Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK1028
2008-11-05 23:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:
UN BUDGET: SECRETARIAT RESPONDS TO MEMBERS'
VZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUCNDT #1028/01 3102315 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 052315Z NOV 08 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5299 INFO RUEHXX/GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001028
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABUD AFIN AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: UN BUDGET: SECRETARIAT RESPONDS TO MEMBERS'
CONCERNS ABOUT EFFICIENCY MEASURES
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001028
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABUD AFIN AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: UN BUDGET: SECRETARIAT RESPONDS TO MEMBERS'
CONCERNS ABOUT EFFICIENCY MEASURES
1. Summary. At the request of the Group of 77 and China,
Secretariat officials on November 3 appeared before the Fifth
Committee to answer questions about the Secretary-General's
plan to identify efficiency savings in preparation for the
UN's proposed budget for 2010-2011. The planned 30-minute
discussion stretched to three hours as delegations repeatedly
criticized the Secretariat for the savings proposal and its
failure to inform Member States about it. According to Mr.
Kim Won-soo, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Secretary-General,
program managers were asked to identify savings in their
program amounting to two percent that would be presented in
the budget outline for 2010-2011 and such savings would be
available for reallocation to higher priority activities.
Amb. Kim noted that the figure of two percent is not a fixed
requirement, but is instead a target. Several delegations,
including Egypt, Cuba, and Brazil, questioned how this could
be done without negatively affecting implementation of
existing mandates. They also suggested that any efficiency
savings realized should be placed in the Development Account,
in accordance with relevant resolutions. Delegates from
Canada, the United States, Japan, and France (EU) expressed
support for the Secretary-General's efforts, while other
delegates used the opportunity to complain about such things
as recently installed fire doors, reduced air conditioning,
and the UN's agreements with NATO. End summary.
2. Most questions concerned the perceived two percent budget
cut and the lack of transparency surrounding the announcement
to the press before Member States were notified of the
proposal. Kim explained that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
told the press of the idea when asked a specific question by
a member of the media. The Secretariat did not feel that
this was a major issue because the process was an internal
exercise for the purpose of preparing a budget outline that
will be presented to Member States later this session. The
proposal is not for the 2008-2009 budget, but will affect the
2010-2011 proposed budget. The Secretary-General has asked
senior officials to find ways to increase efficiency with the
goal of completing 100 percent of the mandates with 98
percent of the resources at their disposal, leaving the
remaining two percent for allocation to new proposals or
initiatives. He also noted that Member States will be asked
to match the Secretariat's efforts by providing additional
resources for such new proposals or initiatives. He
acknowledged the concern of Member States and added that
these actions will be completed in a transparent manner.
3. Along with delegates from Canada, Japan, and France, the
United States delegate expressed support for the effort. The
United States delegate shared the concern expressed by other
Members States regarding the lack of communication on this
matter. However, the United States delegate stated that the
Secretary-General had the authority and responsibility to
seek to identify such efficiencies and present proposals
based on his efforts to Member States for their consideration
and action. The US delegate noted, in response to the
comments of the G-77 Member States, that there may be other
established opportunities for reviewing existing mandates for
this purpose. However, the US delegate added that in view of
proposed increase in the regular budget of some 25 percent
and the global financial crisis, it made sense for the
Secretary-General to request his managers at this time to
again review their mandates.
4. Delegations were clearly irritated that the press was
informed about this development before Member States and
expressed concern about rumors circulating throughout the
organization. Most delegations seemed to enter the meeting
expecting to hear the announcement of a two percent budget
cut, which could result in an unauthorized realignment of
priorities throughout the Organization. Some countries, such
as Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, and Venezuela questioned
the fate of the development account and their desire that it
not be made a low priority issue. Among other things, they
asked how the Secretariat came up with the number of 2
percent; what was meant by the term "efficiency"; and what
outcomes were expected from this exercise.
5. Amb. Kim explained that this action on the budget was a
result of several factors: a request by Member States to
exercise budget discipline; new demands on the budget; and
the global financial crisis. The Deputy Chief of Staff
responded to the queries of delegations by explaining that
Member States would have the sole authority to approve any
proposal presented to them by the Secretariat. This proposal
would be comprised of the recommendations of senior executive
officials on ways to increase efficiency and carry out all of
the mandates within existing resources. He explained that
the Secretariat had not prejudged the responses of the
officials and could not predict what the proposal would look
like in its finished state. Kim ensured Member States that
they would have the last word on the matter and that the
process would be carried out properly and transparently.
6. While Member States had caught the attention of senior
Secretariat officials, they also used up conference service
time complaining about other issues. For instance, the
delegate from Singapore brought up the issue of vacant posts
that Member States had been assessed for. The Syrian
delegate inquired about the UN's non-legally binding
agreement signed with NATO. The delegate from Guatemala
wanted to know why the chief of UN Safety and Security was
still in his position after the Secretary-General accepted
his resignation following the bombing of the UN compound in
Algiers. The Russian delegate criticized the Secretariat for
reducing air conditioning during the summer in a symbolic
effort to reduce the UN's carbon footprint. The delegates
from Nicaragua and Costa Rica expressed (once again) their
dislike of the fire doors that were installed to comply with
local fire codes. Under Secretary-General for Management
Angela Kane and UN Controller Jun Yamazaki patiently tried to
answer these and other questions. Many questions will be
answered in writing and delivered at a later date.
