UN BUDGET: SECRETARY-GENERAL REQUESTS FUNDING TO

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002039 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA SUBJECT: UN BUDGET: SECRETARY-GENERAL REQUESTS FUNDING TO RENOVATE HIS RESIDENCE ¶1. In coming weeks, the Fifth Committee will consider the Secretary-General's proposal of a renovation to his residence SIPDIS in order to bring it up to modern safety and construction codes. In his report to the General Assembly, he notes the malfunctions and life safety concerns associated with the current structure (A/61/377). The Secretary-General requests the General Assembly to approve this renovation, which would begin in January 2007, and provide him with commitment authority of up to $4,490,400 under the 2006-2007 program budget. Of this amount, $202,500 relates to the cost of temporary acommodation for the incoming Secretary-General, who will be displaced until September 2007, when the renovation is expected to be complete. ¶2. The ACABQ has concurred with the Secretary-General's request for commitment authority, but also strongly suggests that this amount be absorbed within the approved program budget for the biennium (A/61/523). The Advisory Committee also calls for strict adherence to the proposed timetable for the renovation and recommends that contracts entered into for this renovation stipulate that the UN would not be responsible for any additional costs incurred as a result of delays by the contractor(s). The report also makes reference to the ongoing discussions between the UN and the United States regarding the fourth supplemental Headquarters Agreement and the proposed inclusion of the SG's residence in this agreement. ¶3. COMMENT: The report notes that the concerns highlighted in this report have been ongoing for at least the last fifteen years. The need to renovate the residence, having been known at the time the Secretary-General proposed the budget for the biennium 2006-2007, should have been included in his proposal, an issue that was also raised by the ACABQ in its report. USUN intends to follow up on this issue during informal consultations. Unless otherwise instructed, USUN will support the Secretary-General's request to proceed with the renovation, but only after the Secretariat clearly identifies how the proposed costs will be absorbed within Sections 32 (construction and maintenance) and 1 (overall policymaking-SG's temporary accomodations),pursuant to ACABQ's recommendation. END COMMENT. BOLTON