programme budget for 2000-2001; pattern of United Nations conferences; and review of the United Nations administrative and financial efficiency.

For background on reports before the Committee on the programme budget implications of a draft resolution on the Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries, see Press Releases GA/AB/3354 of 17 December and GA/AB/3355 of 21 December. For reports on revised estimates arising from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council, see Press Releases GA/AB/3322 of 27 October and GA/AB/3345 of 19 November. For reports on revised estimates under sections 3, Political affairs, and section 5, Peacekeeping operations and special missions, see Press Release GA/AB/3354 of 17 December.

The Committee had before it a draft resolution on the programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999 (document A/C.5/54/L.39). By part A of the draft, the Assembly would take note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for 1998-1999, and the related report and comments of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). It would resolve that for 1998-1999, the amount of close to $2.530 billion appropriated by resolution 53/215A and 53/219 shall be decreased by some $41.6 million, so that the new total appropriation will be some $2.488 billion. The draft contains a chart indicating the changes to each budget part. All parts are decreased except for Part I, Overall policy-making direction and coordination, Part VI, Human rights and humanitarian affairs, and Part XI, Capital expenditures, each of which show increases. The Secretary-General shall be authorized to transfer credits between budget sections, with the ACABQ's concurrence.

By Part B of the draft, the Assembly would resolve that for 1998-1999, the estimates of income of almost $362.71 million approved in resolution 53/215B shall be decreased by $6.33 million, bringing the total income section to almost $356.38 million. Income from staff assessment shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund, and direct expenses of the United Nations Postal Administration, services to visitors, catering and related services, garage operations, television services and sale of publications not provided for under budget appropriations, shall be charged against the income derived from those activities.

A note by the Secretary-General on use of the budget provision for special political missions (document A/C.5/54/45) reports that the Assembly would have approved charges totaling some $55.36 million against the $90.38 million for special political missions request in section 3 of the 2000-2001 proposed programme budget, leaving an unallocated balance of some $35.02 million. The charges are detailed in an annex to the note. The Secretary-General advises that the Fifth Committee may wish to recommend that the Assembly take note of the current level of use of that provision.

The Committee also had before it a Secretary-General’s consolidated statement of programme budget implications and revised estimates for the contingency fund (document A/C.5/54/46). It amounts to some $2.74 million. The amounts in respect of each item correspond to those previously recommended by the Fifth Committee upon its consideration of individual statements and proposals for revised estimates.

The balance of the contingency fund for 1998-1999 is some $15.31 million, the report notes, so the consolidated amount of some $2.74 million is within the available balance. The Secretary-General advises that the Fifth Committee, in accordance with resolution 42/211, may proceed to recommend to the Assembly the appropriation of the required amounts under the relevant sections of the programme budget.

Should the Committee proceed as he suggests, he advises that the Fifth Committee should also ask the Assembly to note that a balance of about $12.57 million would remain in the contingency fund.

Among the terms of a 200 operative paragraph draft resolution on questions relating to the proposed budget for 2000-2001 (document A/C.5/54/L.35), the Assembly would decide that there should be no change to the budget methodology without its approval. It would decide also that any development related to results-based budgeting should be undertaken only with the prior approval of the Assembly. It would call on the Secretary-General to explore presenting one consolidated section on staff assessment in future programme budgets, and to ensure all sections of the proposal in future are presented in the same format. The Assembly would endorse the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination subject to that resolution. It would decide to make changes to the programme narratives of the budget as set out in an annex to the resolution.

Among other terms, the Assembly would decide that a vacancy rate of 6.5 per cent for Professional staff and 2.5 per cent for General Service staff would be used for the budget calculation, and note that should vacancy rates prove lower, additional resources would be provided if required.

Noting the lack of a comprehensive information technology strategy for the Organization, it would ask for the development of such a strategy. It would decide to reduce the level of resources proposed by the Secretary General by some $3.44 million.

It would also decide to reduce resources for general temporary assistance by some $3.2 million from the Secretary-General's proposed figure, with the exception of general temporary assistance for conference services.

The Assembly would also decide to reduce resources for consultants, except those for the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the regional commissions, by some $2.03 million, and those proposed for staff travel by some $2.48 million. It would also decide on a staffing table for the biennium, annexed to the resolution.

Under budget section 1 (Overall policy-making, direction and coordination), the Assembly would decide to establish a P-5 post in the Deputy Secretary-General's Office. It would decide that resources shall be allocated for the Office of the President of the General Assembly and that those resources should be presented separate from other budget elements.

