SAFETY AND SECURITY: GUIDANCE REQUEST ON

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002255

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: SAFETY AND SECURITY: GUIDANCE REQUEST ON
STANDARDIZED ACCESS

REF: A.USUN 1873 B.USUN 2932


1. This is a guidance request. See paragraph 10.


2. SUMMARY. In the coming weeks, the Fifth Committee will
begin consideration of the reports A/61/531, strengthened and
unified security management system for the UN, and A/61/566,
standardized access control under agenda item 117 programme
budget for the biennium. Per reftel B, in its resolution
59/276, the General Assembly established the Department of
Safety and Security (DSS) to create a strengthened and
unified security management system for the United Nations,
both at Headquarters and in the field. The
Secretary-General's report, A/61/531 reports on the progress

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made by DSS in implementing its mandate and offers proposals
on how to improve operations across the UN system.
Specifically, the report recommends that the GA approve
reclassification of the D-2 deputy to Assistant
Under-Secretary General while approving a D-2 position to
continue as the Director of Headquarters Security and Safety
Services, convert 134 temporary posts within DSS to
established posts and endorse the establishment of a UN
crisis management capability. The Secretary-General's report,
A/61/566 outlines a two-phase process for improving safety
and security on UN property through standardized access
control. The report details the first phase of this process,
which entails upgrading security at UN Offices so that
minimum security standards are met and perimeter security is
improved. The total estimated requirement for this proposal
is $23,683,000. End Summary.


3. Report of the Secretary-General, A/61/531. Upgrade D-2
post to ASG and maintain the existing D-2 position of
Director. The report of the SYG contains a recommendation to
upgrade the D-2 deputy post to Assistant Under-Secretary
General so that the position is fully empowered to help
manage the extensive demands of the Department and work with
other UN entities as the Under-Secretary General travels
frequently to deal with security issues around the globe. The
report also notes that as the head of UN security service
personnel, the D-2 position of Director of Headquarters
Safety and Security Services is crucial to the operations of
DSS. The report therefore contains a proposal to approve a
D-2 position for that purpose. Comment: USdel will support
the proposal for an upgrade of the D-2 post to that of ASG
while approving a D-2 position for the Director of
Headquarters safety and security. USdel will support the
recommendations of the ACABQ regarding whether this should be
considered under the budget for 2006-2007, or 2008-2009. End
Comment.


4. Conversion of 134 temporary posts to established posts in
DSS. The SYG's report contains a proposal to convert 134 DSS
posts from temporary to established posts, but there is
little mention of this proposal in the report. There is
however, mention of 99 vacant posts in DSS and since the
report states that DSS has filled 84% of its posts worldwide,
the focus should be on filling the vacant posts before
converting temporary ones. Comment: USdel will maintain that
filling vacant posts should take priority over upgrading
temporary ones. End Comment.


5. Crisis Management Capability. DSS is planning to gradually
assume a leading role in crisis response and crisis
management for the UN system. The report contains a proposal
to develop a coordinated system-wide emergency response
capacity. DSS aims to enhance its communications center
capabilities, develop and implement global communications
capabilities with the field and develop and implement
departmental plans for continuity of operations in case of an
emergency. A small-team will be formed within existing
resources to begin planning for these capabilities, and
ongoing requirements related to crisis management would be
considered in the context of the proposed programme budget
for the biennium 2008-2009. Comment: Unless otherwise
instructed, USdel will support reverting to ongoing
requirements in the context of the 2008-2009 programme
budget. USdel will seek clarification on the role of Crisis
Coordination Center in relation to local emergency response
teams. End Comment.


6. A/61/566 Standardized Access Control. The report of the
Secretary-General on standardized access control outlines a

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two-phase process for improving safety and security on United
Nations property. The first phase involves meeting compliance
with headquarters minimum operating security standards for
perimeter protection and electronic access control. The
second phase will ensure compliance with security standards
regarding defined layers of security within perimeters. The
proposal focuses on improving security around perimeters and
at entry points, but is designed to allow for expansion in
the future and is intended to resolve the remaining
weaknesses in UN safety and security operations.




7. The project is specifically designed for integration with
existing security structures and activities. Because most
previously funded initiatives were for urgent measures,
standardized access control will help to fill security gaps
in compliance with headquarters minimum operating security
standards. Additionally, the capital master plan-managed
security project at the main Secretariat building in New York
has been designed for full compatibility with the
standardized access control project.


8. The projected plans for the duty stations and headquarters
are based on assessments of the unique requirements and
existing physical security measures at each station.
Proposals include the installation of card reader devices on
perimeter doors, hydraulic vehicle barriers, badge stations,
cameras, perimeter lighting, and access control software for
monitoring. The report states that currently, most properties
(with the exception of the Economic and Social Commission for
Western Asia and the UN Office at Geneva) have low to minimal
technological security capacity, and therefore require more
extensive improvement.


9. The report states that $23,683,000 is needed to raise each
duty station to a level of compliance with headquarters
security standards. Specifically, $20,208,000 is requested
under the program budget, $1,500,000 under the budget for the
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
(ICTY) and $1,975,0000 under the budget for the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The report proposes that
the GA grant commitment authority for this amount for the
2006-207 biennium. Detailed cost estimates for the second
phase cannot be made until the elements of the first phase
have begun. It is estimated that the completion time for the
entire project will be between 24 and 30 months (6 to 8
months for designing and 18 to 24 months for implementation
following the approval of the implementation plan by the
General Assembly). Comment: The report states that the amount
requested reflects the resources needed, without redundancy
or waste of expenditure. Unless otherwise instructed, USdel
will seek to confirm this statement during consultations and
will support the proposal for the UN and the two tribunals if
the amount requested of $23,683,000 is justified. End Comment.


10. GUIDANCE REQUEST. Unless otherwise instructed, USdel will
do the following:
--Support the reclassification of the D-2 to ASG and support
a D-2 post for Director of Headquarters Safety and Security
Services.
--Support the ACABQ recommendation on whether the commitment
authority for this reclassification will be under 2006-2007
or 2008-2009;
--Oppose converting 134 temporary posts to permanent posts;
--Support reverting to the ongoing requirements of the crisis
management capability in the context of the 2008-2009
programme budget and seek clarification of the roles of the
Crisis Coordination Center in relation to local emergency
services in the event of an emergency;
--Support the proposal for $23,683,000 for the implementation
of the first phase of the standardized access control
project, contingent on confirmation from DSS during
consultations that this amount reflects what is needed
without redundancy or waste.
WOLFF