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 SIPDIS 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 SIPDIS 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