Under section 2 (General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services) the Assembly would decide to establish 4 P-4 posts in Vienna, and to redeploy the P-4 post for the Chief of Spanish Service.

Under section 4 (Disarmament), the Assembly would decide to reclassify the post of Deputy Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament to the D-2 level.

Under section 7 (International Court of Justice), it would note with concern that proposed resources were not proportionate with the workload envisaged, and ask that they be proportionate in 2002-2003.

Under section 9 (Economic and Social Affairs), the Assembly would decide to reclassify the Chief of the Non-Governmental Organizations Section post to the D-1 level.

Among the terms under section 11A (Trade and development), the Assembly would decide to reestablish the unit for Land-locked Developing Countries within the Office of the Special Coordinator, and establish a P-5, two P-4, a P-3 and three General Service posts for it.

Under section 13 (Human settlements), the Assembly would ask the Secretary- General, as a matter of urgency, to appoint a full-time Under-Secretary-General as Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements.

Under section 16 (Economic and Social Development for Africa), the Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to achieve a vacancy rate for the Economic Commission for Africa of no more than 5 per cent within the biennium.

It would also note with concern the high vacancy rate at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), under budget section 17 (Economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific).

Under section 19 (Economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean), the Assembly would express concern over decreasing levels of extrabudgetary resources and ask the Secretary-General to submit proposals to address the impact of this decline.

Under section 22 (Human rights), the Assembly would approve the establishment of a P-4 post for the New York office, and also decide to appropriate $1 million for the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa, to appropriate an additional $160,000 for preparatory activities for the World Conference against racism, and note with concern that resources for activities on the right to development were not so identified in the budget proposal.

Under section 24 (Palestine refugees), the Assembly would decide to restore six extrabudgetary international posts at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to the regular budget.

Under section 26 (Public information), it would express appreciation at the use of 15 languages for some information materials, ask for the reinstatement of a Kiswahili radio producer post, and ask that the roles of several areas of the Department of Public Information be reviewed.

Under section 27A (Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management), the Assembly would decide to reclassify upwards two posts in the Fifth Committee secretariat.

The proposed allocation for general operating expenses for Central Support Services would be reduced by some $8.5 million, by terms under section 27D (Office of Central Support Services).

Under section 28 (Internal Oversight), the Secretary-General would be asked to ensure that resources for the Office matched its workload.

Among the terms under section 33 (Development Account) the Assembly would reiterate its decision to keep the implementation of the Account under review.

The Committee also had before it draft texts on the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001 (document A/C.5/54/L.36, parts I and II). Draft resolution I, on questions relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001, is contained in another text (document A/C.5/54/L.35). Annexed to that text is a staffing table for 2000-2001.

Draft resolution II, on budget appropriations for the upcoming biennium would have the Assembly appropriate a total of close to $2.536 million, as follows:

Part

I: Overall policy-making, direction and coordination $473,645.3 II: Political affairs 231,586.3 III: International justice and law 55,386.8 IV: International cooperation for development 268,767.9 V: Regional cooperation for development 347,230.4 VI: Human rights and humanitarian affairs 123,613.1 VII: Public Information 143,605.5 VIII: Common support services 441,857.4 IX: Internal oversight 19,220.6 X: Jointly financed administrative activities… 60,845.5 XI: Capital expenditures 42,617.4 XII: Staff assessment 314,248.0 XIII: Development account 13,065.0

TOTAL: $2,535,689.2

By part B of the draft, the Assembly would approve income estimates other than assessments on Member States totaling almost $361.3 million from income to staff assessment, general income and services to the public.

Part C of the draft would have the Assembly decide to appropriate almost $1.267.845 billion for the year 2000, less $41.60 million for the decrease in the revised appropriations for 1998-1999.

Draft resolution III contains 14 parts on special subjects relating to the proposed programme budget for 2000-2001. By part I, it would approve the recommendation of a subvention of $213,000 from the regular budget for 2000 for the United Nations Institute on Disarmament Research on the understanding that no additional appropriation would be required under section 4, Disarmament, of the budget.

Part II of the draft would have the Assembly approve a gross budget for the Joint Inspection Unit for 2000-2001 of $7.33 million. Part III would have the Assembly approve a gross budget for 2000-2001 for the International Civil Service Commission of close to $12.26 million. By part IV, the Assembly would take note of the report of the Secretary-General on revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions of the Economic and Social Council at its 1999 organizational and substantive sessions.