Khalilzad
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABUD AFIN AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: UN BUDGET: SECRETARIAT RESPONDS TO MEMBERS'
CONCERNS ABOUT EFFICIENCY MEASURES
1. Summary. At the request of the Group of 77 and China,
Secretariat officials on November 3 appeared before the Fifth
Committee to answer questions about the Secretary-General's
plan to identify efficiency savings in preparation for the
UN's proposed budget for 2010-2011. The planned 30-minute
discussion stretched to three hours as delegations repeatedly
criticized the Secretariat for the savings proposal and its
failure to inform Member States about it. According to Mr.
Kim Won-soo, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Secretary-General,
program managers were asked to identify savings in their
program amounting to two percent that would be presented in
the budget outline for 2010-2011 and such savings would be
available for reallocation to higher priority activities.
Amb. Kim noted that the figure of two percent is not a fixed
requirement, but is instead a target. Several delegations,
including Egypt, Cuba, and Brazil, questioned how this could
be done without negatively affecting implementation of
existing mandates. They also suggested that any efficiency
savings realized should be placed in the Development Account,
in accordance with relevant resolutions. Delegates from
Canada, the United States, Japan, and France (EU) expressed
support for the Secretary-General's efforts, while other
delegates used the opportunity to complain about such things
as recently installed fire doors, reduced air conditioning,
and the UN's agreements with NATO. End summary.
2. Most questions concerned the perceived two percent budget
cut and the lack of transparency surrounding the announcement
to the press before Member States were notified of the
proposal. Kim explained that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
told the press of the idea when asked a specific question by
a member of the media. The Secretariat did not feel that
this was a major issue because the process was an internal
exercise for the purpose of preparing a budget outline that
will be presented to Member States later this session. The
proposal is not for the 2008-2009 budget, but will affect the
2010-2011 proposed budget. The Secretary-General has asked
senior officials to find ways to increase efficiency with the
goal of completing 100 percent of the mandates with 98
percent of the resources at their disposal, leaving the
remaining two percent for allocation to new proposals or
initiatives. He also noted that Member States will be asked
to match the Secretariat's efforts by providing additional
resources for such new proposals or initiatives. He
acknowledged the concern of Member States and added that
these actions will be completed in a transparent manner.
3. Along with delegates from Canada, Japan, and France, the
United States delegate expressed support for the effort. The
United States delegate shared the concern expressed by other
Members States regarding the lack of communication on this
matter. However, the United States delegate stated that the
Secretary-General had the authority and responsibility to
seek to identify such efficiencies and present proposals
based on his efforts to Member States for their consideration
and action. The US delegate noted, in response to the
comments of the G-77 Member States, that there may be other
established opportunities for reviewing existing mandates for
this purpose. However, the US delegate added that in view of
proposed increase in the regular budget of some 25 percent
and the global financial crisis, it made sense for the
Secretary-General to request his managers at this time to
again review their mandates.
4. Delegations were clearly irritated that the press was
informed about this development before Member States and
expressed concern about rumors circulating throughout the
organization. Most delegations seemed to enter the meeting
expecting to hear the announcement of a two percent budget
cut, which could result in an unauthorized realignment of
priorities throughout the Organization. Some countries, such
as Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, and Venezuela questioned
the fate of the development account and their desire that it
not be made a low priority issue. Among other things, they
asked how the Secretariat came up with the number of 2
percent; what was meant by the term "efficiency"; and what
outcomes were expected from this exercise.
5. Amb. Kim explained that this action on the budget was a
result of several factors: a request by Member States to
exercise budget discipline; new demands on the budget; and
the global financial crisis. The Deputy Chief of Staff
responded to the queries of delegations by explaining that
Member States would have the sole authority to approve any
proposal presented to them by the Secretariat. This proposal
would be comprised of the recommendations of senior executive
officials on ways to increase efficiency and carry out all of
the mandates within existing resources. He explained that
the Secretariat had not prejudged the responses of the
officials and could not predict what the proposal would look
like in its finished state. Kim ensured Member States that
they would have the last word on the matter and that the
process would be carried out properly and transparently.
6. While Member States had caught the attention of senior
Secretariat officials, they also used up conference service
time complaining about other issues. For instance, the
delegate from Singapore brought up the issue of vacant posts
that Member States had been assessed for. The Syrian
delegate inquired about the UN's non-legally binding
agreement signed with NATO. The delegate from Guatemala
wanted to know why the chief of UN Safety and Security was
still in his position after the Secretary-General accepted
his resignation following the bombing of the UN compound in
Algiers. The Russian delegate criticized the Secretariat for
reducing air conditioning during the summer in a symbolic
effort to reduce the UN's carbon footprint. The delegates
from Nicaragua and Costa Rica expressed (once again) their
dislike of the fire doors that were installed to comply with
local fire codes. Under Secretary-General for Management
Angela Kane and UN Controller Jun Yamazaki patiently tried to
answer these and other questions. Many questions will be
answered in writing and delivered at a later date.
Khalilzad