UNGA: FIFTH COMMITTEE DISCUSSES PATTERN OF

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001009

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/MPR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA: FIFTH COMMITTEE DISCUSSES PATTERN OF
CONFERENCES

REF: USUN NEW YORK 878


1. On Friday, October 31, the UN General Assembly (UNGA)
Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) held formal
consultations on agenda item 121: Pattern of Conferences.
Member States considered The Secretary-General's (SYG's)
report on pattern of conferences (A/63/119 and A/63/119
Add.1),and the Committee on Conferences (CoC) report
(A/63/21),the audit of the Office of Internal Oversight
Services (OIOS) on hiring temporary language staff (A/63/94),
and a report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative
Budgetary Questions (ACABQ)(A/63/509). Member States
addressed the draft resolution, measures to improve
conference management efficiency, Integrated Global
Management (IGM),official languages, language staff
shortages, the impact of the Capital Master Plan (CMP),
timely issuance of documentation, and the appropriate use of
UN facilities for meetings, conferences, special events, and
exhibits.


2. The CoC Chairman introduced his report. (See reftel for
relevant issues.) Under Secretary-General (USYG) for the
Department of General Assembly Conference Management (DGACM),
Mr. Shaaban M. Shaaban introduced the SYG's report and
discussed specific initiatives to improving conference
management. These presentations were followed by
interventions by representatives of Antigua and Barbuda (on
behalf of the G-77),France (on behalf of the EU),the
Philippines, Angola (on behalf of the African Group),the
United States, Syria, Russia,Pakistan, Cuba, Iran, and China.


3. The representatives of Antigua and Barbuda and Angola
reiterated the importance of IGM, an information technology
initiative, and a balanced division of labor between HQ and
other duty stations to improve language services. France
again reminded the Committee of the essential nature of
delivering services in all six official languages. The
French delegation also announced that it would be ready to
support the CoC resolution as it currently stands. When the
Cuban representative raised the issue of equal treatment of
all Spanish-speaking countries, Shaaban indicated that this
is the first he had heard on the subject from Cuba, and that
the Secretariat already has a working group to assess
language programs.


4. Language staff shortages: Retaining language staff
(translators and interpreters) remains a serious difficulty
for the UN. The Philippine delegation cited that 25 percent
of UN linguists are retiring between 2007 and 2011, which,
according to Shaaban, renders the "demographic transition"
more acute and may degrade the quality of service. Although
the shortage exists at all duty stations, the problem is most
severe in Nairobi, where, according to the Angolan
representative, 35 percent of linguist positions are
perennially unfilled. Shaaban encouraged the Member States
to approve a temporary waiver on the earnings cap for
retirees, increase workdays from 125 to 185, and raise the
mandatory retirement age from 62. (Reftel reports that
significant retirements were raised in the September CoC
session.) The Angolan representative called for grade
increases as incentives for staff to serve in Nairobi. The
representative of Cuba called for UN partnerships with
linguistic institutions in Latin America.


5. Impact of CMP: Shaaban called the CMP "the mother of all
renovation projects" and said the newly adopted strategy will
shorten the time needed for completion. The representative
of Antigua and Barbuda called for uninterrupted continuation
of its services during the multi-year project. Shaaban
warned that realistically there will be a somewhat of a
disruption in some conference services. Nonetheless, Shaaban
reminded Member States that the Secretariat would do its best
to ensure that the quality of conference servicing is not
significantly impacted by the CMP renovation.


6. Late issuance of documents: Representatives of Antigua
and Barbuda and the Philippines expressed concern over the
late issuance of documentation, which can often hinder the
work of intergovernmental bodies and especially the Fifth
Committee. Shaaban reminded delegations that first documents
must be submitted to DGACM on time before the Department can
issue the documents. If DGACM does not receive documents
from their authors on time, the DGACM will necessarily have
delays in issuance. Shaaban emphasized that "We (DGACM)
cannot issue documents we don't have."


7. Use of UN premises: The representative of Antigua and
Barbuda amplified a concern in the CoC report about the use
of UN premises for private purposes not in harmony with UN
principles, which may create the impression of misuse. After
the not-for-profit United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI) held
E


two panel discussions on UN premises, Iranian representatives
expressed concern about provisions granting limited use of
conference rooms for non-governmental organizations. Shaaban
noted that there is a process for reserving space on UN
premises. If organizations are in compliant with the rules
(ST/AI/416),they may be granted use of the conference room.
(Comment: Mission was not/not an event sponsor. Secretariat
and Shaaban confirmed that Mission and UANI complied with the
Secretariat's policies. End Comment.)


8. Regional group meetings: The representative of Antigua
and Barbuda advocated increased use of UN facilities by major
groupings such as the G-77 and Non-Aligned Movement "on a
permanent basis." Shaaban pushed back on the idea of
subgroups' use of facilities at UN expense, "We cannot afford
it."


9. Voting machines: The representative of Antigua and
Barbuda was also concerned about an October 13 incident when
several Member States were prevented from voting in the
Fourth Committee under Article 19 due to non-payment of UN
dues, despite an UNGA resolution granting them a waiver.
Shaaban replied that the resolution had passed only hours
earlier and the Secretariat had not had time to adjust the
voting machine.


10. USDel remarks focused on efficient use of resources.
Remarks are available in full at the Mission's web site,
www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov.
Khalilzad