Part V of the draft, on the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, would have the Assembly approve expenses chargeable directly to the Fund totaling $62.30 million net for the biennium 2000-2001 and an increase of $3.28 million net for the biennium 1998-1999 for the Fund's administration; and approve an addition to the regular budget of $401,400 for the United Nations share of the cost of the administrative expenses of the central secretariat of the Fund, and an increase of $18,400 in estimates of income from rental of premises; and authorize the Pension Board to supplement voluntary contributions to the Emergency Fund for 2000-2001 by up to $200,000.

By part VI, the Assembly would note a balance of $15.76 million remained in the contingency fund. Part VII, on the United Nations Special Coordinator in the occupied territories, would have the Assembly approve the charge of total requirements of $3.76 million against provisions proposed for special political missions under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed budget for 2000-2001 and concur that the related provisions for the office of the United Nations Special Coordinator already included in the proposed programme budget for the biennium, be transferred from section 5, Peacekeeping Operations, to section 3.

By Part VIII, the Assembly would note that an unallocated balance of some $35.02 million remained against the provision of some $90.39 million for special political missions. By part IX, it would note the report of the Secretary-General on construction of additional conference facilities at Addis Ababa. By part X, it would request the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on internal and external printing practices to the Assembly's fifty-fifth session. Part XI of the draft would have the Assembly decide to revert to the subject of rental of United Nations premises by press and other entities at its resumed fifty-fourth session.

Part XII would have the Assembly note the report of the Secretary-General on public information. Part XIII would have it note the Secretary-General’s report on the use of general temporary assistance and endorse the recommendations of the ACABQ. Part XIV would have it note the information provided in the Secretary- General's report on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and concur with the ACABQ's recommendation that, on an exceptional basis, the special account be maintained and the unspent balance retained until all activities and programmes outlined by the Secretary-General and approved by the Assembly in resolution 53/3 are completed.

By draft resolution IV, on unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for the biennium 2000-2001, the Assembly would authorize the Secretary-General, with prior concurrence from the ACABQ, to enter into commitments in 2000-2001 to meet unforeseen and extraordinary expenses arising during or subsequent to the biennium, and details the limits for various purposes.

Draft resolution V, on the Working Capital Fund for 2000-2001 would have the Assembly establish the Fund, for the biennium, in the amount of $100 million, with Member States making advances to the Fund in accordance with the scale adopted by the Assembly for contributions to the budget for the year 2000.

By the terms of a six part 70 operative paragraph draft resolution on the pattern of United Nations conferences (document A/C.5/54/L.19), the Assembly would approve the draft biennial calendar of conferences and meetings for 2000-2001, subject to the provisions in that resolution. Among other terms, it would note with concern the further reduction in resources allocated for mandated conference services, and ask that economy measures not adversely affect the delivery and quality of services.

The Assembly would decide to include all necessary resources in the budget for 2000-2001 to provide interpretation services for meetings of regional and other major groups of Member States upon request. It would decide that full interpretation services in all six official languages must be ensured for the entire duration of intergovernmental body meetings. It would also decide that a permanent interpretation service be established at the United Nations Office in Nairobi and encourage greater use of that facility.

The Assembly would ask the Secretary-General to ensure that documentation for meetings is available in accordance with the six-week rule in all six languages, that documents contain summaries, consolidated conclusions and relevant background, and that when they are submitted late reasons are given in footnotes to the reports.

On the use of remote interpretation, the Assembly would decide that it should not constitute an alternative to the current institutionalized interpretation system, nor lead to further reductions in the number of language posts. It would express concern about self-revision and about the literal nature of some Arabic translations. It would ask that all six official languages be treated equally in the Optical Disk System, the structure of the Information Technology Section and for United Nations Web sites.

Two draft resolutions before the Committee were on review of the United Nations administrative and financial efficiency.

