Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK172
2008-02-22 21:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:
DESA, UNCTAD AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMISSIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0017 PP RUEHWEB DE RUCNDT #0172 0532130 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 222130Z FEB 08 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3793 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 1626 RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0583 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 1310 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 0218 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3111
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000172
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC UNGA KUNR
SUBJECT: DESA, UNCTAD AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMISSIONS
RESTRUCTURING PROPOSAL
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000172
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC UNGA KUNR
SUBJECT: DESA, UNCTAD AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMISSIONS
RESTRUCTURING PROPOSAL
1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 7.
2. (U) SUMMARY: USMISSION Geneva recently raised concerns
about a proposal they have heard is part of the larger effort
by the Secretary General (SYG) to restructure DESA, UNCTAD
and the regional economic commissions. The restructuring
proposal, which is being managed by Deputy Secretary General
Asha-Rose Migiro, purportedly provides for a new $26M
development fund that would be divided among DESA, UNCTAD and
the regional economic commissions. It is understood that the
establishment of the new fund is prompted by a desire of the
SYG to demonstrate an even handed approach to reform in light
of the additional resources the SYG obtained for DPKO under
his proposal to restructure that Department and is seeking in
connection with his proposal to restructure DPA. END SUMMARY
UNCTAD Proposal
--------------
3. (U) According to USMISSION Geneva, UNCTAD was requested by
the UN Secretariat to indicate how it would use the amount
purportedly being proposed for UNCTAD (approximately $3.6M).
Apparently, UNCTAD is proposing to direct the additional
funds to further research efforts in three areas - 1). LDCS
and Africa 2.) South-South cooperation and 3.) environment
and climate change.
USMISSION Geneva Reaction
--------------
4. (U) USMISSION Geneva believes the UNCTAD proposal is
inconsistent with reform efforts they have pursued within
UNCTAD. Moreover, USMISSION Geneva had heard that the SYG's
proposal regarding such a fund was to be submitted to the
Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions
(ACABQ) on February 25th and was concerned that the ACABQ
would act on the proposal within a day or so. USMISSION
Geneva sought assistance from USUN/NY to prevent a hasty
decision going the wrong way in the ACABQ.
USUN/NY Update
--------------
5. (U) In response to a request for assistance from USMISSION
Geneva, USUN/NY/MR provided the following information. The
overall DESA, UNCTAD and regional economic commissions
restructuring proposal is scheduled to be considered in the
March resumed budget session of the Fifth Committee. The
report from the SYG that would contain the proposal has not
been submitted yet by the SYG to Member States. USUN/NY/MR
is informed that the report may be submitted to the ACABQ by
the end of next week (Feb. 29). USUN/NY/MR believes this
submmission may slip to mid-March. Once the report is
submitted, the ACABQ will likely take considerable time to
review it before it is taken up by the Fifth Committee. Once
the ACABQ receives the SYG's proposal, USUN/NY will consult
with members of the ACABQ. We will share information
regarding developments.
6. (U) We believe the restructuring proposal/debate gives us
an opportunity to delve deeper into the manner in which DESA,
UNCTAD and the economic commissions operate and address
redundant, overlapping or ineffective activities.
Action Request
--------------
7. (U) USUN/NY requests that the Department ask USMISSION
Geneva and other offices concerned with the activities of
DESA, UNCTAD and the regional commissions to seek further
information on the SYG's proposal. In seeking such
information, however, it should be understood that we cannot
support any proposal unless we see it in its entirety in
writing and have the opportunity to develop a USG position.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC UNGA KUNR
SUBJECT: DESA, UNCTAD AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMISSIONS
RESTRUCTURING PROPOSAL
1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 7.
2. (U) SUMMARY: USMISSION Geneva recently raised concerns
about a proposal they have heard is part of the larger effort
by the Secretary General (SYG) to restructure DESA, UNCTAD
and the regional economic commissions. The restructuring
proposal, which is being managed by Deputy Secretary General
Asha-Rose Migiro, purportedly provides for a new $26M
development fund that would be divided among DESA, UNCTAD and
the regional economic commissions. It is understood that the
establishment of the new fund is prompted by a desire of the
SYG to demonstrate an even handed approach to reform in light
of the additional resources the SYG obtained for DPKO under
his proposal to restructure that Department and is seeking in
connection with his proposal to restructure DPA. END SUMMARY
UNCTAD Proposal
--------------
3. (U) According to USMISSION Geneva, UNCTAD was requested by
the UN Secretariat to indicate how it would use the amount
purportedly being proposed for UNCTAD (approximately $3.6M).
Apparently, UNCTAD is proposing to direct the additional
funds to further research efforts in three areas - 1). LDCS
and Africa 2.) South-South cooperation and 3.) environment
and climate change.
USMISSION Geneva Reaction
--------------
4. (U) USMISSION Geneva believes the UNCTAD proposal is
inconsistent with reform efforts they have pursued within
UNCTAD. Moreover, USMISSION Geneva had heard that the SYG's
proposal regarding such a fund was to be submitted to the
Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions
(ACABQ) on February 25th and was concerned that the ACABQ
would act on the proposal within a day or so. USMISSION
Geneva sought assistance from USUN/NY to prevent a hasty
decision going the wrong way in the ACABQ.
USUN/NY Update
--------------
5. (U) In response to a request for assistance from USMISSION
Geneva, USUN/NY/MR provided the following information. The
overall DESA, UNCTAD and regional economic commissions
restructuring proposal is scheduled to be considered in the
March resumed budget session of the Fifth Committee. The
report from the SYG that would contain the proposal has not
been submitted yet by the SYG to Member States. USUN/NY/MR
is informed that the report may be submitted to the ACABQ by
the end of next week (Feb. 29). USUN/NY/MR believes this
submmission may slip to mid-March. Once the report is
submitted, the ACABQ will likely take considerable time to
review it before it is taken up by the Fifth Committee. Once
the ACABQ receives the SYG's proposal, USUN/NY will consult
with members of the ACABQ. We will share information
regarding developments.
6. (U) We believe the restructuring proposal/debate gives us
an opportunity to delve deeper into the manner in which DESA,
UNCTAD and the economic commissions operate and address
redundant, overlapping or ineffective activities.
Action Request
--------------
7. (U) USUN/NY requests that the Department ask USMISSION
Geneva and other offices concerned with the activities of
DESA, UNCTAD and the regional commissions to seek further
information on the SYG's proposal. In seeking such
information, however, it should be understood that we cannot
support any proposal unless we see it in its entirety in
writing and have the opportunity to develop a USG position.
KHALILZAD