By the first, concerning action taken on certain items (document A/C.5/54/L.37), the Assembly would decide that the Fifth Committee would continue considering the following items at its resumed session: financial reports, audited financial statements and reports of the Board of Auditors; review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations; programme budget for the biennium 1998-1999; programme planning; proposed programme budget for the biennium 2000-20001; improving the financial situation of the United Nations; pattern of conferences; scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations; report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services; human resources management; appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments; and the financing of the two ad hoc International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

Further, the Committee’s resumed session will cover administrative and budgetary aspects of United Nations peacekeeping; as well as the financing, and in some cases the liquidation, of the following missions: United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East (the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon); the United Nations Angola Verification Mission and the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola; activities arising from Security Council resolution 687 (1991) (the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission); the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara; the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia; the United Nations Protection Force; the United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation in Croatia; the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force and the United Nations Peace Forces headquarters; the United Nations Operation in Somalia II; the United Nations Operation in Mozambique; and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

Also covered will be the United Nations Observer Mission in Haiti; the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia; the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda; the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan; the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina; the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium and the Civilian Police Support Group; the United Nations Support Mission in Haiti and the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti; the Military Observer Group of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala; the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic; the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone; the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone; the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo; the United Nations Mission in East Timor; and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor.

By a text on the work programme for 2000-2001 (document A/C.5/54/L.38), the Assembly would approve a biennial programme of work of the Fifth Committee for 2000-2001 as annexed to the decision. For 2000, the Committee’s programme of work would consist of the following agenda items: financial reports and audited statements and reports of the Board of Auditors; review of administrative and financial efficiency; programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001; programme planning; improving the financial situation of the United Nations; administrative and budgetary coordination of the United Nations with the specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); pattern of conferences; scale of assessments; human resources management; common system; pension system; report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS); financing of peacekeeping operations; report of the Economic and Social Council; and appointments to fill vacancies.

For 2001, according to the draft, the Committee’s programme of work would consist of the following 15 agenda items: financial reports, audited statements and reports of the Board of Auditors; review of efficiency; programme budget for 2000-2001; proposed programme budget for 2002-2003; improving the financial situation of the United Nations; Joint Inspection Unit; pattern of conferences; scale of assessments; human resources management; United Nations common system; report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS); financing peacekeeping operations; administrative and budgetary aspects of peacekeeping operations; report of the Economic and Social Council; and appointments to fill vacancies.

Action on Texts before Committee

The Fifth Committee first took up the draft resolution on the second performance report, under its agenda item on the programme budget for 1998-1999 (document A/C.5/54/L.39). The draft was introduced by AMJAD H. SIAL (Pakistan) who had conducted informal consultations on it.

The Committee then approved the draft resolution without a vote.

Next, it resumed its consideration of a statement of programme budget implications of a draft resolution from the Assembly’s Second Committee (Economic and Financial) on the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (documents A/C.5/54/43 and A/C.5/54/44).

The Committee decided to inform the Assembly that should it adopt draft resolution A/C.2/54/L.73, an additional requirement of $646,400 would arise in the proposed programme budget for 2000-2001 -- under section 11A, Trade and development $616,400, and under section 26, Public information, $30,000. Those requirements would represent a charge against the contingency fund and would be considered in the context of the proposed programme budget for 2000-2001. In addition, the convening in New York of the intergovernmental preparatory committee of the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, away from its established headquarters, would constitute an exemption to section I, paragraph 4 of resolution 40/243. Also, the Committee would recall Assembly resolution 45/248B, in which it had been reaffirmed that the Fifth Committee was the appropriate main committee entrusted with responsibility for administrative and budgetary matters.

Turning its attention to the revised estimates arising from the decisions and resolutions of the Economic and Social Council, the Committee decided to recommend a decision, read out by its Chairman, by which the Assembly would take note of the reports of the Secretary-General on revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions of the Economic and Social Council at its 1999 organizational and substantive sessions.

The representative of Cuba said she trusted that the information that had been requested in connection with that subject might be considered at the resumed session. She had no objection to the decision that had been taken and was confident that a decision on the outstanding aspects would prove possible at the resumed session.

The Committee then turned to consider a draft decision on revised estimates under budget section 3, Political affairs, relating to the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East. By its terms, the Assembly would take note of the report of the Secretary-General on revised estimates under section 3, Political affairs, and section 5, Peacekeeping operations and the related recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), and approve the charge of total requirements of almost $3.76 million against the provision proposed for special political missions under section 3 and concur that the related provision for the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator be transferred from section 5 to section 3.

The representative of Norway said it had been agreed by all Member States to use the title as it occurred in document A/C.5/54/40 -- the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and the Special Representative to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority.

The Committee approved the decision with that change without a vote.

Next, the Committee turned to the use of the provision for special political missions under the same budget section.

C.S.M. MSELLE, Chairman of the ACABQ, orally introduced that body’s report. He said the ACABQ recommended the Assembly take note of the report of the Secretary-General on that matter.

The Committee Chairman, PENNY WENSLEY (Australia), then read out a draft decision by which the Assembly would take note of the report of the Secretary- General on the current utilization of the provision for special political missions.

The draft was approved without a vote.

The Committee then considered the consolidated statement of programme budget implications and revised estimates for the contingency fund.

Mr. MSELLE introduced the ACABQ’s views. He said that $2.7 million had been charged to fund the $16.36 million that remained in the account, and the ACABQ recommended that Assembly note that amount

The representative of Mexico asked for a repeat of Mr. Mselle’s figure, which was not the same as that in the Secretary-General’s report.

Mr. Mselle repeated the figure.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed a draft decision by which the Assembly would take note of the report of the Secretary-General on the contingency fund, and note that a balance of some $16.36 million remained in that fund.

Again acting without a vote, the Committee approved that decision.

It then turned to what the Committee Chairman called the “main item on the menu” -- the proposed programme budget for 2000-2001.

NESTOR ODAGA-JALOMAYO (Uganda) introduced the corresponding draft resolution (document A/C.5/54/L.35). He drew the Committee’s attention to corrections circulated in the meeting. He said that it was a little over five weeks since he had been asked to coordinate this issue. Some consultations on the budget had lasted over 25 hours. Negotiations were never easy. The draft contained the Secretary-General’s budget, with the ACABQ and the Committee for Programme and Coordination views taken into account, as well as those of all Member States. The format of the draft was the standard one. Substantive programmes would be strengthened. All Member States had sustained a measure of disappointment as the results fell short of individual expectations and hopes. However, no Member State had a monopoly on that disappointment. Disappointment was spread in a geographically equitable fashion.

The text represented an almost complete consensus –- the greatest commonality that could be reached in the time available, he said. It was not a perfect budget but a practical one. He appealed to all Member States to accept the proposal as a balanced package.

The CHAIRMAN then drew Member States attention to the corrections to the documents that had been circulated.

The representative of Guyana said of particular importance to him were the paragraphs which re-established the unit for landlocked developing countries and small island developing States in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the paragraph which establishes a permanent interpretation service at the United Nations Office in Nairobi.

The representative of Japan said the overall level of some $2.535 billion for 2000-2001 was acceptable. According to established budgetary procedures, the Secretary-General, as chief administrative officer, was responsible for estimating resource requirements of programme activities as mandated by Member States. He submitted budget proposals, including the programme budget implications, to the Assembly, which then considered and approved them in light of the relevant comments by the Committee for Programme and Coordination and the ACABQ.

During the negotiations on the current draft, add-ons had been proposed and accepted which were not based on the Secretary-General’s proposals or related to additional programme activities. Japan’s delegation was deeply concerned with that trend. It violated the Secretary-General’s responsibilities and departed from established budgetary procedures. Member States should exercise budgetary discipline and uphold the responsibilities of the Secretary-General as chief administrative officer.

The representative of the United States said she was unable to associate the United States with the decision the Committee was about to take as it was not in keeping with its national policy of maintaining strict budgetary discipline.

The Committee then approved the text as revised without a vote.

Speaking in explanation of position, the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, speaking also on behalf of Kenya and Uganda, congratulated all involved in leading the Committee to approving the draft resolution. The establishment of a permanent interpretation capacity in Nairobi, and the re- establishment of a Kiswahili Professional post for radio with a General Service assistant were among those most important to Africans.

Next, the Committee turned to its draft report, submitted by the Secretariat on behalf of the Rapporteur, Jan Piotr Jaremczuk (Poland).

[The draft is divided into two parts: Part I contained the narrative of the action taken by the Fifth Committee, and Part II contains its recommendations.]

First, the Committee turned to draft resolution II, on the proposed programme budget for 2000-2001, as draft resolution I, entitled “questions relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001” had already been approved.

The CHAIRMAN then drew attention to the corrections to the documents that had been circulated.

The Committee then approved draft resolution II without a vote.

It then approved, in the same manner, draft resolution III, entitled “special subjects relating to the proposed programme budget for 2000-2001”.

Then it took up draft resolution IV, “Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for 2000-2001”, and approved it without a vote.

It then approved draft resolution V, “Working Capital Fund for 2000-2001”, without a vote.

The Committee then turned to consideration of the draft resolution on the United Nations pattern of conferences (document A/C.5/54/L.19).

RADHIA ACHOURI (Tunisia), who conducted informal consultations on the draft, introduced the text. She drew attention to an editorial error in section D of the printed copy of the draft text.

The representative of Algeria requested advice from the United Nations Controller on the time-frame for the establishment of the permanent interpretation service in Nairobi that would be approved in this draft.

Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts and United Nations Controller, JEAN-PIERRE HALBWACHS, said that budgetary provision would exist as of January 2000. However it was not reasonable to expect that 20 staff could be recruited by then. The posts would be filled as soon as possible.

The representative of Algeria then offered an amendment to the paragraph establishing this service. There had been a date for the establishment in an earlier draft, he explained. It would be a good idea to put in a date, so he proposed the insertion of the phrase, “no later than January 2001”.

The representative of Cameroon said that in informal consultations on this item it had been agreed that this phrase, mentioned by the representative of Algeria, would be included. It had been clearly understood that once the resources were allocated in the budget that date would be restored to the draft, and he asked that that mistake be corrected and that the phrase be reinserted.

The representative of Syria said he agreed that the phrase “no later than January 2001”, had been accepted in informal consultations. It should now be reinserted into the pattern of conferences resolution. Also, in the reference to the Muslim holidays, they should be spelled “Eid”. There was also a grammatical error in the Arabic text that must be corrected.

The representative of Kenya supported the inclusion of the time-frame phrase.

The representative of Sudan also supported the proposed amendment. He thanked the representative of Syria for his corrections to the Arabic text.

The representative of Namibia supported the inclusion of a time-frame in the paragraph establishing the permanent interpretation service.

The representative of the United States said she understood there had been agreement that the text would be the same as that in the budget resolution. She would be able to accept the change, but sought information on any budgetary implications that would arise from the change.

The representative of Finland, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said the text as printed had been agreed on in informal consultations.

The representative of Ethiopia supported the view that the additional words had been agreed to.

The representative of Cameroon said the paragraph on this matter had been suspended pending approval of the budget.

The representative of Algeria said the matter should be dealt with expeditiously, therefore he would have to reach back further into the past for a resolution. There had originally been two alternative paragraphs in the draft with two dates. The other had been deleted.

The reference in the budget draft resolution related to resources, he said. The political mandate could be in this resolution, so there would be no difficulty. He just wanted to make sure that the implementation took place as soon as possible and therefore a deadline should be established. He understood there would be no financial implications. The insertion could be considered a correction or an amendment but it was now before the Committee.

The representative of Mali supported what the representative of Algeria had said. Once an activity had been programmed, it was on the programme.

WARREN SACH, Director of the Budget Division, then responded to the question from the United States. He said that from a budgetary point of view it made no difference whether the phrase was there or not. The provision in the budget was for 20 posts in Nairobi throughout the biennium, so there would be no dollar impact.

The CHAIRMAN then asked if the Committee wanted to adopt the draft with the amendment proposed by the representative of Algeria and noting the editorial corrections required.

The draft was then approved as amended orally without a vote.

The representative of Egypt said that during the consultations on the programme budget it had been agreed that when the time came to present the budget to the Fifth Committee for approval, the Secretariat would make a statement regarding the savings mentioned under budget section 26, in the order $1.75 million.

M. SACH, Director of the Budget Division, said that there had been a question on redeployable resources for international radio arrangements. He had explained that there were such resources in the Department of Public Information under general operating expenses. In the light of savings in 1998-1999, and on the assumption that these would be replicated in 2000-2001, there would be savings of approximately $1.08 million under budget section 26 that could be redeployed for that purpose.

Turning to its agenda item on the review of the United Nations administrative and financial efficiency, the Committee took up two draft decisions.

First, it took up the draft on certain agenda items for its resumed session (document A/C.5/54/L.37).

The representative of Bangladesh drew attention to the question of improving the Committee’s working methods. The issue should be kept in mind when the Committee resumed next year. In particular, he drew attention to document A/C.5/52/L.58, which was the last document presented on the question in the Committee. Perhaps when the Committee resumed, the issue could be brought up for consideration and action.

The CHAIRMAN said that would be taken into account when planning the resumed session.

The representative of New Zealand spoke also for Canada and Australia and for the South Pacific Group (Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Island and Vanuatu). Regarding agenda items to be taken up in 2000, results-based budgeting was an item of the highest priority. It was deeply regrettable that there had not been time during the regular session for either the ACABQ or the Committee to take up the Secretary-General’s latest report on the matter in its entirety. A year had passed since the Committee had last taken a decision related to results-based budgeting. The subject should be included in the Committee’s work programme early in 2000, as a priority.

Results-based budgeting was a management tool on which there were various views, so consideration of it would require an open mind, she continued. It was an evolutionary step, not a revolutionary one, in budgeting. Time was an essential ingredient, and she had not suggested that results-based budgeting be adopted without consideration. The ACABQ should do all it could to inform itself on the matter, so that the Committee could benefit from its views as soon as possible, and not miss the opportunity to consider using results-based budgeting tools in the 2002-2003 budget, which the Secretariat would begin planning early next year. Change was never easy, but a start should be made in the search for more progressive methods of planning and budgeting.

The representative of the Republic of Korea associated himself with the above statement.

The representative of the Philippines said that at the first resumed session, sufficient time should be given to consideration of human resources management, as a priority.

The representatives of Norway, United States and Finland (for the European Union) associated themselves with the views expressed by the representative of New Zealand.

The Committee then approved the decision on its programme of work for 2000- 2001, acting without a vote.

The CHAIRMAN then announced that the first part of the resumed fifty-fourth session would be held from 13 to 31 March and the second part from 8 May to 2 June 2000.

The representative of Syria said that when informal consultations had been suspended earlier today, it had been to allow those fasting to break their fast. However, the cafeteria had been closed, and delegations had been told that the United Nations administration had told it to close the cafeteria at 4 p.m. The cafeteria was run by a contractor, and the rules of the United Nations must govern. As long as the Committee was in session, the cafeteria and the Vienna Café must be open. The rules of outside contractors should not govern the work of an international organization.

The representative of Kuwait said that the issue raised by Syria was a concern for other Muslim delegations. Most Islamic delegates had had no meal to break their fast this evening. They had only been able to find vending machines in the Western lounge that dispensed ice cream. That was a cause of real concern and he expressed disappointment at the arrangements made. The month of Ramadan would take up a greater part of the Assembly session in future years and there must be arrangements made.

The Committee then approved the draft decision, taking the dates for the resumed session into account.

The CHAIRMAN, in closing remarks, said she appreciated the presence of a small number of ambassadors and permanent representatives and said it was good that they could join the Committee this evening. She thanked the secretariat of the Fifth Committee, the Chairman of the Committee for Programme and Coordination and the Chairman of the ACABQ, the United Nations Controller, Mr. Halbwachs, the Director of the Budget Division, Mr. Sach and a number of other senior Secretariat staff. She also thanked the Chairman of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, the President of the European Union, and the coordinators of various informal consultations, including all the members of the bureau of the Committee.

She then thanked the Conference Services staff, the interpretors, the precis writers and the documentation staff. She also paid tribute to representatives observing Ramadan, who had to work under even greater stress than other Committee members.

The representative of Barbados then thanked various participants on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

The representative of Cameroon, speaking on behalf of the African Group, also thanked the various participants and the Secretariat staff involved in the Committee’s work. He pointed out that there had been problems with the work of the Committee and its timing for small delegations. They had shown great patience.

The representative of the Czech Republic, speaking on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States, thanked the bureau, representatives, members of the Committee for Programme and Coordination and ACABQ, and the Secretariat staff.

The United States then thanked all concerned with the Committee in arriving at this point.

The representative of Luxembourg, speaking on behalf of the Western European and Others Group, thanked the bureau, the Committee for Programme and Coordination and the ACABQ, representatives and Secretariat staff.

The representative of Bangladesh, on behalf of the Asian Group, thanked the Chairman, the bureau, coordinators of consultations, the Secretariat and all committee members.

The representative of Sudan, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, thanked the Chairman, the bureau, coordinators, members of the advisory committees and the Secretariat. He also thanked the Chairman on behalf of the Islamic group for the consideration she had shown to those observing the Ramadan fast.

The representative of Israel thanked the Chairman, and all involved.

The representative of Guyana, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, also thanked all concerned.

The representative of Uganda said that various others had said all he wanted to say. However he wanted to add, on behalf of the African Group in the Committee, thanks to the Chairman, to whom that Group presented a bouquet of flowers.

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